The Lincoln Lawyer‘s Showrunner, Dailyn Rodriguez, revealed that Eddie wasn’t meant to be “Mickey Jr.” adding more tragedy to his fate in season 3. Netflix’s legal drama has continued to grow in popularity with every new season, and season 3 added one of the most beloved The Lincoln Lawyer characters yet. Eddie Rojas is a young Latino man who used to babysit Hayley Haller and gets into some legal trouble after a man throws him the keys to his Lamborghini, assuming the racist thought that he had to be the valet.
After Mickey helps get the carjacking court case dismissed, Eddie insists on paying him back. They make the same arrangement Izzy once had – Eddie could drive Mickey around and pay a little back out of each paycheck. Between Eddie’s sweet personality and his wisdom, fans fell in love with him. Tragically, Eddie dies in episode 5, impacting Mickey throughout The Lincoln Lawyer season 3’s ending. During an interview with Screen Rant, co-showrunner Dailyn Rodriguez shared information about Eddie’s character that could further devastate fans.
Eddie Was Meant To Be Seen As “Mickey Jr.” In The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3
Eddie Has Similar Personality Traits To Mickey Haller
While Eddie’s death already impacted viewers, it might be more heartbreaking when hearing the intention behind the character. When I interviewed Dailyn Rodriguez on behalf of Screen Rant, she explained that she saw Eddie as a younger, Gen Z version of Mickey Haller. Rodriguez stated:
“Also, sometimes I see him as a little bit of Mickey Jr., or if Mickey had more loving and caring parents. We really wanted to create a new kind of Latino Gen Z character, somebody that felt really modern and real to us. He’s a new kind of Latin man that I believe is out there, and that you don’t see very often on television.”
Her vision comes across clearly because of the connection and behaviors of the two characters. While they had an established background, Mickey and Eddie immediately click in a way he hasn’t with many other characters. The pair frequently speak and think in the same way, except that Mickey is a bit more jaded in his understanding of the world. This could come from the defense attorney’s life experience, his upbringing, or the generational differences between the pair. Moreover, they also have a puppy dog energy, where they’re loyal, honest, and loving.
While Mickey never crochets or listens to podcasts like Eddie, it’s easy to imagine him doing so. After all, he’s so much more than a defense attorney. His interests vary from surfing to food to jazz music – the last of which is different between Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s Mickey Haller and Matthew McConaughey’s version. Ultimately, the characters are much more similar than they are different.
Eddie’s Death Is Even Sadder When Considering His Deeper Connection To Mickey
Mickey’s Responsibility In Eddie’s Death Has A Symbolic Meaning If The Young Man Is “Mickey Jr.”
The knowledge that Eddie was meant to be a younger version of Mickey Haller makes Eddie’s death even more painful because of two main reasons. Firstly, if Eddie was meant to be like Mickey, the audience has a better idea of what his future might have looked like if he survived the crash. Obviously, they wouldn’t be identical, but Eddie probably would have had the happier aspects of Mickey’s life, like a positive partnership if he wanted that (like Maggie in The Lincoln Lawyer before life pulled Mickey and Maggie apart.), a fulfilling career, exciting hobbies, and beautiful friendships.
On top of this, Mickey feels like he’s responsible for Eddie’s death throughout the second half of The Lincoln Lawyer season 3. With the knowledge that Eddie is basically Mickey Jr., the situation is much harder to swallow. The defense attorney’s actions were reckless enough that he essentially unintentionally killed himself. Rodriguez’s revelation about Eddie adds a level of symbolic self-sabotage and self-destructiveness.
