‘Will Trent’ Shocker! Inside That Major Death and Why It Had to Happen
Spoiler Alert
The latest episode of Will Trent ended with a major loss. Warning: The following post contains spoilers for Will Trent Season 4 Episode 15, “The Blank Expanse of Nothing.”
In it, as Faith (Iantha Richardson) and Michael Ormewood (Jake McLaughlin) investigated a very disturbing carjacking case that turned into an alien abduction story and, ultimately, unfortunately, a human trafficking ring investigation, Will (Ramon Rodriguez) called out of work sick at the GBI to await another call from Adelaide (Mallory Jansen). And eventually, that call came.
But not before Amanda Wagner (Sonja Sohn) started doing a little investigating of her own. On advice from her FBI contact, who was not so sure that Amanda would hear about it if Will did get a call, she went out on foot to search a potential lead.
Unfortunately, though, someone was waiting for her, and Will was set up by Adelaide. When he went to the bar she suggested, he came prepared; he had a set of questions that only Antonio (John Ortiz) could answer all prepared, and he created a duplicate of the matchbox souvenir she’d taken from their stopover in Puerto Rico that contained a tracker. Only, she saw it coming and had the wait staff in her employ to create a distraction so that she could get away.
Adelaide then made another call to Will, and this one was much more ominous.
“What a shame, Will. While we made these dinner plans, I really was going to give you everything you wanted: your uncle, your life, me, all of it, but you had to go ruin it by having your boss go looking for me,” she said.
After he protested, she continued, “It’s over, Will. You’re never going to see Antonio again.” She also teased that she left him “a little present” around the corner, and what did he find but Amanda’s lifeless body with blood stains visible on her chest.
ABC
The GBI deputy chief already survived one shot to the chest, another attempt on her life at the mall, and a career takeover attempt by her temporary successor, but could she overcome this, too? Evidently not. Speaking to Variety, showrunners Liz Heldens, Daniel T. Thomsen, and Karine Rosenthal confirmed her death.
“Amanda has been the character who has protected Will for as long as she has known him. So this gives us the opportunity for a completely new dynamic in the GBI, because her replacement will not have that same relationship with Will. Her death had the most impact on the most amount of characters. It really sets everybody reeling from this enormous loss. So it’s such a reset for our characters in a way that is painful but exciting for Season 5,” Rosenthal said.
The preview of the fallout doesn’t look good. In the lookahead for next week’s episode, we see an ambulance taking off from the site as Franklin (Kevin Daniels) warns, “This is as bad as it gets.”
The official description for the episode, titled “Our Last Dance,” tells us, “Reeling yet relentless, the team hunts Adelaide and searches for Antonio. As Adelaide systematically eliminates her own acolytes, Will teeters on the edge, haunted by a grief so strong it could unravel the team.” Ruh roh.
Will Trent, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC
Conversation34 Comments
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P
Will Trent just jumped the shark. Sometimes the showrunners and writers just get too cute for their own good. This is a terrible decision, and having her appear as hallucinations in Will's mind is already an overused trope in the series...we see his mother, we see the crazy James Ulster...enough already! There was no need to do this, just hubris. Also, some crimes are beyond redemption. Even if they eventually catch Adelaide, it won't be enough. Shame on the whole production team!
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M
How disappointing!! If the jackass who’s been challenging her is the replacement I’ll quit watching. No need for someone so abrasive, annoying and antagonistic.
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M
I'm very disappointed as well, but I won't stop watching because of one character change---no matter how ill-conceived and ridiculous it is. I'll still watch for all the other characters, and the fine actors. AWFUL decision, though.
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M
Yeah, I'm out. I hate when a network takes a perfectly good show and kills it trying to, what did they call it, "reset" the characters. Why? If it ain't broke don't fix it. It's not like it's season 10 and things are getting stale. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm emotionally invested and this betrayal is the break up. They can't be trusted.
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B
BIG mistake for the people who have read the books. You keep making major changes like this and you will start loosing viewers.
If like I have hear the actress has health issues and cannot continue as Amanda then replace her it is done all the time a bad car wreck facial reconstruction bandages for a few episodes and there you go a replacement.
There have been many changes from the books that I have over looked will this be another I will have to think about. Keep going then you need to change the show name because it is no longer based on the books just some of the character names are the same.
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K
I agree. The show is absolutely nothing like the books.
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A
Welp another ruined show. It was great while it lasted. I won’t be watching anymore. These show runners literally shoot themselves in the foot every single time. Smh
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L
I know right...doing TOO MUCH! Didn't they learn when they killed off Bobby Nash from 911 last year, a main character and for what the Show Runner Tim Minear wanted to shake things up. The show hasn't been the same since and I expect the same will happen to Will Trent. I will miss Sonja on the show, I really liked her character but wasn't impressed with how they changed her character from heterosexual to gay, after they dedicated a whole episode of her being "Randy Mandy" that's a big switch up...le sigh!
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B
They didn’t change her from heterosexual to gay. She was bisexual.
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O
Which was disclosed on the most recent episode. That episode hadn’t aired yet when that comment was made.
