Manuel Garcia-Rulfo has a theory about the success of The Lincoln Lawyer, and it's about time.
Though the series premiered on Netflix in 2022, the original movie starring Matthew McConaughey came out in 2011 — and Michael Connelly’s bestselling novel dates back to 2005. The shaggy drama also features a distinctive 90s-era appeal, and not just because it was adapted by The Practice creator David E. Kelley.
"I think people had forgotten about these kinds of shows," says Garcia-Rulfo, who plays the titular hero. "Everybody can watch no matter the age, and you can understand it and get engaged in it. There’s legal stuff, but it’s very easy to follow with cool characters. And there is suspense and some thrills and drama, with a little bit of comedy."
He adds that the fourth season, which drops in its entirety on February 5, adheres to all the above.
When we last saw L.A. hotshot Mickey Haller, the lawyer was being arrested for a murder after police had discovered the body of his former client in the trunk of the Lincoln. "The stakes are higher [this season] because now he’s fighting for his own life," he says. "So you’ll see him on the other side of the table. It’s very emotional and dramatic. I enjoyed doing it a lot because it required, you know, a little more performance and a different approach."
A native of Guadalajara, Jalisco, in Mexico, Garcia-Rulfo studied acting at the New York Film Academy and started his career in his home country before returning to the U.S. Prior to laying down the law, he appeared in From Dusk till Dawn: The Series and Goliath; he also had a key role in the 2025 blockbuster Jurassic Park: Rebirth.
As a viewer, Garcia-Rulfo admits he rarely watched small-screen legal dramas growing up, instead opting for the Tom Cruise-starring films A Few Good Men and The Firm. "I’ve always loved watching how the justice system works in the States," he says. But he was still influenced by plenty of TV favorites. He picks his list of My Seven Shows for the Television Academy.
Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac (1986-89, TV Asahi)
Saint Seiya: The Knights of the Zodiac
I watched this when I was really little in Mexico. This was a Japanese anime series, and it changed my life. It was a combination of everything that I loved. Oh my goodness, it was so dramatic! It was about these knights living in Greece. Then Athena is stolen, and these knights have to go save Athena. Even the other day, one of the characters from back in the day showed up in my Instagram feed, and I was so happy.
The Wonder Years (1988-93, ABC)
I was very, very attached to this when I was a kid. I was so young that, honestly, the first thing that [stands out] was the song that played over the opening credits [“With a Little Help from My Friends”]. I don’t even quite remember the episodes — I could just relate to these kids coming of age. My sister got us to watch it, and we couldn't miss it. And by the time it aired in Mexico, the episodes were already old. And everything was dubbed in Spanish.
The Simpsons (1989-, Fox)
Now, you have South Park and all these other animated shows. But, back in the day, I remember my parents watching The Simpsons and being like: "That’s diabolic!” I think it’s because Bart was a little rebellious. As a kid, I loved Bart. Everything that he did, I just would have this urge to do it, too. The way the show looked at society — it was so out of the box and so different compared to what we had in Mexico. I don’t watch it anymore, but I remember it being so hot for a few years.
Friends (1994-04, NBC)
You know, this was huge in Mexico. I didn’t watch every episode, but every time it came on TV, I would leave it on — though there was a continuing story, every episode could stand alone as being funny. I remember sometimes crying because I was laughing so hard.
My favorite character was Ross [David Schwimmer]. And the episode that stands out for me is when Ross and Joey [Matt LeBlanc] needed to climb down the stairs [the fire escape] outside the apartment building in New York, because they were outside and locked out. Then, they have to climb over each other — and their pants start coming down. It was too good!
24 (2001-10, Fox)
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in 24
This was so good, too! It didn’t air in Mexico, so we had to wait until someone came from the States with the DVDs. It was the first time I’d ever seen pacing in this kind of a TV show. The way the camera moved, it was like a documentary. It felt very real — it felt like you’re really locked into that time frame in each episode. This was a very smart way to get you hooked. It was always fun to watch this hero [Kiefer Sutherland] saving the world and doing all this action.
True Detective (2014-, HBO)
I’m talking about the first season [with Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey]. I binged it all at once because I don’t like to wait. It was almost like watching cinema, it felt so gritty with very complex characters. And, visually, it was so beautiful. It was also a really interesting story. This was television on another level.
Game of Thrones (2011-19, HBO)
I love fantasy — it’s one of my guilty pleasures. I read the first two books before the series premiered. Then, the show came on and it was just too good. It was very well done, production-wise. The actors were amazing. The dialogue was amazing. And the storylines were very daring. I mean, when the show killed off Ned Stark [Sean Bean], I was like, “Holy shit!” This was the lead character, and the most moral and most honorable man on the show. It was such a bold move. So, of course, I had to keep watching to see what was next. I like to binge, but for Game of Thrones, I had to watch every week.
The show has been edited for length and clarity.
The Lincoln Lawyer is streaming now on Netflix.
