Lets Get Hyped!
Wonderfully hosted by Entertainment Tonight’s Nischelle Turner, CBS ramped up the excitement around the upcoming premiere of season two, with an interactive Tracker livestream event that was held on September 20th. The livestream provided a look back at season one with Justin Hartley’s favorite behind-the-scenes moments, some special guest appearances and an interactive trivia game for the fans to participate in.
Preamble
Being a Tracker fan since the very beginning, one of the things that really works in this series is the format. On the one hand we have the variety that comes with Colter’s ever-changing tracking assignments. On the other hand, we have the Shaw family dynamics that fuel the compelling long story arc of Colter’s past. The best episodes are when these two parallel storylines collide.
In preparation for the S02 premiere, we will go through each one of the relevant episodes and summarize all that we have discovered about the family drama. We’ll be looking at the clues of what we’ve learned so far to compile a list of unanswered questions. Look for that soon-to-be published article. I will come back here and link it when it is complete.
For now, lets talk about the recent Tracker livestream event. Thoroughly enjoyable. It was interactive, informative, and lots of fun. What follows is a mixture of livestream-recap and a deep-dive into some of the emotional elements of this series that keep fans on the edge of their seats! Let’s do this!
Tracker Backers
Justin affectionately referred to fans as “Tracker Backers” and I’m proud to count myself among them. It was wonderful to hear about his on-set experiences, the stunts he’s participated in, working onscreen with his real-life partner Sofia Pernas and his work with cast and crew.
Justin was joined by Abby McEnany (Velma Bruin), Eric Graise (Bobby Exley) and Fiona Rene (Reenie Greene). They all very generously shared some of their own Tracker experiences, and it was obvious that this cast works well together. The camaraderie and good humor were clearly visible.
Sidebar personal note: Do y’all remember the famous line in ‘The Social Network’ where Sean Parker tells Mark Zuckerberg to “Drop the ‘The’, it’s cleaner”? Well, drop the Tracker in Tracker Backers. We’re just Backers. We know who you’re talking to 😉
No Spoilers Here
When asked about what they could share of the soon-to-be launched S02, the consensus was that even though the lone-wolf aspect of Colter’s tracking assignments is a fundamental format of the show, this season will make some inroads beyond that. S02 will see the deepening of relationships and a more ensemble feel amongst the primary cast of characters. Reenie will be opening up her own business and working more closely with Velma. We will see a deeper dive into Velma’s past. S02 may also deliver a closer look into Bobby’s life and what his world looks like outside of the work he does with Colter.
Family Secrets
Colter’s past isn’t just an incredibly entertaining story for audiences, it is also a driving force in his life. You can see how he struggles with the mysteries of his turbulent childhood and is driven to fill in the blanks. Justin does a wonderful job here. You can feel his character’s anger and the controlled restraint he employs to keep his emotions in check as the confusion and betrayal breadcrumb him, not to discovery, but instead, to more and more unanswered questions. Family secrets abound.
Sister Dory
Episode 11 saw the introduction of Melissa Roxburgh as the adult version of Colter’s younger sister Dory.
Dory Shaw, in her role as a university Professor, intersected the storyline connection to Colter’s case–that of a missing student. Not only was she able to offer her brother some assistance, but it also provided the backdrop to introduce more family intrigue.
Dory wants to spend more time with Colter and struggles with the notion that he resents her for leaving the family home. He tells her that his reason for staying with their mom was because dad was dead, Russell was gone and she had no one else.
It’s evident that Dory loves her brothers and wants them to move past their shared childhood trauma. She believes their mother works counter to this outcome. It is Dory’s belief that their mother was a willing and active participant in all of their father’s schemes. She believes their mother is lying to Colter about past events to manipulate him.
Colter is not softened by Dory’s pleas and simply changes the subject. It’s clear that he loves his sister, but he has lived with 20 years of being influenced by their mother’s version of events and her insistence that he refuse any attempts at reconciliation with Russell.
