TV’s Best Redemption Arc? Will Trent Season 3 Quietly Transformed Its Most Hated Character
Will Trent has never been short on complex characters. From its titular GBI agent with a traumatic past to a supporting cast that is just as layered, the ABC crime procedural has built its strength around emotionally resonant storytelling. While Will Trent himself remains the heart of the show, Season 3 has pulled off something few viewers saw coming — it turned one of its most disliked characters into one of the most compelling.
Now renewed for a fourth season set to air during the 2025–2026 TV season, Will Trent continues to evolve, not just in storylines, but in character development. And while fans expected Will to remain the focal point, it’s Michael Ormewood who’s emerged as the breakout arc of Season 3.
Ormewood’s Redemption Arc Is One Of Will Trent‘s Greatest Surprises
When the series first introduced Michael Ormewood (played by Jake McLaughlin), he was abrasive, corrupt, and frankly hard to root for. As Angie Polaski’s APD partner, Ormewood embodied the stereotypical “bad cop” trope — cheating on his wife, abusing his badge, and showing little remorse. He was the character viewers loved to hate, and for good reason.
But that’s exactly what makes his transformation in Season 3 so remarkable.
Over the past two seasons, Ormewood has undergone a quietly powerful evolution. The smug, hot-headed cop has become one of the show’s most emotionally honest characters. No longer just comic relief, he’s now one of Will Trent’s most endearing presences — a devoted father, a more grounded partner, and surprisingly, someone in tune with his own emotions. His sarcasm is still intact, but it’s tempered with vulnerability and self-awareness.
A Tumultuous Past Fuels Ormewood’s Growth
Much of Ormewood’s shift stems from personal upheaval. The breakdown of his marriage — a necessary yet heartbreaking step — forced him to confront his flaws and rebuild himself. Instead of spiraling, he chose growth, showing up for his son, owning his past mistakes, and striving to be a better man. That quiet resilience is what makes his arc so powerful. He didn’t become perfect — he became real.
Ormewood’s journey has been carefully crafted, and Jake McLaughlin’s grounded performance has brought authenticity to each stage of his character’s evolution. But just as he was finally becoming someone fans could root for, the show introduced a devastating new twist.
Ormewood’s Brain Tumor Storyline Adds New Layers
In Season 3, Episode 14, Ormewood’s worldis rocked by a shocking medical diagnosis: a brain tumor. After experiencing issues with balance and spatial awareness, he collapses and is examined by Dr. Seth McDale — who also happens to be Angie’s new romantic interest. The diagnosis leaves Ormewood rattled, vulnerable, and terrified.
The reveal offers another opportunity for deep character exploration. His emotional reaction — including a tearful moment where he opens up about his father’s death — is one of the most moving scenes of the season. It’s a stark contrast to the closed-off man we met in Season 1, and it’s a testament to how far he’s come.
Co-showrunner Liz Heldens has confirmed that the storyline will not be brushed aside. “We are making story of every step of this,” she told TVLine, hinting that Ormewood’s diagnosis will continue to play a major role as the season progresses — and likely into Season 4.
Why Ormewood’s Arc Matters
Television is full of characters who are redeemed too easily — a quick apology, a heroic moment, and all is forgiven. But Will Trent is taking its time with Ormewood. His transformation hasn’t been flashy; it’s been slow, earned, and deeply human. That’s what makes it so effective.
By allowing him to falter, reflect, and rebuild, the writers have turned Ormewood into one of the show’s most complex and sympathetic characters. He may have started as Will Trent’s most frustrating figure, but now, in Season 3, he’s one of its best.
As fans brace for what’s next, one thing’s clear: no matter what happens with his health, Michael Ormewood’s redemption arc has already made Will Trent Season 3 one of the most emotionally rewarding seasons of TV this year.
