Will Trent killed off a fundamental character — and now the actor is speaking out about their shocking exit.
In the course of the Tuesday, April 14, episode of the show, Amanda Wagner (Sonja Sohn) died while secretly working with the FBI to search out information to assist Will’s (Ramón Rodríguez) case against Adelaide Trevens (Mallory Jansen).
Sohn’s exit received backlash, which she addressed in several social media posts. The actress, 61, took to Instagram on Saturday, April 18, to reflect on how “surprised by the response to Amanda’s death” she was.
“When you get the pink slip, it’s only a job. I got a job such as you got a job. It’s only a job,” she explained. “Actors are really low people on the totem pole when it comes right down to the massive structure. While you get a pink slip, you don’t ask about it. You simply say goodbye.”
While reflecting on her departure, Sohn promised to share more insight on having to “say goodbye to” characters she played previously.
“[In my upcoming memoir, I get to talk about] the ins and outs of that and what comes with the business and all that,” she shared. “It’s not at all times time to discuss the small print because considered one of the things I used to be taught through this experience of being Amanda and of being in this example is she’s a way more thoughtful, reserved character than I’m. After I engage with characters, we give one another features of ourselves.”
Sohn noted she goes to be “a little bit more reserved in [her] expressions” for now. “The very best years are yet to come back,” she concluded. “Here’s to Will Trent. Here’s to Amanda. My god. What a personality. What an honor and a privilege. So just hold tight. We’re gonna be alright. There’s loads of Sonja Sohn coming up.”
Sohn captioned the post: “I cannot adequately express the overwhelming gratitude I feel for the @willtrentabc fans who’ve poured their hearts out on my page.”
She added: “I did my best to to [sic] reply to each considered one of you however the comments kept growing & I had some life on deck to live. Please know I’m receiving & grateful in your precious attention and support. I promise to honor that by providing you with something you may sink your teeth into & rejoice with me within the not so distant future.”
Co-showrunner Karine Rosenthal also addressed the choice to write down off Amanda, who had been a fundamental character on the show since season 1.
“Amanda has been the character who has protected Will for so long as she has known him,” Rosenthal told Variety in an announcement. “So this offers us the chance for a totally recent dynamic within the GBI, because her alternative is not going to have that very same relationship with Will. Her death had probably the most impact on probably the most amount of characters. It really sets everybody reeling from this enormous loss. So it’s such a reset for our characters in a way that’s painful but exciting for season 5.”
Rosenthal told the outlet that Sohn was made aware that her arc was coming to an end early in season 4 and she or he handled the news with “grace.”
“No one gets to at all times exit their shows — even on the writing side — on their very own terms on a regular basis,” executive producer Daniel Thomsen added. “It’s hard to try this with grace. So it was just very impressive. She is a complete pro.”
Will Trent airs on ABC Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET before streaming the following day on Hulu.