Will Trent

Will Trent
Genre
Created by
Based onWill Trent book series
by Karin Slaughter
Starring
Music byJoe Wong
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes23
Production
Executive producers
  • Liz Heldens
  • Paul McGuigan
  • Oliver Obst
  • Karin Slaughter
  • Ramon Rodriguez
Producers
  • Ellen Marie Blum
  • David Blake Hartley
Running time43–44 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseJanuary 3, 2023 (2023-01-03) –
present (present)

Will Trent is an American police procedural television series based on the series of novels by Karin Slaughter (who also co-created the series along with Liz Heldens and Daniel T. Thomsen).[1] The series premiered on January 3, 2023, on ABC.[2] In April 2023, the series was renewed for a second season, premiered on February 20, 2024.[3][4] In April 2024, the series was renewed for a third season which is set to premiere on January 7, 2025.[5][6]

Premise

Will Trent was found abandoned as a child, and had to grow up in the Atlanta foster care system, which has had a lasting effect on him. Despite being dyslexic, he has become a Special Agent in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Will is highly observant, solving the highest proportion of cases in the GBI, which causes some envy.

Will had been assigned a corruption case involving the Atlanta Police Department, which shares an office building with the GBI. Solving it resulted in the arrest of several APD officers. His boss at the GBI, Amanda Wagner, assigns Faith Mitchell, the disgruntled daughter of an arrested APD officer, temporary GBI status as Will's partner.

He is in an on-again off-again relationship with his childhood friend from the foster care system, APD Detective Angie Polaski, who is partnered with APD Detective Michael Ormewood. Will and Angie's cases sometimes overlap, bringing the two and their partners into ongoing contact, though leading to Will arresting Angie at the end of season 2 following the ongoing killings by a serial murderer she had released.

Cast

Main

  • Ramón Rodríguez as Wilbur "Will" Trent, GBI special agent
  • Erika Christensen as Angela Polaski, Atlanta PD Homicide detective
  • Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell, GBI special agent
  • Jake McLaughlin as Michael Ormewood, Atlanta PD Homicide detective
  • Sonja Sohn as Amanda Wagner, GBI Deputy Director, former Atlanta PD officer
  • Bluebell as Betty, a chihuahua Will adopts in the pilot
  • Gina Rodriguez as Marion Alba, Assistant District Attorney (season 3)[7]

Recurring

  • Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Paul Campano
  • Greg Germann as James Ulster
  • LisaGay Hamilton as Evelyn Mitchell, the mother of APD Detective Faith Mitchell. She is a retired APD captain with 30 years of service.
  • Cora Lu Tran as Nico, a non-binary former murder suspect who pet-sits Betty for Will.
  • Ric Reitz as Director Armstrong, GBI state-wide director (season 1)
  • John Ortiz as Antonio Miranda (season 2), Will's uncle[8]
  • Christina Wren as Caroline
  • Kevin Daniels as Franklin
  • Ser'Darius Blain as Luke Sullivan
  • Sara Antonio as Gina Ormewood
  • Jophielle Love as Cooper Ormewood
  • Owen Trumbly as Max Ormewood
  • Chapel Oaks as Crystal
  • Todd Allen Durkin as Captain Heller
  • Raiany Silva as Lucy Morales
  • Kurt Yue as Pete Chin
  • Scott Foley as Dr. Seth McDale, Angie's new love interest (season 3).[9]

Guests

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedRankAvg. viewership
(in millions)
First airedLast aired
113January 3, 2023 (2023-01-03)May 2, 2023 (2023-05-02)335.99[10]
210February 20, 2024 (2024-02-20)May 21, 2024 (2024-05-21)236.64[11]
3TBAJanuary 7, 2025 (2025-01-07)TBATBATBA

