For most of Tracker’s run, Colter Shaw has been trying to track down missing persons. Whether said person has been kidnapped or murdered or is on the run from some sort of government or criminal element, we’ve seen just about every combination of missing persons cases — and will no doubt be surprised when Tracker brings us more come Season 3, despite cutting two crucial characters from his team. But if the show really wants to try something out of left field, something that will throw Colter and the audience for a loop, then it’s about time that our hero searches for something that’s a bit more unconventional. Missing objects may not be as common as missing persons, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t happen. More than that, it’s highly likely that whoever is missing said items has even deeper pockets than a parent or friend trying to hire someone to find their loved one.
It could be anything really. Someone’s prized ’66 Mustang that they bought at auction, a signed Elvis Presley guitar, or even some sort of historical document or object that holds major significance for a town. Heck, we’d even settle for missing dinosaur bones, just as long as Tracker finds a way to make whatever Colter is searching for next both dangerous and exciting. There are other sorts of reward-seeking out there, and something like this may be just the perfect opportunity to loop Billie Matalon (Sofia Pernas) back into the show. Missing persons cases may be the bread and butter of a show like Tracker, but just as the series can dive into straight-up horror territory (and, we hope, even emulate the Western), so too can we see the other side of the rewardist business. After all, as Colter often said in the show’s earliest episodes, “Everybody is looking for something,” not just someone.
Of course, part of the reason that Tracker centers so much on missing persons cases specifically is that Colter is a lone wolf protagonist with a heart of gold. He genuinely wants to help people, and he loves to see families reunite in a way that he was never quite able to. We can understand Colter’s natural draw to saving others when we further examine his upbringing, being unable to save his father from a mysterious death. But despite that, Colter still needs to eat. He’s got bills to pay (as do the rest of his supporting cast), and so there will likely be times that he takes jobs that are a bit out there and unconventional. Searching for missing jewels or a misplaced painting may just turn out to be a bit more lucrative than tracking down someone’s missing child — and could make for quite the story.
Time to Rethink the Chase: What Tracker Is Really About
Tracker, the hit CBS drama, hooks us with its weekly thrill of mystery-solving and bounty hunting. But here’s the kicker—what if it could offer more than just dollar-driven motives? What if Colter Shaw’s adventures started digging into the emotional, psychological, or even moral aspects of reward seeking? Let’s dive into how expanding the show’s definition of “reward” could unlock deeper storytelling and make Tracker not just a hit—but a classic.
The Current Formula — And Why It’s Starting to Feel Repetitive
The Familiar Rhythm of the Hunt
Every episode, Shaw takes on a new case, tracks someone or something down, and gets paid. The stakes are typically external: save a missing person, uncover a hidden truth, collect the cash.
Why Viewers Might Want More
We love Colter’s wilderness skills and intellectual prowess. But when the plotlines start to blur into one another, the emotional resonance starts to fade. That’s when you need to ask: Is the money the only thing that drives this man?
Redefining the “Reward” — Beyond the Money
Emotional Rewards
Imagine Shaw helping someone just because it feels right. A lost child reunited with a parent. A long-forgotten wrong finally corrected. Wouldn’t that hit harder than just another check?
Moral Victory Over Monetary Payoff
What if Colter refused payment in an episode where the victim was someone from his past? The value shifts to closure, forgiveness, redemption—not a financial payday.
Self-Discovery as the Ultimate Reward
Colter’s past is already rich with trauma and mystery. What if solving a case gave him insight into his own demons? That’s the kind of layered storytelling that keeps fans hooked.
Why This Shift Would Deepen the Narrative
More Relatable Characters
Let’s face it—we’re not all bounty hunters. But we all know what it feels like to chase something intangible: peace, closure, validation. Exploring different reward types makes Colter more human, not just a tracker-for-hire.
Emotional Highs Trump Explosions
Sure, chase scenes are cool. But a single tear rolling down a character’s face after years of guilt? That sticks with you. It’s time for Tracker to lean into the emotional terrain as much as the physical.
New Kinds of Cases = New Kinds of Stakes
Redemption Cases
Imagine a man wrongfully convicted asks Colter to help prove his innocence—not for money, but to reconnect with his estranged daughter. Now that’s a story.
Moral Gray Areas
What happens when Colter has to choose between two clients, each with valid claims? Suddenly, it’s not about who pays more—it’s about who’s right.
Pro Bono Tracking
Every great hero needs their “I did it because it was right” episode. Let’s see Colter help someone down on their luck without expecting a dime.
Introducing Community-Based Arcs
Help the Helpers
What if Colter helped a volunteer or a social worker instead of another rich client? These kinds of people don’t have big budgets, but their work impacts entire communities.
The Ripple Effect of a Good Deed
An episode could show how helping one person—without expecting anything—positively impacts a whole town. Talk about long-term rewards!
Using the Past to Fuel the Future
Personal Flashbacks as Motivation
The show has hinted at Colter’s complicated family history. What if each case he takes connects subtly to a piece of that backstory? Suddenly, every reward he seeks isn’t just about others—it’s about putting his own puzzle together.
Adding Emotional Complexity to Colter Shaw
Let’s Talk Vulnerability
Colter is calm, calculated, and borderline stoic. But vulnerability creates connection. Let’s see more moments where he breaks down or wrestles with moral dilemmas.
Relationships That Don’t Just Fade
So far, many characters feel episodic. Why not bring someone back? Maybe a victim he helped becomes a trusted ally. These lasting connections offer emotional payoffs that cash can’t buy.
Balancing the Old with the New
Keep the Thrills, Add the Feels
We’re not saying ditch the suspense. Keep the cross-country chases, high-stakes confrontations, and genius-level deductions. Just layer them with personal growth, emotional stakes, and social commentary.
Make Every Case Count
When each episode contributes to Colter’s evolution, fans feel invested—not just in what he does, but why he does it.
Conclusion: Why Emotional Payoffs Are the New Currency
Here’s the bottom line: Tracker is already great. But it has the potential to be unforgettable.
By exploring other kinds of reward seeking—emotional closure, moral justice, personal redemption—the show could transform from a gripping procedural into a deeply human story about why we chase what we chase.
Because at the end of the day, aren’t we all tracking something?
