Tracker is the number one scripted show of the 2023/2024 TV season, averaging 11.6 million viewers per episode. A new report from Deadline reveals that the long-awaited second season won for CBS on Sunday night, with the episode being watched live and on the same day by 8.3 million viewers. This makes Tracker the most-watched episode of the season, surpassing the Matlock pilot from the same network. That number is expected to increase in the coming days, as the first season has added 3.4 million viewers after seven days. The first seven episodes of season 1 have reached 19 million viewers after 35 days, surpassing most hit shows on broadcast, cable, and streaming.
The Season 2 premiere didn’t have the same boost as the pilot, which saw a significant Super Bowl boost—but 8.3 million viewers is a remarkable debut that bodes well for the series. As CBS’s debut week continues, there’s a small chance that shows like Fire Country could take down Tracker, but that’s not guaranteed. The Season 2 premiere finds Colter solving another missing person case while also delving into his family’s past. The episode also sees a small cast change as Robin Weigert exits the show after one season.
The show continues to follow Colter’s exploits as a showrunner. The first season was marked by brief appearances from a number of high-profile guest stars, and Season 2 aims to continue that trend. In Episode 2, “Ontological Shock,” Jensen Ackles returns as Colter’s brother Russell, who comes to his aid when Colter goes missing. Here’s the official transcript for the episode.
“When Colter suddenly disappears while searching for his missing father, Reenie recruits her brother, Russell.”
Justin Hartley revealed Russell’s storyline in the episode to TV Insider. “Russell is also pretty heroic in Episode 2, and they get involved in a really dark operation, something weird,” the star said. “And all of a sudden these government officials start asking about our dad, and you’re like, ‘Oh, what’s this all about?’” he added. “So in each episode, it could be Dad becoming a little more vindicated, or it could be him completely losing his mind. We don’t know. We’re going to dig a little deeper into that,” Hartley concluded.
Episode 3, “Bloodlines,” sees Sofia Pernas return as Billy Matalon, a rival stalker who recruits Colter for a case, as teased in the episode’s trailer below. “And of course, he’s like, ‘You need my help, huh?’ It’s like, ‘Okay, then ask. You have to ask me,’ that kind of thing,” Hartley previously said of the characters’ dynamic.
