Mickey Haller has a rude awakening in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3’s final scene, which includes a more subtle tragedy regarding one of the major loves of his life. After already losing Glory Days and his new driver, Eddie, during his latest case, the dangers of Mickey’s job catch up to him with the highest stakes yet, as The Lincoln Lawyer season 3’s ending sees him find the dead body of Sam Scales in his trunk. Before his entire world was upended, Mickey had simply been on a peaceful ride home in his Lincoln convertible after celebrating winning the case.

The final moments of the season are utterly tragic after such a happy moment between Mickey and The Lincoln Lawyer’s other main characters. Not only does Mickey find one of his clients dead in his trunk, but he also comes to the realization that he’s been set up by some unknown enemy who is seemingly framing him for Sam’s murder. There’s also a third layer of tragedy created by the location where Mickey finds Sam’s body, which connects to the meaning behind The Lincoln Lawyer season 3’s opening flashback sequence.

Mickey’s Car Becoming A Crime Scene Tragically Ruins One Of The Biggest Loves Of His Life

Sam’s Body Being Found In The Lincoln Convertible Ruins Mickey’s Favorite Car

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, The Lincoln Lawyer’s co-showrunner Ted Humphrey described Mickey Haller’s convertible car as the “other love of his life,” with Maggie, of course, being his main love. However, the fact that Mickey’s beloved car has now been turned into a crime scene that could land him in prison stains the memory of the vehicle. Whoever put the body of Sam Scales in Mickey’s car was likely aware of the care and love that the titular character had for this particular vehicle, making the stakes of the crime and its personal attack even more severe.

Since it’s a crime scene, Mickey Haller’s car is also likely going to be in the possession of the authorities for some time. Ultimately, Mickey probably won’t be able to ever look at this car the same again, despite having driven it for over 15 years. Mickey has already lost the first love of his life, Maggie, after their divorce, and now he’s losing the second love of his life in this crime, with his career choices arguably being to blame for both.

Mickey’s Love For His Cars Was Already Tested By Eddie’s The Lincoln Lawyer Death

Two Deaths Of Mickey’s Clients Have Been Associated With His Cars In Season 3

Mickey finding Sam Scales’ dead body in his trunk isn’t the only car-related tragedy of The Lincoln Lawyer season 3. Prior to Mickey’s arrest in the final scene, the titular lawyer suffered a brutal loss after his driver Eddie Rojas died in a car accident at the end of The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, episode 5. Eddie’s death was caused by DEA Agent James De Marco trying to sabotage Mickey by running his car off the road during the Glory Days case, which killed Eddie and left Mickey injured.

The car that Eddie was driving was totaled, which meant Mickey lost one of his favorite cars that he would work out of in the backseat. However, it’s unlikely that Mickey would have wanted to continue riding in that car anyway even if it was possible to fix the vehicle, as it would be associated with his guilt over Eddie’s death. Following the crash, Mickey got a new Lincoln car with bulletproof glass and more protection, but it’s hard not to be reminded of Eddie when driving around in such a similar model.

The destruction and criminal use of his vehicles by others is arguably as personal as if someone were to attack a loved one on his legal team.

Mickey’s cars are crucial to his process of working through defense cases, so the destruction and criminal use of his vehicles by others is arguably as personal as if someone were to attack a loved one on his legal team. They provide freedom and a sense of calmness for Mickey as he drives around Los Angeles, and taking that away isn’t something that he responds to lightly. When The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 returns, the person framing Mickey won’t only have to answer for Sam’s murder, but also the detriment of his favorite car.

Sam’s Death Reveal Puts A Tragic Flip On The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3’s Opening Scene

Mickey Has Now Lost His Major Loves From The Opening Flashback Scene

Maggie puts her arms around Mickey's neck by the ocean in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 episode 1

The final scene’s reveal of Sam Scales’ body in Mickey’s trunk has a deeper meaning when paired with The Lincoln Lawyer season 3’s opening scene. Season 3 begins with a flashback to 15 years prior when Mickey and Maggie were still married and in love, and when Mickey fell in love with his convertible car. When the show returns to the present timeline, there’s already the bleak realization that Mickey has lost Maggie, with the final moments then tragically showing him losing his car.

Mickey has Hayley back by the end of The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, but everyone else mentioned or seen in that opening sequence is gone. Mickey and Maggie got divorced, Eddie Rojas died in a car wreck, Neil Bishop died by suicide on the stand, and Mickey’s treasured convertible is now a crime scene. After so many personal tragedies, Mickey is going to be at his lowest point yet in The Lincoln Lawyer season 4.