During last year’s ‘Will Trent” season 2 finale, the title character’s entire personal and professional life was thrown into upheaval after he found out his girlfriend and lifelong confidant Angie Polaski had covered up for someone who turned out to be a serial killer.
Will had Angie arrested, then disappeared into the wind with his pet Chihuahua Betty in tow.
The third season of this Atlanta police procedural, which returned on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. on ABC, shows what life is like for all the main characters some six months later, about the time span since the last new episode aired. Without giving away too much, it’s fair to say Will is not in Atlanta, Angie is not a police officer and the other characters have had to readjust and move on.
The show, which blends witty banter and lighthearted moments with serious drama, grew audience in season two in a way that indicates it could become a long-term player for ABC. That spells good news for Atlanta, where the show is shooting 18 episodes this season, as well.
I visited the set in December and caught up with several of the actors, including a new main character played by Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin,” “Not Dead Yet”), who provides the show a legal angle as an assistant district attorney.
Will, of course, can’t stay away from Atlanta forever, although he dispenses with his signature suit and tie and looks casual throughout the episode. A possible murderer who has a past with Will requests to talk to him, and his boss Amanda Wagner (Sonja John) tracks him down to get him back after he basically ghosted everybody ― including Angie.
“You think you can hide forever?” Amanda says in a scene shown in the trailer. “Come on home.”
There is a joke where everyone he abandoned throws something at him in anger. And he finds out his Georgia Bureau of Investigations colleague Faith Mitchell (Iantha Richardson) had taken his office, forcing him to sit in the bullpen.
Here are comments from five of the actors to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Credit: Disney
Credit: Disney
Ramon Rodriguez (Will Trent)
Directing the first episode of season 3: “It was exciting. I’ve directed before but never television. I know the characters and the crew really well. It was fun coming in two weeks early prepping. I was smiling the entire time. I felt we had some bold, fun fight scenes and fun music. I got to bring in some classic hip-hop songs I love. I’m really proud of it. It was important for me to start season 3 with a bang.”
On Gina Rodriguez’s new character: “Gina came in and immediately we had a blast from that first episode. She’s a different flavor. Her character is from a different world, the court system. There’s also a levity. She has a great sense of humor. It’s a refreshing palette. The way she and Will click is interesting. When they first meet, they don’t get each other at all but he eventually recognizes they have a common code of truth and facts that resonates for both of them.”
On the Angie conundrum: “You take these two and explode them. Do we try to patch it up? Is there a way to patch it up? How do you get Angie back into the APD? And how do you get Will back to the GBI? We show early on how complicated it is for both Will and Angie. We make a good argument that what she did was wrong but understandable. He didn’t want to arrest her but he has a moral code. He figured it was going to get out anyway and it was going to be bad. It may as well be him who does it. Three people died because she covered up that murder. The reality is they have a trauma-bonded relationship.”
Betty is back: “We didn’t want Will to go home immediately. He goes from Tennessee right into this case. He has brings Betty to a crime scene. I was carrying her a lot so it wasn’t too complicated. She’s pretty good most of the time but sometimes she does what she wants. She is hilarious. She’s funny. Even though we go months without seeing each other, the minute she sees me again, she jumps into my lap.”
Credit: RODNEY HO
Credit: RODNEY HO
Erik Christensen (Angie Polaski)
Her thoughts on the season 2 finale: “Angie had a serious fall from grace. She was way off when it came to Crystal (the teen serial killer who went after sexual abusers). She saw too much of herself in her. Her maternal feelings kicked in. Her heart was in the right place but she messed up. It was not malicious. It just got out of hand. She had a big blind spot.”
What is up with Angie now? “She is not in prison. We jump ahead in real time. She has been seriously humbled. She is given the opportunity to think about how she got where she is. She has to piece her life together and find her own way back to trusting herself. She deeply identifies as a police officer. She doesn’t want to live a life detached from her purpose. And she has to fight herself back to everyone else trusting her, as well.”
Her relationship with Will: “They are not talking. Angie is well aware that if she is lucky to end up back on the force, she will cross paths with him again. She didn’t expect Will to arrest her. That was such a betrayal. But they know each other in ways nobody else does (as fellow foster kids growing up together). The depths of their shared understanding and their shared history cannot be matched.”
Gratitude: “It’s been a good long season and a good long gig. I was talking to the riggers and grips. They said this is a really good gig. This is not something to complain about. We are psyched. The purity of knowing exactly what we’re trying to accomplish and being directly invested in that with a large group of people is magical. When I’m there, there is no place else I’d rather be.”
Living in Atlanta: “I’ve been part of this town for more than two years. I’ve really enjoyed how the writers write for Atlanta. I like being a regular at places. It definitely layers into my experience creating a life here. It’s lovely that people who live here love the show.”
