Will Trent – Sunny-Facet Up – Evaluate: The Finest Model of Myself

Proper off the bat, season three of Will Trent managed to hook me with final week’s promising storyline that left Trent (Ramon Rodriguez), Religion (Iantha Richardson), and Michael (Jake McLaughlin) looking for Rafael Wexford’s (Antwayn Hopper) kidnapped daughter, Sunny (Kyrie Mcalpin). Nonetheless, as this week’s episode progressed, the plot grew to become disappointingly predictable. Though the episode maintained a way of leisure, one may guess the culprits lengthy earlier than the large reveal. Now, I am questioning whether or not this was due to lazy storytelling or a results of my familiarity with police procedurals. I’ll counsel a little bit of each, and here is why.

The GBI learns that Lincoln Spelling, Wexford’s gang rival, kidnapped his daughter and killed her caregiver, Penelope. A number of moments later, we discover out Spelling is useless. The true legal mastermind is cleansing home, and it is changing into a race in opposition to the clock to search out Sunny’s kidnapper and Spelling’s killer. Issues get actual because the GBI workforce deduces that such brazen criminality may solely be executed by somebody unafraid of getting caught – like a cop.

“Sunny-Facet Up” – WILL TRENT, Pictured (L-R): Gina Rodriquez as ADA Marion Alba and Olivia Denise Dawson as Mayor Barbara Anthony. Photograph: Wilford Harewood/Disney © 2025 Disney. All rights reserved.

However bear in mind, Wexford has pleaded responsible to the unique crime of killing an officer who was working with the ADA Alba (Gina Rodriquez) on the stolen automotive ring case. No one concerned within the investigation thinks Wexford is responsible, and ADA Alba holds a press convention to announce the continued nature of the investigation. Alba is straight away chastised by Mayor Anthony (Olivia Denise Dawson) for blindsiding her, adopted by a very keen Captain Cromwell (Matthew Sean Blumm), providing to do something to assist. The Mayor and Cromwell needed to be the unhealthy guys as a result of everybody else was accounted for. Additionally, Cromwell’s discovery that Sunny had been speaking with somebody by her sport, then stuffing her within the trunk, her escape, and the chase by the mall was—watch for it—ridiculous.

“Sunny-Facet Up” – WILL TRENT, Pictured: Ramon Rodriguez as Particular Agent Will Trent. Photograph: Zac Popik/Disney © 2025 Disney. All rights reserved.

The place the crime-solving plotline faltered, the characters’ private tales actually shined on this episode. The collection explored themes paying homage to Alcoholics Nameless, emphasizing apologies, private accountability, making amends, and striving to be the perfect model of themselves. For instance, Will decides to not return to Tennessee. He apologizes to Religion, admitting he shouldn’t have simply left, whereas she admits she wished he would have let her assist him. Trent will get bonus leisure factors for singing ‘Midnight Practice to Georgia’ together with his canine, Betty. Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen) additionally goes earlier than the Atlanta Police Division to vow to not let her private trauma intervene together with her job once more. She says, “I need to serve. Let me again, and I would be the greatest model of myself as a result of that’s what’s required.” The characters’ development and their evolving relationships added a depth that stored me invested, even when the central thriller didn’t.

“Sunny-Facet Up” – WILL TRENT, Pictured (L-R): Bobbie Eakes as P.O.S.T. Consultant #1 and Allen Earls as P.O.S.T. Consultant #2. Wilford Harewood/Disney © 2025 Disney. All rights reserved. 

One other excessive level was the intelligent setup of previous associates (almost household) discovering themselves on reverse ends of the legislation. Wexford continues to be a gang chief, and his daughter, Sunny, has moved into Director Amanda Wagner’s (Sonja Sohn) residence. Will gave Wexford an image of him with Sunny. Wexford made him their childhood snack of sugar, salt, Kool-Help combine, and pickles. Is that this an actual factor? But, we nonetheless do not know the specifics of Wexford’s manslaughter conviction and what Will needed to do with it. These dynamics are poised to create additional battle because the season progresses, making certain loads of emotional and dramatic moments for future episodes.

“Sunny-Facet Up” – WILL TRENT, Pictured (L-R): Antwayn Hopper as Rafael Wexford and Ramon Rodriguez as Particular Agent Will Trent. Zac Popik/Disney © 2025 Disney. All rights reserved.

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In essence, Will Trent jogs my memory that police procedurals are by no means actually in regards to the crimes themselves. In any case, motives for committing crimes are comparatively restricted. Mayor Anthony’s motive for killing the primary cop, Sunny’s caretaker, and Captain Cromwell was, for my part, somewhat weak and unworthy of Will Trent’s abilities. Thank goodness this present’s heartbeat lies within the sensible, attention-grabbing, and sometimes flawed characters who navigate the murky waters of justice and morality within the ATL.

Regardless of some predictable plot parts, Sunny-Facet Up earns a strong look ahead to its partaking character arcs and the promise of deeper conflicts forward. Do you agree? Did you discover Will and Wexford’s closing interactions about their respective paths as menacing as I did? Let me know within the feedback. 

General Rating:

7/10 

Lynette Jones