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The Lincoln Lawyer

 To me, the "Lincoln Lawyer" stories lack some of the power of "Bosch." 


Connelly's Bosch is like Batman; he has a mythic storyline. His mother was murdered; he, Bosch, also carries the wound of Eleanor Wish's violent death. The "Bosch" TV series has the major asset that is Titus Welliver; though Manuel Garcia-Rulfo has charisma, he simply can't hijack a scene in the way that Welliver can. Welliver often seems to have ten or twelve mysterious, unstated thoughts happening behind his eyes--Garcia-Rulfo can't achieve the same impact.

That said, "The Lincoln Lawyer" does profit from Neve Campbell's work. I can't remember the character of Maggie from the print version of "The Law of Innocence"--a novel I did not love. But--wisely--the TV producers have given Maggie quite a bit to do. She has to help her ex-husband while also paying attention to her current relationship. She has to listen to Mickey's wishes--but she also has to consider her daughter's wishes. She has to keep a respectful distance from Lorna (who is, after all, *not* a friend)--but she also needs to keep a few fingers in the professional pie, because Lorna's career success is (presumably) tied to Maggie's ability to pay for her own child's college tuition.

Neve Campbell has skills; she can "telegraph" an inner conflict. I'm always happy to see her on-screen. She is high among the list of reasons why I'm still watching "The Lincoln Lawyer."
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