A delightfully heartwarming police procedural, ABC’s Will Trent premiered in 2023 and was developed for TV by Liz Heldens and Daniel Thomsen, based on the novel series by Karin Slaughter. With a focus on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Atlanta Police Department (APD), it quickly gathered fans and proved to be a step above similar shows on the air.
Not entirely episodic, Will Trent usually focuses on two separate cases at a time with the GBI and APD, though they sometimes overlap and spread across multiple episodes. Because the stories are often ongoing, viewers are that much more invested in the show, because when one puzzle is solved, there is always another waiting. Coupling that with the ever-changing personal lives of the cast, Will Trent has had audiences gripped from the very beginning. Unlike many other shows, though, it’s only gained in popularity, with its third season averaging nearly two million more viewers an episode than it garnered in Season 1. Why is Will Trent more popular than ever?
‘Will Trent’ Has a Brilliant Cast of Characters
The biggest reason that viewers keep tuned into the series and have created such a devoted fan base is the fully fleshed-out characters that populate the show. More than just stereotypical cops, Will Trent’s ensemble cast is full of talented researchers and powerful leaders who have all had to overcome obstacles to be where they are today. Leading the cast is Ramon Rodriguez as titular Will Trent. GBI’s best investigator, Will is a man with a troubled past. Growing up in foster care after being left in a trash can at birth, he suffered severe physical abuse throughout his childhood, which was only exacerbated by his extreme dyslexia, which makes it difficult for him to read and write.
Will Trent doesn’t shy away from the realities of its characters’ backstories. Rather than use their tragic pasts as a cheap way to gain sympathy from audiences and then move along, these traumas are ingrained in the show as they affect every decision the characters make. This is especially true with APD Detective Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen). She grew up in a children’s home alongside Will, who became her lifelong friend and on-again-off-again lover. She has a history of being sexually abused and is a recovering drug user.
These elements of Polaski’s past are brought to the forefront as she becomes invested in abuse cases and works with a sponsor who is also an APD detective. She and Will’s shared past and complicated history bleed into the show as they try to navigate just who they are to each other and if they can ever separate their relationship from their shared trauma.
The excellent writers of Will Trent not only ensure that the lead roles are so well-developed, but that the supporting cast has their own backstories which influence everything they do. Will’s GBI partner is Agent Faith Mitchell (Iantha Richardson), a Black woman who is the daughter of legendary (then disgraced) GBI Agent Evelyn Mitchell (LisaGay Hamilton). After becoming pregnant as a 14-year-old, Faith raised her now-adult son as a single mother and has achieved success despite the obstacles she was faced with. She not only had her mother as a role model for Black female leadership but also her pseudo-aunt, GBI Deputy Director Amanda Wagner (Sonja Sohn), who rules the department with an iron fist and whose hard exterior protects the soft heart beneath.
Similarly, Angie’s partner, Detective Michael Ormewood (Jake McLaughlin), is an army veteran with aggression issues and a complicated home life, though he remains dedicated to the job and loyal to his colleagues.
Minority Representation Is Important on ‘Will Trent’
Will Trent is a show that thrives on its minority representation in nearly every aspect. The lead role is played by a Latino man who meets his biological uncle, who teaches him about his Puerto Rican heritage and shares his dyslexia diagnosis. Previously, Will was ashamed of his learning disability, but over time, he became more open about it and embraced tools that helped him live more efficiently.
Another Puerto Rican character, Jane the Virgin’s Gina Rodriguez, plays a pivotal role in Will Trent Season 3. Several cast members are Black women who are often underrepresented in media, especially in positions of power. The series champions them with Faith and Amanda as integral parts of the GBI. They’re seen as just as badass as the others (if not more so).
The show also addresses differences in sexuality and gender. Two recurring characters — Angie’s sponsor, Franklin (Kevin Daniels), and a local gang leader, Rafael Wexford (Antwayn Hopper) — are depicted as queer Black men, another underrepresented group in Hollywood. Giving those characteristics to opposing roles, a detective and a criminal, is one of many subtle ways in which Will Trent avoids stereotypes and paints a more realistic picture of society.
