Over the course of Will Trent‘s three seasons so far, Special Agent Will Trent’s (Ramón Rodríguez) love life has been a major topic of debate. Will’s main love interest from the beginning has been Detective Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen), but their relationship was irreparably damaged at the end of Season 2. Now, as of the end of Season 3, Will and Angie seem to have finally moved on from their on-and-off romance. Angie is in a relationship with Dr. Seth McDale (Scott Foley), with whom she’s having a baby. Will still has feelings for Angie, but after watching her with Seth, he seems as though he might finally be ready to finally let her go.
The end of Will and Angie’s relationship opens the door for Will Trent to give Will a new main love interest. After Will’s failed relationship with ADA Marion Alba (Gina Rodriguez), Season 4 could be the perfect time for the show to introduce Sara Linton, Will’s main love interest in the books. As it stands, though, the series does not need to rush Will into another romance just yet. Romance certainly plays a significant role in the show, but Will’s platonic relationships are the true highlight, from his familial relationship with Amanda (Sonja Sohn), to his partnership with Faith (Iantha Richardson), to his friendship with Nico (Cora Lu Tran). To this day, though, Will’s best relationship is with none other than that of his chihuahua, Betty Maria White Trent (Bluebell).
Betty was first introduced in the pilot episode of Will Trent, as the dog of Will’s neighbor, who had just passed away. Will never planned on adopting a dog, so he had initially decided to take care of Betty until he could find a new home for her. After an unsuccessful visit to the shelter, Will ends up keeping Betty around. It was very touching to watch him grow to care for her so quickly, and to see Will make a number of changes to his life to include her in it. Will often brings Betty to work with him, and he even has Nico living with him so that they can help care for Betty when he’s at work.
Will Trent is one of the more fast-paced procedurals, and its pacing works well. The series uses a combination of weekly cases and overarching mysteries to keep viewers in suspense as the story leads up to surprising reveals and plot twists each season. However, it is in the quieter moments where Will’s character really gets to shine, and many of these moments are with Betty. In between working on cases, some of Will’s very best scenes show him talking to Betty, singing to her, and even cooking special meals for her. Due to his background and profession, Will has to be serious a great deal of the time, so it’s a wonderful contrast to see him doting on his dog and speaking to her like a person. It makes his character feel more well-rounded and likable, but it also gives Will a welcome break from his typical intensity.
Betty Has Helped Will Trent Grow on the ABC Crime Series
Aside from how cute she is, Betty is the only character in Will Trent that Will doesn’t shut out when he’s suffering. Will copes with tragedy by isolating himself from other people and working through his problems on his own, because that’s what he’s had to do his entire life. It’s why his relationship with Marion ended in Season 3, and it’s what ultimately set the time jump in motion at the start of the season. After arresting Angie in the Season 2 finale, Will was overcome with grief and guilt. Will had to put his own moral code about the most important relationship in his life, right as the two were finally moving forward in their future together. He then impulsively left town and even left his job, starting over fresh for six months. The only being whom Will didn’t shut out during this time was Betty. He just took her with him and continued with their old routines, even as he completely changed everything else about his life.
Will has always been responsible, but through taking care of Betty, he has learned to be a little more gentle with himself as well. She allows him to be more grounded in the little moments of eating meals and sitting quietly at home, particularly when things are at their heaviest in his life. He prioritizes her above all else, which in turn allows him to let someone else in — even when he is otherwise cutting himself off from everybody else. Betty’s presence ultimately just makes Will Trent feel a little different from other procedurals, both through the addition of lighter and sillier moments, as well as through how it centers this lovely and unexpected dynamic.
