he Lincoln Lawyer is a newly released series that has climbed to the Top 10 on Netflix. It is the second adaptation of Michael Connelly’s books, with a film previously released in 2011. This legal drama has been created by Ted Humphrey and David E Kelley, starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller.

For a seemingly thrilling drama, it has a surprisingly relaxed pace. The series is centred around a dominant murder case and the events surrounding it, as opposed to individual cases per episode in other similar productions. At first glance, it seems like your average legal show. However, it gets intriguing once the story begins to unfold.

Defence attorney Mickey Haller is trying to get back to being an ace lawyer following a painkiller addiction after a deadly surfing accident. He picks up his practice once again and begins work on the cases left to him by a murdered colleague, Jerry Vincent. The main story and its characters then begin to reveal themselves. Mickey is shown to have an appealing personality with confidence and humility.

Why did Jerry get murdered? What was he hiding? How does that connect with the cases? All these questions are raised in the first episode. They serve as the foundation for the rest of the show. Mickey’s character seems rigid at first but ultimately dialogue allows us to see why Garcia-Rulfo is the perfect choice for this adaptation.

As he wraps up the sea of small cases left by Jerry, there is the ever looming murder trial of gaming tech-titan Trevor Elliot. It is a turning point for Mickey’s career and his comeback. He must win. Mickey’s life gets more strenuous as he fights the judicial system with unknown forces threatening to end his life like Jerry’s.

Speaking of cinematography, the LA landscape provides a perfect backdrop for major story points. Sunny beaches where needed and dark, shady hills to set a more dramatic tone. Moreover, the episodes include some quintessential LA hotspots such as The Viper Room, Pink’s Hot Dogs and more.

While navigating the mysteries, the steady pace of the show gives viewers enough comfort and headroom to understand the plot and character building. It must be mentioned that the subplots surrounding the other players within the show are nowhere as interesting as Mickey’s story. Some of those, at times, border on dull.

To avoid being entirely pessimistic, the series has several comical moments. As Mickey attempts to navigate his relationship with his two ex-wives, it provides several opportunities for comic relief. The sharp and witty dialogue between lawyers is certainly amusing. And like heroes of many stories, there are always words of wisdom delivered by Mickey Haller.

Speaking of cinematography, the LA landscape provides a perfect backdrop for major story points. Sunny beaches where needed and dark, shady hills to set a more dramatic tone. Moreover, the episodes include some quintessential LA hotspots such as The Viper Room, Pink’s Hot Dogs and more.

For a ten episode season, the story moves pretty fast but at a comforting pace. There is no emotional high-point or climax of reaching answers whatsoever. Rather, there is a gradual process of piecing information together. The ending might surprise some of the viewers. With the right amount of mystery and intentional suspense, the dots are very well connected for any audience to follow through.

For those expecting an exciting true-crime show, this is not it. But it is the perfect show to watch after a long day or week. Not really an adrenaline rush, but the storyline is captivating.

The author is a marketer and digital consultant currently based in Pakistan.   Email: ericaluocontact@gmail.com   Twitter: @EricaLuo_