11 Reasons to Watch Will Trent

The ABC procedural Will Trent features everything you’d want in a television show – emotional performances, a “found family” dynamic, and an adorable sidekick named Betty.

Based on Karin Slaughter’s best-selling book series, Will Trent features a dyslexic Special Agent who solves crimes differently. This is partly because of his dyslexia and partly because of his traumatic foster care upbringing.

Will Trent pulls at heartstrings because he’s been through so much and believes in upholding the law, sometimes to the detriment of his loved ones.

It’s become one of the best shows on television because of its talented cast, emotional character arcs, and the ability to balance severe crimes and humor.

And we’d never forget Betty. She’s the reason many of us watch. 

Here are 11 reasons to binge-watch Will Trent before Season 4 returns in January.

Karin Slaughter’s Books Enticed You to Watch the Show

When I asked some mutual friends on social media why they watched Will Trent, many stated they read Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent series or knew someone who had.

While the ABC series differs from Karin Slaughter’s books, many things stayed the same, such as Will’s personality and sense of justice, Amanda’s backstory, and Faith’s development of diabetes and complex family drama.

It’s challenging to adapt a long-running book series into a television series, but the writers of Will Trent have kept the core principles at play while sprinkling in more humor and heart.

Many long-time fans love to guess which cases may make appearances on the show, and we’ve seen some infamous ones, including James Ulster and Paul Campano.

Will Trent’s Talented Cast Speaks For Itself

Will Trent features a talented cast, with one of the core members you’ve likely seen before.

I was an Erika Christensen fan because of Parenthood, but others knew Jake McLaughlin from Quantico or Ramen Rodriguez from The Affair.

Will Trent differs from many other shows in that it has featured the same core cast since the series began.

They share a close relationship both on-screen and off-screen, as evidenced by behind-the-scenes footage and more lighthearted moments, such as Will’s hallucinogenic disco dance sequence.

Will Trent Showcases His View of Foster Care

Will’s foster care experiences mimic the books, since he was abandoned at birth and ridiculed and abused in foster care, mainly because of his dyslexia.

He uses these experiences to prevent other children from finding that helplessness. Will Trent Season 1 Episode 10 explored this the most as Will fought to ensure young Theo didn’t end up like him.

Will distrusted people because of childhood trauma, and therefore, it was difficult for him to believe that his Uncle Antonio could care about him and stand by him, knowing his buried secrets.

It’s heartbreaking to think that some group homes and foster care homes still see kids as a number, not caring about them.

Both Will and Angie were victims of the system, and surprisingly, they survived, growing stronger and fighting for similar survivors.

Will Trent Features Compelling Characters and Rich Backstories

Will Trent has tied many of its cases to the characters’ personal arcs.

We’ve talked most about how the series has tied in Will’s character history, so let’s discuss the rest, beginning with how it has highlighted how being an Atlanta detective in the 1980s has affected Amanda’s current choices.

Female cops were held to different standards back then, so she made some decisions that Will and Faith found difficult to understand.

Angie Polaski is one of the most complex female characters. She was sexually abused as a teenager, and strived to protect teenagers from that same fate.

In doing so, she created a monster who went after sexual predators, yet it was a morally grey case that divided fans.

Ormewood was the most unlikeable character until his wife left him, after which he softened and became his children’s primary caretaker.

He showed he cared about his friends and family by repeatedly showing up for them.

Will Trent is Flawed, Which Makes Him More Relatable

Ever since Will Trent started, we’ve watched how his quirks help him solve cases. His neurodivergence has enabled him to see patterns in cases that other cops miss.

These skills saved Faith when she’d been kidnapped because Will could identify that she didn’t shoot a cop by the direction of the blood.

While Will often sees visions of the victim or suspect and longs to eliminate them from his head, this usually gives him better insight into the case.

We’ve usually rooted for Will because of his difficult upbringing. It was challenging to do so after he arrested Angie, the love of his life. However, Will has never seen things in shades of grey, only black and white.

He made mistakes just like everyone else, and watching him reconcile with his team and rebuild trust was an uplifting arc.

Will Trent Epitomizes the “Found Family” Dynamic

Many TV shows have lost their heart, while Will Trent features the “found family” dynamic in spades.

You can’t choose your birth family. Sometimes, family means those people who repeatedly show up for you. Amanda gave Will an extended family when she hired him at the GBI, but he needed to learn to trust Faith and the others.

