Who is Cobie Smulders' new character? ‘The Lincoln Lawyer 4’ ending perfectly sets up Season 5
Cobie Smulders' late appearance in 'The Lincoln Lawyer' Season 4 has been the talking point since the legal drama's drop on Netflix. The show had had no shortage of action as it put the spotlight on Manuel Garcia-Rulfo's Mickey Haller. In what becomes a personal case for the protagonist, the latest installment sees him get arrested for the murder of his former client, Sam Scales, and his battle to prove his innocence against attorney Dana Berg (Constance Zimmer).
Ahead of the premiere, Garcia-Rulfo shed light on his character. According to Newsweek, "I think that's what it makes him very interesting, that he always goes a little outside the box or outside the law to get his way," the actor said. "His life is on the line, and he's on the other side of the table now defending himself. The stakes are higher.
Spoilers below for 'The Lincoln Lawyer' Season 4
The season ends with Haller finally cleared of the charges. After fending off Berg's relentless attempts to sink him, the Haller group manages to prove he was framed, with Gazarian revealed as the party behind the murder. In a major twist, their attempts to catch Gazarian end with his shocking death at the hands of his own men. This leaves them heavily reliant on his girlfriend, Jeanine Ferrigno (Emmanuelle Chriqui), and her knowledge of the situation.
The second twist comes in the form of Smulders' introduction. The final minutes see him notice Smulders' character as she follows him around the supermarket. While they do not interact at the store, she meets him at the parking lot and later pulls him to the ground as gunfire rings out in their direction. This is followed by Ruth showing up with her entire team and apprehending the men (who also killed Gazarian) shooting at Haller. The revelation is later made when the character tells Haller that she is his sister, a secret child from his father's side.
Previous reports said Smulders was playing Allison, though the character does not reveal her name in the season finale. With the streamer adapting the book 'Resurrection Walk' next for season 5, there will be more of Smulders' character seen in the new season. While there is no storyline for the fifth season, it is safe to speculate that the dynamic between Haller and his sister will be explored, becoming a major plot point of the season.
The renewal news for Season 5 came well ahead of the fourth season's premiere. Per RadioTimes, Co-showrunners and executive producers Ted Humphrey and Dailyn Rodriguez shared their excitement regarding the new chapter in a statement. "Season 4 is the most challenging and intensely personal journey we’ve taken Mickey Haller on yet, and we’re thrilled and grateful to be able to continue the ride in Season 5." At the time of writing, there is no official release date announced by the streamer, but multiple reports suggest a 2027 release is likely.
All episodes of 'The Lincoln Lawyer' Season 4 are streaming on Netflix.
