Fans say it should be fans of the Netflix series next binge watch

A series hailed as ‘simply brilliant’ legal drama featuring storylines drawn from real-life scandals has been deemed superior to The Lincoln Lawyer by certain viewers.

Netflix’s courtroom crime drama has just dropped its fourth season on the streaming platform. It represents the latest instalment in the continuing adaptation of Michael Connelly’s novels.

This isn’t the first screen version, with a cinema release arriving in 2011 featuring Matthew McConaughey.

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo now leads the series as defence attorney Mickey Haller, who commands his Los Angeles courtroom from the rear seat of a chauffeur-driven Lincoln Navigator.

Previous seasons have typically centred on one major case throughout, whilst the latest sees him facing a murder charge himself.

Fans suggest those who love Lincoln Lawyer to check out The Good Wife (Image: Channel 4)

Both critics and audiences have embraced The Lincoln Lawyer, which holds a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One critic proclaimed: “The Lincoln Lawyer is as addictive as a courtroom drama can get.”

Meanwhile, a viewer enthused: “One of best if you want a quality thing to watch. This series is a masterpiece in its own way.”

Yet, online discussions indicate that enthusiasts ought to explore a more accomplished series spanning seven seasons of its own. That programme is The Good Wife , reports the Mirror.

Running from 2009 to 2016, it subsequently spawned two derivative shows in The Good Fight and Elsbeth. The synopsis immediately reveals its primary similarity with Lincoln Lawyer: both centre on prominent defence lawyers.

The Good Wife’s narrative centres on Alicia Florrick, who following a highly publicised sex and political corruption scandal that sees her husband, Peter, imprisoned, must overcome the shame and treachery and take control of her family’s welfare. She returns to her profession as a defence attorney, casting aside her identity as the disgraced spouse of a politician, and seizes command of her future.

The Lincoln Lawyer is now streaming its fourth season (Image: NETFLIX)

Numerous cases featured as plotlines are ‘ripped from the news’, meaning they draw inspiration from genuine incidents and explore contemporary issues of the day.

One critic suggested that The Good Wife might be regarded as the superior choice by certain audiences purely because it boasts lengthier seasons. These typically run for approximately 22 or 23 episodes compared to Lincoln Lawyer’s 10.

This is said to allow The Good Wife the luxury of pacing its narrative and character progression more gradually. It also permits the programme to dedicate a single episode to one particular case before moving onto another in the following instalment.

Another wrote that ‘The Good Wife is better than The Lincoln Lawyer’ whilst labelling the Netflix programme as The Bad Husband. One enthusiast explained why they believe it surpasses any other programme as they shared on Reddit: “The Good Wife is actually the best legal drama ever, like they actually cite the law and rules and not fake rules.”

This explains why one observer pointed out that both programmes may attract similar audiences, given that one of Lincoln Lawyer’s showrunners, Ted Humphrey, previously penned episodes for The Good Wife.

Additionally, his background as a former solicitor himself brought genuine credibility to both productions.

A separate viewer declared: “Simply brilliant.”

Whilst another remarked: “This show is dynamite! Every second is riveting…. I have never binged a TV show so fast before and am already desperately sad it will eventually end.”

The Lincoln Lawyer is streaming on Netflix. The Good Wife is streaming on Paramount+ and Channel 5.