Looking back at Tracker Season 2 years from now, when the successful series is into its eighth or ninth season because it’s poised for that kind of long-term run, how will we judge it?
It took on a much darker tone than Tracker Season 1, with cases that were borderline too much at certain times. And it struggled majorly to develop any character other than Colter or Reenie, but overall, it was a consistent season.
It entertained and showcased why CBS gave Justin Hartley the keys to lead a series that is currently the most watched on television.
But even though it was relatively fun and complex, it was far from perfect. Some of its issues from the first season only got worse, and some of its brighter spots were forgotten altogether.
With two seasons under its belt, it may be time to consider that this is just the show Tracker is meant to be and stop wishing for certain things. But where’s the fun in that?
Before we dive into wishlists for the future, we’re looking back at the highs and lows of what many will likely consider to be a solid season of television.
Let’s break it down, Tracker Fanatics!
Best Episode – Tracker Season 2 Episode 20
You may be thinking: What a copout! You’re only choosing the season finale because of recency bias.
Still, Tracker Season 2 Episode 20 was a compelling episode from start to finish, with a tight mystery and the Shaw Family drama simmering in the background.
Tracker will always be at its best when it has a case of the week that’s entertaining and allows Colter to connect to other things going on in his life or the life of his team.
Child trafficking is a very serious thing, and the episode treated it with care. While the subject matter was dark, there was a light at the end of the tunnel when Colter, along with assistance from others, could free many children from horror.
The hour had a tight focus, excellent acting, and it did not waste a second while telling the story they wanted to tell. And that cliffhanger! We’ll talk about that more later.
Worst Episode – Tracker Season 2 Episode 16
Everything about this hour was off from the start. It dropped us into the snowy mountains with Colter and a man we’d never seen before, as the two men were on the hunt for missing sisters.
Unlike typical episodes, where we see the missing go missing or see Colter speaking with the person offering the reward, we got none of that here. Instead, the hour slowly informed us what was happening while Colter and this other man we did not know looked around and chatted about things.
Once Colter found the girls, things just got creepier and creepier. While Tracker can skew dark at times, this one wasn’t dark in an intriguing way but a frustrating one because there were tons of plot holes and just a general unease as the story droned on.
Tracker Season 2 Episode 16 was the show at its worst, unfortunately, with a thin plot, too many things that didn’t work, and an ending that was so hastily thrown together, you weren’t even sure if the hour was truly over.
It was the unfortunate low point of a season that was relatively good overall.
Most Underutilized Character – Velma
I have written much about Tracker’s struggles to incorporate its supporting cast meaningfully. When the season began with Teddi departing the series, you would assume that it would set up a storyline for Velma.
With her wife no longer in the picture, you could have finally introduced more of Velma’s backstory, perhaps how she fell into her line of work, how she connected with Colter, and what was next for her, since they alluded to her and Teddi having problems.
Instead, they decided to team up Velma and Reenie, which was fine on the surface, but Velma never left Reenie’s office, nor did she ever get more to do in any hour outside of feeding Colter information or talking to Reenie.
Velma is far from the only character Tracker underutilizes, but her lack of discernible personality traits and the series’ refusal to let her leave Reenie’s office are ridiculous and make you wonder if they’ll ever expand her character.
Reenie, Bobby, and Randy have all worked on cases alongside Colter. When will Velma’s turn come?
Season MVP – Randy
When Bobby disappeared toward the latter half of the season, his mysterious exit wasn’t discussed much. Still, he was “replaced” by his cousin Randy, played by the uber-talented Chris Lee, who stepped in to provide Colter with the tech skills he always needs to help find what he’s looking for.
Most fans, including myself, have a major soft spot for Bobby and were sad to see him miss so many episodes, but Randy stepped in without missing a beat.
He and Colter had a great rapport, and Randy has a great energy about him, and his presence has only made the show that much better.
Tracker Season 2 Episode 17 was one of the strongest of the season, and it worked so well because of how much you find yourself rooting for Randy.
He’s such a likeable character and easy to embrace. Here’s hoping he sticks around for Tracker Season 3!
Best Guest Star – Jensen Ackles
Jensen Ackles only showed up once this season, for Tracker Season 2 Episode 2, but while the episode wasn’t super memorable, Jensen Ackles’ appearances always are.
Russell Shaw has haunted the narrative since the series’ inception, so every time he shows up, it’s a good time to learn more Russell lore and see the relationship between Colter and Russell develop now that they’re no longer estranged.
Justin Hartley has solid chemistry with everyone, but he and Ackles play off each other very well. Even when given a storyline about extraterrestrials and shady government operations, they find a way to make it work.
Preferably, it’d be nice to see Russell show up more than once a season, but one thing you can count on is Ackles entertaining you whenever he is onscreen and chewing up whatever ridiculousness they put in front of him.
Just like we need Randy to be a mainstay in the next season, we need more Russell Shaw!
Biggest Missed Opportunity – Bringing The Whole Crew Together
Tracker has no idea what to do with its supporting cast as individuals, so why not take the easy way out, and figure out two to three cases a season that require them all to be in the same place simultaneously?
It feels like the least they could do.
Colter has had a chance to work with everyone in person, except Velma, but it’s never everyone at the same time.
So, why not have a time when Reenie and Velma are traveling for one of Reenie’s clients, and it puts them within driving distance of Randy and Bobby, and then a case emerges that requires them all to be together to solve it. Could it really be that hard?
In all seriousness, each season that passes without the series giving the supporting cast ANYTHING more to do but talk to Colter on the phone is a waste of a talented group of individuals.
Most Shocking Moment – The Reveal of Ashton Shaw’s Killer
Let’s be real here: Tracker Season 2 forgot all about the Shaw family drama.
Instead, they gave Colter a cold case from his past to work through the first half of the season, and then they basically re-introduced the family drama in the final two episodes of the season.
On the one hand, the hour just thrust it upon us so suddenly that it felt a little out of place, but the season finale was so good, with a thrilling case and the lingering family stuff, you forgot for a minute how much the season neglected it.
Colter has never fully processed or moved on from his father’s death, and being home in Echo Ridge brought a lot of feelings back. When he stumbled upon his biggest tip yet about the night of his father’s death, he was never going to let it go.
Coming face-to-face with his father’s killer was one of the most tense moments of the entire series to this point, and that image of Justin Hartley sitting there with his gun cocked and a single tear sliding down his face will stick with you long after the credits roll.
It was such a powerful moment and a wild cliffhanger to leave us on, especially knowing Colter must contend with the knowledge that his mother has been hiding more from him than anyone.
Overall Grade – B
During this season, there were more decent hours than downright terrible ones, so it wouldn’t feel right to give it less than a B.
A B is an above-average score, but it wasn’t as if every hour was lights-out, the best thing this series has ever done.
There were plenty of hours that just hit the mark, but there were a lot of great hours that leaned into all the things Tracker is good at. And there’s a reason this show has become so successful, and it’s because of their consistency.
When you tune into Tracker, you know that you’re about to tune into Justin Hartley being a badass, and sometimes, that’s all you need.
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