I’m repeating the praise for Will Trent. The stories on the show are great, but I was most impressed with the ease with which the main cast blended in with the guest actors. “Abigail B” is especially effective in showcasing the talents of guest actors like reality TV host Ariana Madix and the incomparable Scott Foley as Dr. Seth McDale, making for memorable television. Let me explain.
I love that this episode is about the weekend. Inspector Michael Ormewood (Jake McLaughlin) is multitasking. He’s dressing up for his part-time security job, showing Agent Faith Mitchell (Iantha Richardson) a room to rent in his house while talking to Inspector Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen) on the phone. Question – doesn’t Faith have a son? Where should he go when he visits his mother if she moves in?
Faith doesn’t want to be a host, but Michael wants to be Faith’s host because he’s in dire need of money. Is anyone else curious about this move, since Michael and Faith went out to dinner a few weeks ago, and now she’s considering being his roommate? Faith comments on how good-looking he is. She mentions how much she loved the movie “The Bodyguard,” an interracial love story.
Are the writers hinting at a romantic future between these two, just to try and throw us off the scent by creating a love marriage between Michael and Ariana Madix? It doesn’t matter because the chemistry between Michael and Ariana is amazing. What did you think of that goodbye kiss?
Angie struck up a romantic relationship in this episode with Dr. Seth McDale. I loved their meet-cute. Seth is the victim of a hit-and-run. Angie takes him to the hospital, where she learns he’s a doctor after he intervenes to help someone having a seizure.
She learns that he’s single, healthy, and childless. She also learns that he’s in recovery, as he refuses prescription painkillers in favor of ibuprofen. Angie’s eyes light up when she hears this, and she immediately reveals that she’s been sober “for three years – this time.” Angie and Seth have dinner with her to cut meat for him. He asks her out on a “proper” date when he’s not dirty and can use both hands. “Calm down and call them Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks!” I digress.
Anyway, “Abigal B” pulled off a clever trick. They hid this romantic comedy between Michael and Ariana in a problematic child trafficking case. I was blown away by the masterful combination of Agent Will Trent (Ramon Rodriguez) and ADA Marion Alba (Gina Rodriguez) over the trauma of their child’s (Abigail’s) disappearance and the playful banter between Michael and Angie.
The pairing worked perfectly. Soulmates seemed to find their way to each other, creating chemistry and genuine bonding moments. Every pairing in this episode was well-matched and well-matched, almost too perfect.
Will, Faith, Amanda (Sonja Sohn), and Marion were brilliant at their craft, uncovering the layers of the human trafficking ring with tact and precision. The scene where Will tearfully confessed to Marion that he was struggling to control his emotions was heartbreaking. Later, when Marion turned down his dinner invitation, Will said, “I want to take care of you.” He continued, “If you want to curl up and stare at the ceiling, I’ll curl up with you. Whatever you need.”
Despite the heavy themes of the plot, it was midnight at the lost and found, where everyone who went missing in the episode was returned. Guest star Ariana Madix, a certified EMT who is a parkourist and a black belt, threw a bigger punch than Michael.
She was arguably more effective in rescuing her missing friend, Raina (Kosha Patel). Raina had run away from a drug intervention arranged by Ariana and ended up having to be rescued from the drug dealer she owed money to.
Will outwitted his villain, Harland Jenner (John Ales), to reveal Abigail’s location. What the show did well this week was balance humor and heart. If you’re like me, you couldn’t help but smile when Will visited Abigail in her hospital room with his secret weapon, Betty. Children and small animals always make me happy. If you’re like me, you’ll keep watching!
What’s going on with Michael and Faith? Will Arian Madix and Scott Foley return in future episodes? How might Will react to Angie and Seth? Share your thoughts in the comments.