Season 1 (2023)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
11"Pilot"Paul McGuiganLiz Heldens & Daniel ThomsenJanuary 3, 2023 (2023-01-03)1LGF013.61[12]
22"I'm a Pretty Observant Guy"Howard DeutchLiz HeldensJanuary 10, 2023 (2023-01-10)1LGF022.95[13]
33"Don't Let It Happen Again"Howard DeutchInda Craig-GalvánJanuary 17, 2023 (2023-01-17)1LGF043.32[14]
44"My Stupid Detective Brain"Sheree FolksonKath LingenfelterJanuary 24, 2023 (2023-01-24)1LGF053.04[15]
55"The Look Out"Charles Randolph-WrightDaniel ThomsenJanuary 31, 2023 (2023-01-31)1LGF033.22[16]
66"Should I Go Get My Tin Foil Hat?"Lea ThompsonBritta LundinFebruary 14, 2023 (2023-02-14)1LGF062.89[17]
77"Unable to Locate"Patricia CardosoHenry "Hank" JonesFebruary 21, 2023 (2023-02-21)1LGF072.63[18]
88"Two Hundred Dollars and a Bus Pass"Geary McLeodKarine RosenthalFebruary 28, 2023 (2023-02-28)1LGF082.71[19]
99"Manhunt"Eric Dean SeatonAdam ToltzisMarch 21, 2023 (2023-03-21)1LGF093.24[20]
1010"Pterodactyls Can Fly"Bille WoodruffBritta Lundin & Inda Craig-GalvánMarch 28, 2023 (2023-03-28)1LGF103.58[21]
1111"Bill Black"Howard DeutchDaniel Thomsen & Henry "Hank" JonesApril 18, 2023 (2023-04-18)1LGF112.61[22]
1212"Nothing Changed Except for Everything"Oliver BokelbergKarine Rosenthal & Adam ToltzisApril 25, 2023 (2023-04-25)1LGF122.64[23]
1313"A Bad Temper and a Hard Heart"Holly DaleLiz Heldens & Kath LingenfelterMay 2, 2023 (2023-05-02)1LGF133.32[24]

Season 2 (2024)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
141"Me Llamo Will Trent"Howard DeutchLiz Heldens & Britta LundinFebruary 20, 2024 (2024-02-20)2LGF014.77[25]
152"It's the Work I Signed Up For"Eric Dean SeatonDaniel Thomsen & Inda Craig-GalvánFebruary 27, 2024 (2024-02-27)2LGF023.97[26]
163"You Don't Have to Understand"Jason EnslerKarine RosenthalMarch 5, 2024 (2024-03-05)2LGF034.83[27]
174"It's Easier to Handcuff a Human Being"Patricia CardosoHenry "Hank" Jones & Adam ToltzisMarch 26, 2024 (2024-03-26)2LGF044.41[28]
185"Capt. Duke Wagner's Daughter"Holly DaleInda Craig-Galván & Rebecca MurgaApril 2, 2024 (2024-04-02)2LGF054.35[29]
196"We Are Family"Lea ThompsonBritta Lundin & Aja HoggattApril 9, 2024 (2024-04-09)2LGF064.28[30]
207"Have You Never Been to a Wedding?"Michael LehmannLiz Heldens & Adam ToltzisApril 30, 2024 (2024-04-30)2LGF074.69[31]
218"Why Is Jack's Arm Bleeding?"Keith PowellKarine Rosenthal & Henry "Hank" JonesMay 7, 2024 (2024-05-07)2LGF083.72[32]
229"Residente o Visitante"Sheree FolksonDaniel T. Thomsen & Rebecca MurgaMay 14, 2024 (2024-05-14)2LGF093.89[33]
2310"Do You See the Vision?"Liz HeldensLiz Heldens & Kath LingenfelterMay 21, 2024 (2024-05-21)2LGF104.08[34]


Production

Development

In February 2022, ABC ordered a pilot for Will Trent, based on Karin Slaughter's Will Trent novel series, with Liz Heldens and Daniel Thomsen set to write and executive produce, and Slaughter also to executive produce, with 20th Television as the studio.[35] In August 2022, ABC ordered the series for 2022–23 mid-season.[36][37] On April 18, 2023, ABC renewed the series for a second season.[3] On April 3, 2024, ABC renewed the series for a third season,[5] set to consist of 18 episodes.

