Will Trent – Sunny-Side Up

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Right off the bat, season three of Will Trent managed to hook me with last week’s promising storyline that left Trent (Ramon Rodriguez), Faith (Iantha Richardson), and Michael (Jake McLaughlin) hunting for Rafael Wexford’s (Antwayn Hopper) kidnapped daughter, Sunny (Kyrie Mcalpin). However, as this week’s episode progressed, the plot became disappointingly predictable. Even though the episode maintained a sense of entertainment, one could guess the culprits long before the big reveal. Now, I’m wondering whether this was because of lazy storytelling or a result of my familiarity with police procedurals. I’m going to suggest a bit of both, and here’s why.

The GBI learns that Lincoln Spelling, Wexford’s gang rival, kidnapped his daughter and killed her caregiver, Penelope. A few moments later, we find out Spelling is dead. The real criminal mastermind is cleaning house, and it’s becoming a race against the clock to find Sunny’s kidnapper and Spelling’s killer. Things get real as the GBI team deduces that such brazen criminality could only be executed by someone unafraid of getting caught – like a cop.

But remember, Wexford has pleaded guilty to the original crime of killing an officer who was working with the ADA Alba (Gina Rodriquez) on the stolen car ring case. Nobody involved in the investigation thinks Wexford is guilty, and ADA Alba holds a press conference to announce the ongoing nature of the investigation. Alba is immediately chastised by Mayor Anthony (Olivia Denise Dawson) for blindsiding her, followed by an overly eager Captain Cromwell (Matthew Sean Blumm), offering to do anything to help. The Mayor and Cromwell had to be the bad guys because everyone else was accounted for. Also, Cromwell’s discovery that Sunny had been communicating with someone through her game, then stuffing her in the trunk, her escape, and the chase through the mall was—wait for it—ridiculous.

Where the crime-solving plotline faltered, the characters’ personal stories truly shined in this episode. The series explored themes reminiscent of Alcoholics Anonymous, emphasizing apologies, personal accountability, making amends, and striving to be the best version of themselves. For example, Will decides not to return to Tennessee. He apologizes to Faith, admitting he should not have just left, while she admits she wished he would have let her help him. Trent gets bonus entertainment points for singing ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ with his dog, Betty. Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen) also goes before the Atlanta Police Department to promise not to let her personal trauma interfere with her job again. She says, “I want to serve. Let me back, and I will be the best version of myself because that is what’s required.” The characters’ growth and their evolving relationships added a depth that kept me invested, even when the central mystery did not.

Another high point was the clever setup of old friends (nearly family) finding themselves on opposite ends of the law. Wexford is still a gang leader, and his daughter, Sunny, has moved into Director Amanda Wagner’s (Sonja Sohn) home. Will gave Wexford a picture of him with Sunny. Wexford made him their childhood snack of sugar, salt, Kool-Aid mix, and pickles. Is this a real thing? Yet, we still don’t know the specifics of Wexford’s manslaughter conviction and what Will had to do with it. These dynamics are poised to create further conflict as the season progresses, ensuring plenty of emotional and dramatic moments for future episodes.

In essence, Will Trent reminds me that police procedurals are never really about the crimes themselves. After all, motives for committing crimes are relatively limited. Mayor Anthony’s motive for killing the first cop, Sunny’s caretaker, and Captain Cromwell was, in my opinion, rather weak and unworthy of Will Trent’s talents. Thank goodness this show’s heartbeat lies in the brilliant, interesting, and often flawed characters who navigate the murky waters of justice and morality in the ATL.

Despite some predictable plot elements, Sunny-Side Up earns a solid watch for its engaging character arcs and the promise of deeper conflicts ahead. Do you agree? Did you find Will and Wexford’s closing interactions about their respective paths as menacing as I did? Let me know in the comments.

Overall Score:

7/10

Lynette Jones

I am a self-identified ‘woke boomer’ who hails from an era bathed in the comforting glow of a TV, not a computer screen. Navigating the digital world can sometimes leave me feeling a bit unsure, but I approach it with curiosity and a willingness to learn. Patience and kindness in this new landscape are truly valued. Let’s embrace the journey together with appreciation and a touch of humor!

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