Sister Sledge’s 1979 hit “We Are Family” has long been a gay anthem, so it’s fitting that an episode of Will Trent with the same name features a storyline deeply rooted in queer culture and family drama. In this pivotal episode, Will Trent (Ramón Rodríguez) finally meets his estranged uncle, Antonio Miranda, and a new murder case pulls him and his team into the vibrant and sometimes dangerous world of Atlanta’s drag scene.

Season 2, Episode 6: “We Are Family” – Written by Britta Lundin & Aja Hoggatt

The episode opens with Will nervously waiting by a taco truck in a park, clutching his chihuahua, Betty. He’s about to meet Antonio Miranda (played by John Ortiz), his only living biological relative. Antonio arrives with his own dog, Portia, and the two bond immediately over their shared trait of dyslexia. They chat about their lives and even dream of a trip to Puerto Rico, but the heartwarming reunion is cut short when Will is called to a crime scene.

The Case: A Judge, A Drag Club, and A Deadly Secret

Will joins his team—Amanda Wagner (Sonja Sohn), Faith Mitchell (Iantha Richardson), Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen), and Michael Ormewood (Jake McLaughlin)—at a crime scene where Judge Deirdre Ringgold has been found dead in a car. The crime is puzzling: Deirdre was shot elsewhere, her body moved, and her valuables seemingly stolen. But the discovery of her purse in a nearby dumpster hints at a staged robbery.

As they dig deeper, Will and Angie find a blacklight stamp on Deirdre’s hand, leading them to a local drag club. Inside, they meet Glinda Velvet (Kenneth Mosley), the club’s host, and Bon Bon Chiffon (Jonny Beauchamp), a drag queen performing on stage. The club has been receiving threats from a known protester, and there’s no security footage due to the need for discretion among patrons. Glinda seems on edge, and things get tense when they learn that Deirdre’s son, Gabe Ringgold—known in the drag scene as Defcon Vibe (Garrett Richmond)—is one of the performers.

Family Ties and Suspicions

Gabe reveals a troubled relationship with his late mother and stepfather, Dalton Ringgold (Pete Burris). He ran away at 15 after a violent altercation and has been estranged from his family ever since. Deirdre had come to the club unexpectedly the night she died to apologize to Gabe, which casts suspicion on him, especially given his knowledge of firearms. Dalton, meanwhile, is convinced Gabe is the killer, citing stolen jewelry and past instability.

Following the Clues

While interviewing Gabe and Dalton separately, Faith and Michael uncover more layers to the case. A synthetic blonde hair found in the alley, a pashmina scarf soaked in blood, and a bullet casing suggest a carefully planned murder designed to look like a robbery. As tensions rise, the team is determined to find the real killer.

Their investigation brings them face-to-face with Barrett Fairhope (Leif Gantvoort), the protester who has been harassing the club. In an intense confrontation outside the club, Barrett’s aggression leads to his arrest after damaging Faith’s car. However, while Barrett admits to being a troublemaker, he denies any involvement in Deirdre’s murder.

The Real Killer Unmasked

With the prime suspects in custody and more evidence pointing to Gabe, Will isn’t convinced of his guilt. The plot takes a turn when a crucial detail about the wig fiber comes to light—it’s not from any of the club’s wigs, which are all made of acrylic, but polyester. This subtle clue leads the team to suspect that the killer might be someone who wanted to frame Gabe or one of the other performers.

A Shocking Twist

In a twist ending, it’s revealed that Dalton Ringgold himself orchestrated his wife’s murder, motivated by jealousy and rage over her newfound desire to reconnect with their estranged son. The missing jewelry, which Dalton claimed Gabe stole, was actually pawned by Dalton to hire a hitman. The polyester wig and staged robbery were all part of his plan to frame Gabe, knowing his son would be the perfect scapegoat due to their strained relationship.

Aftermath: A New Beginning

With the case solved, Will visits Antonio’s favorite restaurant, Coqui Perdido, as promised. Though they were pulled apart by their duties, Antonio’s embrace symbolizes a chance for Will to finally reconnect with his family roots. It’s a bittersweet moment of hope, underscored by the realization that sometimes the family we build is stronger than the one we’re born into.

Will Trent continues to deliver compelling stories that blend family drama, social commentary, and complex mysteries, and “We Are Family” stands out as a particularly memorable episode that pushes its characters to confront their pasts while shaping their futures.