Casting

Ramón Rodríguez was cast in the lead role in April 2022, with Erika Christensen cast as Angie Polaski.[38][39] In May 2022, Iantha Richardson was cast as Faith, Jake McLaughlin as Michael, and Sonja Sohn as Amanda.[40][41] In August 2024, Gina Rodriguez joined the cast as a new series regular for the third season.[7]

Filming

Production for the first season of Will Trent started in Atlanta on October 10, 2022, and concluded on February 20, 2023.[42]

Broadcast

Will Trent premiered on January 3, 2023, on ABC.[2] The second season premiered on February 20, 2024.[4] The third season is scheduled to premiere on January 7, 2025.[6]

Reception

Critical response

For the first season, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 89% approval rating based on 9 critics' reviews, with an average rating of 7/10.[43] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 71 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[44]

Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter, wrote that it "quickly emerges as an above-average broadcast TV procedural".[45] Reviewing the series for The A.V. Club, Max Gao gave a B− and stated, "It will welcome viewers who have never read the source material, but it risks alienating longtime fans of Slaughter's books."[1]

Ratings

Overall

Viewership and ratings per season of Will Trent
Season Timeslot (ET) Episodes First aired Last aired TV season
Date Viewers
(millions) 		Date Viewers
(millions)
1 Tuesday 10:00 p.m. 13 January 3, 2023 (2023-01-03) 3.61[12] May 2, 2023 (2023-05-02) 3.32[24] 2022–23
2 Tuesday 8:00 p.m. 10 February 20, 2024 (2024-02-20) 4.77[25] May 21, 2024 (2024-05-21) 4.08[34] 2023–24

Season 1

Viewership and ratings per episode of Will Trent
No. Title Air date Rating
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)
1 "Pilot" January 3, 2023 0.4 3.61[12] 0.3 2.96 0.6 6.57[46]
2 "I'm a Pretty Observant Guy" January 10, 2023 0.3 2.95[13] 0.3 2.89 0.6 5.85[13]
3 "Don't Let It Happen Again" January 17, 2023 0.4 3.32[14] 0.3 3.19 0.7 6.51[47]
4 "My Stupid Detective Brain" January 24, 2023 0.3 3.04[15] — — — —
5 "The Look Out" January 31, 2023 0.3 3.22[16] — — — —
6 "Should I Go Get My Tin Foil Hat?" February 14, 2023 0.3 2.89[17] — — — —
7 "Unable to Locate" February 21, 2023 0.3 2.63[18] — — — —
8 "Two Hundred Dollars and a Bus Pass" February 28, 2023 0.3 2.71[19] — — — —
9 "Manhunt" March 21, 2023 0.3 3.24[20] — — — —
10 "Pterodactyls Can Fly" March 28, 2023 0.3 3.58[21] — — — —
11 "Bill Black" April 18, 2023 0.3 2.61[22] — — — —
12 "Nothing Changed Except for Everything"" April 25, 2023 0.2 2.64[23] — — — —
13 "A Bad Temper and a Hard Heart" May 2, 2023 0.3 3.32[24] — — — —

Season 2

Viewership and ratings per episode of Will Trent
No. Title Air date Rating
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)
1 "Me Llamo Will Trent" February 20, 2024 0.3 4.77[25]
2 "It's the Work I Signed Up For" February 27, 2024 0.4 3.97[26]
3 "You Don't Have to Understand" March 5, 2024 0.4 4.83[27]
4 "It's Easier to Handcuff a Human Being" March 26, 2024 0.3 4.41[28]
5 "Capt. Duke Wagner's Daughter" April 2, 2024 0.4 4.35[29]
6 "We Are Family" April 9, 2024 0.3 4.28[30]
7 "Have You Never Been to a Wedding?" April 30, 2024 0.3 4.69[31]
8 "Why Is Jack's Arm Bleeding?" May 7, 2024 0.3 3.72[32]
9 "Residente o Visitante" May 14, 2024 0.3 3.89[33]
10 "Do You See the Vision?" May 21, 2024 0.3 4.08[34]


Accolades

List of awards and nominations received by Will Trent
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2024 Astra TV Awards Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Drama Series Ramón Rodríguez Nominated [48]
Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Drama Series Erika Christensen Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Drama Series Sonja Sohn Nominated
Best Writing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Drama Series Liz Heldens, Kath Lingenfelter Nominated
Best Broadcast Network Drama Series Will Trent Won [49][50]
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Drama Series Ramón Rodríguez Nominated [51]

