When Will star Trent Ramón Rodríguez visited the TVLine studio in New York City, he and I picked up where we left off. The last time we spoke (via Zoom), the star and executive producer of the hit ABC crime drama was preparing for the final appearance of Will’s long-lost uncle — Lucy’s brother, Antonio Miranda — and this was our first chance to discuss the anticipated family reunion, which takes place in the April 9 episode of the series.
“There’s a lot to think about because I can only try to put myself in the character’s shoes,” Rodríguez says. “This is the first time he’s met a real, living family member who might have a lot of answers to a lot of the questions that Will has.”
Rodríguez creates subtle connections between Will’s past and present. He’s referring to the moment when Will stands in front of his favorite taco truck, Betty in his arms, hoping that Antonio doesn’t change his mind about meeting him.
“It’s like he’s gone back into the foster care system, hoping that someone will adopt him,” Rodríguez theorizes. “It’s the fear of the unknown and the anxiety of all that.” But when Antonio arrives, “you can feel the love he has for Will. It’s really special.”
“Will there be conflict? Absolutely,” Rodríguez teases. “There’s going to be things that happen for [Will]. He has to… figure out, ‘How do I get through this with someone new, someone who’s family?’ The feelings of betrayal and abandonment really come up for Will, so there’s definitely going to be some conflict.”
But before the show dives deeper into the relationship between the special agent and his uncle, viewers this Tuesday (ABC, 8/7c) will join Will and Faith at a wedding, where things get messy.
“He doesn’t want to go,” Rodríguez tells TVLine. “He really, like, reluctantly agrees to do it, but [Faith] needs him there, so he’s going to show up for his partner.” And they go into the event unarmed, not expecting a group of gunmen to infiltrate the venue and take everyone—including Faith’s son Jeremy—hostage. “The stakes are really high,” Rodríguez says.
And lest you think this is a standalone episode, Rodríguez promises that Will will once again see his 12-year-old self as he and Faith try to get this hostage crisis under control.
