Since it premiered in January 2023, ABC’s Will Trent has been a fan favorite with its character arcs and intriguing cases.
However, many fans are divided because some details have deviated from Karin Slaughter’s best-selling series.
Adapting a long book series is challenging and will never be a direct adaptation. The executive producers, Liz Heldens and Daniel Thomsen, strived to include key twists but add their own signature.
Let’s examine the key differences between the two and which version is superior.
Changing the Casting of the Characters
Many diehard fans complain that Will does not look like how he was described in the book, which was tall and blond, since Ramón Rodríguez is dark and Latino.
However, his version still features the essence of the character. He acts socially awkward, and connects to Will’s storylines, making viewers feel for his intense trauma with foster care and dyslexia.
His connection with sidekick Betty always helps.
Since so much of Amanda’s storyline dealt with being a female cop in Atlanta in the 1980s, changing her character to Black added even more depth.
It’s added a cultural aspect to her fears as she tried to adopt Will as a single woman or climb the ranks at the GBI.
I can’t imagine anyone but Sonja Sohn playing Amanda. While Amanda and Will’s dynamic still has a gruffness, it has certain familial undertones that were not present in the books.
They would risk almost anything for each other and are one of the best parts of the show.
Will even says in the books that dominant women surround him, but it often seems like he’s on a more level playing field with them in the series.
That’s also similar to Faith, who Iantha Richardson portrays, and they also explored more cultural stories.
The television adaptation kept much of Faith’s characteristics, such as developing diabetes and complex relationships with her mother and son.
However, we would love to see more of Faith’s personal life and develop her interests.
Ormewood and Angie Are Multi-Layered Characters in the ABC Series
You wouldn’t recognize Michael Ormewood from the books. Some of his characteristics were the same. He had a triggering temper and a past with Angie, but he wasn’t abusive towards his family or a murderer. Never!
While I disliked Ormewood in the beginning because of his anger issues, I understood them because of his PTSD from being in the military.
But that version of Ormewood would never murder someone. In Triptych, Will Trent’s first book, Ormewood murders women and frames his cousin, John Shelley.
Will Trent Season 3 Episode 7 covered this case, but had an entirely different person framing him.
Ormewood has evolved from losing his temper and roughing up suspects, especially now that he’s a single dad.
Gina leaving him was the best thing to happen to him since it allowed him to grow his relationship with his kids and develop a softer side.
If you thought Angie and Will were dysfunctional on the ABC series, you haven’t read the books. Thanks to the writing and Erika Christensen‘s portrayal, Angie Polaski is a much more multi-layered character on the series.
In the books, I couldn’t stand Angie. Part of me sympathized with her because she had a horrible mother, but she berated Will about his dyslexia when she was angry at him.
Their relationship was toxic, but Will didn’t know better until he met Sara. I’ll admit their relationship has issues on the show, but Angie isn’t one-dimensional.
Her past still motivated her and encouraged her to help other victims of sexual assault, not sex workers. She genuinely cared about Will, and sometimes lashed out, but she wasn’t downright cruel.
Angie Polaski is my girl. I love this version. She’s flawed, but she’s a survivor and strong, and I root for this version, whereas I couldn’t wait for the book version to disappear.
The TV Series Balances Dramatic Character Arcs and Comedic Relief
The Will Trent books often depict gritty cases and graphic and violent scenes. No one does a twist like Karin Slaughter.
They’re entertaining thrillers, but we have so many gritty thrillers on television that I’m relieved the series lightened it up some.
It’s difficult to watch violent murders and rape all the time. Some of the cases Will and his team witnessed on the television series were horrific enough, especially when Will saw his foster mom’s murder.
I appreciate how hard the Will Trent EPs worked to create a similar story that often puts the characters through the wringer but eventually allows them to find joy.
Daniel Thomsen recently said, “That resonates with us, those life challenges of adversity, no matter who you are. You have to keep going. We do it, and we do it the same way Karen does. There’s a lot of humor, work ethic, and just getting up and keeping going.”
Although the series has shown several violent cases, it has become better at balancing drama and humor, especially in Will Trent Season 3.
This season threw some of the most emotional storylines at our characters, including Will accidentally shooting a child and Ormewood developing a brain tumor.
Neither arc will disappear overnight, and will have long-term emotional effects. We will likely see more of both storylines in Season 4.
However, during both arcs, there were also entertaining dancing sequences that lightened the severity of the scenes and had you longing for more of those scenes.
Other characters experience entertaining episodes, like when Amanda and Evelyn went on a “Girls Gone Wilder” trip and discovered a murder. We need more lighthearted cases like that.
The Sara Linton of It All
Karin Slaughter’s Grant County series introduced Sara Linton, and she reappeared in the third book of the Will Trent series.
She ended up being the love of Will’s life, yet she has not appeared on the ABC series.. The EPs and Ramón Rodríguez have all stated they know of her importance, but are waiting for the right time.
They are working on nurturing the current canvas and haven’t made any decisions. This has disappointed many book diehards since that is Will’s endgame, yet perhaps things will be different on the TV series.
Currently, Will and Angie are broken up, and Angie is pregnant with Dr. Seth’s baby. However, they will always be connected, no matter who they date. That has become evident, and their partner must accept that.
I’ve read the entire Will Trent series, and while I enjoy them, I adore the TV version. I can’t imagine anyone else portraying these characters.
They work so well together, and that’s part of the reason the series appeals to many fans. While some diehards want Sara to join, imagining another person joining this tight-knit cast is difficult.
Over to you, Will Trent Fanatics. Which version of Will Trent owns your heart?
