Will Trent Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Why Is Jack’s Arm Bleeding

An episode with a little too many plotlines gets elevated with a powerful scene performance from Ramon Rodriguez. Will Trent Season 2 Episode 8, “Why Is Jack’s Arm Bleeding” finally answers the almost season-long mystery of Will’s haunted memories.

On Will Trent Season 2 Episode 7, “Have You Never Been to A Wedding?,” we discover that a young Will witnesses a murder. “Why Is Jack’s Arm Bleeding” gives us the backstory behind it. It also solves the riddle of Will’s involvement.

He not only saw someone die but blamed himself for it.

Ramon Rodriguez gives Will swag, depth, and earnestness. He’s fantastic as this iconic character. However, we don’t often see Will’s big emotional moments. The turmoil is layered and internal.

You see it in all his actions and reactions.

But he keeps his composure while battling pain. Therefore, Rodriguez devastates you on “Why Is Jack’s Arm Bleeding” by showing Will finally breaking.

His breakdown becomes increasingly intense but also cathartic. This character is releasing some of the things that have burdened him for a very long time. This scene is uncomfortable but captivating.

It feels like an authentic breakdown of someone so overwhelmed by their suppressed scars that they lose control of their emotions and mental state.

Will Trent better not plan to set us up for disappointment with Uncle Antonio and Will. Their relationship is becoming one of the best parts of Season 2. Seeing Antonio comforting his broken nephew almost makes you teary.

Will has only had Angie as his family most of his life. Now he has Amanda, Faith, and the others, but it’s different having someone who is a blood relative there for him.

The show better not have Uncle Antonio have a shady past or something dark with him to kill his relationship with Will. Don’t play with our emotions, writers. Anyway, Will Trent’s future episodes with Will and Uncle Antonio are highly anticipated, especially while in Puerto Rico.

More Uncle Antonio and Will’s adventures, please.

Everything involving Will’s past and life is a strong part of “Why Is Jack’s Arm Bleeding.” However, it’s an imperfect episode. There is one too many storylines. 

Mike and Angie’s case with the murdered army veteran could have been removed from it. It ends lackluster and doesn’t flow as well as the others. Additionally, the unnecessary fight scene feels jarring.

It’s almost like Will Trent realized they have the budget for fight coordinators and decided to max it out.

Faith’s fight in “Have You Never Been To A Wedding?” is entertaining. This one feels excessive.

The murdered army veteran’s storyline only seems to serve the purpose of revealing Mike’s veteran past and his heroic moments. We already like Mike now, so Will Trent can tone down the campaign to get viewers to love Mike.

We don’t need him to prove he’s a good guy anymore, we believe it. This storyline could have been omitted and “Why Is Jack’s Arm Bleeding” would have been an even better episode. Because Crystal and Angie’s storyline offers some exciting developments for both characters.

The Lily storyline gives a message of hope and brings the important topic of missing Black girls to the mainstream. “Why is Jack’s Arm Bleeding” is good but could have been great with fewer storylines and focusing more on them. However, overall, Will Trent’s second season is really impressive so far.

It’s living up to, if not surpassing, the intro season.

Stray thoughts

• So guess we’re stuck with Angie and Will as a couple for the rest of the season. Yay…
• Crystal and Joey are going to end up dating, no?
• I enjoy the way the episode presents Will’s memories. It is some cool VFX choices.

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 at 8/7c on ABC.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

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