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L
Yup! I loved Amanda the way she was! I loved her voice, her style, everything! They really fked up this show by killing her off! Big big mistake. They better not kill any of my other favorites off or Im gone!
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F
How about you not put a SPOILER as your email headline?
Do you know how many people watch on delay or stream?
You could just put “Will Trent Shocker” rather than adding “Amanda is Dead”.
Stupid, stupid, stupid!!
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A
Plus, I didn’t get the sense we were supposed to be 100% sure after Will found her; while it sure looked bad, he felt her neck for a pulse and there was no-one there for him to confirm or deny in dialogue to.
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M
I agree. This article was posted too soon, as there still seemed to be hope.
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T
I stopped watching 911 when they killed Bobby off. I'm now going to quit watching Will Trent after killing off Amanda. You shake shows up and you lose viewers.
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D
Amanda's death was unneccessary and how it was done was out of character and sloppy. I hoped they left a path for her to come back in later when they realize the mistake. Make her death an undercover coverup. I know that is not what is planned, but she was a key reason for the shows dynamic that did not need a reset.
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D
I feel this season 4 has been off a lot. I was happy with the storyline previous seasons. Why mess up a good show?! Do writers get bored and think we want a change? Killing off Amanda was a HUGE mistake. I don't how longer I will last with this show.
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M
Why do TV series think they need an omnipotent evil enemy as a recurring character? The believability of the show is shot when some brilliant murderer has an irrational interest in the lead character and can marshal an enormous number of minions to serve in harassing him. We all remember The Mentalist and the hash they made with Red John. Did the Trent writers learn NOTHING from that scripting disaster?
The cast members are terrific, the chemistry between them is great, the plots (quasi-Moriarty aside) are interesting ... why did they have to throw this stinkbomb into it?
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L
Amanda was a great character! Sonja Sohn will be missed!
Although loaning her gun to a romantic interest was sloppy and out of character. She probably should’ve been fired (are you allowed to loan your gun out?).
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G
She loaned her personal gun, not the one issued to her by the GBI.
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F
I think it’s a big mistake. Probably going to be downfall for Will Trent. Sometimes change is not good, really big mistake. Amanda was well loved
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S
She was the MAIN REASON I watched this show. Huge mistake. My friends and I were constantly texting each other Amanda lines. You killed a golden goose.
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H
This was a horrible decision to kill the character Amanda Wagner. I’m done! The loyalty to episodic tv series comes from the love of the character! Good vs evil and good should prevail. I’m over it!! I might as watch the news instead if I want to see evil prevail.
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M
I love will Trent but I agree with the rest of the comments if it ain't broke don't fix it we needed Amanda on that show and yes they're going to lose viewers
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C
I think it is ridiculous that Amanda was killed off. Idiots whoever did it. No wonder people are giving up on tv. This was terrible.
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R
Lost interest and done. Why fix something that isn’t broken? Big mistake
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K
You just lost a huge fan & avid watcher of Will Trent...Amanda is one of the main reason ( 2nd after Will)I watch! You MUST bring thr original Amanda back!!!
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S
I disagree with the decision to get rid of Amanda Wagner.It was not needed it to make the show more compelling they could've found a better way now we'll get some a*******. Sit sitting in her office
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K
How sad. I initially liked the show, even though the only similarities to the books are the characters names. But this choice is a bad one. Just like the utter stupidity of the "serial killer" in Will's head, which is nothing but entirely obnoxious. It's taken a downward turn this entire season. I'm undecided as to whether I will continue to watch at all. I still haven't watched the last episode. It's sad because the actors are great, but they're stuck with this substandard writing.
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C
Will Trent made a HORRIBLE decision killing off Amanda, it is the most ridiculous thing wanting to take the show in a new direction...NEWS FLASH it was fine the way the show was! I enjoyed watching Amanda's and Will's relationship evolve, so disappointed in your move. All the characters had such chemistry with each other and now that formula is forever changed.
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S
Not a good move to kill off Amanda Waggoner character. Hope they let “her death” be an undercover operation. Amanda (character) is a huge part of Will’s history and many of the other characters as well. Keep Amanda. Her back story has much more to offer. Perhaps it’s time the writers actually read the books this series is based on and the producers support this idea.
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M
As absolutely amazing as Will Trent has been...losing Amanda was the biggest mistake the creators could have ever made. The pain...physical, emotional and psychological...that has been inflicted upon these cast members has been brutal. But the loss of Amanda is raw and ruthless. If you have any humanity or empathy please undue this while you can .
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D
If they're taking her in an ambulance she's still alive. They call the coroner for anyone dead at the scene. Ambulances carry only live patients.
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C
This show has/had a strong clean ethics we didn't have to see smut, then you make Amanda gay really?! I hope this is one of those "undercover" stories where she is alive but hiding to catch Adelaide. I will give it a chance as I really like the actors, but if you kill her off for good it won't they show any good. I tried to stick to 911 but it lost all coherence it's just a bunch of lost souls now with no solid connection. IF it ain't broke don't change it.
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