WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for The Lincoln Lawyer season 3’s ending!
This article contains mentions of suicide.
Netflix’sThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 3 includes a devastating death to close out the trial on Glory Days’ murder, thoughit was actually a season 1 character, not Neil Bishop, who died on the stand in the book.The Lincoln Lawyershow has now adapted three books from Michael Connelly’s Mickey Haller novel series, but translating these stories to the small screen has come with some notable changes. Among thebiggest book changes inThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 3from Connelly’sThe Gods of Guiltis the character of Neil Bishop, who fills the role of a familiar figure.
Neil Bishop (Holt McCallany) is introduced intoThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 3’s cast of charactersduring the premiere’s flashback sequence. The flashback establishes that Bishop and Mickey’s feud goes back more than 15 years, which plays into them being on opposite sides of the Glory Days case in the present day. Later in the season,Bishop redeems himself when confessing the truth about his role in Glory Days’ demise and cover-up with De Marco. However, this tragically culminates withNeil Bishop dying by suicideon the witness stand, a fate given to a different character in the book.
The Lincoln Lawyer Season 1’s Detective Lee Lankford Died On The Stand In The Books, Not Neil Bishop
Detective Lee Lankford’s Corruption Was Exposed In Season 1
Neil Bishop wasn’t actually a character inThe Gods of Guiltnovel, as he was written for the Netflix show to replace the role in the trial played by Detective Lee Lankford.Portrayed by Jamie McShane, Detective Lee Lankford was a supporting character inThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 1, having been involved in Mickey’s Jesus Menendez case. Like Bishop in season 3, Lankford resents Mickey throughout season 1, and is ultimately exposed by the titular lawyer forwitness tampering after Lankford kept Glory Days from testifyingin order to seal Menendez’s wrongful conviction.
While more details on why Lankford needed to prevent Glory’s testimony were hoped to be confirmed inThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 2, McShane’s character never returned in the series.In the books, it would later be revealed that Lankford had accepted a bribe from DEA Agent James De Marco to cover up a double homicide, with De Marco’s control over him leading Lankford to find Glory Days so the agent could kill her. Bishop’sThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 3 story thus unfolds very closely to Lankford’s in the book, including his tragic death by suicide at trial.
Why The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3 Replaced Lee Lankford With Neil Bishop
Theshowrunners ofThe Lincoln Lawyerhaven’t given an official reason for why Lee Lankford was replaced by Neil Bishop. However, given Lankford was also absent from season 2, it’s possible that the character had to be written out due to scheduling conflicts with the actor. Additionally, after a season-long absence, it may have been just as easy to write in a new character and backstory for season 3 rather than re-introduce Lankford and require audiences to jog their memories ofThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 1’s ending.
Netflix has yet to officially renewThe Lincoln Lawyerfor season 4.
Since Lankford’s book death is given to Bishop in the show, it seems that McShane’s character is still alivein the Netflix adaptation. However, it’s unlikely that Lankford will ever appear again inThe Lincoln Lawyer, as his story has already been completed without him. With the mystery surrounding Glory Days’ death solved, James De Marco’s deathconfirmed to Mickey by Hector Moya, and Neil Bishop tragically taking his own life,The Lincoln Lawyerhas closed this interconnected chapter of Mickey’s career.
The Lincoln Lawyer
Cast
The Lincoln Lawyer: This legal drama follows Mickey Haller, a Los Angeles defense attorney known for operating from his Lincoln Town Car, as he revives his career after an accident by taking on a high-profile murder case. The series explores challenges within the justice system and Haller’s pursuit of truth.
