Why Is the Mark-Paul Gosselaar News in ‘Will Trent’ Season 2 Disappointing?
The Will Trent series premiere kicked off with a special appearance from Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Jennifer Morrison, with Gosselaar continuing to pop up sporadically throughout the remainder of season 1, but the update on his involvement in season 2 is disappointing. ABC’s police procedural crime drama focuses on a unique agent in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) with many special talents and a traumatic past — Will Trent, played by Ramón Rodríguez. One of those people from the protagonist’s horrific childhood is Gosselaar’s character Paul Campano.
Gosselaar, best known for his iconic role as Zack Morris on Saved by the Bell, likely won’t be returning as Paul in the cast of Will Trent season 2. In an interview with TVLine, executive producers Daniel Thomsen and Liz Heldens answered questions about whether Gosselaar will appear in any episodes of Will Trent season 2. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Paul will be back for the second season, as Gosselaar is busy working on his new series — Found on NBC. The producers explained: At first, it seems like Paul, played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar, is an arrogant jerk who happens to be the father of the missing girl Will is trying to find in the Will Trent series premiere. However, as the first episode progresses, it becomes clear that Will and Paul have a complicated past, as they knew each other while growing up in the same group home. However, the two weren’t friends as kids, as Paul bullied Will and made his time in foster care difficult. As a result, Will and Paul didn’t get along as adults (at first).
With Will’s newfound difficulties surrounding discovering his parents, it helps that he has Paul to lean on as he works things out.
Will ends up saving Paul’s daughter, for which he is extremely grateful to the GBI agent. While Paul’s personality may seem rude and selfish at first, he’s much more complex than that, which will begin to become clear as they reconnect. Gosselaar reprised his role as Paul for a few more episodes in season 1 to help Will solve a case and bond over their shared grief. Sadly, one of the big questions for Will Trent season 2 is whether the producers and Gosselaar will be able to work out their schedules to bring the actors back.
Since Will Trent Season 2 is only 10 episodes long, it’s understandable why the producers and Mark-Paul Gosselaar couldn’t squeeze his return into such a short time frame. However, Gosselaar’s appearance (whether big or small) would certainly elevate the season. The writers have been preparing this batch of episodes since the shocking end of Will Trent Season 2 Episode 1, and Paul’s return to the show could make this season even better than it already was.
Like Angie Polaski, Paul can relate to Will on a level that most people can’t. Their similar upbringings have led to a complicated bond, one of the show’s highlights (especially since the two characters are the very definition of opposites). With Will’s newfound struggles surrounding discovering his parents, it’s helpful to have Paul to lean on as he deals with it all. But even if Gosselaar doesn’t reprise his role as Paul in season 2, hopefully the cast and producers can help Will Trent succeed in season 3 (if ABC renews the series).
