Series Review: The Lincoln Lawyer (Season 2, Part 1)
I had fun with the first season of Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer. Now the second season is coming out, but it’s split into two parts. Should you invest your time in this first part, or should you just wait for it all to come out at once?
After garnering massive media attention from his previous high-profile case, defense attorney Mickey Haller finds himself overwhelmed with new cases, one of which gets him unwittingly personally involved.
The Split-Season Problem and Pacing
I don’t really know what this trend is with splitting up seasons, but almost all of the time, it becomes a disservice to the fans. Obviously, this isn’t the case every single time, but the majority of the time, it seems to ring true.
Season 2 of The Lincoln Lawyer picks up with Mickey Haller inundated with requests for representation, as well as media interviews, making him one of the most sought-after defense attorneys in LA. The second season is a little more convoluted and packed than the first season. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but there is a lot more to focus on, and I found that the narrative was bouncing around between several character arcs—almost like there wasn’t enough to tell about Mickey and his case.
There are minor cases that he takes on that are interspersed with the main case. Sometimes these are interesting, but ultimately they only work to show how clever Mickey is when it comes to working his opponents. And the main story arc I thought the season was taking on turned out to be something different. Again, that’s not a bad thing, but it was sort of a shift in the storytelling, because I thought we were going one direction and then we just switched and went someplace else.
The Main Case vs. Subplots
I’m liking the complications that continue to arise in Mickey’s main case. He’s emotionally invested, which can be both good and bad, but every time it seems he’s taking a step forward, he gets surprised by something new and takes a couple of steps in reverse. It does work to make the story intriguing, but it also begins to feel more drawn out than necessary, like this could have been told in a much more efficient manner. Maybe that’s because the main case doesn’t actually have the meat to sustain a full 10-episode season arc. I mean, I don’t know yet, since Part 1 only contains five episodes and the story isn’t anywhere close to being completed. Maybe it will feel unnecessarily stretched out, or maybe the second half contains a ton of mystery and suspense and makes it all worthwhile.
We also get more with Lorna and Cisco, and they’re fun as a duo, bringing in some humor as well as frustration, but their storylines are also taking a lot of the focus. This first part can be interesting to watch at times, but like I’ve said before, it also feels like a larger distraction to Mickey’s case. I really wish the season wouldn’t have been split because I genuinely can’t tell if some of these story elements actually create a meaningful addition to the overall season or if they just serve as filler in an overall thin story.
Underutilized Characters
Neve Campbell returns as Haller’s first ex-wife, and I’m really enjoying their dynamic. It’s strained but in the process of slowly trying to progress into something positive. There’s a weird arc with Campbell’s character and her job that feels like it might go somewhere, but it also feels like just a random story complication that is meant to infuse more drama. At this point, because we’re not really given much, it feels pointless to continue to dwell on her struggles.
The same goes for Izzy. I really loved her introduction in the first season, and I really enjoyed the theme of second chances that was illustrated through her character. But here, she feels a little sidelined, not getting much story prominence, even though there are some small offshoots that do focus on her.
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo Continues to Shine
I really enjoy Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller. He’s got the right amount of hubris and charm—a little arrogance, you know, mixed with suave charisma. While his actions could be seen as slimy at times, I never feel that way about him, and that’s a huge difference. If he were slimy, he wouldn’t be relatable or a character that I’d want to support or see succeed.
The addition of Lana Parrilla to the cast creates a new and frustrating dynamic, and hopefully, it will also lead to some additional intrigue. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo in the lead role continues to crush it, and while I could use fewer of the tangents that the story takes on, I’m enjoying the setup.
Final Verdict (For Now)
The episodes are only about 45 to 50 minutes, so the binge is a quick one. But I think even with that, you might be better served and find it much more engaging if you just wait until August 3rd for the second part to release so that you can binge all 10 episodes at once. You’ll be able to have the complete story arc, and ideally (since I haven’t even seen the second part yet), the story will focus more on Mickey’s main case and introduce more intrigue and mystery. That will make the series a more captivating watch.
As it stands, the mystery is only so-so. The pacing is mixed thanks mainly to the shifting story focus, so I’m hoping that the second part finds its footing, which will allow the series to regain the allure, charm, and engagement that was present in the first season.
Rating: I’m going to hold off on giving this a score since it’s literally only half the story, but do know that while I had some fun watching, I’d recommend waiting until the full season is available to get the story as a whole.
So, are you a fan of this series or even the novels that it’s based on? Who is your favorite character? Let me know in the comments below!
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