Following the tumultuous ending of Will Trent season 4, fans are now focusing their attention on season 5 – the series officially renewed by ABC. Besides new cases and major losses for the characters, the most discussed question is: Will James Ulster and Paul Campano continue to appear in season 5?
The latest revelations from the production team offer an intriguing answer, hinting at a completely new direction for Will Trent after the biggest shock of his life.
James Ulster: Dead, but not necessarily gone
Throughout several seasons, James Ulster was one of Will Trent’s most terrifying villains. Not only was he a serial killer, but he was also the one who murdered Will Trent’s own mother years earlier, leaving a psychological wound that would never heal.
In the opening scene of season 4, James Ulster is shot dead while trying to protect Will from an attack. However, his death doesn’t mean the character’s influence ends.
Throughout season 4, James repeatedly appears as a “ghost in Will’s mind.” The imaginary dialogues between the two reflect Will’s inner struggle as he constantly faces the fine line between justice and revenge.
By the end of the season, Will defeats Adelaide – James Ulster’s secret daughter – and concludes the years-long tragedy involving the killer’s family. This is considered the end of the James Ulster storyline.
However, the series’ executives stated they didn’t want to confirm that James Ulster would disappear completely. They argued that Greg Germann had created a character with a profound influence on Will’s journey to adulthood.
This means that if season 5 continues to explore Will’s psychological trauma, James could potentially appear in flashbacks, hallucinations, or internal monologues. However, the likelihood of him returning as the main antagonist is now highly unlikely.
While James Ulster is likely to remain only in memory, Paul Campano is expected to have a much larger role in season 5.
Due to Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s involvement in the series Found, Paul was almost completely absent after the first season. He only officially returned in season 4 in the episode “Call Paul,” bringing with him a lot of emotional tension between him and Will Trent.
Paul is not only Will’s foster brother who grew up with him in Atlanta’s childcare system, but also one of the few people who truly understood his childhood traumas.
His reappearance in season 4 shows that Paul has changed significantly. Instead of being hot-tempered and impulsive, he tries to mend his relationship with Will while assisting in the investigation of a complex case. Paul’s appearance also forces Will to confront the painful memories he has always tried to bury.
Based on the latest information from the production team, the return of the two characters is clearly different.
James Ulster has likely completed his role and will only appear if the script requires exploring Will’s psychological traumas. Meanwhile, Paul Campano is considered a strong candidate to become a significant supporting character in season 5, especially since Mark-Paul Gosselaar has the opportunity to return more frequently.
If this becomes a reality, season 5 of Will Trent will not only offer thrilling cases but also delve into Will Trent’s healing journey – a man still learning to overcome his past to continue fighting for justice.