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Character
State Trooper
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Wagner

enthusiastic deferential observant eager earnest
Wagner serves as a junior state trooper under Lieutenant Elliott, supporting the murder investigation at the Thrombey estate. Fresh-faced and in his thirties, he handles logistics like securing scenes, operating equipment, and detaining suspects. He contributes timeline details and defers to superiors during interrogations. An avid mystery fan, he recognizes Harlan Thrombey's novels and film references with excitement. His earnest professionalism mixes with nervousness in high-tension moments and deference to detectives like Benoit Blanc.
49 appearances
Police Investigation
Also known as: Trooper Wagner

Wagner's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

49 moments
S1E1 · Knives Out
Marta Faces Family Judgment

Professionally detached, focused on the task at hand. His emotional state is one of neutral authority, unaffected by the family’s internal tensions but aware of their presence.

Trooper Wagner pokes his head into the foyer, interrupting the family’s tension with a professional announcement that the police are ready to begin interviews. His presence marks a shift in …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Richard’s Funeral Callout Exposes Family Rift

Calm and composed, his professionalism acting as a counterbalance to the family's emotional turmoil and unspoken conflicts.

Trooper Wagner interrupts the family's tense exchange to announce the start of formal interviews, his professional demeanor contrasting with the Thrombeys' emotional volatility. He requests Linda to go first ('Excuse …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Wagner interrupts memorial to begin interviews

Professionally composed, with a sense of urgency and determination to proceed with the investigation despite the family’s resistance.

Trooper Wagner interrupts the family gathering to initiate police interviews, requesting to see family members one at a time. He responds politely but firmly to Linda’s demand for the process …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Linda’s Deflective First Interview

Slightly uncomfortable, aware of his subordinate role, and genuinely sympathetic but unable to contribute meaningfully to the interview’s tension. His emotional state is reactive, shaped by the dynamics of the room rather than driving them.

Trooper Wagner stands behind Lieutenant Elliott, his posture slightly awkward and deferential. He offers condolences in a tone that betrays his inexperience and sympathy, but his contribution is overshadowed by …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Walt’s Grandstanding and Family Resentment

Eager and slightly awestruck, with a touch of hero worship for Harlan Thrombey’s legacy.

Trooper Wagner stands nearby, his enthusiasm for Harlan Thrombey’s work—particularly A Thousand Knives—contrasting sharply with Elliott’s skepticism. He praises Walt’s role in the publishing company, his admiration genuine but misplaced …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Walt’s evasive timeline confirmation

Excited and slightly embarrassed after realizing his interruption was out of place.

Trooper Wagner stands nearby, his enthusiasm for Harlan Thrombey’s novels momentarily derailing the interrogation. He gushes about A Thousand Knives, spoiling a key plot point with youthful excitement, before Elliott …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Family challenges Blanc’s hidden role

Cool, calculated, and in control; his southern drawl and passive demeanor mask his sharp investigative mind, which is actively dissecting the family’s reactions.

Benoit Blanc is introduced as a private investigator of 'great renown,' his presence disrupting the family’s fragile equilibrium. He speaks in a 'gentlest southern lilt,' projecting an air of calm …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc isolates Marta as a suspect

Anxious but professional—he is aware of the family’s hostility but maintains his role as a bystander in Blanc’s investigation.

Trooper Wagner stands silently with Lieutenant Elliott, turning nervously back to Linda after Blanc speaks. His presence is passive but attentive, reinforcing the authority of the police while deferring to …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc’s client and Marta’s role exposed

Anxious and slightly overwhelmed (caught between Elliott’s authority and Blanc’s unpredictability)

Wagner stands nervously beside Elliott, reacting to Blanc’s cryptic responses with visible discomfort. His lack of dialogue underscores his role as a subordinate, but his body language—shifted weight, averted gaze—reveals …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc exposes Walt’s publishing powerlessness

Neutral, with a brief moment of amusement at Richard's Hamilton reference.

Trooper Wagner briefly acknowledges Richard's Hamilton reference with a smile but otherwise remains passive in the scene. His neutral presence underscores the tension between the family members and Blanc's probing …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc exposes Walt’s financial desperation

Engaged but neutral, with a moment of cultural connection via the Hamilton reference.

Trooper Wagner serves as a silent observer during Blanc’s interrogation, reacting only to Richard’s Hamilton reference with a smile. His engagement is minimal but supportive, acknowledging the cultural moment before …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc challenges the suicide theory

Neutral but attentive; his silence suggests a mix of professionalism and a desire to avoid conflict or overstepping his role.

