The Biggest Twist Will Trent Made From the Books Is Hiding in Plain Sight — and It’s Genius

Of all the changes that Will Trent (the TV series) made to the books, one stands out among the rest because it led to one of the show’s best characters. ABC’s crime drama is based on Karin Slaughter’s book series of the same name, revolving around the titular character. Will Trent is a GBI agent who works with an eclectic group of people.

Among the Will Trent main characters, aside from Will himself, are his reluctant partner (Faith), his on-and-off love interest (Angie), her abrasive partner (Ormewood), and the GBI’s Deputy Director, who just so happens to be Will’s mother figure (Amanda). Together, they make for an intriguing group. However, some are quite unlike their book counterparts, which is great for one character.

Ormewood Is A Villainous Child Murderer In Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent Books

Jake McLaughlin’s Character Is A Full-On Villain

Perhaps Ormewood wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea at the beginning of ABC’s Will Trent, but at least he can say that he is not a monster who kills kids. As for the version of Ormewood in Slaughter’s novels, that’s another story. Unlike Jake McLaughlin’s character in Will Trent, Ormewood is completely cruel and a full-on villain with no redeemable qualities.

Ormewood isn’t nearly as pivotal to the story in Slaughter’s novels as he is to the plot in the ABC police procedural series. In fact, he only appears in one book — the first one, Triptych. In it, Ormewood is portrayed as a pedophile and a homicidal antagonist, who (spoiler alert!) doesn’t survive past the first novel. Angie kills him, and that’s it.

On the other hand, the show’s depiction of Ormewood is very different. Yes, Ormewood is a jerk at first. In season 1, he wielded his power and privilege as a detective in a way that didn’t paint him in the best light. Ormewood refused to acknowledge someone’s preferred pronouns and abused his suspects. Thankfully, he’s now a completely different character in Will Trent.

Why Ormewood Has The Best Character Development In ABC’s Will Trent

Ormewood Is A Completely New Person By Season 3

If one watched the first episode of Will Trent and then the season 3 finale, they would see the stark contrast between who Ormewood was and who he is now. He has undergone tremendous development. Ormewood was forced to step up to the plate when he became a single father in season 2, and it was the best thing that could’ve happened to him.

Finally becoming the parent that his kids needed also pushed Ormewood to be a better man, partner, and detective. Of course, the transition didn’t happen overnight. It was a gradual process, and now, Ormewood is one of the most complex, intriguing, and funny characters in the ABC police procedural show. He’s also shockingly more in tune with his emotions than everyone else.

Without a doubt, Ormewood has the best character redemption arc in Will Trent. Back in season 1, I desperately hoped that Ormewood would leave the TV series for one reason or another, perhaps akin to his book counterpart’s journey. Now, though, the thought of losing Ormewood following the events of the Will Trent season 3 finale is completely devastating.

What’s Next For Ormewood In Will Trent Season 4

Ormewood’s Life Hangs In The Balance After The Season 3 Finale

A few episodes before the Will Trent season 3 finale, Ormewood learned that he had a brain tumor. It was unclear if it was cancerous or benign, and the doctors wouldn’t know until he had surgery to remove it. Unfortunately, Ormewood’s operation evidently didn’t come soon enough, as season 3 concluded with Ormewood convulsing on his kitchen floor, presumably having a seizure.

Ormewood’s tumor undoubtedly caused his collapse. Even if it is benign, the mass is still pressing on several parts of his brain, which could result in irreversible damage (and seizures). Either way, it’s not looking good for Ormewood in Will Trent season 4. He might not die from his episode at the end of the season 3 finale, but he still has many health problems.

The good news is that McLaughlin is expected to reprise his role as Ormewood in the upcoming season. So, the APD detective will likely pull through after his season 3 cliffhanger. As mentioned above, though, that doesn’t mean that Ormewood is out of the woods just yet. Even if Ormewood survives in Will Trent season 4, fans should still be worried about him.

For starters, his tumor could be cancerous and might’ve spread to other parts of his body, causing his death in the not-so-distant future. Ormewood dies in the books, after all. Or he could succumb to injuries sustained in the field. Whatever the case, Ormewood has a tough road ahead of him in Will Trent season 4.