Will Trent Season 1 Episode 11 Review: Bill Black

Thank goodness Will Trent, or should I say, Bill Black, is back. Will Trent Season 1 Episode 11, “Bill Black” takes an ambitious approach to the case of the week. It doesn’t all work but it’s a reminder of why the show may be one of the most fun procedural series.

The storylines may be serious but it approaches them, overall, with a lighthearted, “we have fun on this show” vibe. This gets further emphasis when Mike and Angie finally get written up for unprofessionalism. However, it’s for a small incident and not one of their hundreds of serious violations.

You have to laugh.

The writers love being a little cheeky with the audience. It comes full circle when Angie and Mike expertly botch a crime scene. They need to be under serious investigation.

Nevertheless, this time their criminal and unprofessional behavior is done with good intentions. It is to save a young girl from further trauma after all. However, it’s further proof that Angie and Mike care so little about law and order — yes the show and the process.

But we’ll forgive them because Will Trent isn’t trying to be another Law and Order show. It’s trying to be itself and that involves cops just doing whatever they want.

And we don’t mind it at all.

If the series is going to do anything, it’s going to stick to its usual format. If you’ve been paying attention, you know that the show continues to tell you the culprit at the start of each episode.

Therefore, only Rosa could be CJ.

As long as the show continues this format, it won’t surprise the more observant viewers. However, knowing the culprit at the start just adds to the fun of Will Trent creating its own rules.

Despite being able to accept that this ABC series doesn’t care about being realistic, everything after the CJ reveal goes a little too over-the-top and unrealistic.

Like the order to kill the girl who did coke with Dante just in case she slipped up on camera…yeah that doesn’t make sense. The man who didn’t want to be involved suddenly helping Will escape the criminals…also doesn’t make sense.

Lenny dying so easily from one stab…really? And Crystal’s mom and Angie not being able to stop Crystal from doing it so fast, come on. Angie, an actual competent cop, doesn’t know how to manipulate a crime scene? Not buying it.

However, everything in that scene with Lenny is very well done, especially the acting. And at least he is dead without Angie actually being the one to do it, so all of this allows us to ignore the pitfalls of believability.

“Bill Black” isn’t one of Will Trent’s strongest episodes but it’s an entertaining and dramatic return after a brief hiatus. It reminds us why we enjoy this show so much and pushes us closer to the season finale.

Stray Thoughts

• Do they really expect us to take Angie and Will’s 400th breakup seriously? They will be back together by the season finale.
• Faith and Will’s brief interactions are some of the best moments of the whole episode.
• I hope Bill Black does make another appearance. Undercover Will Trent is a fun departure from the norm.
• Really love the title sequence change from Will Trent to Bill Black on this episode.
• I really enjoy the cover of “Nothing Else Matters” at the end of “Bill Black.”
• There are only two more episodes of the season left but I am so glad Will Trent has been renewed for Season 2. I will not have to stress if the episode in two weeks ends on a cliffhanger — which I suspect it might.

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 on ABC at 10/9 ct. 

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Will Trent Renewed for Season 2 at ABC