Trooper Wagner walks alongside Blanc and Elliott, his posture slightly deferential and his expression neutral. He does not actively participate in the dialogue, instead listening attentively to the exchange between …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc Recruits Marta as Confidante

Elliott is skeptical of Blanc’s tactics but doesn’t intervene, suggesting a mix of professional respect and cautious curiosity. His emotional state is one of quiet observation, waiting to see how Blanc’s approach plays out.

Lieutenant Elliott interrupts Blanc’s questioning of Marta with a simple acknowledgment (‘Blanc’), serving as a passive observer to Blanc’s manipulative tactics. His presence underscores the dynamic between the police and …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc exposes Marta’s involuntary tell

Mildly uncomfortable with Marta’s physical distress but professionally detached. His goal is to facilitate the investigation, not intervene in Blanc’s tactics.

Trooper Wagner attempts to redirect Marta indoors, suggesting she wait inside while the investigation continues. His intervention is overridden by Blanc, who insists on questioning Marta further. Wagner’s role is …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc exposes Marta’s betrayal and tests Joni’s loyalty

Shocked and dismissive, struggling to reconcile Blanc’s theories with his own understanding of the case.

Trooper Wagner reacts with shock to Marta’s vomiting and dismisses Blanc’s implication about Joni’s financial motive as unlikely. His role is reactive, expressing surprise and disbelief at the unfolding revelations. …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc exposes Marta’s and Walter’s lies

Skeptical initially, then surprised and engaged as the investigation deepens.

Wagner dismisses Joni as a suspect based on her influencer status, but his skepticism shifts to surprise when Blanc reveals the anonymous envelope of cash. His reactions—doubtful to stunned—highlight the …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc demands alibi verification

Doubful but mildly engaged, observing the dynamic between Blanc and Elliott.

Wagner briefly questions Joni’s motive, referencing her social media presence as an ‘influencer’ to dismiss the idea of inheritance as a killing motive. His contribution is peripheral but reflects his …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc reveals anonymous investigation

Conflicted and dismissive—Wagner is torn between his training (which demands concrete evidence) and the undeniable impact of Blanc's revelations. His skepticism is a mix of professional caution and personal disbelief in the family's motives. As the scene progresses, his dismissiveness gives way to reluctant engagement with Blanc's theories.

Trooper Wagner serves as the skeptical counterpoint to Blanc's revelations. He questions the validity of Joni's motive (emotional blackmail) and the anonymous hiring method, expressing disbelief in the idea that …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc challenges the suicide ruling

Cautiously analytical, with a hint of frustration at the uncertainty introduced by Blanc’s questions.

Trooper Wagner stands slightly behind Elliott, contributing observational input to the investigation. His attempt to eliminate Ransom and Marta as suspects based on timing reveals his analytical but somewhat deferential …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc challenges the official ruling

Neutral but attentive (his remark about Meg’s timeline is a quiet challenge to Elliott’s authority, though he remains professional).

Trooper Wagner provides an observational timeline, noting that Meg’s arrival during the time of death window creates a subtle inconsistency. His offhand remark subtly undermines Elliott’s confidence in the case’s …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Marta’s Flashback Reveals the Overdose

Neutral and attentive, with a professional demeanor. He is there to observe and assist, but he is not emotionally engaged in the way Marta or Blanc are.

Wagner is present but largely silent, serving as a passive observer to Blanc’s interrogation. His role is logistical—he is there to support Elliott and document the proceedings—but he does not …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Marta’s Controlled Testimony Under Scrutiny

Neutral but attentive, with a hint of curiosity about the dynamics between Marta, Elliott, and Blanc.

Trooper Wagner stands beside Lieutenant Elliott in the Thrombey Library, his posture attentive but his demeanor more passive than his superior’s. He observes Marta’s testimony with a neutral expression, occasionally …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc defuses tension with Marta

Professionally engaged but emotionally detached; he’s focused on the task at hand but not invested in the power struggles between Elliott and Blanc.

Trooper Wagner stands slightly behind Elliott, taking notes and nodding along with the interrogation. He doesn’t speak but remains attentive, his presence reinforcing the institutional weight of the questioning. When …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Marta arrives at the Thrombey estate

Neutral but attentive, with a professional curiosity about Marta’s arrival.

Wagner stands with Elliott and Blanc outside the guardhouse, his presence purely functional. He is part of the investigative apparatus but not yet an active participant in the psychological or …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Marta seizes control of the security tape

Proud and slightly defensive, taking pride in his long tenure and the security practices of the past.