References

  1. ^ a b Gao, Max (January 3, 2023). "Will Trent is a promising addition to ABC's roster of ubiquitous procedurals". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Ausiello, Michael (November 7, 2022). "ABC's Midseason Schedule: The Rookie Moves Back to Tuesday (With a Twist)". TVLine. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Petski, Denise; Andreeva, Nellie (April 18, 2023). "'Will Trent' Renewed For Season 2 By ABC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Mitovich, Matt Webb (November 16, 2023). "ABC Announces Post-Strike Return Dates for Grey's Anatomy, 9-1-1, Abbott Elementary, The Rookie and 10 Others". TVLine. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Petski, Denise (April 3, 2024). "'Will Trent' Renewed For Season 3 By ABC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Petski, Denise (November 11, 2024). "'Will Trent', 'The Rookie', '9-1-1', 'Grey's Anatomy', 'The Conners' Final Season & More Get Midseason Premiere Dates At ABC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Cordero, Rosy (August 19, 2024). "Gina Rodriguez Joins 'Will Trent' Season 3 As Series Regular". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (March 25, 2024). "Will Trent Casts Will's Long-Lost Uncle: See Who's Playing Antonio Miranda (and When He'll Make His Debut)". TVLine. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  9. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (November 19, 2024). "Will Trent Adds Scott Foley as Love Interest for [Spoiler] in Season 3". TVLine. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  10. ^ Porter, Rick (June 7, 2023). "TV Ratings 2022-23: Final Seven-Day Averages for Every Network Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
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  24. ^ a b c Metcalf, Mitch (May 3, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Tuesday 5.2.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
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  26. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (February 28, 2024). "Tuesday Ratings: The Floor Season Finale Positions Fox As Among Key Demo Leaders". Programming Insider. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
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  28. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (March 27, 2024). "Tuesday Ratings: NBC Sitcoms Night Court and Extended Family Conclude Their Seasons On-Par with Recent". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  29. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (April 3, 2024). "Tuesday Ratings: Lopez vs. Lopez and Weakest Link Return to NBC Steady from Their Prior Season's Averages". Programming Insider. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
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  31. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (May 1, 2024). "Tuesday Ratings: Lopez vs. Lopez on NBC Concludes Second Season, Its First Half-Hour Matches Series-High in 18-49". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  32. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (May 8, 2024). "Tuesday Ratings: 'Police 24/7' Has Decent Start on The CW". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  33. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (May 15, 2024). "Tuesday Ratings: WNBA Hits Two-Decade High with Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever Debut On ESPN2, Also Outdraws NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  34. ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (May 22, 2024). "Tuesday Ratings: 'FBI' Block Season Finales Make CBS Tops Among Broadcast Networks". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
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  36. ^ Otterson, Joe (August 8, 2022). "'Will Trent' Ordered to Series at ABC for Midseason 2022-2023". Variety. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  37. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 8, 2022). "'Will Trent' Drama Starring Ramon Rodriguez Gets ABC Series Order". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  38. ^ Otterson, Joe (April 18, 2022). "Ramón Rodríguez to Lead 'Will Trent' Pilot at ABC". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  39. ^ Otterson, Joe (April 20, 2022). "ABC Drama Pilot 'Will Trent' Casts Erika Christensen". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  40. ^ Petski, Denise (May 5, 2022). "Jake McLaughlin & Iantha Richardson Join ABC Drama Pilot 'Will Trent'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  41. ^ Hailu, Selome (May 10, 2022). "Sonja Sohn Cast in 'Will Trent' Drama Pilot at ABC". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  42. ^ Ho, Rodney (October 8, 2022). "ABC starts production of Karin Slaughter's 'Will Trent' TV series in Atlanta". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
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  44. ^ "Will Trent: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  45. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (January 3, 2023). "'Will Trent' Review: An Uncommonly Interesting Protagonist Boosts ABC's Procedural". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  46. ^ Berman, Marc (January 4, 2023). "Tuesday Ratings: Promising Start for ABC's Revamped Sked – 'The Rookie', 'The Rookie: Feds' and 'Will Trent'". Programming Insider. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  47. ^ Berman, Marc (January 18, 2023). "Tuesday Ratings: Solid Sampling for NBC's 'Night Court' Reboot; Peacock Net Tops Night". Programming Insider. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  48. ^ Moye, Clarence (July 11, 2023). "2023 Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards: 'Yellowjackets,' 'The Boys' Lead All Nominees with 14 Nominations". Awardsdaily. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
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  50. ^ Major, Michael (January 9, 2024). "HBO's SUCCESSION and Prime Video's THE BOYS Lead the 2024 Hollywood Creative Alliance Astra TV Awards". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  51. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (December 5, 2023). "'The Morning Show' Leads 2024 Critics Choice TV Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
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