The writers have carefully crafted the pace and timing of revealing the family lore so that their discoveries are the audience’s discoveries. Their angst is our angst. This leaves fans with the realization that what is unravelling, is just the tip of the iceberg.
Brother Colter
Colter Shaw, being the emotionally controlled and stoic character that he is, operates his business very well while compartmentalizing his family concerns. A character of a different sort may “bull-in-a-china-shop” this mystery, tearing through anything and anyone who gets in his way. Instead, Colter is methodical, patient and discerning. But his pain is evident. To move through your life believing that your own brother killed your father would be a heavy burden for anyone to bear. This trauma is the place from which Colter’s motivation for answers wells up. The more he learns, the more he needs to know. It drives him.
But there is one undeniable truth that any onlooker can see from the outside. Colter is in the hurricane’s eye of this drama. He is the central figure, whose council they all seek to bring the estrangement to an end and foster a new normal. Dory seeks his affection. Russell seeks his acceptance. And I suspect, that by the time this drama plays out, it will be their mother who seeks his forgiveness.
Brother Russell
Episode 12 saw the introduction of Jensen Ackles as the adult version of Colter’s older brother Russell. It is this brother-bond that is the most contentious within the family now.
At the onset of this episode, Colter fully believes his older brother Russell murdered their father. Throughout the season we witnessed Russell’s varied attempts to make a connection, but Colter ignored him. Finally, at the insistence of their sister Dory, Colter agrees to see Russell. There is a powerful yet subtle contradiction at work here. Colter comes to the realization that avoidance won’t afford him the mortar he needs to piece together the blanks of his childhood memories. His ever-strengthening desire for the truth wins out and he agrees to come face-to-face with the man who, in one act of violence, decimated their family, flinging each of them on separate and ever widening paths of estrangement.
Russell, now being motivated by a wider set of concerns, rolls up onto Colter’s campsite to end that twenty year estrangement. He’s taking a big gamble and he knows it.
Justin Hartley and Jensen Ackles, play this tension so beautifully. That tension shows up like a third character sitting with them around the campfire. It is present, powerful, palpable and at the same time fragile. One wrong word from either of them and an explosive argument could ensue that would result in another twenty years of pain, anger and separation.
Russell is intent on quietly delivering his truth and declaring his innocence. Colter’s anger is razor sharp, so for him, the jury is still out. It’s no slam-dunk. The brothers reach a tenuous impasse. Russell plays his hand. He asks Colter for his help. Russell knows this olive branch is the perfect antidote. It’s a genius and strategic move.
“I know you hate me right now. I know you think I killed our father. Can we sidestep this and save my friend’s life?”
Russell knows that working together will let them focus on something outside themselves while they take measure of one another. It’s a step toward a reconciliation that is the gamble, but it pays off. As dangerous circumstances threaten the safety of the brothers, they are forced to rely on one another for knowledge, expertise, and protection. The emotional walls around them break down and a reluctant trust begins to emerge that holds promise. But even as this begins to unfurl, bombshells await in the season finale that unhinge Colter in ways he did not expect.
The Hits Just Keep On Coming
In the finale, Colter discovers from his childhood friend Lizzy (wonderfully played by Jennifer Morrison) that her mother and his father were having an affair. Even more disturbing for Colter was to learn that Lizzy came across of box of his fathers research papers and journals and sent it to Dory, who kept that news from him. Lizzy thought he should talk to his mother about it, and that didn’t sit well with him. Colter’s mom had him believing that Russell was behind their father’s death and kept the brothers apart.
In Closing
The season two of Tracker will premiere on Sunday October 13th on CBS, so mark your calendars and get ready for a wild ride. To catch up on season one, head over to Paramount Plus, and join all the “Backers” who love this series. It’s got it all–mystery, angst, intrigue, friendship, humor, tension, action and love. I can’t wait!
