I’m usually very picky about the introduction of new characters, especially on network procedures, where too much focus on someone new usually means that they’re secretly a villain. That’s why I was so surprised when Will Trent’s new love interest for Angie (Erika Christensen), Dr. Seth McDale (Scott Foley), won me over after just one episode. I was already biased toward this character as a Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal fan who was happy to see Scott Foley on one of my favorite ABC dramas again, but Seth has turned out to be really good for Angie. He also fits in well with the rest of the show, giving Will Trent opportunities to have storylines at the hospital, and playing very naturally off the rest of the characters.
As we move into the Season 3 finale of Will Trent, I’m getting the feeling that a major death is coming. For one thing, Christensen has already hinted as much. For another, the penultimate episode of the season ends on a wild cliffhanger where Ormewood (Jake McLaughlin), Seth, Nico (Cora Lu Tran), and Betty the chihuahua (Bluebell) are trapped with a biological weapon inside the hospital where Seth works. The last time a show that I love did this, the main character was killed off, so I am naturally very concerned. As it stands, of the three people and one dog in danger right now, I believe that Seth will be killed off in the next episode.
I Am Worried About Seth McDale’s Fate in ‘Will Trent’s Season 3 Finale
It’s pretty clear that Will Trent is going to pull a major character death in the season finale, and at this point, Seth is the character that makes the most sense. Will Trent is probably not going to kill off Nico or Betty, because those deaths would be a little too dark for the show. This show certainly covers a lot of heavy content, but it also maintains a balance with comedy and more touching moments.
Having Will lose either Betty or Nico would just be too much, and wouldn’t lead to many new storylines beyond putting Will in a similarly dark place to where he started the season. Ormewood has been dealing with a brain tumor throughout the second half of the season, so it would be tragic especially for him to die at work before receiving treatment (and it would absolutely crush me), so I really think it’s going to be Seth.
Seth’s arc on Will Trent has felt very intentional, although I wasn’t sure what the show was working towards with him until now. He was introduced as a great love interest for Angie, a funny and kind widow who had also previously struggled with addiction. Although I can’t stand Angie and Will (Ramón Rodríguez) as a romantic pairing, it’s been pretty clear to me that the show wasn’t done with them.
Will Trent could have had Angie dump Seth for Will eventually, but the show has just revealed that Angie is pregnant. Angie and Seth both seem to want to have the baby, although he tells her that it’s entirely her decision, and she is worried about becoming a parent after everything that her recently-deceased mom (Molly Price) did to her. I really like Seth and would be sad to see him die, but it makes feel that the show would kill off a likable side character instead of one of its mains.
Seth’s Death Would Lead to a Major Storyline for Angie in ‘Will Trent’ Season 4
The idea of Will Trent killing off Seth already leads to a clear storyline for Angie in its upcoming fourth season. Her most recent storyline was especially emotional, as Angie had to deal with the death of her mother, right after her mother admitted to what she did to her as a child, and then told her that they were the same.
Angie broke her sobriety after this, but she then had a really emotional moment where she let go of her mother and stopped drinking again. Seth’s death will bring a lot of grief to Angie right after her mother’s death, but she will have to keep her sobriety this time, due to being pregnant. As Angie would be thinking about the arrangement of parents that she wants to be while dealing with the grief of losing Seth, this could likely bring her and Will back together again.
I would love to see Seth live and raise the baby with Angie, but when I think about it more deeply, their whole relationship has felt a little too good to be true. As someone who watches a lot of procedures, I initially thought that Seth’s purpose would be to be the perfect boyfriend whom Angie just couldn’t love. I figured that they would break up, and she would go back to Will, albeit probably just temporarily. Now, though, it does make sense that their rushed relationship and the focus on how great Seth is could have all been leading to tragedy. As we move into the Season 3 finale, I will be sad if Seth dies, but this storyline will also feel pretty fitting for Angie’s arc and the tone of this season.
