Tracker has turned into a hit for CBS, already earning itself a second-season renewal. So here are a few reasons why you should be tuning in to this new drama and make it the next addition to your crime docket!
Based on the novels by Jeffrey Deaver, Tracker tells the story of Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley), a former military veteran who now hires himself out to track anything from missing persons to objects. As he travels the country, Colter also faces the problems of his past and how they threaten his future.
The show got a big debut after the Super Bowl, so it's not surprising that it has been quickly renewed. It wasn't just the placement that has made people tune in. Here's why viewers are tuning into it!
1. Hartley is fantastic in the lead
Justin Hartley proved himself with roles on Smallville and then This Is Us. As Colter, he sells the role wonderfully, mixing in some great dramatic touches and also compelling in the lead. It’s terrific watching Colter size up a suspect or crime scene, spotting the details, and being smarter than he lets on. Hartley’s quiet demeanor helps, making people open up and trust him.
Thankfully, he also pulls off the action sequences well, totally believable as a fighter. It’s a great performance with Hartley getting the leading man vehicle he deserves, and it’s thanks to him that the show has taken off so well.
2. Colter’s backstory in Tracker is compelling
As showcased in flashbacks, Colter’s backstory is unique. His parents were quiet professors until his dad suddenly became paranoid, taking them off the grid and babbling about someone after them. He ended up dying, with Colter suspecting his brother Russell killed him. But Russell has been reaching out to Colter to hint there’s more than there seems and might be connected to their mother.
The series has been carefully mixing these threads up with Colter, clearly affected by this mystery. He owes his father his training in survival tactics and looked up to him but the mystery as to why his dad died adds more shades to this adventure.
3. The supporting cast is fun
Hartley may be the focus, but Colter has a fun supporting cast around him. There’s Reenie (Fiona Rene), Colter’s attorney/former lover, who has a wonderful banter with him even as she has to (literally) bail him out of trouble. Robin Weigert and Abby McEnany are also fun as Teddi and Velma, Colter’s “agents,” who help him find work while handling a life together.
Finally, Eric Graise provided laughs as Bob, Colter’s go-to tech guy who always seems to be in the middle of an odd task when Colter calls him for information. So, while Colter is the star, his supporting cast adds more spice to the series.
4. The cases of the week are good
As with most CBS shows, the series is mostly a case-of-the-week tale, with Colter finding himself on a new job every episode. They are good with him tracking a missing teen, clashing with a cult, and helping a woman find her vanished brother. Seeing Colter go from Sherlock Holmes investigation to Reacher-style brawling is a great mix.
It’s also interesting how Colter claims he’s just in it for the paycheck, making sure he gets it at the end of the episode but clearly has a desire to help others. Seeing how a “simple” job turns into something more complex is the key to the show, and so far, it’s pulled off the storytelling quite well.
5. The changing locations provides more variety
Tying in with the cases, the fact each episode is set in a different spot helps the show out. Rather than be tied down to a single city like New York, Colter hits a fresh locale, moving from a remote mountain spot to a more popular tourist town. That means getting used to a new place and new law enforcement, so Colter can’t count on the classic “friend on the force.”
It also allows him to get a new love interest every week to spark things up. It’s fun seeing Colter drop in, cause a fuss, and then move on to make the episodes stand out. Seeing what place Colter stops by every week gives the series more variety than other CBS shows.
6. There’s so much potential left in it
With just four episodes down, the series is finding its groove and looks to be working out. The mystery of Colter’s past is an intriguing subplot, while the idea of this lone wolf opening up to help people is well done. The way each episode integrates a new locale and characters is smart and leaves viewers curious to see how it goes.
Hartley is great in the lead from action to romance (yes, he does more than his share of shirtless scenes) and the supporting cast is getting more time to shine. With this second-season renewal, the writers can now dip more into Colter’s past and the mystery of his dad’s passing while providing great weekly installments.
In short, this is the perfect time to latch onto Tracker, as this seems to be CBS’s newest hit series and see why it’s worth tracking down episodes online.
Tracker airs Sundays at 9/8c on CBS and streams on Paramount+ the following day.