Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer is the procedural we weren’t looking for but are thoroughly glad we found. It’s a riveting, impressive new take on Michael Connelly’s novels that’s worth watching whether you’ve read them or not. Plus, it’s already the type of show we need an immediate renewal for.
Starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, and more, Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer deals with complex characters, relationships, and the justice system in a way that’s compelling from beginning to end. The 10-episode run differentiates it from law procedurals that have come before by allowing the cases to effortlessly span out throughout the season without ever feeling like it’s run its course.
If law procedurals aren’t your cup of tea, most of our readers will be happy to know that these characters certainly are. The complexities of the characters and the familial relations allow some intriguing dynamics to come to light, even surprising you with characters you think might only be likable on a surface level.
There’s also an excellent setup for future dynamics in Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, which are handled organically and seamlessly flow throughout the series. Whether romantic or platonic, individual character arcs are that much more fascinating because of the relationships they build along the way, strengthening them in their careers and outside of it.
While the series is intriguing from the start, it’s almost impossible to stop binging after episode four. You’ll find yourself thinking about the case and the character arcs while simultaneously wanting to stay in this world for a little while longer. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo carries this show brilliantly with some of the warmest, most stylistic, and heartwarming performances. The last time I fell this hard for a lawyer, his name was Harvey Specter.
Garcia Rulfo brings immense heart and compassion to Mickey Haller, layering the character with the kind of warmth that’s a rarity in procedurals while concurrently allowing him to be deeply flawed. No one on this show is perfect, and that’s precisely why they’re so intriguing. This show doesn’t necessarily need its characters to be completely flawless, but it requires them to be the type of people we’d root for even when they mess up. And that’s certainly the case with our lead and everyone in his circle.
Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer demands that the audience pay attention, but it never gets too convoluted or messy in the process. Where it subverts our expectations, it does so in ways that are not only wholly understandable but incredibly riveting for viewers considering the thriller and crime elements interwoven with the genre.
The Lincoln Lawyer will be streaming on Netflix May 13.