‘Will Trent’ Delivers an Emotional Gut Punch With Ormewood’s Health Crisis — And the Fallout’s Just Beginning
The truth about Will’s debt to Rafael may be out, but this week, it’s Detective Ormewood who finds himself facing the fight of his life.
While Will Trent fans finally got answers about what Rafael Wexford has been holding over Will’s head, it’s Detective Michael Ormewood (Jake McLaughlin) who left viewers most shaken in Tuesday’s emotionally loaded episode, “It’s Easier to Handcuff a Human Being.” In a storyline that’s about to reshape the character’s arc entirely, Ormewood was diagnosed with a brain tumor — and his world may never be the same.
After a series of erratic incidents — including a car crash and an unprovoked outburst — Ormewood was urged by Angie to get checked out. The verdict? A tumor located near the part of the brain responsible for spatial awareness. As his doctor explained, it could be benign… or something much more serious. Only surgery and a biopsy will tell.
Though he puts on a brave face for his kids, Max and Coop, Ormewood is clearly spiraling. Haunted by memories of losing his own father young, and worried about what his absence might mean for his children, the once-unshakable detective now faces a level of vulnerability he’s never known.
A Personal Touch Behind the Story
According to co-showrunner Daniel Thomsen, the storyline was inspired by his own real-life loss: “A couple years ago, my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor and passed away. It’s still very fresh. That informed how we approached Ormewood’s arc — what it feels like when you’re trying to hold it together for your family, and figuring out how to tell them.”
This arc will play out across multiple episodes, with Thomsen and fellow showrunner Liz Heldens promising a character-driven approach that leans into emotion rather than rushing to medical drama.
“We’re not a hospital show,” Heldens said. “So we’re not jumping straight to surgery or treatment. We get to really live in what this means — for him, for his family, for his friends.”
Expect Ormewood’s roommate Faith (Iantha Richardson) to play a major role in the episodes ahead, as the series explores how their bond deepens under pressure. And while fans may be wondering if his ex-wife Gina will resurface, the answer is no — not this season.
What’s more promising? Some familiar faces from Season 2 will return to lend Ormewood support, adding more emotional weight and closure as the story unfolds.
From Comic Relief to Quiet Devastation
While Ormewood has often served as a source of levity this season, McLaughlin’s performance is turning heads for its depth and vulnerability.
“Jake can do it all,” Heldens said. “He’s funny, grounded, and incredibly moving. It’s been really powerful to watch him take Ormewood somewhere darker, but still keep him human.”
Meanwhile: Rafael’s Chapter Closes… For Now
Elsewhere in the episode, Will (Ramón Rodríguez) finally learned the truth about Rafael’s grip on him: years ago, Rafael killed a man to save Will’s life, then demanded he disappear forever. The emotional toll of that shared secret has loomed large all season.
Now, with Rafael heading into witness protection with his daughter Sunny, that chapter is closed — for now. As Thomsen puts it, “We wanted to end the arc without killing Rafael off. He’s still out there. We could always return to it, but this was the emotional peak of that storyline.”
With Sunny gone, Amanda (Sonja Sohn) finds herself living alone again — and next week’s episode will give her space to let loose, as she heads off on a not-so-idyllic getaway with Evelyn Mitchell that quickly spirals into murder mystery territory.
Will Trent airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC.
Stay tuned — this season is only getting more personal.
