What To Know
- The latest season of Will Trent included not one but two major deaths.
- Here’s why the creatives decided to go with the route of devastation.
After the devastating death of Amanda Wagner (Sonja Sohn) in Will Trent Season 4, we were truly shocked when yet another major character was killed off in the finale. Dr. Seth (Scott Foley) had quickly become a fan favorite thanks to his loving treatment of Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen), whose happiness over their whirlwind romance, marriage, and pregnancy was positively infectious. Even those who might have been rooting for Angie and Will Trent (Ramón Rodríguez) to reunite after their gut-wrenching breakup had to admit that Seth was a good guy, plain and simple, and that he was good for Angie. So, to see him taken away at such a tender moment as the ride to the hospital for Angie to give birth was a true gutwallop.
So, why was the character killed off? Cocreator Liz Heldens previously told TV Insider of the decision to kill off both Amanda and Seth this season, “Going into Season 5, it just really felt like we needed a reset and some new energy, and some new dynamics… These were really hard and emotional decisions for the writers. There was a lot of back and forth in the room, but, eventually, we did what we thought was best for the future of the show. But yeah, both of them are heartbreakers for sure.”
She also talked about the potential future impact on Angie as the show moves forward, saying, “What I hope sticks with her is the experience and the maturity that she gained from being in a relationship that was functioning. It was really two adults, give and take. I don’t think she’s going to carry the trauma with her in terms of — none of it was her fault. It wasn’t anything she brought on. I hope she looks at Seth as a gift that she got and that it will bring her closer with Will in the future, eventually. So, that’s what I hope.”
For Foley’s part, he seemed to take the decision in stride, sharing a photo that he received of his name in the credits alongside a picture of the beloved pooch Betty. However, when he previously hinted at his character having a grim fate earlier in the year, he had a different theory about why Seth wouldn’t “get the girl.” The actor told a crowd, “The show’s called Will Trent. My character’s not getting the girl.” He also reacted to those fans who pointed out his characters’ string of bad luck on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal by saying, “Oh, they’ve noticed that, have they? … It seems to work out that way.”
In other words, it was both a creative decision and possibly a bit of TV tradition for the actor involved.
Will Trent, Season 5, Premiere Date TBA, ABC