We’re back in the backseat of a Lincoln, where practicing law feels damn near illegal (and that’s what makes it worth the ride). Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer is a legal drama with magnetism that brings Michael Connelly‘s book series to life with a modern twist. Created by David E. Kelley, known for his TV legal dramas, the series follows Mickey Haller, a charismatic—although seemingly cursed—defense attorney who operates from the backseat of his Lincoln Town Car: a mobile office where he navigates the laws of the streets of LA to defend an array of clients. This Netflix adaptation not only captures the essence of the original but adds depth by casting Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, giving truth to Mickey’s Mexican American heritage, and leading a multi-culti cast.
When this third season begins to pop and sizzle on-screen, it’s clear why Netflix was quick to renew The Lincoln Lawyer. Premiering Thursday, Oct 17, Season 3 is based on The Gods of Guilt, the fifth book in the series. While Mickey’s odds of living without the constant threat of fists, bullets, or judges raining down on him haven’t changed, this one is personal. The second season ended with the murder of Glory Days (Fiona Rene), the former sex worker, client, and friend who supposedly retired to Florida. As Mickey takes on the case of Julian La Cosse (Devon Graye), the man accused of her murder, he finds himself entangled in a web of corruption with stakes that don’t just knock on his door—they kick it in. This season is packed with unexpected twists that are both emotional and cinematic.
The Lincoln Lawyer‘s ability to deliver headline-inspired cases and cracked-up but comforting characters, upended by pathos-laced arcs, makes it one to look forward to. This season especially goes for the heart. The accused Julian and his husband, David (Wolé Parks) are an embodiment of tenderness. While the introduction of a new driver, Eddie Rojas (Allyn Moriyon), transitions Mickey into the patriarch of a found family. His flirtations with Yaya DaCosta’s Andrea Freeman also humanize him from new perspectives. Both characters give Mickey more reasons to share his backstory, making him more vulnerable and, therefore, more accessible (even lovable). Of course, there’s a reason his early cases are revealed. As the office family at Haller & Associates tightens, their trust in each other opens more windows into who they are, and Lorna (Becki Newton), Cisco (Angus Sampson), and Izzy (Jazz Raycole) play it well.
As Mickey grapples with his guilt and the looming threats against him, the series explores themes of loss, redemption, and the thin line between justice and vengeance. All of this means, when that blood-dripping Season 3 cliffhanger pulls up alongside us and starts to idle, we’re ready to jump into the legal arena and defend Mickey ourselves.
Season 4, we’re ready for you.