Credit: Disney
Credit: Disney
Sonja Sohn (Amanda Wagner)
Morale on set: “We started the show right after COVID. There was extra pressure on that first season. The second season is where we really came together. Now the third season, we’ve really hit our stride.”
Watching Angie and Will break apart: “I have had maternal feelings toward Will. I was getting invested in their relationship. It was almost like watching your child get left at the altar. It’s not just Will is gone, but this dream of them being a happy family is gone. You want him to have this, but he can’t have it.”
On Rodriguez directing the first episode: “He comes out of the house all excited and he’s wearing a T-shirt and jeans. I said, ‘You’re directing!’ ‘Yes, but I’m also in the scene. This is my wardrobe!’ It was fun watching him be large and in charge. He’s taking this step in another direction. He nailed it.”
The Betty effect: “She’s so cute. I want to take that dog home with me. I want to steal her. I don’t pet her much because I want that dog too badly. She needs a clone!”
Amanda’s arc: “We have established how much Amanda cares about the people she works with. She cares about Will and Faith. I believe the audience will get a chance to see her expand that caring part of her personality she doesn’t show outwardly very much.”
On Gina Rodriguez’s new role: “We have been missing that element, an assistant district attorney working on cases. She becomes a voice in cases we haven’t had. Gina is such a delight. She has a sense of play in her work. She brings an added element that inspires and brings something else in the rest of us.”
Credit: Disney
Credit: Disney
Jake McLaughlin (Michael Ormewood)
On getting 18 episodes, which is now considered a full-season run in broadcast TV: “We have a little room to really dive into the characters and more of their personal lives as well. As for the cases, it’s been a lot of fun.”
On Ormewood’s personal life: “His marriage has crumbled but he’s handling it well or as well as Ormewood can. We are picking up after the dust has settled. We have some good, humorous moments with the kids.”
Ormewood’s attitude toward Will Trent: “Needless to say, there is no love lost after what he did to Angie. For all his faults, he does have a lot of integrity and a lot of loyalty toward those he cares about. When someone is betrayed, he’s one of those guys who feels it. He took what Will did as a personal affront. I don’t blame Angie one bit for what she did. If someone is causing harm to children in any way, any punishment they get is well deserved.”
The way the show keeps it light: “It’s the like the military. (McLaughlin served as a U.S. Army infantryman.) You have to appreciate how surreal and absurd life can be. In order to keep yourself grounded and positive, you have to have a sense of humor. It makes us human. They’ve written that into the scripts.”
On Betty, the dog; “When I meet fans, all they want to do is talk about the dog. The dog gets driven to and from work. My work with Bluebell (her real name) is very limited. I see her more offscreen than on-screen. She’s a sweet dog ... for a Chihuahua.”
On Will Trent’s temporary “vacation mode” look: “I miss sexy Ramon. Bring back sexy Ramon!”
Credit: Disney
Credit: Disney
Gina Rodriguez (Marion Alba)
How she got on “Will Trent.” She has been friends with Ramon Rodriguez (no relation) for a solid decade, and when her previous show “Not Dead Yet” and “Will Trent” were both on the ABC slate in 2023 and 2024, they got to work panels together. After “Not Dead Yet” was canceled after two seasons, Ramon called her and asked her if she was willing to work on his show. “Lo and behold,” she said, “a few weeks later, I got an offer. I felt so loved, so supported. The creators were so incredibly kind. They very much wrote and molded this character for me. I felt so lucky. The journey has been so fun.”
A change for her: She has previously been known for more comedic roles in “Jane the Virgin” and “Not Dead Yet.” “I tend to play hot messes, quirky, all over the place. I am personally unraveled all the time, especially with a 2-year-old. I get to play someone very different from that.”
Her new role as assistant district attorney: “My character has resources the gang doesn’t have yet. She is able to fill out spaces and provides more resources and is additive to each case. She has ways she can help Will and other characters in all of their cases. It’s been fun to play this character who is extremely focused, tenacious and grounded. She’s unafraid to insert herself and has worth to give.”
Describing her character Marion: “She comes in and ruffles feathers for sure right away. That is who she is. She’s very confident and isn’t concerned about appropriating herself to fit in. She is very strong minded. She is very career driven. Coming into this space, she isn’t worried about stepping on Will Trent’s feet.”
Joining an existing show: “I’ve worked in television for 10 years. I had never come into a show in its third season. But I’ve directed television. I’ve produced television. I know how to contribute. Because of that I was confident I could come in this space lovingly. These are very loving human beings, very welcoming. I felt wanted, and that allows me to do really great work. I am very much made to feel comfortable and loved. It’s been a wonderful experience for me so far.”
Credit: Disney
Credit: Disney
IF YOU WATCH
“Will Trent”
Season 3, 8 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC, with episodes available on Hulu the next day.
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