There’s no shortage of police procedurals on television, so you might be forgiven if another one slipped through the cracks. However, there’s enough going on under the hood of ABC’s newest procedural, Will Trent to make it well worth checking out.
What’s It About?
Will Trent is based off a series by the same name, written by Karen Slaughter. The show stars Ramón Rodríguez as the titular character. He’s the best the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has to offer, and his dark past makes him even more determined to help those who were once like him. Starring alongside Rodríguez is Erika Christensen as fellow cop (and love interest) Angie Polaski, Iantha Richardson as his partner Faith Mitchell, Jake McLaughlin as fellow cop (and adversary) Michael Ormewood, and Sonja Sohn as his commander…and basically the only reason Trent still has a job.
It isn’t that Trent is bad at his job. Far from it. He’s so good at it, he was tasked (prior to the start of the series) with uncovering dirty cops within the department. Which didn’t exactly endear him to his fellow officers. Particularly Faith (whose mother was brought down by Trent’s investigation) and Ormewood (who probably has more than one reason to dislike Trent).
In his corner, however, he has Angie. Yes, she’s his love interest, but she’s also his friend. Honestly, she’s one of the few friends he’s got, and not just because he alienated so many of his fellow officers by being a good cop. She knows his secrets; she’s part of his past. In fact, growing up together in the group home, her past is every bit as dark as his own. Which gives them both someone to lean on, but it also means that Trent is a constant reminder of the worst parts of her past. It’s a complicated relationship.
As strong as the connection between Trent and Angie is, the relationship between Trent and his reluctant partner Faith is not. At least, not at first. Watching the two let their guard down and gradually come to trust each other is one of the best parts of the show.
Why You Should Watch
As common as police procedurals are on television, procedurals starring quirky characters with special “gifts” are almost as common. Just look at series like Psych and Monk, for example. Will Trent isn’t quite like those shows. For one thing, it’s a lot darker. It’s far more “gritty” than “quirky,” even if Trent himself is seemingly full of tiny quirks. Like Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), Trent doesn’t really have a special power. He’s just really observant, methodical, and meticulous. Some might even call him uptight. But the truth is that he’s less uptight than self-contained.
Trent has a private burden he carries. He grew up in the system after being abandoned in a dumpster, and his time in foster care was…well, not great. He’s dyslexic, which led to some of the torture he was subjected to as a child, and is therefore now a secret he keeps from everyone but those closest to him. His past, as painful as it clearly is (hinted at more than openly addressed thus far in the show) helped him become the detective he is today. Because of what he suffered as a child, he’s determined to save others from a similar fate. As much as possible, at least.
The entire cast of Will Trent is fantastic, but there’s no question that Rodríguez truly shines in the titular role. He’s the perfect blend of socially awkward and yet endearing. Self-contained but vulnerable. Caring but guarded. He is determined to do whatever’s necessary as a cop to help people, even if it means reopening his old wounds…or Angie’s. But because his heart is in the right place when he does so, it’s hard to hate him for it. And when he does drop his guard and let people in? Your heart will ache for him. (I defy anyone not to hurt on his behalf when he confesses to Faith why he keeps it such a secret.)
Plus, Will Trent has one of the most adorable pocket-sized dogs on television. Trent is a reluctant dog owner at best, but he can’t help falling for his teacup-sized sidekick, and…I mean…I can’t blame him for it.
Will Trent has a cast full of realistic characters who are all “broken” in their own ways. You’ll root for Trent to grow closer to characters like Faith and Ormewood. And the ship? On the one hand, they’d clearly die for each other. On the other hand, they both have a lot of baggage, and sometimes that’s hard to carry. The ship is good, but there’s no question it’s also going to hurt. Which somehow makes it even better.
Will Trent airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on ABC and is streaming on Hulu.
