Tracker is quickly getting itself in a situation that is going to lead to the end of the series. Something needs to change if the show wants to keep going more than another season or so.
After all, broadcast shows aren’t created to be just one or two seasons and that’s it. The idea is to get them to syndication numbers to help offset some of the costs, and the creators will want to be able to tell the full story available. However, Tracker is going to make it difficult for itself.
Justin Hartley can’t run Tracker by himself
Granted, Justin Hartley is not on his own just yet. Fiona Rene is still a series regular on Tracker season 3, but the two of them are the only OG cast members left. While Chris Lee is confirmed for the new season, it’s not clear if he’ll be upped to a series regular position. If not, then it means he’s not going to help ease off too much of the stress for both Hartley and Rene.
Really, it’s stress on Hartley. He has to keep the series going by himself for the most part. After all, he’s the leading character, and he’s the one who is stuck in most of the situations to get the rewards. On top of that, he’s going to be doing the searching for those rewards on his own more now that Velma is also gone.
It’s not easy for an actor to carry a show by themselves. Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki had each other in Supernatural, and they both felt the pressure. It’s rarely done, with other series regulars to help carry some of the storylines to keep things interesting. Rene could step up a little more as Reenie, but it’s not going to be the same focus as with Colter searching for the next reward.
It’s a lot of work for Justin Hartley
On top of that, we have the fact that Tracker season 3 will have more episodes than the first two seasons. That means more hours of work for Hartley. When he’s been the leading man in the past, he’s had other actors to work with, taking away from some of the screentime that he would need to fill.
He won’t get that with Tracker season 3. He’ll need to work long days in different elements and times of the day and night. Eventually, that will take its toll, and it’s not what he originally signed up for when Tracker was first confirmed. Remember, there were five series regulars including him at the beginning of the series.
Tracker season 3 needs to add more series regulars
So, the best way to handle this is to bring in more series regulars. Having Rene in more episodes could help, and upping Lee will also offer some support, but we need to see another series regular with the rewardist side of things or a new handler.
The problem here is that Colter is a lone wolf. He teams up with people if he needs to, but he prefers to work alone. The series has set up an impossible situation without changing Colter’s character, and that means Tracker is going to struggle in the future.
Tracker season 3 premieres on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 8/7c on CBS.
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