Things are about to get even more dramatic in the courtroom. CBS’s Matlock is returning for a second season, and it’s bringing some serious star power with it. Justina Machado, best known for her standout role in Jane the Virgin and her acclaimed performance in One Day at a Time, is stepping into the legal arena in a major recurring role. She is the first new cast member to have been announced to join the hit series in its upcoming season.
As reported by Deadline, Machado will portray a character named Eva in Matlock season 2. Eva is described as a sharp, ambitious attorney and the fourth ex-wife of Beau Bridges’ character, Howard “Senior” Markston. She's a woman so unforgettable that she made him swear off marriage altogether. Eva runs Jacobson Moore’s Miami office, and she heads to New York for what’s billed as an emergency meeting. However, it's clear she has her own agenda. What that agenda is remains to be seen, but her arrival is sure to ruffle some feathers.
By joining the legal drama, Machado is reuniting with the show's creator Jennie Snyder Urman and CBS Studios. If you didn't know, Urman created the critically acclaimed series Jane the Virgin, which also aired on CBS. Machado played the recurring character, Darci Factor, for seasons 3 to 5 of the comedy-drama series. She is the second Jane the Virgin alum to join Matlock, following Yael Grobglas, who also has a recurring role on the legal drama.
As mentioned earlier, Machado is also known for her starring role as Penelope Alvarez in the beloved comedy sitcom One Day at a Time. You might also recognize her from her previous roles in the TV shows Six Feet Under, Missing, ER, Three Rivers, Private Practice, Queen of the South, Superstore and The Horror of Dolores Roach. She most recently played the role of Maritza in one episode of NBC's Happy's Place. She also starred as Natalie Cruz in the recently canceled Netflix medical drama Pulse.
Although an official Matlock season 2 cast list has not been revealed, Bridges, Kathy Bates, Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, David Del Rio, and Leah Lewis are all expected to return in their respective roles. It'll be interesting to see who Machado's Eva character will interact with. Since Eva is Howard's ex-wife, they'll most likely share some scenes together.
Matlock season 2 premieres Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT on CBS. Although the premiere is on a Sunday, the show will return to its regular Thursday time slot for all the following episodes of the season.
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