If you’ve been following Tracker religiously, then Episode 20 of Season 2 is the one you’ve been eagerly waiting for. The stakes have never been higher, and the finale delivered a monumental payoff to the burning questions that have been lingering throughout the season. But just as you thought things were about to wrap up neatly, the show left us with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that will undoubtedly stir things up in Season 3. In this review, we’ll break down the key moments of the finale, explore the answers we’ve been craving, and talk about the explosive cliffhanger that has everyone buzzing. Buckle up, because the ride isn’t over yet.
Tracker has had something of an inconsistent second season – but the season 2 finale, “Echo Ridge”, knocks it out of the park. It left me incredibly excited for season 3. Not only did the finale end on an epic cliffhanger, but it is setting up season 3 to be the best yet, which is impressive, given that at points in season 2, I was worried the show had lost its way. However, episode 20 ticks every box when it comes to what makes Tracker work. The episode takes place in (no surprise, given the title) Echo Ridge, which is where Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) was living as a child after his father took the family off-grid. He’s been called in for a case, as usual, but because this is in his childhood home, we get to see him reconnect with people he knew. It’s surprisingly lovely. At the same time, things get incredibly dark as he uncovers a child trafficking operation, so this is not an episode of sweetness and light — it’s an excellent balance.
The case itself isn’t the focus, and neither is Colter reuniting with friends in the woods. It’s the dynamic between him and his mother, who really, really doesn’t want him to keep following up on his father’s death. Initially, this is nothing new, and the assumption is that she doesn’t want him to become obsessed. However, the episode ends on the most intense cliffhanger of the series — and it’s one that changes everything for Colter Shaw.
Echo Ridge Is Something Entirely New For Tracker (& It Works). If This Is What’s Coming In Season 3, I’m On Board Tracker deviates from the standard formula in multiple ways in this episode, making it a standout for the show. Some of the changes are smaller, like the decision to have Colter find his target… but not until after they have been murdered. It was actually something of a shock to realize that Colter was going to be too late to save the day, as this has previously been saved for colder cases. It works because the case doesn’t end there. Colter continues to hunt down Carl Murphy, who was involved in child trafficking, and eventually gets the FBI on board to save an entire group of kidnapped children. This lets Tracker have a happy ending, and Colter continues to be a hero, but it still creates space for a darker episode where he doesn’t save the day entirely.
It’s not the only way that “Echo Ridge” gets dark, either. Colter isn’t pulling punches in this one, as he shoots to kill, not to wound, with one exception. When chasing down Carl Murphy, he very calmly and intentionally shoots him in the legs to stop him running, and then threatens to cut off his fingers to make him talk. I’ve previously complained about Colter being a little too squeaky clean this season, so I was surprised, but thrilled to see him give in to his dark side a little bit.
Finally, this is one of very few episodes where there are two plotlines and they directly connect. Previous episodes this season have seen lackluster cases where a secondary plot (usually Reenie and Leo) is given equal screentime, but “Echo Ridge” works because the two plotlines are actually interconnected. We’ve seen this in the past with “Ontological Shock”, but never to this extent. Bringing them together so completely works perfectly, meaning that the case of the week still has room to breathe, and the story isn’t jumping between the two plotlines awkwardly.