Why ‘Will Trent’ Is More Popular Than Ever in Season 3
A delightfully heartwarming police procedural, ABC’s Will Trent premiered in 2023 and was developed for TV by Liz Heldens and Daniel Thomsen, based on the novel series by Karin Slaughter. With a focus on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Atlanta Police Department (APD), it quickly gathered fans and proved to be a step above similar shows on the air.
Not entirely episodic, Will Trent usually focuses on two separate cases at a time with the GBI and APD, though they sometimes overlap and spread across multiple episodes. Because the stories are often ongoing, viewers are that much more invested in the show, because when one puzzle is solved, there is always another waiting. Coupling that with the ever-changing personal lives of the cast, Will Trent has had audiences gripped from the very beginning. Unlike many other shows, though, it’s only gained in popularity, with its third season averaging nearly two million more viewers an episode than it garnered in Season 1. Why is Will Trent more popular than ever?
‘Will Trent’ Has a Brilliant Cast of Characters
The biggest reason that viewers keep tuned into the series and have created such a devoted fan base is the fully fleshed-out characters that populate the show. More than just stereotypical cops, Will Trent’s ensemble cast is full of talented researchers and powerful leaders who have all had to overcome obstacles to be where they are today. Leading the cast is Ramon Rodriguez as titular Will Trent. GBI’s best investigator, Will is a man with a troubled past. Growing up in foster care after being left in a trash can at birth, he suffered severe physical abuse throughout his childhood, which was only exacerbated by his extreme dyslexia, which makes it difficult for him to read and write.
Will Trent doesn’t shy away from the realities of its characters’ backstories. Rather than use their tragic pasts as a cheap way to gain sympathy from audiences and then move along, these traumas are ingrained in the show as they affect every decision the characters make. This is especially true with APD Detective Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen). She grew up in a children’s home alongside Will, who became her lifelong friend and on-again-off-again lover. She has a history of being sexually abused and is a recovering drug user.
These elements of Polaski’s past are brought to the forefront as she becomes invested in abuse cases and works with a sponsor who is also an APD detective. She and Will’s shared past and complicated history bleed into the show as they try to navigate just who they are to each other and if they can ever separate their relationship from their shared trauma.
The excellent writers of Will Trent not only ensure that the lead roles are so well-developed, but that the supporting cast has their own backstories which influence everything they do. Will’s GBI partner is Agent Faith Mitchell (Iantha Richardson), a Black woman who is the daughter of legendary (then disgraced) GBI Agent Evelyn Mitchell (LisaGay Hamilton). After becoming pregnant as a 14-year-old, Faith raised her now-adult son as a single mother and has achieved success despite the obstacles she was faced with. She not only had her mother as a role model for Black female leadership but also her pseudo-aunt, GBI Deputy Director Amanda Wagner (Sonja Sohn), who rules the department with an iron fist and whose hard exterior protects the soft heart beneath.
Similarly, Angie’s partner, Detective Michael Ormewood (Jake McLaughlin), is an army veteran with aggression issues and a complicated home life, though he remains dedicated to the job and loyal to his colleagues.
Minority Representation Is Important on ‘Will Trent’
Will Trent is a show that thrives on its minority representation in nearly every aspect. The lead role is played by a Latino man who meets his biological uncle, who teaches him about his Puerto Rican heritage and shares his dyslexia diagnosis. Previously, Will was ashamed of his learning disability, but over time, he became more open about it and embraced tools that helped him live more efficiently.
Another Puerto Rican character, Jane the Virgin’s Gina Rodriguez, plays a pivotal role in Will Trent Season 3. Several cast members are Black women who are often underrepresented in media, especially in positions of power. The series champions them with Faith and Amanda as integral parts of the GBI. They’re seen as just as badass as the others (if not more so).
The show also addresses differences in sexuality and gender. Two recurring characters — Angie’s sponsor, Franklin (Kevin Daniels), and a local gang leader, Rafael Wexford (Antwayn Hopper) — are depicted as queer Black men, another underrepresented group in Hollywood. Giving those characteristics to opposing roles, a detective and a criminal, is one of many subtle ways in which Will Trent avoids stereotypes and paints a more realistic picture of society.
