Justin Hartley’s Tracker has been a big hit for CBS with its rolling landscapes, diverse cast, and engaging lead, and has all the pieces in place to be a long-term success. Hartley’s Colter Shaw is a prickly rewardist who lives a nomadic life, solving cases whilst navigating a traumatic childhood event, and a strained relationship with his family.
Tracker season 1 was a breath of fresh air among modern procedurals, operating like a modern Western; focusing on a troubled central character, with the backdrop of the natural world providing danger and intrigue. However, Tracker season 2 received criticism for deviating from much of the initial narrative and not dedicating enough time to Colter’s backstory.
Now it has been confirmed that Tracker season 3 will have 22 episodes, a series high. Therefore, there is a chance for the show to fix its previous problem and get the narrative back on track. This will be integral to bringing balance back to Tracker by providing a more organic mix of backstory and cases of the week.
A Longer Episode Count Allows The Show To Explore Colter’s Familial Backstory
This Was Sorely Lacking In Tracker Season 2
One of the biggest advantages of having a higher episode count is that it gives the show more time to explore Colter’s backstory with his family, namely, to delve into the death of his father, Ashton (Lee Tergesen). In the Tracker season 2 finale episode, it becomes clear that Colter’s mother, Mary Dove Shaw (Wendy Crewson), was involved in Ashton’s death.
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This revelation is bound to turn Colter’s world upside down and shows that his mom is not the person he thought she was. It might also cause him to question other things about his childhood, and this needs exploration. The show should dedicate a good amount of time to this reveal, as well as how this impacts Colter’s perspective, given its magnitude.
Evidently, season 2 did not spend enough time focusing on Colter’s familial relationships, which are the heartbeat of his character. I am hopeful that, with the most episodes yet, the writing team is planning a season full of deep dives and strong writing focused on Colter’s early years, as well as the present day.
More Episodes Hopefully Mean A Greater Ability To Work With Melissa Roxburgh & Jensen Ackles’ Schedules
Having Colter’s Siblings Back Will Be Integral To A Successful Season
Tracker functions best when it reunites Colter with his brother, Russell, and his sister, Dory. He has tense relationships with both, but there is real affection there, and their interactions are always highlights. More episodes featuring the three (or two of the three) are essential for next season, but a lot will depend on scheduling.
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Tracker has proven itself a hit procedural, but a change to the storytelling in season 3 could help keep the series fresh for the audience.
Jensen Ackles and Melissa Roxburgh, who play Russell and Dory, respectively, have busy schedules, with Ackles shooting The Boys season 5, while Roxburgh has a leading role in The Hunt. However, another advantage of Tracker having more episodes is that there is a greater chance to work with (and around) their schedules, and bring both back on the show again.
Source: The Direct
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Tracker
6/10
- Release Date
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February 11, 2024
- Showrunner
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Elwood Reid
- Writers
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Ben H. Winters, Hilary Weisman Graham
