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As the latest season of The Lincoln Lawyer kicks off, the team at Haller & Associates finds themselves facing a list of adversaries humorously dubbed “Who Hates Mickey?” The phrase, scrawled across the whiteboard, embodies both humor and truth. Known for their success and unique tactics, the firm has undoubtedly ruffled some feathers. By the fifth episode, “You’re the One That I Want,” Mickey and his team’s investigation leads them to uncover another foe from the past.
Lisa Trammell, a familiar face from Season 2, resurfaces in the narrative. Before her romantic entanglement with Mickey and the discovery of her dark secret—the murder of her husband hidden beneath her herb garden—Lisa was embroiled in a property battle with two Los Angeles developers. One of these developers, Alex Gazarian (played by Michael A. Goorjian), whom Mickey once exposed as a fraud, now joins the infamous list. Izzy unearths distant connections between Gazarian and the elusive shareholders of Biogreen. The company, a façade for exploiting government subsidies, is entwined with Sam Scales, hinting at Gazarian’s scheme to seek revenge on Mickey. It’s a tale of vengeance intertwined with deceit. “Classic mob tactics,” as they say.
Meanwhile, FBI Agent Felix Vasquez, already irked by Mickey’s actions against Gazarian, makes a reappearance. At the end of Episode 4, Agent Vasquez confronts Mickey, attempting to intimidate him into backing off, an encounter cleverly captured by Hayley on her phone. Sensing an advantage, Mickey forwards the footage to Agent Dawn Ruth, Vasquez’s partner. (For fans of Sasha Alexander, Netflix has recently added all seven seasons of Rizzoli & Isles.) Although Ruth remains tight-lipped, it’s clear the FBI is closely monitoring the tangled web involving Gazarian, Biogreen, Sam Scales, and the elusive “Kirk Lennon.” Mickey astutely reminds Agent Ruth of his plight: “I’m on trial for a murder you know I didn’t commit.”
Adding to the tension, Dana Berg continues her relentless pursuit. New search warrants are issued, targeting Mickey’s home, the Haller & Associates office, and the original Lincoln Lawyer storage facility. Sergeant Drucker, armed with a detail of officers, arrives in search of financials and business records. The team complies, though Lorna questions Mickey, “Do we have something to hide?” Drucker’s smug demeanor suggests there may be something significant in the specific file he retrieves.
Despite the intrusion into their personal and professional spaces, the team recognizes the value of victory. The Gazarian lead proves advantageous, particularly for Izzy, who is mastering the firm’s investigative techniques. Cisco advises, “It helps if you like solving puzzles,” and Izzy does. With assistance from Grace, who is working late at the office, Izzy connects a seemingly random sticker on a boat to Los Angeles high school yearbooks, unearthing links between Gazarian and a Biofuel executive. Grace, employed by another attorney, demonstrates a knack for puzzles and might just become a valuable addition to Mickey’s investigative team.
Mickey Haller and his team will need all the help they can get. The search warrant is part of a development that has a tearful, stressed-to-death Lorna Crane calling Maggie for advice. “I think Dana is dropping the charges and filing a new indictment for murder with special circumstances. They’re gonna revoke his bail, and we’re barely hanging on as it is.” Lorna has a way with words even when she’s at the end of her rope. “I’ve been a lawyer for like five minutes. And if I fuck this up, Mickey goes away for life.”
Who hates Mickey? Let’s focus on the positives: it’s really more like who loves Mickey. Because the people in his life who care about him the most have put themselves on trial right along with him. Lorna’s phone call unlocked something further in Maggie, another part of what drove her to confront Dana during that lunch in Chinatown. It’s the morning after the raid, and everybody is back in court for a special session. This is where Iceberg is gonna freeze Mickey right back to lockup. But everyone in the room is startled by who walks in to fill the empty seat next to pro se counsel Michael Haller.
“Maggie McPherson for the defense, Your Honor.”
Briefs for Season 4 Episode 5 of The Lincoln Lawyer (“You’re the One That I Want”):
- The raids of his home and business weren’t even the end of the new hassle tactics. Bamba has also been reincarcerated, picked up on a bullshit parole violation at the same time as the warrant being served. How convenient.
- What exactly is the deal with Jack, Maggie’s new boyfriend? He steps in it with her again in this episode, when he says her ex-husband “made his own bed.” (Maggie: “Hold up – what?”) Jack tries to make his comment about a concern for Hayley. We might make it about our concern: Jack is kinda sus.
- The LA scene cameos keep coming! Mickey’s dinner with Legal Siegel at Osteria Mozza on Melrose includes a visit to the table from chef-owner and occasional food show judge Nancy “Bread Porn” Silverton. Bringing out a special selection from her mozzarella bar, Silverton places a friendly hand on Mickey’s shoulder. “I really hope this is not your last good meal.”
Johnny Loftus (@johnnyloftus.bsky.social) is a Chicago-based writer. A veteran of the alternative weekly trenches, his work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The All Music Guide, and The Village Voice.