‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Masterfully Makes Culture an Every-Day Thing

The Lincoln Lawyer. (L to R) Jazz Raycole as Izzy, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, Jonathan Avigdori as Anton Shavar in episode 105 of The Lincoln Lawyer. Cr. Courtesy Of Netflix © 2022

The Lincoln Lawyer isn’t a show about the fact that Mickey Haller is Mexican American. And yet, the character undoubtedly is, and the show’s understanding of what it means to exist within that culture, even while not fully showcasing it, elevates it from run-of-the-mill legal thriller to must-watch.

If we’re being fair, though, this is far from the only outstanding thing about the show. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo gives a performance so filled with gravitas it’s hard to take your eyes off the screen. It’s hard to pull off the right kind of courtroom swagger, it’s even harder to do so while still coming off not just approachable, but believable. Garcia-Rulfo doesn’t even seem to struggle with it.

But it’s the show’s respect for the character’s background that struck me as the most important, even transformative thing. After all, despite the fact that the character was previously played by Matthew McConaughey in the 2011 movie The Lincoln Lawyer, Mickey Haller was conceived and written as Mexican American from the start. His story is never just about being Chicano, but that is still who he is.

The Lincoln Lawyer. (L to R) Krista Warner as Hayley, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller in episode 110 of The Lincoln Lawyer. Cr. Courtesy Of Netflix © 2022The Lincoln Lawyer fathering in Los Angeles

That’s something TV these days struggles with. There are fewer and fewer Latine shows out there these days, but the ones that exist seem to deal with what it means to be Latine. Those shows are not just valid, they are necessary – as a way to reaffirm our culture, and also as a way to show help others understand. But they are not the whole experience, and the lack of shows about Latine characters doing other things reinforces stereotypes about our culture, at least to outsiders.

Who are we if not the stories that are told about us? Sure, Coco represents a beautiful, important part of Mexican culture, but it is extremely frustrating to come across people who think that watching that movie gives them an understanding of everything Mexico is. It’s even worse to come across people who confuse the specific message that particular movie sends about Mexico with a message about Latin America in general.

Mickey Haller, on the other hand, just is, in a way that’s both refreshing and incredibly important. He doesn’t speak much Spanish, but he drops some words of Spanish here and there, particularly when he’s talking to his daughter. When he does, his accent is a little more obvious. He’s extremely good at being a lawyer – a job that has absolutely nothing to do with who he is or where he was born, and after court, he has a favorite taco spot he frequents, and even takes his favorite people to. It’s normal, and the show treats it that way.

Lincoln Lawyer. (L to R) Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, Jazz Raycole as Izzy in episode 103 of Lincoln Lawyer. Cr. Lara Solanki/Netflix © 2022

Sometimes, we eat tacos (out of our cars)

As a community, we need more of that. We need more of our stories normalized. We need stories about our beginnings, our triumphs, and what it means to be Latine, yes, but we also need more stories where we just are Latine and living our lives. Doing good, doing bad, struggling, persevering, winning big cases, or losing big cases. Either way, the thing that makes The Lincoln Lawyer memorable is the way that the Latine representation in it is not particularly memorable. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo is here to play a Mickey Haller who was always Latine, and there’s no attempt to hide that. But though this is a story about Mickey Haller, it is a story about something other than his identity.

It’s a story about his struggles with addiction, about rebuilding his relationships one step at a time, and about the people who prop him up when he needs it the most. It’s also a story about justice, and what that means, both for those who have the means and those who don’t. Those are universal messages. It just so happens that the man at the center of this story is Latine.

Related Posts

Is Yellowstone Really Over? What We Know About the Dutton Family’s Future After Season 5

Luke Grimes and Kelly Reilly in ‘Yellowstone’. Photo: PARAMOUNT NETWORK  After five seasons, Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone has potentially concluded.The series finale, which aired on Dec. 15, paid tribute to renowned horseman Bob Avila…

Netflix has a big TV show problem when ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Squid Game’ are both over in 2025 — what’s their next hit going to be?

(Image credit: Netflix)Chances are, it’s one of the few services that most viewers will always have access to. It’s been in the streaming game since the late…

All About Kelsea Ballerini’s Relationship with ‘Outer Banks’ Star Chase Stokes

The country musician featured her Hollywood boyfriend in one of her music videos—here’s everything to know about Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes’ romance.“Love me like you mean…

Meghan Markle’s 9-Word Confession Makes It Crystal Clear—She Was Never Meant for Life in the Royal Family

Meghan Markle previously made a remark that is said to prove that her transition into the Royal Family would never work out.Meghan Markle previously made a 9-word remark…

Congratulations, Prince Harry! King Charles has granted Harry special permission to return to England for Christmas to receive a new title: “I’m so happy to be back, and…”

Prince Harry brought joy to the hearts of children in the UK with a heartfelt gesture in support of his charity. On Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex…

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are ‘No Longer Taken Seriously’ in Hollywood

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s latest series, POLO, failed to satisfy critics’ expectations, which could mean the Sussexes’ future in Hollywood is over.Initially, 2024 was seen as the Sussexes’ “redemption…