Exclusive Interview: The Lincoln Lawyer Showrunner Ted Humphrey Breaks Down Season 4

With Mickey Haller facing his most personal battle yet, Humphrey discusses the emotional stakes, evolving character dynamics, and the creative choices shaping the Netflix series’ boldest season.

Netflix

The highly anticipated fourth season of The Lincoln Lawyer is officially here, premiering exclusively on Netflix with all ten episodes now streaming. Ahead of the season’s debut, Reel Perspectives sat down with co-creator and showrunner Ted Humphrey for an exclusive conversation about the emotional stakes of Season 4, the evolving dynamic between Mickey and Maggie, and how the series continues to balance sharp legal drama with dry humor.

Humphrey reflected on why The Lincoln Lawyer has resonated so deeply with audiences, pointing to the show’s tonal and visual grounding in the work of author Michael Connelly. He also teased the character arc he’s most excited to expand within the Lincoln Lawyer universe and unpacked the explosive cliffhanger that introduces a surprising new family connection.

Based on Connelly’s bestselling novels, Season 4 adapts the sixth installment in the series, The Law of Innocence. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo returns as Mickey Haller, the Los Angeles defense attorney whose moral compass is constantly tested by the cases—and clients—he defends.

This time, the stakes are more personal than ever. After Season 3 ended with the shocking discovery of former client Sam Scales (Christopher Thornton) dead in the trunk of Mickey’s car, Haller finds himself on the other side of the justice system, accused of a crime he insists he didn’t commit.

Ted Humphrey & Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) Photo by Lara Solanki/ Netflix

As the walls close in and a larger conspiracy begins to surface, Mickey is forced to confront the DA’s office, the FBI, and ghosts from his own past. The season charts the emotional toll of his incarceration, not only on Mickey himself but on his law firm, his friends, and his family as his reputation—and freedom—hangs in the balance.

Humphrey, alongside co-creator David E. Kelley and co-showrunner Dailyn Rodriguez, continues to steer the series with a steady hand, blending sharp legal storytelling with emotional depth and character-driven humor. Season 4 pulses with tension while never losing sight of the human cost of the courtroom battles, keeping both longtime fans and new viewers fully engaged. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue natural, and the performances grounded—an approach that reinforces why the series remains so compelling season after season.

Watch our exclusive interview with The Lincoln Lawyer co-creator and showrunner Ted Humphrey below:

While Mickey awaits trial in custody, his chosen family steps up in meaningful ways. Lorna (Becki Newton) takes on more responsibility at the firm, Cisco (Angus Sampson) chases down leads—often with unexpectedly hilarious results—and Jazz (Izzy Letts) continues to bring heart and warmth to every scene. Maggie (Neve Campbell), no longer a prosecutor, takes on a more prominent role as she joins Mickey’s defense. Though understated, Mickey and Maggie’s relationship remains, as Humphrey describes it, the “heartbeat” of the show.

Outside the courtroom, a devastating and unexpected loss raises the emotional stakes even higher for Mickey. Inside it, he faces off against formidable prosecutor Dana Berg (Constance Zimmer), ominously nicknamed “Death Row Dana,” who would relish seeing him behind bars for good.

Garcia-Rulfo delivers a deeply compelling performance, allowing viewers to feel every ounce of frustration, fear, and vulnerability as Mickey experiences the same system he’s spent years navigating on behalf of others. The character’s once-cocky swagger has been replaced by hard-earned humility, and Garcia-Rulfo wears that transformation with striking authenticity. Supported by a strong ensemble—including the addition of Colbie Smulders—the season unfolds as a tense, emotional ride filled with twists, revelations, and high-stakes drama.

And when we spoke with Humphrey, he shared particular excitement about expanding both Smulders’ character and Jazz’s arc this season—two threads that further deepen the emotional complexity of an already gripping chapter in The Lincoln Lawyer universe.

Cast of 'The Lincoln Lawyer'

• Manuel Garcia Rulfo as Mickey Haller

• Krista Warner as Hayley Haller

• Neve Campbell as Maggie McPherson

• Becki Newton as Lorna Crane

• Jazz Raycole as Izzy Letts

• Angus Sampson as Cisco Wojciechowski

• Kyle Richards as Celeste Baker

• Scott Lawrence as Judge Stone

• Jason Butler Harner as Kent Drucker

• Emmanuelle Chriqui as Jeanine Ferrigno

• Elliott Gould as David "Legal" Siegel

All episodes of Season 4 of The Lincoln Lawyer are streaming now on Netflix.