After a tumultuous Season 4 marked by significant losses, Will Trent is preparing for a new chapter as ABC renews its Season 5 contract. This is considered one of the most transformative seasons of the series, as the GBI team must adapt to new power vacuums, shifting relationships, and increasingly dangerous cases.
At the ABC Upfronts event, the show’s three stars—Iantha Richardson (Faith Mitchell), Erika Christensen (Angie Polaski), and Kevin Daniels (Franklin “Franklin” Wilks)—shared their expectations for Season 5, revealing the characters’ future development after the shocks of Season 4.
Season 5 will be a “reconstruction” for Will Trent.
Season 4 concluded with a series of heartbreaking events.
The death of Amanda Wagner (Sonja Sohn) – Will’s leader, mentor, and most influential figure in his career – leaves a huge void in GBI.
Furthermore, the death of Dr. Seth McDale leaves Angie Polaski as a single mother to Edie, creating a major turning point in her life.
These changes make season 5 not just a sequel, but almost a fresh start for the entire investigative team. The producers describe it as a “reset” phase where characters must find their place after their losses.
Iantha Richardson: Faith Mitchell will find a new purpose.
For Iantha Richardson, season 5 is an opportunity for Faith Mitchell to enter a more mature stage of life.
In season 4, Faith experienced many personal upheavals, especially the painful emotional turmoil of discovering that the person she trusted wasn’t who they truly were. This once again forces Faith to confront the big question:
What truly matters to her?
Richardson shared that the human trafficking case Faith is pursuing will continue to play a significant role in season 5. For Faith, this is not just a professional mission, but also aligns with her nature: protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
The actress believes Faith has always been a person with strong compassion. After many personal setbacks, her focus on helping victims could become a new driving force to help the character regain her balance.
A noteworthy point is that Faith will have more opportunities to collaborate with Angie.
Previously, these two strong female characters often had separate storylines. But season 5 could bring them closer together, forming a potentially promising new investigative duo.
Erika Christensen: Angie Enters a New Chapter After Tragedy
For Erika Christensen, season 5 will be a healing journey for Angie Polaski.
Angie has gone through one of the most difficult periods of her life:
Losing her husband Seth.
Becoming a single mother.
Confronting old wounds from her relationship with Will Trent.
However, Christensen believes Angie is not just a character defined by tragedy.
She hopes Angie will continue to develop as a strong investigator and have the opportunity to build new relationships at work, especially with Faith.
One of the most interesting aspects of season 5 is the possibility of Angie and Faith becoming partners more frequently.
Both are strong, independent women who also carry significant emotional wounds. Their partnership could create one of the most remarkable team relationships in the series.
Kevin Daniels: Franklin Will Play a Bigger Role
Kevin Daniels, who plays Franklin Wilks, also shared his excitement about the new direction of season 5.
Franklin was once a relatively quiet member of the team, but in recent seasons he has started to have more screen time.
After the losses at GBI, Franklin could become one of the characters helping to maintain the group’s stability.
Daniels believes that although season 4 was very painful, the ending still offers a glimmer of hope through the appearance of Edie and new family bonds.
This fits well with the spirit of Will Trent: the show is not just about crime and loss, but about how people find a reason to keep going.
How will Will Trent change after Amanda’s death?
One of the biggest questions of season 5 is:
Who will replace Amanda Wagner at GBI?
Amanda is more than just Will’s superior. She’s the one who sees his talent when others only see his flaws.
Amanda’s departure might leave Will feeling lost.
However, it’s also an opportunity for him to grow. Will will have to learn to stand on his own two feet instead of always relying on the protection of those who believe in him.
Season 5 will also introduce a new GBI leader, creating entirely different power dynamics within the team. Iantha Richardson emphasized that Amanda’s replacement cannot simply be “another version of Amanda,” because this character’s impact is irreplaceable.
Angie and Faith: The GBI’s new female investigator duo?
One of the most anticipated moments for fans is the pairing of Angie and Faith.
For many seasons, Will Trent has focused heavily on the relationship between Will and Angie, or Will and Faith. But season 5 could be expanded further by exploring the friendship and partnership between the two female characters.
Both Angie and Faith share commonalities:
They both had to fight for survival on their own.
They have complicated pasts.
They don’t easily trust others.
They always prioritize justice.
A lengthy investigative storyline about a human trafficking ring could serve as a foundation for them to build a stronger team bond.
Season 5 could be Will Trent’s most important season yet.
After four seasons of character development, Will Trent is at a pivotal moment.
The show is no longer just about a talented agent with exceptional crime-solving abilities. It’s becoming a story about a group of wounded individuals who are seeking healing together and continuing to protect others.
Iantha Richardson, Erika Christensen, and Kevin Daniels all express optimism about the series’ new direction. Although season 5 begins with significant loss, the actors believe it’s also an opportunity for the characters to grow and find new connections.
For Will, Faith, Angie, and Franklin, the road ahead will certainly not be easy.
But just like Will Trent himself, the show believes that even after the deepest wounds, people can still find hope.