The Lincoln Lawyer (2022) revolves around Mickey Haller, a lawyer who is dealing with personal issues when he is thrust back into the game due to some unforeseen circumstances. The series is now streaming on Netflix.
Story
Mickey Haller is a lawyer nicknamed ‘the Lincoln Lawyer’ because he spent most of his days working cases out of the back of a Lincoln. But after a surfing accident and a subsequent drug addiction, Mickey spent time getting clean and hasn’t worked any cases in a very long time.
When an old friend, Jerry Vincent is murdered, Mickey is the beneficiary of his legal practice including a high profile murder case involving Trevor Elliot, a tech mogul who has been accused of killing his wife and her lover.
Mickey takes on this case as well as all of Jerry’s other cases with the help of his second ex-wife, Lorna, her boyfriend Cisco, a private investigator and Izzy Letts, a fellow recovering addict who becomes his driver after Mickey fights a case for her success.
Mickey also has to deal with the complicated relationship with his first ex-wife, Maggie, so that he can have a healthy relationship with his daughter.
With the murder trial serving as his main focus, Mickey gets dragged into a case that threatens to reveal a lot more than meets the eye and it’s up to Mickey and his team to get to the bottom of it.
Performances
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo is the star of the show as the titular lawyer. He’s a wise guy who has confidence in his abilities but doesn’t come off as too cocky. He’s also got some depth to his character as a recovering addict that can be a relatable quality to many.
Becki Newton and Angus Sampson are brilliant support for Mickey. Becki plays his ex-wife who still cares for him but keeps their relationship professional. Angus is the perfect PI, somewhat mysterious, quippy, and yet effective when required.
Christopher Gorham portrays the accused Trevor Elliot well as he starts as the emotional man who feels wrongfully targeted, all the while letting out slivers of arrogance and dishonesty before showing his true colours by the end.
Jazz Raycole plays the anchor to Mickey’s character. Someone grounded to who he can talk and who can give him a perspective he may not have.
Positives
This series is a breezy watch. The pacing is perfect and the ten episodes go by without any dull moments as it keeps you consumed right through to the end.
The distinct scenes where Mickey and Izzy are driving down the open road were a nice touch. They act as a vehicle for the protagonist to explain to the audience what is happening in a particular sequence and what his state of mind or intentions are to combat that sequence.
The script has a lot to be proud of. Making legal-speak sound interesting may have been done countless times by now but that doesn’t always mean it’s easy. The characters speak to the audience without treating them like imbeciles.
Negatives
Mickey’s past of addiction felt more like a surface-level character trait than something consequential. Apart from a weak moment here and there, the issue wasn’t quite explored to the depths it could have been.
There were certain characters and plot points that were introduced before and then quietly trailed off until reappeared only when required. The fact that his car was bugged and the character of Griggs seemed to be ignored for a short period in between before conveniently showing up when needed.
The secondary plot of Maggie’s trafficking case wasn’t as intriguing as the main story and struggled to contribute more to the story.
Verdict
The key to many successful legal dramas is the charisma of the lawyers involved and the Mickey Haller has that in droves. Ably supported by an equally interesting cast, The Lincoln Lawyer is a series worth watching, especially given the comfortable pace at which it moves.
Rating: 3.5/5
Also Read: The Lincoln Lawyer (2022) summary and ending explained