It’s an unusual week for all the detectives in the latest episode of Will Trent. While Will (Ramon Rodriguez) teams up with a dead woman to solve her murder case (and restore her tarnished reputation), Michael Ormewood (Jake McLaughlin) is busy being outwitted by his own child in an investigation.
That’s right; it turns out that the youngest Ormewood, Cooper, has some serious detective skills, as she single-handedly pieces together a murder case. (Turns out, some of the sandwiches are actually pretty good.) Michael has to navigate an impromptu day of taking his kids to work after they’re unfortunately attacked by poison ivy, but it turns out to be a blessing in disguise as he grows closer to both Cooper and Max, even helping the latter prepare for his Romeo and Juliet drama club audition, which he’s nervous about telling his dad about. It’s a heartwarming moment when Michael goes into dramatic mode during their rehearsals, and it’s part of his character’s pattern.
Overall, Season 3 is a lot brighter for Michael as he moves through his divorce. He’s now roommates with Faith (Iantha Richardson) and has a fun fling with Ariana Madix.
Plus, his partnership with Angie (Erika Christensen) is going as smoothly as it can be, and he now has a chance to really embrace fatherhood. To dig deeper into this brighter new situation for Michael, TV Insider caught up with Jake McLaughlin via email to discuss Tuesday’s (March 18) episode and more!
So far, the season has brought some interesting new colors to Michael in the wake of his divorce. What’s it been like to see him come out of his shell a little more?
Jake McLaughlin: I think it’s probably partly because of his divorce and him feeling like he has more freedom in a way. But honestly, I just thought it was time to change the trajectory of the character and really tap into his comedic side. I always say that the best way to bring something to life, no matter how serious the situation, is to inject humor into it.
Luckily for me, Liz [Heldens], Dan [Thomsen], and the entire writers room saw that I had a comedic side and gave me the opportunity to lean into that and allow myself to be more in character. I’ve always played super serious roles for the most part, and it was great to get to play someone who has a real character arc that unfolds slowly over a few seasons instead of a few episodes. He’s also a veteran, like me, and anyone who knows us knows that our sense of humor is definitely…. What do they say? Not Safe for Work?
What was it like working with Ariana Madix on Episode 8?
Ariana was an absolute joy! I wasn’t sure what to expect because I don’t really watch TV, and I have to say, she blew me away. I had so much fun with her, and she’s a real fighter when it comes to matching my silliness and the outrageous way she portrays herself.
She’s so down to earth, and I’m really grateful for her personality and work ethic. She also did a “happy birthday” video for my daughter Reagan, who’s a VPR fan, and that really meant a lot to me. I didn’t want to ask, but hey, she was so funny about it at 4am! Thanks, Ariana!
Michael had a little romance with her in that episode, but when is he going to be ready for something more serious?
As for Ormewood’s relationship status, I don’t know. Personally, I love being single on the show. I’m not one of those people who thinks everyone on the cast needs to be in a tumultuous relationship or even a relationship at all. I think you can learn more about a character in a 30-second scene with just them, in a private moment, than how a character navigates a relationship.
Also, I like the idea of Ormewood putting his all into his kids and really trying to be a good father. I like the idea of him really trying to flip the script on who he is and trying to be a better person. After all, that’s really all any of us can do.
Does he ever see Faith and/or Angie as anything more than platonic friends?
I don’t know. It’s not really my choice. I don’t know how the audience feels about it, but I personally like that Ormewood has great friendships with both Angie and Faith. They’re both different in how they interact, but what I like most is Ormewood’s loyalty to both of them. I think that’s it means for him to get so much closer to his kids?
I think that even though he loves his family, Ormewood has put them on the back burner for some time and has now come to realize the error of his ways. There was a pivotal shift in him somewhere along his path and he truly wants to atone for his misconducts. I think that the more time he spends with his children, the more he realizes what he’s been missing. He seems willing to step out of his own comfort zone in order to connect with Max, and if that means doing Shakespeare, then what the hell? Let’s do some Shakespeare! Plus, I think he kind of likes it!
Cooper is an unsung hero of the sandwich killer investigation — how does Michael feel about her helping to solve crimes like that?
There’s no doubt that Ormewood is a bit surprised, yet undoubtedly proud of Cooper’s hidden talents. Her observational skills probably exceed her dad’s. I think it’s neat to see Ormewood have these little moments of discovering little nuances about his children now that he’s spending more time with them.
What else can we look forward to from Michael in the episodes ahead?
You can expect to get a few more laughs in the episodes ahead, but there’s also something big coming down the pipeline that floors Ormewood as much as I think it will floor the audience. I like to think of our fans as part of the team, so I’m anxious to see what their reactions will be.
