‘Will Trent’: Ramón Rodriguez on Will’s Father Reveal, Casting the Actor and Angie’s Pregnancy

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⚠️ WARNING: The following narrative reveals plot points from the seventeenth episode of Season 3, titled “Why Hello, Sheriff,” currently available for streaming on Hulu, in the series “Will Trent.”

By rephrasing it this way, we maintain the essential information while making the text more accessible and easy to read.

In the second last episode of Season 3, titled “Why Hello, Sheriff,” ABC’s series “Will Trent” hit hard with a double blow that seems set to alter everything as we approach the season finale. Initially, Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen) found out she is expecting a child fathered by Dr. Seth McDale. In an unexpected twist, Will Trent (Ramón Rodriguez) was stunned to learn that his biological dad is none other than Sheriff Caleb Roussard, portrayed by actor Yul Vazquez, who is also recognized for his role in “Severance.

For Rodriguez, the star and producer of the series, this hour signifies a significant shift in his character’s storyline. “Initially, I believe both the fans and ourselves as writers toyed with the notion that James Ulster could be Will’s father,” Rodriguez shares with EbMaster. “However, we decided to delve into something that felt more profoundly personal instead.

As a cinephile, I discovered that the enigmatic figure was none other than Sheriff Caleb Roussard, portrayed by Yul Vazquez – a stern rural lawman who locks horns with Will at a crime scene. However, DNA evidence unveiled an astounding truth: we were father and son. Rodriguez reveals, “In this episode, Will learns that the sheriff he’s been feuding with is his biological dad.” This revelation strikes him deeply. Initially, he rejects this connection.

The choice of Vazquez added depth and an emotionally impactful portrayal to the unveiling. Rodriguez asserted that “he couldn’t have been better suited for the role.” Not only does he physically resemble the character, but there’s a sense of seriousness (gravitas) about him. What makes it even more impressive is that Vazquez entered the project enthusiastic and eager to play this reserved, complex character.

Christensen skillfully navigated that emotionally charged landscape. She has been playing Angie Polaski since the show’s premiere. The episode was significant as it was her first time directing for “Will Trent.” She didn’t shy away—balancing character developments, a thrilling scene involving a smashed window and a cat, and tender scenes of emotional depth.

For Rodriguez, Erika’s directorial debut was ideally suited to this character-focused episode as it allowed her to excel. “Erika did an outstanding job,” he remarks. “She established an environment where we could truly embrace the unease, the pauses, and the awkwardness of those significant scenes.”

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Rodriguez found that Christensen’s directorial debut was tailor-made for this episode emphasizing character development. He praises Erika, stating, “Erika nailed it.” She crafted a setting where we could fully immerse ourselves in the discomfort, the pauses, and the awkwardness of those pivotal moments.”

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Rodriguez felt that Christensen’s directorial debut was ideal for this character-oriented episode. He commends Erika, saying, “Erika hit it out of the park.” She crafted an atmosphere where we could deeply experience the discomfort, the silences, and the awkwardness of those crucial moments.

Not only did Christensen introduce an unexpected turn of events, but the episode also disclosed that Angie is pregnant, with Dr. Seth McDale being the father instead of Will. Rodriguez chuckles, commenting, “That’s quite a bomb we dropped just before the finale! We’ve been carefully crafting this intricate emotional tapestry, and now it’s coming apart at the seams.

Despite its intense emotional content, the episode also sets up an exciting climax next week, with co-showrunner Daniel Thomsen describing it as “our most challenging episode yet.” A bioterrorism incident forces a hospital into lockdown, trapping essential characters like Ormewood, Nico, Seth, and even Will’s dog Betty within its walls.

Rodriguez, serving as one of the main producers, played a significant role in defining the overarching storylines. One of the key decisions he assisted with was delving into Will’s cultural background, an aspect that wasn’t initially featured in the original books. “I appreciate that Will Trent could have been any character,” he expressed. “He was essentially an orphan. It was a role without any specific ethnicity. We enriched his character – made him Puerto Rican and gave him a deep quest for self-discovery.

Rodriguez’s career has been shaped by determination and self-exploration, leading him to don two roles in the critically acclaimed series based on Karin Slaughter’s novels. “What’s exciting,” Rodriguez notes, “is that you earn trust, and that’s crucial for being a producer.” “I’m not merely focusing on making myself shine,” he continues, “but rather asking, ‘How can we improve this show?’

As the series approaches its season finale and has been renewed for a fourth season, Rodriguez views Will Trent as a unique chance to combine the framework of a procedural storyline with heartfelt narrative development. “It’s about people,” he explained. “It’s about their experiences and the trials they’ve faced.” Now, we’re delving deeper into those remaining personal aspects.

For Will and Angie, things are about to get even more tumultuous as Rodriguez hinted, “We’ve got some genuine plot twists on the horizon.” He added, “The story is far from over. We’re still a long way from the end.


EbMaster Awards Circuit: Emmy

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2025-05-09 04:59