The fourth season ofThe Lincoln Lawyeris one of the most currently anticipated releases, but while viewers wait for the return of Mickey Haller, they can tune into a similar law show that was released more than six decades ago. Adapted from the successful book series by Michael Connolly,The Lincoln Lawyerfollows Haller, a district attorney and recovering addict, whose luck is turned for the better after he inherits a law firm.The cast ofThe Lincoln Lawyerincludes Neve Campbell and Angus Campbell, who serve as Haller’s support team throughout his legal cases.
Since its first season was released in 2022,The Lincoln Lawyerhas becomeone of the best lawyer shows on Netflix, receiving praise for its strong faithfulness to the original series, its masterful blend of action, humor, and drama, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s performance as Mickey Haller. Theending ofThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 3seesa police officer discovering Sam Scales' dead body in the trunk of Mickey’s car, setting up an exciting story for season 4.While the release date ofThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 4hasn’t yet been announced, viewers can enjoy another show from the late 1950s.
The Lincoln Lawyer’s Mickey Haller Is Very Similar To Perry Mason’s Titular Lawyer
Perry Mason Ran For 10 Seasons Between 1957-1966
The legal drama seriesPerry Masonwas released by CBS in 1957, adapted from the fictional detective series by Erle Stanley Gardner;the originalPerry Masonseries consisted of 82 novels. Starring Raymond Burr, the CBS show follows the titular criminal defense lawyer, practicing law in Los Angeles, California; many of the clients he works with are wrongly charged with murder. Throughout his cases, Mason is regularly assisted by his secretary, Della Street (Barbara Hale), and private investigator, Paul Drake (William Hopper), while facing off against the lead prosecutor, Hamilton Burger (William Talman).
The originalPerry Masonproved very successful with critics and viewers, receiving nine Emmy nominations across its run; Burr won two Emmy Awards in 1959 and 1961 respectively, for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. After its conclusion in 1966, a revival titledThe New Perry Masonwas released in 1973, starring Monte Markham, but only lasted 15 episodes before its cancellation. Burr later reprised his role as Mason in 26 television movies released by CBS between 1985 and 1993, and his finalPerry Masonmovie was released after his death (viaClassic TV Archive).
Throughout the entire run of the originalPerry Mason,the season 9 episode “The Case of the Twice-Told Twist” was the only episode broadcast in color.
Perry MasonandThe Lincoln Lawyerbear strong similarities to each other in that they both depict lead characters who do whatever is necessaryto ensure that justice is served. The character of Perry Mason received high praise throughout the CBS series for his stance and determination to clear his clients' names (viaCommon Sense Media). Meanwhile,Mickey Haller’s track record inTheLincolnLawyerhighlights the methods he uses to find the answers in every legal case that he is assigned to.
Both shows also explore the themes of moral complexity through the lead characters. In the original series, Perry Mason fights to maintain the balance between his internal desire to seek justice and defend his clients, while inThe Lincoln Lawyer,Mickey Haller has trouble structuring his professional choices with his personal beliefs. These personal complexes make both Mason and Haller relatable to viewers, andPerry Mason’sdepiction of the legal justice system makes it a worthy watch afterThe Lincoln Lawyer.
Perry Mason Got A Two-Season Reboot On HBO That Ended In 2023
The Reboot Starred Matthew Rhys As Perry Mason
In 2020, HBO announced a reboot ofPerry Mason,created by Ron Fitzgerald and Rolin Jones. Matthew Rhys was cast in the role of the titular character, whilethe supporting cast of HBO’sPerryMasonincluded Juliet Rylance and Chris Chalk as Della Street and Paul Drake, respectively. The modern reboot ofPerry Masonreceived a highly positive response from critics, who praised Rhys' performance, its storylines, and the introduction of new characters not included in the original series. Despite the strong viewership,HBO canceledPerry Masonin 2023 to focus their attention on other projects(viaDeadline).
Despite its cancellation, HBO’s reboot ofPerry Masonis still worth watching. The series offered new insight into Mason and his origins from a private investigator to a prominent lawyer, set in Los Angeles in the 1930s. The reboot’s success was also assisted by a harrowing performance from Rhys, who received multiple acting nominations. Whilesocial media users expressed disappointment with the HBO series' cancellation, many agreed that the reboot ofPerry Masonwas a worthy tribute to the original and both series should be watched while waiting for season 4 ofThe Lincoln Lawyer.
Perry Mason
Cast
Perry Mason is a legal drama series starring Raymond Burr as the titular character, a defense attorney who solves complex criminal cases. Running from 1957 to 1966, the show features Barbara Hale as Mason’s secretary Della Street and William Hopper as private investigator Paul Drake. The series focuses on Mason’s ability to expose the truth in the courtroom, often leading to the real culprit confessing to the crime.
WHERE TO WATCH
Perry Mason is a crime drama created by Ron Fitzgerald and Rolin Jones, starring Matthew Rhys as the titular character. The series tells the story of Perry Mason, a famed defense attorney in 1932 Los Angeles. HBO’s Perry Mason is a reboot of the Raymond Burr starring series Perry Mason, which ran for nine seasons between 1957 and 1966.
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.
