Ramon Rodriguez on ‘Will Trent’s underdog story and bonding with Betty, the Chihuahua

Will Trent

Ramon Rodriguez on ‘Will Trent’s underdog story and bonding with Betty, the Chihuahua

  • by admin
  • Posted on 23 September, 2024

BC’s Will Trent was an unexpected hit when it premiered in 2023. The series was the network’s third most watched show, and is the rare procedural drama that pays equal attention to plot and its diverse roster of characters. Based on the series of best selling novels by Karin Slaughter, Will Trent manages to be fun, serious, thrilling, at times hitting all of these beats simultaneously.

‘Will Trent:’ Ramon Rodriguez discusses his unique GBI agent© ABC/Art Streiber

At the center of all is Ramon Rodriguez. The Puerto Rican actor raised in New York is trying out something new with the character of Will Trent, a Special Agent from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations that’s layered and multifacetic. Will is an orphan from the South who grew up in foster care and had a difficult childhood. When we meet him in season one, he works in law enforcement hoping to make a difference and help others, ensuring that no one feels as powerless as he did when he was a kid. This manifests whenever he’s dealing with the victim of a crime or when he’s with Betty, his adorable pet Chihuahua.

In an exclusive interview with HOLA! USA, Rodriguez discussed some of the exciting things that are lined up in the coming season, the success and relatibility of his character, and some of the perks and pitfalls of working with dog actors.

‘Will Trent:’ Ramon Rodriguez discusses his unique GBI agent© Disney/Daniel Delgado Jr.

Congratulations on the premiere of season two. What are you most excited about for this new season?

I think for the new season we’re gonna be taking a closer look into Will’s past and his identity. Coming off of season one, where he learned more about his childhood, he learned about his mom and that he’s got some family. He learned that Amanda (Sonja Sohn) found him when he was a baby. Coming off of that ending, Will is feeling curious. And for the writers and myself, it felt like a really interesting journey to go down that rabbit hole and see what Will ends up finding out about himself and what that means. And as scary as that is, you know, what pieces of his life puzzle can he put together. Will that impact him in a good way or a bad way? I’m sure there’s gonna be both. Following that character, his identity, and his story was a really exciting concept and idea.

Your performance has been nominated for various awards, like the Independent Spirits and Critics Choice. Why do you think audiences and critics are so taken with the character of Will?

It’s quite an honor to be recognized. I think Will is an interesting and compelling character. He’s got a lot of stuff going on from his past. He’s sort of socially awkward and a little left of center. There’s something about that that I think pulls people in and makes them want to know more. His story is an underdog story, which is something that a lot of people can relate to, because of what he went through growing up in the foster system and being orphaned and having dyslexia. And despite all that, he’s found his unique way of navigating the world. He’s found a way to use his visual abilities to help solve crimes and help others. Which also stems from not being helped as a child. He’s someone who, at a very basic level, is looking to connect. He’s searching for things that he didn’t have as a family.

In the pilot episode, back in season one, you see him adopt this Chihuahua that nobody wants. And that quickly says a lot about him, and people really connected to that. It’s a great way to get people to love someone when they see them do something that’s for the greater good even though they don’t want to do it. In this case, adopting a really cute Chihuahua.

BC’s Will Trent was an unexpected hit when it premiered in 2023. The series was the network’s third most watched show, and is the rare procedural drama that pays equal attention to plot and its diverse roster of characters. Based on the series of best selling novels by Karin Slaughter, Will Trent manages to be fun, serious, thrilling, at times…