Proofroc, the aging security guard, guides the group into the guard house with a mix of pride and nostalgia. He demonstrates the outdated VHS system with the ease of someone …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Marta recognizes the gardener’s road

Slightly amused but increasingly frustrated with the outdated equipment

Wagner attempts to fast-forward the VHS tape using the outdated VCR, joking that the grainy footage resembles a 'Japanese horror movie.' His tone is lightly amused, but his actions reflect …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Elliott challenges Blanc’s break-in theory

Mildly awestruck and professionally detached, with a hint of nervousness beneath his admiration for the statues.

Trooper Wagner, distracted by the estate’s artistic grandeur, pauses to admire the Menagerie Tragedy statues, his enthusiasm for Harlan’s literary legacy momentarily overshadowing the investigation’s grim purpose. He accepts the …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Marta erases evidence under Blanc’s scrutiny

Greatnana is in a state of quiet detachment, her mind seemingly elsewhere. She is not emotionally invested in the footprints or trellis fragment but serves as a catalyst for the distraction that Marta needs. Her silent communication with Blanc is unsettling, adding to the scene’s tension and providing Marta with the opportunity to act. She is a wild card, her presence unpredictable and her role in the larger narrative still unclear.

Greatnana stands stock-still on the porch, her bird-like stare locked on Blanc. The silence between them is charged, almost communicative, as if they share an unspoken understanding. Blanc is drawn …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Marta hides trellis evidence under Blanc’s distraction

Excited and alert, driven by instinct to bark at intruders or disturbances. Their energy serves as both a threat to Marta’s cover and a tool for her distraction.

The dogs bark at the men’s arrival and later at Richard and Linda’s SUV, creating a chaotic distraction. Marta calms them, using their presence to mask her actions. Their barking …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc examines the GO board and probes Marta

Neutral and focused, fulfilling his role as a state trooper without emotional investment in the unfolding tensions.

Trooper Wagner stands near the study’s tiny window, observing the interaction between Blanc and Marta. He offers to check on the status of Marta’s medical bag, which has been taken …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Ransom Asserts Dominance at Thrombey Estate

Cautiously observant, slightly unnerved by Ransom’s aggression but maintaining professional composure.

Trooper Wagner steps out onto the porch alongside Lieutenant Elliott, standing silently as Ransom Drysdale arrives. He observes the interaction but does not speak, deferring entirely to Elliott’s lead. His …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Family Fractures Before the Will

Professionally detached, Wagner's neutral demeanor masks his sharp focus on the family's interactions. He is acutely aware of the explosive potential of their conflict and uses the moment to assess their motives, particularly Ransom's role as the family's chaos agent. His authority is a quiet but potent force, reinforcing the police's presence and the seriousness of the investigation.

Trooper Wagner follows Elliott into the living room, his body language neutral and professional as he identifies himself as an officer of the law to Ransom. His dialogue is direct, …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Ransom provokes family meltdown before will reading

Annoyed and resentful, her disdain for Ransom’s entitlement and disrespect boiling over. She is protective of Meg and the family’s dignity, even as she remains silent in the face of their chaos.

Fran walks by Ransom, who grabs her sleeve and demands a glass of cold milk. She leaves with a scorching look at Ransom after Meg intervenes, her annoyance and resentment …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Jacob’s forced confession about the bathroom

Professionally detached, but there’s an undercurrent of discomfort—he’s out of his depth in this family’s chaos and relies on Elliott and Blanc to guide his actions. His authority is performative, a reminder that the law is watching, even if he’s not directly involved in the investigation.

Trooper Wagner follows Ransom into the living room and identifies himself as an officer of the law. His posture is rigid, his voice firm as he asserts his authority. However, …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc and Marta’s strategic withdrawal

Eager and deferential; his emotional state is one of professional excitement, mixed with a deep admiration for Blanc’s investigative skills.

Trooper Wagner notices Blanc and Marta’s exit from the living room and immediately follows them up the stairs alongside Lieutenant Elliott. His movement is eager, his expression a mix of …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc discovers the hidden window break-in

Eager and slightly awestruck, thriving in the moment of investigative breakthrough.

Trooper Wagner stands at the top of the stairs with Lieutenant Elliott, his excitement palpable as he recognizes the hidden window as a detail from Harlan Thrombey’s novel A Kill …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Family turns on Marta after will reading

Neutral, observant, and slightly awed—his silence suggests he’s still learning, but his presence reinforces the police’s control over the situation. His lack of intervention implies he’s deferring to Blanc’s expertise.

