Will Trent Season 1 Episode 10 Review: Pterodactyls Can Fly

Will and Angie tackle two very serious cases. However, like Amanda,  the cute kid on Will Trent Season 1 Episode 10, “Pterodactyls Can Fly” distracts me. The episode mainly acts as Will’s unofficial audition for fatherhood.

If Will doesn’t end up adopting a child in the future, this episode is a cruel tease of what should be a goal for the series.

“Pterodactyls Can Fly” shows Will and Angie facing the scars of the foster care system in different ways. Angie begins a clear spiral by becoming obsessive about Lenny. She’s right to suspect he hasn’t really changed, but her obsession is leading her down a path of no return.

She threatens to kill him. Clearly, it isn’t an idle threat because the hurt and anger with the threat run deep. The episode ends with Angie buying what appears to be drugs — either to use on Lenny or to use herself. Hence why things are getting dark for Angie.

Additionally, her leaving Will in the dark about things stops him from being able to pull her back from the edge. Angie is going to keep walking closer to it, and we don’t know if someone can pull her back from it in time to save her.

Will Trent Season 1 has very much been about Angie’s demons. Will has demons as well, but he seems on the road to complete recovery, but Angie’s scars seem too deep and too big for her to handle them.

We know more about Angie’s damaged past than Will’s past, so it’s easier to see why she is still haunted by it. Having the abuse start with your mother is going to make being a well-adjusted adult hard for anyone.

In comparison, Will seems a lot more stable than Angie in all aspects of his life. His relationship with Theo makes this more apparent. Without any hesitation, Will takes on the parent role.

It’s a role he plays well.

In Will Trent Season 1 Episode 7, “Unable to Locate,” Will and Angie face the possibility of becoming parents. Neither of them is sure, but “Pterodactyls Can Fly” proves that parenthood is calling Will.

His past makes him more protective and nurturing. In only a short time, he shows a devotion to Theo that’s endearing but also natural. Will Trent then reminds us that Will is practically collecting lost souls. First with Betty, then with Nico, and briefly with Theo.

Will has an overwhelming need to protect and nurture people. It’s almost like defiance against his own background. Will and Angi’s behaviors are in many ways a consequence of and as a defense against their trauma.

However, Will finds a productive way to combat his trauma but Angie drowns in it.

To contrast Will and Angie’s bad parent/no parent woes, we see an actual good parent in the form of Faith’s mother. We also finally learn whether she is a crooked cop.

Surprisingly, she is not. Instead, she is someone who tries to do the right thing, but doing so means that she gets sacrificed in the crossfire.

Evelyn plays the meddling mother role throughout most of “Pterodactyls Can Fly.” However, she ends the episode with a gripping speech. It’s a strong moment that emphasizes the gravity of these types of careers.

Stray Thoughts

• LisaGay Hamilton and Kevin Daniels are phenomenal in this episode. Both are funny but also act as the heart in certain moments.
• Lenny zooms right up to the top as a TV villain who deserves to die. Just repulsive.
• Is it bad that I kind of wish Theo’s mom never returned and Will adopted him?
• Theo’s grandma is such a fun villain. Genuinely, I chuckle as she screams about him shooting her finger off.
• Multiple episode arcs for the win.

What did you think of this episode of Will Trent? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

Will Trent airs Tuesdays on ABC at 9/8c.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

What to Stream in April: Ghosted, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Love & Death