Episode 3 Commentary for Will Trent Season 2
Two concurrent investigations between the Atlanta Police Department (APD) and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) under Will Trent season 2, episode 3, "You Don't Have to Understand" While still addressing Will Trent's personal trauma, the episode returns to the crime-of- the-week narrative technique known for procedural TV shows.
Key Plot Points for Trent Season 2 Episode 3 Recap
The episode starts with the finding of dead woman Isabella Altman at an abandoned mall. Examining the scene, Will Trent and his friend Faith Mitchell find evidence suggesting a possible hitman, Dale Sorenson, and a relationship to local young pastor Conrad Warren.
Angie Polaski and Michael Ormewood, from the APD, look at the death of Ted Burkle, an investment broker and fitness guru who passes away in the Ruby Dreams Wellness Center. Ted's autopsy shows a lethal buprenorphine dosage, which sets off a separate inquiry including his brother Joel Burkle and possible business partner Wolfgang.
Season 2 Episode 3: The GBI Research Will Trent
Trent and Faith Mitchell will
Investigating Isabella Altman's death makes Will Trent suspect a relationship between Isabella and Councilman Victor Carrie. The knowledge that Isabella worked on Victor Carrie's campaign fuels Will's misgivings even more.
Will Trent also probes Pastor Reggie, the superior of Conrad Warren. Reggie insists Conrad was not the father of Isabella's baby or involved in her death. Still, Will seems dubious given his own contempt of religion.
Pastor Reggie is cleared when Will Trent and Faith Mitchell eventually find that Isabella's parking pass originated at Councilman Victor Carrie's office. But during their meeting with Councilman Carrie and her wife, Erin, they both observe his nervous manner.
Investigating the Carrie residence, Will Trent and Faith Mitchell find that Isabella worked for Victor as an intern. They also discover Erin is upset about Isabella's disappearance.
Will Trent and Faith Mitchell learn that Conrad Warren's fingerprints were found on the knife used to kill him and that Isabella's fingerprints were discovered on the mall door handle.
They find out that Pastor Reggie had no knowledge of Conrad taking the knife from the church kitchen. But Reggie knows where Isabella is right now: a safe house meant to guard domestic violence victims.
Arriving at the safe house, Will Trent and Faith Mitchell discover Isabella has been kidnapped and a link to Victor's charity exists. When they arrive at his house, Victor—who is shot and killed by his wife Erin— confronts them.
Will Trent and Faith Mitchell learn that Erin hired Dale Sorenson to murder Isabella out of a flash of wrath over her husband's adultery.
Will Trent also learns that Pastor Reggie, who acknowledges he was the getaway driver in a robbery where someone was killed, has second set of fingerprints on the knife used to kill Conrad Warren.
As his mother sleeps, Will Trent brings Isabella's healthy baby boy and comforts him. As he cries heavily, he tells the infant, "She's going to love you so much."
Episode 2 of Will Trent: The APD Investigation
Angela Polaski and Michael Ormewood
Following Ted Burkle's death, the APD looks at Ruby Dreams Wellness Center. They doubt another gym member, Wolfgang, as well as Summer Fairfield, the owner. Angie Polaski and Michael Ormewood learn that although Wolfgang was meant to be starting a company with Ted Burkle, the effort failed.
Based on findings that Wolfgang was trying to destroy evidence, Angie Polaski and Michael Ormewood discover he was arrested.
Ted Burkle's brother Joel was looking after their father, who was dying of cancer, according Angie Polaski and Michael Ormewood find. Joel was bitter of Ted for leaving him to look after their father alone, the detectives find.
The investigators also find that the father of the Burkles was paying his two sons through a trust, one that would all go to Joel should Ted be absent.
Joel's arrest for Ted Burkle's murder follows from the APD learning that he was treating his father's pain with buprenorphine patches.
The Personal Journey of Will Trent Season 2 Episode 3
After season 2, episode 3 Will Trent, whose experience in the Atlanta foster care system has made it difficult for him to connect, discovers a new side of himself. He moves toward facing the gloom and loneliness of his past.
Will Trent understands he can love outside of himself and that parenthood can be a wonderful experience.
Second season episode 3: ratings success will Trent
Following its March 5, 2024 broadcast, Will Trent season 2, episode 3 ended up shattering a show record. Over 35 days, the episode drew 11.23 million overall viewers. This is a far rise from the 0.36 live-plus-same-day rating of the episode. Among adults 18–49, the episode also received a 1.63 rating in the broadcast demographic—highest rating since season 1, episode 4, "My Stupid Detective Brain".
The show's move to a prime timeslot on ABC plus an explosive season 2 premiere most likely explains the episode's success.
