Will Trent Season 1 Episode 12 Review: Nothing Changed Except For Everything
This ABC dramedy plans to end the season with a major bang. In the penultimate episode of the season, Will Trent Season 1 Episode 12, “Nothing Changed Except for Everything” starts the end of the season as it starts the beginning of it. Will Trent Season 1 Episode 1 “Pilot” and Will Trent Season 1 Episode 2 “I’m A Pretty Observant Guy” are great bookends to this episode and the upcoming season finale.
There are many similarities between them.
Both the introduction episodes and the concluding episodes are two-parters. They also involve direct links to Will’s past. We learn a lot about Will during the pilot episode and now we’re learning a lot about his mother, both his biological and surrogate one, in the finale episodes.
Also, Paul is back. But, we’ll get to that later.
“Nothing Changed Except For Everything” is very much about Amanda as it is about Will. Amanda has been a very fun and interesting character all season, but this is one of the first episodes to really highlight her past.
Obviously, Amanda has been vital in many of the past Will Trent episodes, but “Nothing Changed Except For Everything” feels like the first one where Amanda is the main character in the story.
The writers take a turn we don’t expect by going into the past to discuss the future. I pride myself on being able to figure out where a story is going five seconds into a TV episode or a movie. However, I applaud this TV series for surprising me for once.
I didn’t expect Lucy to be Will’s mother until a few scenes right before the reveal. Additionally, I have no clue where this is all going with the serial killer. I have my suspicions but I am uncertain.
I must credit and praise the writers for more than a few surprises on this episode. It may be one of the best-written Will Trent episodes so far.
Not only is Amanda and Evelyn’s past story important for the present, but it offers great social commentary. It discusses the sexism they face as female police officers. It also talks about the justice system ignoring female victims because they’re sex workers.
Will Trent is very good at seamlessly incorporating social commentary.
It does it in a natural way that many cannot claim is preachy or “too woke.” These issues are very much part of the fabric of this show and these characters.
The silencing of women is very much a focal point on this episode and a few others. The serial killer kidnapping Angie ties into this as well.
Despite Angie being such a strong character, she has constantly been silenced and victimized. This kidnapping is another incident of her being a target of a predator, except this time, she has more than enough strength to fight back.
Now let’s talk about Paul. Paul comes off as an utter jerk during the first two episodes. However, on “Nothing Changes Except Everything,” he’s a likable jerk. I now look forward to more Angie, Will, and Paul scenes.
His character is so funny in his few scenes and now I think of the three as an unexpected trio. Like Betty, I am now obsessed with the character.
Next week, unfortunately, is the Will Trent Season 1 Finale. I look forward to watching it but I will miss this show. Hopefully, the hiatus doesn’t feel too long.
Stray Thoughts
- Is Betty fighting crime now? That dog does everything.
- The nuns, not John’s song/moment is so fun and cute.
- I would definitely watch a Will Trent prequel about young Amanda and Evelyn.
- Pee pee Pete/Percy (if he doesn’t die) needs to come back. The whole scene with him trying to escape Mike and Will is so funny.
- It takes me 11 episodes to notice the cool things the show does with the title sequence.
What did you think of this episode of Will Trent? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Will Trent airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on ABC.
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2 comments
I think this is the best episode so far. We find out Will’s origins and the reason for Amanda’s motherly instincts toward him. I’m guessing that the 47 year old husband of Brooke Miller is the person of interest in these murders and has some connection to the orphanage. Ramon Rodriguez is 43 and Erika Jane Christensen is 41 so Miller would have been a contemporary or them.
Once this final storyline is resolved I hope Faith’s relationship with Will is explored on a further level.
Ohh that’s an interesting theory on Brooke. I was thinking the killer is someone else. I’m between two suspects. And I agree that it’s the best episode of the season so far. I’m hoping the finale is just as good.