There’s something about a charming lawyer who works desperately to get his clients out of trouble, usually with a smile on his face, some underhanded tactics, and a little bit of intimidation. There are so many shows centered around lawyers, andSuitsis arguably one of the most popular right now.
Getting a second life on Netflix anda spin-off inSuits LA, fans who didn’t catch the show when it originally aired on USA Network way back in 2011 are now catching on to how addictively entertaining it is. But after powering through all nine seasons, it’s time to look for something similar.The Lincoln Lawyertakes the same story presented in the movie of the same name that starred Matthew McConaughey as the titular character and delivers it in episodic format, with a twist.
The Lincoln Lawyer
What Is ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ About?
Based on the Michael Connelly books,The Lincoln LawyerstarsManuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, a talented defense attorney working in Los Angeles who also happens to be a recovering addict.When a friend and fellow lawyer is shot dead and leaves his practice to Mickey, he gets a new purpose and renewed lease on life. It’s now up to Mickey to take over all his friend’s existing cases and solve his murder.
Mickey is always on the move, the wheels constantly turning, sohe gets most of his business done in the back of one of his many Lincoln cars. After defending a young woman named Izzy (Jazz Raycole) from a petty theft charge, and learning she is a recovering addict as well, he offers her a job in lieu of payment: work as his chauffeur to pay off her legal fees.
Together with Izzy, Mickey’s second ex-wife and brilliant legal aide Lorna (Becki Newton) and his friend, former motorcycle gang member, and investigator Dennis “Cisco” Wojciechowski (Angus Sampson), one ofthe best characters on the show, Mickey sets out to defend just about anyone who needs his help and can pay him a handsome sum.
The fact that Mickey will take on whatever client comes his way, and gets a kick out of getting guilty people set free, doesn’t necessarily mean that he lacks morals. But he learned from his father, one of the best, to always put clients first. Guilty or not, his job is to defend, and that sometimes means delving into grey areas. But Mickey knows how to cover his tracks and teeter the line of legality, taking pride in himself for the accomplishments, no matter how some may look down on his work.
Not surprisingly, the job, however, is often dangerous, much to the chagrin of Mickey’s first ex-wife Maggie (Neve Campbell), with whom he’s very much still in love with, and his teenage daughter Hayley (Krista Warner).
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How Is ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Similar to ‘Suits’?
From the description alone, it’s easy to see howThe Lincoln Lawyeris similar toSuits.Both center around talented lawyers who are the best in their fields. Mickey deals with all types of cases, from murder to financial crimes and everything in between. The lawyers onSuitstend to focus on corporate clients and their financial woes, but the stakes are sometimes just as high.
Mickey and Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) are like two peas in a pod. They could easily be seen in a crossover working together on a case or would make formidable foes working against one another. Both are fiercely dedicated to their jobs, have massive egos, and carry themselves with a sense of arrogance. But they are also deeply lonely, usually filling their days and nights with obsession over work to avoid dealing with the trauma in their personal lives.
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There’s also the theme of taking someone under the wing in both shows. Mickey helps Izzy out of a jam and proves to be a good friend to her, while she becomes invaluable to him in more ways than one, from an understanding shoulder to lean on regarding his sobriety to assistance in cases. OnSuits,Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) is a genius associate Harvey hires who, as it turns out, doesn’t actually have a law degree. Yet he is one of the best lawyers Harvey has ever come across.
Overall,the two shows have the same tone and feel, with every episode and season dealing with a serious case and how the lawyers must bend and weave to find a way to get their clients out of jams.The Lincoln Lawyertends to skew into more dangerous territory, butSuitshighlights dangers of its own kind as the threat of exposing Mike looms over their heads for the majority of the first few seasons.
Both play fast and loose with morals and ethics, but they justify their decisions as being a byproduct of the job: they are hired to do one, and they will always do it to their best of their abilities, as long as no one truly gets hurt in the process. Some, however, would argue that the last part doesn’t always ring true for either of them.
‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Has an Overwhelmingly Positive Reception
Streaming for three seasons already with a fourth on its way, scheduled to center around the Connelly bookThe Law of Innocence,The Lincoln Lawyerwas met with positive reception from the jump. After its initial release,The Lincoln Lawyerrose to the number two spot on Netflix for weekly ratings.After the first full week of streaming, it was the most-watched English-language series globally. What’s more, its viewing hours of 108 million were more than three times that of the show that was in second place,according to Deadline.
With an overall average90% Rotten Tomatoes critics score, and a slightly lower 86% audience score,The Lincoln Lawyerhas remained consistent in its reception since season one. In fact, it has gotten better. The third season received an impressive and hard-to-getperfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes critics score.Graeme Blundell of The Australiancalls season three a “dense, compelling story, full of Connelly’s characteristic revelations and cliffhangers and told with some nice light comic touches.”
Why The Lincoln Lawyer TV Series Is So Much Better Than the Movie
Although based on the same source material, The Lincoln Lawyer series on Netflix has proven far more popular than Matthew McConaughey’s 2011 movie.
Of the first season,Kelly Lawler of USA Todaysays the show’s appeal “comes from being something familiar, done very well, and it’s the kind of series Netflix should be making all the time.”NPR’s Eric Degganssays the show provides “crime stories that are perfect for those of us who live the genre but need a little more challenging narrative than your typicalNCISorChicago P.D.episode can match.” When speaking on the second season,MovieWeb’s own Greg Archerloves the elevated tensions in the storyline and the new characters and dilemmas it introduces. “There’s a pleasant vibe to appreciate,” he adds.
The Lincoln Lawyerwill appeal both to those who have read the books and those who haven’t. And it’s the perfect watch once done binging all nine seasons ofSuits.
