Justin Hartley’s action drama procedural Tracker has been a big hit for CBS, clocking up strong viewership in the process, and providing one of the best novel-to-screen adaptations of recent times. Tracker follows Hartley’s Colter Shaw, a tracker and survivalist expert who travels the country assisting law enforcement and private citizens in exchange for reward money. Tracker season 3 was renewed in February 2025, and though no air date has been set yet, the show will run through the 2026-27 broadcast season. Since its debut, Tracker has quicky become successful for its story character arcs, and themeatic explorations, and has become one of the most interesting and exciting procedurals in recent times. However, despite being an action-drama show, and functioning as a procedural, in many ways, Tracker is actually a modern Western in disguise. It embodies many of the hallmarks and tropes of Western movies, and this makes it an intriguing and multi-layered show.
You’ve probably seen the trailers. Maybe you’ve even caught an episode or two. Tracker, starring the ever-charismatic Justin Hartley, is billed as a procedural mystery drama. But let’s stop right there—because under the tech gadgets, modern landscapes, and satellite tracking lies a beating heart of something much older: the classic Western. Yep, Tracker is a modern Western. And not just in theme—it’s in spirit, structure, and character design. Let’s break it down.
Who Is Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw, Really?
The Lone Cowboy Rides Again
Colter Shaw isn’t a cop. He’s not a fed. He’s a reward-seeking nomad who follows his own rules, wanders across the country on a motorcycle instead of a horse, and takes on cases like a bounty hunter from the Old West. Sound familiar?
A Man of Principles, Not Rules
In Westerns, the hero often operates outside the bounds of the law. He lives by a personal code. That’s Colter. He helps people, sure—but he does it on his terms, and his way. This antihero archetype is as Western as spurred boots.
The Frontier Has Changed—But It’s Still There
Swapping Deserts for Suburbs
Traditionally, Westerns take place on the wild frontier, in lawless lands where danger lurks behind every rock. In Tracker, that “frontier” is the vast American landscape—from remote towns to city underbellies. It’s still lawless, just updated for the modern world.
Technology as the New Six-Shooter
In classic Westerns, a revolver was a man’s best friend. In Tracker, it’s a GPS unit, a cell phone, and a deep knowledge of human behavior. Colter Shaw uses brains over bullets, but make no mistake: he’s still packing heat, just of a different kind.
The Episodic Format = Modern Western Storytelling
A New Town, A New Problem, A New Solution
Every episode of Tracker mirrors the structure of old-school Westerns. The drifter rides into a new town, helps someone in need, and moves on. It’s The Mandalorian, but with fewer laser guns and more Bluetooth.
The Morality of the Modern Western Hero
Justice, But Make It Gray
Colter doesn’t work for law enforcement, but he brings people to justice. He doesn’t wear a badge, but he serves a kind of law. That moral ambiguity? Straight out of the Western playbook.
Why Tracker Works So Well in 2025
The Rise of the Neo-Western Genre
We’re living through a Western renaissance. From Yellowstone to Justified, audiences are craving stories that echo classic cowboy tales—but with modern grit. Tracker fits this trend perfectly.
H3: A Hero for the Algorithm Age
In a time where many shows hinge on ensemble casts and endless subplots, Tracker offers a refreshing solo narrative. It’s intimate, clean, and easy to jump into—just like the best Westerns used to be.
Justin Hartley Brings Cowboy Energy Without the Hat
From This Is Us to This Is Dusty Trails
We know Hartley from This Is Us, where he showed emotional range and charm. In Tracker, he channels that same depth but adds a gruff edge. He’s the modern cowboy—clean-cut but scarred, charming but distant.
How Tracker Flips the Western Script
Diversity in the Dust
Classic Westerns had a representation problem. Tracker, however, travels through all kinds of communities, bringing visibility to voices the genre once ignored.
Women as More Than Damsels
The show features strong, complex women—lawyers, hackers, victims who fight back. Gone are the days of helpless women waiting for the cowboy to save them. In Tracker, they’re often the ones holding the reins.
Visual Style: Western Vibes with a Modern Lens
Dusty Roads and Wide-Open Shots
The cinematography in Tracker often mimics that Western feel—wide shots, vast landscapes, lonely roads. There’s space to breathe, to think, to feel the tension.
Color Grading with Grit
The color palette leans toward dusty browns, steel blues, and sun-drenched golds—classic Western shades. It’s subtle, but it sets the tone.
Soundtrack That Nods to the Past
While it’s not twangy guitars and saloon pianos, the music in Tracker often uses minimalistic, tension-building tracks that echo the slow burns of classic Westerns.
Whether it’s corrupt officials, shady tech bros, or abusive spouses, the antagonists in Tracker fill the role of outlaws. They’re not mustache-twirling caricatures—they’re real threats hiding behind a modern mask.
Why the Western Format Still Resonates
It’s the Ultimate Story of Individualism
The cowboy is America’s mythic symbol of self-reliance. Colter Shaw is cut from the same cloth—smart, resourceful, a little broken, but still standing. In a chaotic world, that kind of strength is magnetic.
Nostalgia Meets Relevance
We crave comfort in the old ways, but we want relevance. Tracker blends both: old-school values with new-school problems. That’s why it hits.
Could This Be the Start of a Franchise?
There’s real potential here. With its episodic yet interconnected structure, vast settings, and rich character backstories, Tracker could easily expand into novels, spin-offs, or even prequels. It’s not just a show—it’s a world.
Conclusion: The Cowboy Has Logged Back On
So yeah, Tracker might be dressed in denim and leather jackets instead of cowboy hats and chaps. But at its core, it’s channeling the same spirit that made Westerns timeless. Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw is the lone gunslinger—just with more tech and better skin care.
So next time someone says, “It’s just another procedural,” tip your imaginary hat and say, “Actually, it’s a damn good Western in disguise.”
