Warning: This article includes minor spoilers for The Law of Innocence!
Season 4 of Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer will most likely cut an important book subplot after one character’s departure. While Netflix has many great original shows, The Lincoln Lawyer is one of the best due to its ability to seamlessly balance drama, romance, and comedy.
While Mickey has gotten himself into tough situations, he always finds a way to crack a joke or make someone smile. The fourth season will be more difficult for the dashing main character, as it’s adapting The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly.
He’ll be the defendant in a murder case in The Lincoln Lawyer season 4. Unfortunately, one of the few lighter subplots from The Law of Innocence will likely be cut from the TV show due to the departure of one character.
Mickey Is In A Relationship In The Law Of Innocence
Early in The Law of Innocence, Mickey’s ex-girlfriend, Kendall Roberts, comes to visit him in jail. They’d previously been together for six years, including during Gods of Guilt. However, they broke up when Kendall moved to Hawaii. However, she travels back to Los Angeles because she wants to support him after finding out about the murder charges.
The two reconcile after he is released on bail, and they move in together. While most of the people in his life are involved in Mickey’s defense, Kendall mostly keeps herself detached from the case. Rather than being an issue, this gives Mickey a semblance of normalcy.
Kendall provides a much-needed distraction from his situation. He can joke around with her, and she’s happy to plan their future together, ignoring the possibility that he’ll go to jail. They go on dates and take a weekend trip, like an ordinary couple. Their interactions also provide levity for the audience in what is otherwise the heaviest of The Lincoln Lawyer books.
However, their relationship eventually shows how much Mickey’s case is impacting him emotionally. Her ability to distract him only lasts so long, as the depression hits Mickey hard. Then, toward the end of the book, they break up again, and she moves back to Hawaii for good.
Andy’s Departure Means Mickey Won’t Be In A Relationship At The Start Of Season 4
Yaya DeCosta as Andrea in The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 in an elevator with Mikey
Although Kendall Roberts appears in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, the show does not explore her romantic relationship with Mickey Haller. She’s simply Glory Days’ colleague who provides helpful information for the legal case. Instead, Andrea fills the girlfriend role in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, starting a relationship with the defense attorney during the season’s time jump.
At the end of The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, Mickey and Andy break up amicably, leaving the door open for future reconciliation. Considering Andy filled in for Kendall in the third season, it seemed like the couple would reconcile when Mickey got arrested for murder in season 4, similar to how Kendall and Mickey did in the book.
Unfortunately, shortly after The Lincoln Lawyer’s season 4 renewal, news broke that Yaya DeCosta’s Andy would not return. This shocked everyone, as everything pointed to her coming back next season.
Not only does this mean the permanent end of, arguably, Mickey’s best relationship, but it also means Mickey won’t have an ex-girlfriend to reconcile with at the start of The Lincoln Lawyer season 4. It wouldn’t make sense for him to get back with Lisa Trammell, knowing she killed her husband. Also, Mickey and Maggie can’t reconcile so soon.
Mickey Rushing Into A New Relationship Would Be Out Of Character
Mickey speaking with Legal in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 episode 7
Mickey often gets labeled as a puppy dog who is eager for love, but he actually doesn’t jump into relationships that quickly. His love interest in The Lincoln Lawyer season 1 is his ex-wife. They have a foundation to draw from, having been married and sharing a daughter. They also have a brief fling again before she moves away.
In the second season, he jumps into a romance with Lisa Trammell soon after meeting her. This and Lorna are the only times he’s shown doing this, and they’re both rebound relationships from Maggie. Since Maggie and Mickey are each other’s North Stars, it makes sense that he would try to ignore the pain of her rejection by moving on.
Then, in the third season, he gets into a relationship with Andy, whom he’s known for a long time. She was previously a colleague of Maggie’s, and Mickey worked opposite Andy in the courtroom during Lisa Trammell’s case.
Considering he isn’t rebounding from Maggie going into season 4, it wouldn’t make sense for him to jump into a relationship with a brand-new woman. Furthermore, Mickey putting another person through the stress of his trial would be wildly out of character. If anything, he would push everyone away who he thinks he’s burdening.
Mickey’s Friendships Will Need To Fill In The Gaps
Since Mickey won’t be in a romantic relationship, the show will need to find another way to add levity to the season. A depressing season from start to finish will not bode well for viewership. Additionally, human emotions aren’t typically one-dimensional, so it wouldn’t make sense for everything to be doom and gloom all the time.
Even in a dire situation, it would make more sense for Mickey to find some way to laugh or feel happy, no matter how fleeting those moments are. His friends and family could help fill in the gaps, giving Mickey moments where he doesn’t have to focus on the case and can just feel normal for a little while.
While Maggie will support Mickey by working on the case, Hayley and Legal Siegel could help support him emotionally. They could go out to restaurants or watch TV together, just like Mickey does with Kendall in the books. Izzy could spend time with him when she’s not working as the office manager in The Lincoln Lawyer season 4.
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