Warning: The following contains spoilers from Season 3 of “The Lincoln Lawyer,” which is currently streaming on Netflix. Please proceed with caution if you haven’t watched it yet.
The last time we encountered Mickey Haller, he was driving his Lincoln convertible to the morgue. This time, the deceased was closer than he had anticipated.
In Season 3 of “The Lincoln Lawyer,” Mickey (Manuel García-Rulfo) has just taken on a case involving a new client accused of murdering Gloria Dayton, known as Gloria Days (Fiona Rene), who was once his client and later grew to be a close friend. Now, we follow Mickey’s journey to clear an innocent man’s name while seeking justice for Days and revealing corruption within the legal system.
According to showrunner Ted Humphrey (“The Triangle,” “Thick As Thieves”), “The stakes are significantly higher this season because Mickey is deeply affected by the death of someone he truly cared about, which changes the dynamic from previous seasons.” He adds, “Mickey starts to question whether he played any role in her fate, and he feels responsible for having influenced Gloria Days’ decisions. It’s very personal for him.”
The tension reaches its peak in Episode 10 when Mickey’s future as a defense attorney is jeopardized upon the police discovering an unexpected passenger in his Lincoln. “We aimed to make this the most impactful episode yet, because what could weigh heavier than the murder of someone you love, especially when you feel partially responsible? How do you elevate that? Well, you discover a dead body in your trunk,” Humphrey remarks.
But who was responsible for Gloria Days’ death?
Julian La Cosse, who worked closely with Gloria Days and other sex workers, insisted throughout Season 3 that he had no involvement in her murder. After extensive investigation and some perilous encounters with a new antagonist—the Mexican cartel—Mickey and his team uncover that the true killer was a corrupt Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent named James De Marco (Michael Irby).
Working with his private investigator, Neil Bishop (Holt McCallany), De Marco finds Gloria’s residence and sets her house ablaze soon after Julian’s visit.
But what drove De Marco’s actions? He was colluding with the Juárez cartel to clean up their operations. After catching Gloria on charges of prostitution and drug possession, he blackmailed her with that information. When one of Gloria’s clients turns out to be Hector Moya (Arturo Del Puerto), a rival cartel leader from Tijuana, De Marco exploits what he knows about Gloria to force her to plant evidence against Moya, who then gets sentenced to life in prison thanks to a weapon connected to a triple homicide.
What book serves as the basis for ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ Season 3?
Season 3 adapts Michael Connelly’s “The Gods of Guilt,” which is the fifth installment in the “Lincoln Lawyer” series.
Humphrey clarifies, “In Mickey’s environment, ‘Gods of guilt’ is a term we’ve previously referenced, primarily concerning the jury. But in this narrative, Mickey comes to understand that his personal Gods of guilt encapsulate not just the current case but also everyone in his life who matters to him and for whom he acts.”
Mickey Haller finds himself drawn to a new romantic interest
Rather than getting romantically involved with clients, Mickey is now in a relationship with co-workers.
García-Rulfo describes Mickey’s approach to romance: “When it comes to being romantic, he’s not the best. Instead of pursuing a waitress or a physician, he goes for a fellow attorney,” referring to his love interest this season, courtroom rival Andrea Freeman (Yaya DaCosta). “Adding to that, she is also best friends with his ex-wife, Maggie.”
García-Rulfo finds the dynamic between Mickey and Andrea in Season 3 intriguing, particularly because they are so different. She possesses strength and beauty and adheres strictly to the rules, while Mickey follows his gut instincts.
Similarly, Andrea carries guilt after failing to alert a client, Deborah Glass, about her abusive ex-husband’s temporary release from prison, which leads to Deborah’s tragic death. “As we heightened the tension for Mickey, we had to concurrently raise the stakes for Andrea, aligning their journeys,” says Humphrey.
Who dies in ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ Season 3? Mickey faces two significant losses
Season 3 of “The Lincoln Lawyer” has seen the most deaths of any season so far.
In Episode 3, “Rearview Blind Spots,” Andrea learns that her client was murdered by her ex-spouse. Episode 5, “What Happens in Victorville,” involves a tragic accident for Mickey and his new driver, Eddie Rojas (Allyn Moriyon), orchestrated by De Marco (who is also killed by the season’s end), leading to Eddie’s death. This loss is particularly poignant as Eddie was a family friend who once babysat Mickey’s daughter, Hayley. “His fate sends shockwaves throughout the story,” Humphrey explains.
García-Rulfo expresses that Eddie’s death “devastates him,” marking a significant turning point for Mickey as well.
“Mickey becomes determined to uncover the truth and seek justice no matter the cost. He is aware of the dangers his family faces, which is why he perceives ghosts — specters of Gloria, Eddie, and his dad in the closing scenes of Episode 10,” García-Rulfo explains. “His conscience compels him to push through to the end. It’s tragic; poor Eddie was such a nice guy.”
Later, in the final episode titled “The Gods of Guilt,” Neil Bishop (Holt McCallany), who collaborated with De Marco, takes his life after giving testimony. “The season’s climax hinges on Bishop’s testimony and is one of the most unforgettable moments from any of Michael Connelly’s ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ novels,” Humphrey remarks. “The entire show has gradually built toward this moment.”
If you or anyone you know is in need of mental health support, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for round-the-clock accessibility to free and confidential assistance.
‘Lincoln Lawyer’ finale: Who is responsible for framing Mickey Haller in Sam Scales’ death?
You may want to watch that climactic final scene of Episode 10 several times to fully grasp what occurs.
After clearing Julian’s name, which comes after the traumatic events involving Bishop and the near-fatal stabbing of Julian in prison, the team heads out for a celebratory dinner where Mickey reveals his intention to take a well-deserved vacation.
However, before he can activate his out-of-office response, Mickey needs to prove his innocence. After exiting the restaurant, he takes a ride through Los Angeles in his stylish Lincoln Continental and is later suspiciously pulled over by a police officer. They engage in a back-and-forth as the officer points out that Mickey’s license plate is missing — only for them to discover blood seeping from the trunk.
When the officer opens the trunk, Mickey is faced with the body of Sam Scales (Christopher Thornton), a former client, and Lorna’s first client after she passed the bar exam. “The hope is that viewers pause and notice the details because you can see his wheelchair, which hints at crucial information,” says Humphrey.
“The conclusion serves as another significant cliffhanger,” García-Rulfo shares. “Mickey constantly battles challenges, which is both entertaining for viewers and rewarding for me as an actor. You want to see him overcome these hurdles.”
Though the challenges are daunting for the lawyer based in Los Angeles, “I can assure you that Mickey Haller will not give up without a struggle,” Humphrey states, “and neither will Lorna or anyone else.”
