This Casting News on ‘Tracker’ Season 3 Is Disappointing, but It Isn’t Surprising If You Know the Show

While fans await Season 3 of Tracker, they’ve been dealt some disappointing news: series regulars and fan favorites Eric Graise andAbby McEnany will not be returning. Bobby (Graise), Colter’s sarcastic, tech-savvy support, and Velma (McEnany), the dry-humored bounty hunter dispatcher, added much-needed texture to a show that often leans entirely on Justin Hartley’s shoulders. With their exits, only Hartley and Fiona Rene remain as series regulars heading into Season 3. While the news isn’t entirely surprising, it is still a shock and very disappointing. It also raises important questions about how the series plans to evolve. Their departures highlight a larger issue that became increasingly clear in Season 2, as Trackerstruggled to balance its procedural format with meaningful ensemble development.

Bobby and Velma Were Both Underused in Season 2 of ‘Tracker’

Tracker may thrive on its case-of-the-week format and Colter Shaw’s lone-wolf appeal, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t benefit from a stronger supporting cast. Graise and McEnany’s characters offered a glimpse of what the show could become with more continuity. Bobby’s loyalty and Velma’s offbeat charm helped build a grounded world around Colter, even if neither was ever fully developed. Without them, the series risks feeling increasingly thin, relying solely on guest stars and losing the connective tissue that gives viewers a reason to invest beyond the case of the week.

This underuse became especially noticeable in Season 2, just as fans were hoping the show would start expanding Colter’s world. The solving of his long-cold case, deepening complications with his family, and Reenie’s growing tension with her new client all hinted at a more serialized direction. But Bobby and Velma’s reduced roles suggested otherwise. Both characters appeared less frequently and were largely relegated to brief phone calls or exposition dumps, rarely given meaningful screen time or interactions with Colter. Now, with their exits confirmed, Colter is left without the small but memorable support system audiences have come to know and love.

The early departure of Robin Weigert ahead of Season 2 made it clear that Tracker was willing to part with familiar faces. And while Bobby’s cousin Randy, played by the hilarious and charming Chris Lee, was a fun addition, it was still hard not to feel the absence of Bobby himself. It’s unclear whether Lee will return for Season 3, but his presence alone isn’t enough to replace the consistency and connection that characters like Bobby and Velma offered.

To be fair, Tracker was never pitched as a team drama, and Hartley has done an extraordinary job anchoring the series. His character’s journey, and the show’s structure of placing him in a new location each week with a rotating cast of guest stars, has clearly resonated with audiences. Tracker has maintained strong ratings and remains a reliable hit for CBS. But as the show heads into its third season, one question looms: Can that formula continue to hold viewer interest without evolving? Or will some of the recurring guest stars around Colter step into more permanent roles to help expand the show’s world?

Losing Bobby and Velma Is a Missed Opportunity for ‘Tracker’ Season 3

Losing Bobby and Velma isn’t just a missed opportunity narratively, but it’s also a step backward in terms of representation. Eric Graise, a disabled actor and bilateral amputee, brought sharp wit and authenticity to Bobby’s character without ever slipping into a stereotype. Abby McEnany, the show’s only queer character, gave Velma a laid-back cool and dry humor that made her instantly memorable. In an era when audiences are asking for more inclusive, fully realized characters, letting go of two voices like theirs especially without giving them proper development, feels like a misstep.

There’s still time for Tracker to course-correct. Fiona Rene’s Reenie Green became a standout in the latter half of Season 2, as the show finally gave her more to do and allowed her legal work to take center stage. Rene and Hartley share great on-screen chemistry, and there’s real potential for a more emotionally layered dynamic if the writers choose to explore it. If Tracker leans into that relationship and continues developing the broader mystery around Colter’s family, it could finally build the stronger emotional core the series has been missing.

Still, Bobby and Velma had the potential to be more than background support and they could’ve become the foundation for a grounded, recurring team around Colter. Their presence offered a chance to challenge his lone-wolf mentality and show that while he can do everything on his own, he doesn’t have to. That kind of dynamic would’ve added richness and contrast to Colter’s worldview. Instead, they were written out before they had a chance to fully grow.

In the end, their exits may make sense within the show’s current structure, but that doesn’t make them any less frustrating. The best procedurals allow their characters to evolve alongside the cases. Tracker has the star power, the success, and the potential to go deeper. It’s just unfortunate that it will have to do so without two fan-favorite characters who clearly deserved more.

All episodes of Tracker can be streamed on Paramount+ in the U.S.

Tracker

Release Date

February 11, 2024

Showrunner

Elwood Reid

Writers

Ben H. Winters, Hilary Weisman Graham

• 

  Justin Hartley

  Colter Shaw

•