‘Will Trent’ Delivers a Tragic Twist and a Powerful Reveal From Will and Rafael’s Past
ABC’s under-the-radar hit Will Trent just dropped one of its most emotional and revealing episodes yet — and if you’ve been sleeping on this detective dramedy, now’s the time to wake up.
The latest hour offers a deeper look into what shaped the Georgia Bureau of Investigations’ sharpest (and quirkiest) agent, Will Trent, played by Ramón Rodríguez. While the series often balances dark cases with heart and humor, this episode adds a surprising emotional punch — and even sneaks in a clever nod to General Hospital that longtime soap fans will love.
All season long, Will has wrestled with whether to help Rafael Wexford (Antwayn Hopper), a childhood friend turned gang leader, find a way out of his criminal life — ideally without facing serious prison time. But why the loyalty? The answer lies in their shared history. Raised in the foster system, Will found something resembling home when Rafael’s grandmother (played by TV legend Marla Gibbs of The Jeffersons) took him in. That bond forged a brotherhood that still holds weight decades later.
Co-showrunner Daniel Thomsen explains that introducing Rafael was part of a broader effort to peel back Will’s layers. “We knew Will and Angie [Erika Christensen] were going to have more distance between them this season, so it felt important to bring in someone from Will’s past — someone who could help us understand who he is at his core,” says Thomsen.
The addition of Rafael allows viewers to see a side of Will that’s not just about solving cases — but confronting his own past. “The idea that Will may have bent the law growing up, but still became this deeply moral person — or as he puts it, ‘pathologically scrupulous’ — felt both real and compelling,” adds Thomsen.
That personal journey comes to a head when Rafael returns with devastating news: their beloved caretaker has died. Suddenly, the pair is faced not only with planning a funeral but with confronting a buried secret from their past — one that reshapes everything we thought we knew about Will. The writers even tie in a playful yet poignant reference to General Hospital, inspired by co-showrunner Liz Heldens’ own memories. “I used to watch it with my grandmother religiously,” she says. “We planted the idea early in the season and loved circling back to it in such a meaningful way.”
As for what’s next? This episode is just the beginning. With big reveals and personal reckonings piling up, Will Trent is laying the groundwork for its most compelling stretch yet. And with performances like those from Rodríguez and Hopper bringing real heart to the screen, it’s clear this series is more than just another crime procedural — it’s a character-driven standout that deserves a lot more buzz.
