Ramon Rodriguez talks directing, 'Will Trent's' new style, and his Puerto Rican shenanigans

Well, I’m excited for a lot. There’s a lot of good stuff coming up. I was very excited for the premiere episode. It was an episode I was able to direct, which was a big deal for me. It was really exciting. That was fun. 

And for people to see Will looking different—in the new episodes, he’s still in his t-shirt and jeans, not the typical three-piece suit. He’s got his beard and his hair loose. So, you know, we got to let Will loose a little bit, which was kind of fun.

Not so much. I try not to pick up any habits from the characters I've played. But it's very interesting to me to explore why people are the way they are and what shapes them. 

With someone like Will, who had such a tough childhood—growing up in foster care and being dyslexic—it’s fascinating to understand why he presents himself the way he does, like why he wears the suit and creates a specific perception. At the end of the day, he’s very insecure, and there are things about him that make him really vulnerable.

It’s great to show all of that, to get under the hood of Will and reveal his trauma, but also his sense of humor and his heart. He’s such a layered character, which makes him exciting to play as an actor.

There’s definitely some physical advantage to having an athletic background, but more than that, it’s about the discipline—learning to work hard to achieve what you want. That’s something sports teaches you, along with knowing how to handle losses.

As an actor, you have to be prepared for rejection because it’s inevitable. That discipline—waking up early, putting in the effort, and staying focused—is something I know I’ve carried over from my sports background.

My first thought is that they need to find the chupacabra to figure out if it’s real or not, and then there’s an investigation into that. 

What we did last season was really incredible. We brought Will to the island with his uncle Antonio. We found a way to tie it all back to him—his childhood, his mom—and it became deeply rooted in self-discovery. For someone like Will, who doesn’t know much about himself because he was an orphan, that was profound.

For me, it was an incredible experience to bring the entire production to the island, hire a local crew, and explore everything through Will’s perspective. He was blown away by the experience. 

He’s even speaking Spanish now because of it, as he taps into this new connection with himself. It was like a coming-of-age moment for Will, and for me, it was a huge point of pride to have the chance to shoot on the island.

Well, I mean, have you ever experienced a chinchorreo in Puerto Rico? 

So, a chinchorreo is basically when you get on a bus somewhere in the city, and you ride around the entire island, making stops, having food and drinks. 

It’s like a marathon of partying—and it doesn’t stop.

Yes, but you’re on a bus with loud music. You get off at each stop, fuel up, and keep going. I did it twice, and both times it was exhausting. 

I was like, “I need out.” I was thinking, “Can I tap out of this somehow and go home?” Because, honestly, we have a battery and an ability to party that beats anyone else. It’s amazing. It was a 12-hour day.

It’s fun at the beginning, but then you wish the marathon would end.

Yeah, Día de Reyes—I love it. You know, Three Kings Day. I love the parrandas we do in Puerto Rico, especially in El Campo, where you stop by neighbors' homes, sing songs, and share food.

There are a lot of cultural traditions I try to keep with me wherever I am, whether it’s Atlanta, LA, Ovio, or New York. So, yeah.