Trooper Wagner stands silently with Blanc and Elliott in the back of the room, observing the family’s outburst. His neutral presence reinforces the police’s authority, though he doesn’t speak or …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc arrives at Thrombey estate

Professionally composed with a hint of nervous anticipation, aware of the stakes but committed to fulfilling his role.

Trooper Wagner drives the prowler to the Thrombey estate, parking it at the front drive. He remains in the vehicle or exits briefly to acknowledge Blanc’s nod, reinforcing the collaborative …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Pursuit warning reveals murder suspect

Tense but composed; the adrenaline of the chase is tempered by his training and the gravity of the situation.

Trooper Wagner grips the steering wheel of the speeding cruiser, his focus laser-sharp as he relays pursuit updates over the radio. His voice is steady, professional, but the tension in …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc Hijacks Marta’s Confession

Neutral and focused, adhering to his role as a subordinate officer.

Trooper Wagner stands alongside Elliott, equally silent and observant. His role is purely functional—supporting the investigation without contributing to the family’s drama. His presence reinforces the institutional backdrop against which …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc abruptly rules Harlan’s death a suicide

Professionally observant—Elliott’s emotional state is one of neutral observation, deferring to Blanc’s authority while remaining aware of the case’s developments and the family’s reactions.

Lieutenant Elliott stands present in the room during the confrontation but does not actively participate. His expression is observant, and he defers to Blanc’s authority, allowing the detective to take …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc exposes Ransom’s orchestrated conspiracy

Skeptical but increasingly engaged, with a hint of frustration at Blanc’s theatricality masking his respect for the detective’s methods.

Lieutenant Elliott bursts into the library, initially skeptical of Blanc’s dramatic approach ('Blanc c'mon, what's all this Drama'). He remains standing, arms crossed, as Blanc unfolds his deductions, his body …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc exposes Ransom’s premeditated scheme

Neutral and professional—his role is logistical, and he remains emotionally detached from the confrontation.

Trooper Wagner enters the library at Blanc's request, tasked with keeping the family out of the room and bringing Ransom in. He follows Blanc's instructions without question, nodding in acknowledgment …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc reveals Ransom’s premeditated sabotage

Excited and engaged—Wagner is clearly inspired by Blanc’s deductive process, seeing it as a model for how investigations should be conducted.

Trooper Wagner is the eager counterpoint to Elliott’s skepticism. He quickly shushes Elliott, his body language radiating rapt attention as Blanc speaks. Wagner’s admiration for Blanc is palpable, his posture …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Marta deciphers Fran’s blackmail scheme

Inferred as vengeful, determined, and emotionally volatile (though not physically present).

Fran is the unseen architect of this moment, her actions and motives dissected by Blanc and Marta. Her presence is felt through the blackmail note, the toxicology report, and the …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Blanc reveals Fran’s blackmail target

Inferred as vengeful and resourceful, with an undercurrent of tragic loyalty to Harlan. Her absence is felt in the tension her actions have created.

Fran is not physically present in this event, but her actions and motives are the central focus of the conversation. She is discussed as the architect of the blackmail scheme, …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Ransom’s Violent Confession and Collapse

Initially professional, then excited (when Marta vomits), and finally aggressive (when tackling Ransom). His emotional state is one of heightened engagement with the investigation.

Trooper Wagner is initially professional but becomes inappropriately excited when Marta vomits, confirming her lie. He violently tackles Ransom after the knife attack, ensuring his subdual. His actions are aggressive …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Marta’s Physiological Betrayal Exposes Ransom

Professional but excited (initially), then aggressive (as he tackles Ransom), and ultimately satisfied (as the confrontation is resolved).

Trooper Wagner reacts with excitement when Marta’s vomiting exposes Ransom’s lie, then violently tackles Ransom after his failed knife attack. His professionalism gives way to aggressive action, ensuring Ransom is …

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S1E1 · Knives Out
Ransom’s Failed Knife Attack on Marta

Excited and determined initially, then aggressive and focused as he restrains Ransom.

Trooper Wagner is initially excited by Marta’s involuntary vomiting, realizing it exposes Ransom’s lie. He restrains Ransom violently after his failed knife attack, tackling him and assisting Lieutenant Elliott in …

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Affiliation

Benedict Canyon Police Department
Local Homicide Investigation and Suspect Apprehension