Faith and Will have one of the healthiest relationships on the show because it’s always been a platonic partner relationship, but they’re brutally honest with each other.

Will and Angie were trauma-bonded and were in a dysfunctional relationship for years. While I miss their relationship, I love that they still act like family. They’ve respected each other since they were kids, and that will never change.

The APD also has its own little family, and some of the scenes between Ormewood, Angie, and Franklin are heartwarming and hilarious.

They love each other, warts and all. We can’t wait to see even more of them, especially as Franklin gets more screen time.

We’d never forget Ormewood and Faith, who were a surprise and became fast friends, then roommates.

While we’d love to see it develop into more, we also love the platonic aspect as she helps him through his cancer treatments.

Will Trent Balances Serious Crimes and Humor

The first two seasons of Will Trent featured several horrific and violent crimes, making me wonder why Will, Angie, and Faith weren’t in therapy already.

Many of them highlighted Will’s past, and Will Trent Season 3 finally learned how to balance serious crimes and humor.

One of the most memorable scenes remains Will and Rafael Wexford’s fight. They honestly acted like brothers, where they could pull emotional and physical punches, but stop when Rafael’s grandma arrived.

Neither dared to cross her.

Combining the APD and GBI always added to the fun, especially when they had to play “The Floor Is Lava” to avoid adding any more footprints.

It was even more awkward since it was the first time Will and Angie had worked together in months, and she had to help him jump over the couches, which added to the humor.

Will Trent Values Self-Awareness and Getting Help

We’ve often complained that we don’t see characters in therapy. Will rebelled at the idea, but he finally found a therapist who spoke his language.

Margaret Cho has portrayed his therapist and returns in Season 4. In the past, she’s linked his emotions to physical pain, and it looks like she’s making him focus on sports this time to open up.

We’ve also seen Angie in NA meetings, sharing when she struggled with addiction. While she’s come a long way, hopefully we’ll see her lean on people as she deals with pregnancy.

I also hope we see Ormewood talk to someone about how having cancer has changed his life, from getting sick and not being as strong for his kids to not being as present on the job.

These are the personal stories viewers crave.

Will Trent Showcases Some Intriguing Recurring Characters

Throughout the first three seasons of Will Trent, we’ve met some interesting characters who we’d love to see again.

Many of them were connected to Will, including two “fathers.” Will started off believing his father was a serial killer, James Ulster (Greg Germann). 

In the Will Trent Season 3 finale, he learned his birth father was Sheriff Caleb (Yul Vazquez). The Will Trent Season 4 trailer hints that Ulster has returned to cause more havoc.

We’re still unsure whether Seth Foley is recurring or a series regular, but he’s been playing Angie’s boyfriend since last season and has been making her question what she always believed.

Some of the funniest recurring characters were Bon Bon Chiffon (Jonny Beauchamp) and Josiah (Kenneth Mosley).

After the drag-queen episode, we didn’t think we’d see them again, but they reappeared to offer Ormewood advice about his brain tumor. They forged a meaningful relationship with him and Angie.

Will Trent Adds Choreography to Enchance Scenes

Will Trent has excelled in finding the ideal look for its scenes. At the same time, I’ve appreciated all the episodes. Season 3 featured several choreographed dance sequences that drew viewers in.

One of our favorites included Ariana Madix and Ormewood dancing at a bar, trying to learn information about who kidnapped her sister.

The two possessed chemistry, and it looked like an authentic country dance.

We’ll never stop praising Will’s hallucinogenic disco dream sequence from Will Trent Season 3 Episode 13. It was even nominated for a Primetime Emmy.

The entire cast danced to Donna Summer’s “Last Dance.” The performance brought joy to fans, who longed for Will to loosen up again.

Have We Mentioned Betty Yet?

Betty, Will’s adorable chihuahua (Bluebell), is the show’s scene stealer.

While Will and Nico (Cora Lu Tran) share the most scenes with Betty, the dog has offered emotional support to everyone, from Angie to Faith.

If Betty isn’t featured in an episode, the fans complain because she and Will share such a loving bond. She was the first person to teach him what unconditional love was, and that was precious.

If you ever see photos or videos of fan events, you’ll see everyone in the cast wanting a chance to hold Bluebell. It shows that they’re all a happy family.

Over to you, Will Trent Fanatics. Why do you watch Will Trent? Remember to vote in the poll and comment below.

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