While Will is certainly the star of Will Trent, there is another character who is a close second. And this character is not one of the human characters. It’s all about Betty Maria White.
Betty is the chihuahua, who isn’t originally Will’s dog. She is one that he’s trying to hand over to the pound, only to end up feeling like he needs to take her in. Of course, she becomes an important part of his life, becoming something of an emotional support animal as well as a best friend.
Will Trent and Betty’s bond is something no other show has offered
While there are plenty of dogs in other shows, they tend to be side characters. Just look at Tank in FBI: International, he ends up showing up now and then as a reminder that he exists. Cerberus in SEAL Team has likely been the closest to a show that offered the bond between dog and owner, but that was more dog and handler.
With Will and Betty, we get the genuine type of bond that most pet owners have with their animals. Whether a dog, cat, or even a snake, people have a special bond, as they connect on an emotional level. We get to see how Betty is someone Will can talk to about everything, and she even seems to understand and offer her input. Of course, she doesn’t, but Will feels like she does in the way that many dog owners feel when they’re talking to their animals.
Will is able to let his guard down with Betty in Will Trent
One of the most powerful aspects of Betty’s character in Will Trent is that she doesn’t judge. Dogs just want love and attention, and they don’t care if you’re having a bad day or not. In fact, if you’re having a bad day, they want to be there to offer help. Sometimes that means through a cuddle, and sometimes it means giving you their favorite toy.
In Will Trent, we get to see Betty be the support that Will needs to open up. He’s able to be 100% honest with her, letting his guard down in a way that he can’t with anyone else. She’s been abandoned like he has, and she understands him on that level. She is loyal to him, and she doesn’t judge him, so he feels like he’s able to talk through his problems, something that he has desperately needed all his life without realizing it.
Having Betty in almost every scene with Will is something that no other TV show would risk. It’s also the thing that makes Will Trent stand out as a broadcast show you have to watch.
Will Trent will return on Tuesdays on ABC in 2026.
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