When the2025 Emmy nominationswere announced this week, one of the most surprising, and well-deserved, entries in the Best Actress in a Drama Series category came from broadcast television.Kathy Bates, nominated for her role inCBS’sMatlock,made history as the oldest nominee ever in the category, proving that powerhouse performances don’t just belong to streaming and prestige cable series. As Matty Matlock,the Oscar-winner brings depth, warmth, and sharp comedic timing to a legal proceduralthat could have easily felt formulaic in lesser hands. Her nomination is a testament to how much she elevates the show.
But while Bates fully deserves her flowers, her nomination also throws a spotlight on one of the Emmy’s biggest oversights:Skye P. Marshall.As Olympia Lawrence, a sharp and tenacious lawyer at Jacobson Moore, Marshall delivered one of themost emotionally grounded performancesof the season. She more than held her own opposite Bates, matching her in intensity,and at times even stealing the scene. And in moments when Marshall had tocarry entire storylines on her own, she did it with a subtlety and strength that made Olympia one of the show’s most compelling characters. IfMatlockgetting Emmy recognition is a win for network drama, thenleaving Marshall out of the conversation feels like a huge miss.
Skye P. Marshall Gave ‘Matlock’ One of Its Richest Characters
Since her introduction in theMatlockpilot, Olympia hasgrown into a character with depthfar beyond the “tough lawyer” archetype. She could have easily been portrayed as guarded, brash and dismissive, especially toward Matty, her unconventional new co-worker. ButSkye P. Marshall made sure Olympia was never one-note. She infused her with complexity, letting flashes ofvulnerability and strength coexistin the same scene. It’s the kind of grounded, layered performance thatelevates not just the character, but the show as a whole.
Good writing certainly helps, butit’s Marshall’s performance that gives Olympia her soul. While she delivered strong work throughout the season, one episode in particular felt like her true Emmy moment:Episode 17, “I Was That, Too". After spending much of the season riding the emotional highs and lows of difficult cases and the uncertainty around making partner,Olympia finally confronts Mattyafter learning she was lying about who she really was. At the core ofMatlockwas a growing, deeply real friendship between Olympia and Matty, which wasone of the most compelling relationshipson television this year. The audience had been anticipating Olympia’s reaction to Matty’s long-held secret, and when the moment finally came, Skye P. Marshall delivered a performance that captured betrayal, heartbreak, and, ultimately, compassion.
The journey Olympia goes on in that episodeis a masterclass in layered acting. She begins with pure anger and betrayal, even going so far as to lock Matty in a room, walking a dangerous ethical line in her pursuit of the truth. That anger then gives way to deep sadness and a sense of loss, as sheconfronts the end of a friendship she once trustedand opens up about the paranoia Matty’s lies triggered in her. And finally, after learning Matty was at Jacobson Moore seeking justice for her daughter’s death,Olympia shifts again to empathy, and ultimately, a renewed sense of purpose.
This arc alone is enough tojustify Skye P. Marshall’s place on the Emmy shortlistfor Supporting Actress. In fact, the humanity Marshall brought to Olympia was so powerful that viewers could easily find themselvessiding with her over the show’s titular lead, which is a testament tojust how grounded and emotionally resonant her performance truly was. It’s also a perfect example of how network television is evolving,delivering character-driven storytellingthat rivals even the most lauded prestige dramas.
We Knew ‘Matlock’s Big Twist Was Coming, but That Doesn’t Make It Any Less Devastating
“You are the Johnson Case.”
It’s Time the Emmys Took Network Performances Seriously Again
There’s no question the Emmys have shiftedheavily toward prestige cableand streaming series. But in doing so, they’re overlooking some of the most grounded, emotionally resonant performances on television,many of which are happening in network dramas likeMatlock. The irony is that network TV is currently delivering some of itsmost character-driven storytellingin years.Matlockmay present itself as a straightforward legal procedural, but beneath the surface, it digs deep into trauma, insecurity, and what makes its characters human. Olympia is at the heart of that, especiallyafter the bombshell finalepulls her personal life into her work. In an era when audiences crave rich characters as much as twisty plots,Matlockdelivered,and Skye P. Marshall was a big reason why.
Of course, much of the spotlight has rightfully gone to Kathy Bates, who brings tremendous nuance, wit, and weight to the role. But what makesMatlocktruly sing is thatBates isn’t carrying the series alone. Marshall matched her scene for scene, grounding the show’s emotional arcs andallowing Olympia to shine in her own right. Bates may remain the anchor foras long as she chooses, but if Marshall proved anything this season, it’s that she’s more than capable of stepping into the lead. She helped define the show’s tone and anchored some of its most powerful, character-driven moments.
The Emmys got it right by nominating Kathy Bates, butthey missed the bigger picture by leaving out Skye P. Marshall. If the Television Academy wants to truly honor the best of what TV has to offer, it needs to start taking performances like Marshall’s seriously. In a time whennetwork television is evolvingand character-driven storytelling is thriving, Marshall helped makeMatlockone of the year’s most emotionally resonant dramas, and she deserves the recognition to match.
All episodes ofMatlockare available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
