The Lincoln Lawyer co-showrunner Dailyn Rodriguez has spoken about the decision to put a major character’s death in the middle of season 3. Based on the novels by Michael Connolly, the hit Netflix series returned with season 3 and was met with critical acclaim. The season 3 finale ended on a cliffhanger that sets up The Lincoln Lawyer season 4, but not before the mid-season death of fan-favorite Eddie. Mickey’s beloved driver was killed after he and Mickey were run off the road by a truck while leaving the prison following a meeting with Victor Moya.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Rodriguez opened up on the decision to include Eddie’s death in the show. The co-showrunner explained how it was an important moment in the story, considering the character is original to the series. She was delighted at the goal of making audiences fall in love with a character for five episodes and then shock them with a devastating fate. Check out her comments below:

We did the job! We did it. I mean, it’s terrible, but I love it because we did what we needed to and what we set out to do. We had five episodes to create a character that everybody fell in love with, and then we pulled the rug out from under them.

And we had to do it because it’s a pivotal story point in the book. In the book, there’s a different reason why Hayley’s not talking to Mickey, so we needed to come up with something that was more personal and that made sense to the story. That’s why we created this brand new character that doesn’t exist in the book.

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. We were excited to bring that, and the actor who plays Eddie is kind of similar to the character, so it fits.

What Eddie’s Death Means For The Lincoln Lawyer‘s Future

The Character’s Demise Has Lasting Ramifications For Mickey’s Personal Life

Eddie’s death signaled a few important steps in Mickey’s character development. Firstly, it represented the loss of a friend, who was largely innocent in the grand scheme of things, a wayward kid who wanted to get his life on the right track, and someone Mickey could trust. Secondly, it made the existential threat hanging over Mickey since he started digging into Glory Dazey’s death. Finally, it served to drive a wedge between Mickey and Hayley, who blamed her father for Eddie’s death, though she forgives him by the end of the season.

Furthermore, it will likely have impacted Mickey emotionally, showing him that unexpected events out of his control can cause friction between him and his family, and it might serve as a warning to curb his impulsive approach. This will also no doubt make the circumstances more strained in season 4 now that Mickey is likely to be on trial for murder, and Hayley will once again have to come to terms with the fact that her father works in a dangerous profession.

Our Verdict On Whether The Lincoln Lawyer Will Have Anymore Prominent Character Deaths

Don’t Be Surprised To See More Shocking Demises If the Show Returns For Season 4

While Eddie’s death was unexpected, it is not the first time the show has done this since the death of Sam Scales and Glory Days also shocked viewers. If the show returns for season 4, I would expect there to be at least one major death, though I suspect the core characters will be fine. Any new season will be focused on Mickey being framed for murder, which could be linked to a wider conspiracy, and will make the situation more perilous for the characters throughout season 4.

The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 is available to stream on Netflix.