Tracker’s First Departure Means Justin Hartley’s Show Can Do Something It Was Too Afraid to Do in Season 1
The first significant departure from a Tracker character means Justin Hartley’s show can do something in season 2 that it was too afraid to do in season 1. The This Is Us star plays the main character, Colter Shaw, who lives on the streets and solves missing person cases for reward money. As the most popular network drama of the 2023-2024 cycle, Tracker’s season 2 fall premiere is highly anticipated. However, there will be significant changes to the show’s composition in its second run, which could have serious consequences for Tracker’s conservative narrative approach to date.
In Tracker season 2, the departure of a core character could shake up the cast and execution, potentially setting a precedent for the series. Like in Jeffrey Deaver’s original novel, Tracker’s cast consists of Colter and his core team of people who support his bounty-hunting operation. The group includes actors/comedians Robin Weigert and Abby McEnany as Colter’s handlers Teddi and Velma Bruin, and also features Eric Graise as hacker genius Bobby Exley and Fiona Rene as Reenie Green. Previously, these supporting cast members operated behind the scenes without any real danger. Now, however, that could all change. Robin Weigert will not be returning for Tracker season 2. This is a big reveal since the character appeared in every episode of Tracker season 1. While it’s still unclear why Weigert is leaving and how the show will handle her departure, Teddi’s departure will be a major plot point for season 2. Teddi was Colter’s manager and was married to his other manager, Abby McEnany’s Velma Bruin. The show will have to carefully decide how to send Teddi off in a convincing way, since Velma and Teddi worked together, and Velma will stay with the show.
It’s entirely possible that Tracker will kill Teddi. Alternatively, Teddi could end her marriage, but that seems unlikely since she was mostly happy in season 1. Instead, Teddi could die in connection with a missing persons case. She could be on the scene, assisting Colter on the battlefield with Velma, and die in action. While it’s sad to think of Tracker season 2 losing its first cast member, Teddi’s on-screen death would be a meaningful first for the series. Tracker has yet to kill a major character, and the series generally doesn’t feature death much. If Teddi were to actually die, it would represent a major change for the show. Colter faced constant danger in Tracker season 1, but saved the day before the situation became dangerous. If Teddi were to die in action as part of Robin Weigert’s departure from the series, it would break that previous barrier. Colter’s tracking job is serious, and he encounters dead bodies and life-threatening injuries, but most of Colter’s deaths occur off-screen. In this way, Tracker sets itself apart from most of the other shows it competes with. Tracker’s lack of violence may have something to do with how Tracker dethroned NCIS as CBS’s most-watched show, but this new development could represent a radical change in direction. If Teddi were to die, it would leave an indelible mark on the show. Teddi’s death in Tracker season 2 would fit with the show’s premise of being all about action and drama. Losing Teddi would provide both. Killing off a beloved character would be a surefire way to shock audiences and make an impact, dramatically changing the tone of the show in the process. While Tracker season 1 did a great job of introducing its cast, their popularity means Tracker season 2 has the potential to make some bold narrative moves with serious consequences.
