Will Trent fans may have some bad news coming on his new love interest but hope for a return!
Will Trent has been in fine form in season 3. The show is clicking better than ever, with Will (Ramon Rodriguez) returning to the GBI for more cases with his unique style. Meanwhile, after briefly being kicked off the force following her season 2 arrest, Will’s love interest Angie (Erika Christensen) is back on the Atlanta PD.
However, there hasn’t been a happy reunion as Will’s decision to arrest Angie for covering up a murder put a huge wedge between them, and Angie isn’t forgiving him. That’s when Will connected with Assistant District Attorney Marion Alba (Gina Rodriguez) while Angie moved on with handsome doctor Seth (Scott Foley).
The Will-Marion romance has been doing well, letting fans see a more lively and open Will than usual. However, things took a turn in episode 11, “Best of Your Recollection,” when Will was questioned in the accidental shooting of a teenager. Marion was part of the case, with the pair tense on Will blaming himself for the death.
Will was cleared, but the psychological effects and guilt still held onto him. That led him and Marion to break it off for some space in episode 12 just before Will went undercover to investigate a cult. That involved Will having a crazy hallucination of a disco dance party where he told Marion he was willing to wait years if he had to before he was emotionally ready to date again.
That was the last we saw Marion, so is she coming back?
Is Marion gone in Will Trent season 3?
Speaking to TVLine, co-showrunner Liz Heldens broke the sad news that Rodriguez will not be back for the remaining episodes of season 3, mostly because there’s just not enough room for her.
“Marion is not going to resurface before seasons’ end. It’s funny… when we started [Season 3], we were like, ‘Oh, 18 episodes is the biggest order we’ve ever done!’ And then when we got to the end, we were like, ‘We don’t have enough runway for everybody.’
That seems off as surely there’s more to explore on the Will-Marion connection with her suddenly gone. It could be that Rodriguez’s schedule has some conflicts keeping her from coming back.
It does seem sad that we won’t get to see Marion back, although Heldens is hopeful the character could return next year.
“I think that Gina Rodriguez is wonderful. She pops off the screen. We love him. It was an amazing experience to work with her, and I wouldn’t rule out her coming back in Season 4 at all.”
Why Marion was so fun
Landing Rodriguez was a great catch for the show. The actress is known for her roles in The CW hit Jane the Virgin and the gone-too-soon ABC comedy Not Dead Yet, and she fits into the show delightfully. She brought a wonderful vibe and humor to the series, and her chemistry with Rodriguez was terrific.
A worry is that Rodriguez may not be back for Will Trent season 4 as the actress is likely in demand for another show, and it is easy to see her moving onto another series. Thus, we may have seen the last of Marion, especially if the show seems intent on pushing Will and Angie back together again.
There’s also the long-standing wish of fans of Karin Slaughter’s books that the series will bring in Sara Linton, who becomes Will’s love interest in the novels. The producers have been coy about introducing the character for the TV show, which already takes several liberties from the books. Yet with Marion departing, the window is open for a possible surprise introduction of Sara to once more play into the complex Will-Angie dynamic.
So, for now, Will Trent fans will sadly have to say goodbye to Marion with the hopes she may make a return even as it paves the way for a new love direction for Will.
Will Trent Season 3 airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC.