{"id":235936,"date":"2026-04-22T03:01:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T03:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/22\/why-did-amanda-wagner-leave-will-trent-controversial-death-twist-explained\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T03:01:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T03:01:40","slug":"why-did-amanda-wagner-leave-will-trent-controversial-death-twist-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/22\/why-did-amanda-wagner-leave-will-trent-controversial-death-twist-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Did Amanda Wagner Leave \u2018Will Trent\u2019? Controversial Death Twist Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Will Trent<\/em> addressed a shocking death<\/a> \u2014 but why did the show kill off a main character?<\/p>\n

During the Tuesday, April 21, episode of the hit ABC series<\/a>, Amanda (Sonja Sohn<\/strong>)\u2019s murderer was found while the team grieved her death. Will (Ram\u00f3n Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong>) was able to take down Adelaide (Mallory Jansen<\/strong>) \u2014 and find Uncle Antonio (John Ortiz<\/strong>) \u2013 but his mentor was still deceased.<\/p>\n

Evelyn Mitchell (LisaGay Hamilton<\/strong>) returned to pay tribute to Amanda and Captain Heller (Todd Allen Durkin<\/strong>) eulogized her, saying, \u201cMost of you know Deputy Director Amanda Wagner as strict, intimidating, badass. But for some of us old-timers, she was Wags. We came up through the ranks together, and I can confirm that even back then, she was a badass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Faith (Iantha Richardson<\/strong>), meanwhile, reflected on her bond with Amanda.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Amanda had more faith in me than I did. She would always tell me to do better, to be better. She saw potential,\u201d she shared. \u201cShe had this really great gift of meeting you where you were, seeing who you could be, and pushing you down that path no matter how stubborn you were.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will, who wasn\u2019t at the gathering, was seen trying to share his thoughts into his recorder \u2014 but failing to find the right words. Earlier this month, viewers were shocked when Will Trent<\/em> killed off Amanda.<\/p>\n

Sohn\u2019s exit received backlash<\/a>, which she addressed in several social media posts. The actress, 61, took to Instagram on Saturday, April 18, to reflect on how \u201csurprised by the response to Amanda\u2019s death\u201d she was.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce you get the pink slip, it\u2019s just a job. I got a job like you got a job. It\u2019s just a job,\u201d she explained. \u201cActors are really low people on the totem pole when it comes down to the big structure. When you get a pink slip, you don\u2019t ask about it. You just say goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n

While reflecting on her departure<\/a>, Sohn promised to share more insight on having to \u201csay goodbye to\u201d characters she played in the past.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Most Shocking TV Exits of 2026: From \u2018Grey\u2018s Anatomy\u2018 to \u2018Virgin River\u2018<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tIt is never easy to unexpectedly say goodbye to your favorite characters \u2014 and 2026 has featured an influx of shocking departures on our TV screens from Grey\u2019s Anatomy\u00a0to Virgin River. Virgin River fans were surprised when showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirmed multiple characters were written off the show after season 7. Marco Grazzini addressed [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201c[In my upcoming memoir, I get to talk about] the ins and outs of that and what comes with the business and all that,\u201d she shared. \u201cIt\u2019s not always time to talk about the details because one of the things I was taught through this experience of being Amanda and of being in this situation is she\u2019s a much more thoughtful, reserved character than I am. When I engage with characters, we give each other aspects of ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sohn noted she is going to be<\/a> \u201ca little more reserved in [her] expressions\u201d for now. \u201cThe best years are yet to come,\u201d she concluded. \u201cHere\u2019s to Will Trent. Here\u2019s to Amanda. My god. What a character. What an honor and a privilege. So just hold tight. We\u2019re gonna be alright. There\u2019s plenty of Sonja Sohn coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n

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