Tracker Season 2 is only two episodes long, but the CBS hit’s spectacular guest-star streak continues.
The season 2 premiere allowed Manifest’s Matt Long to show off his skills, and the second episode of the second season marked the moment Supernatural fans have been waiting for. That’s right, folks. The great Jensen Ackles is back!
Fans of the Supernatural star went crazy when Ackles was introduced in Season 1 as Colter’s (Justin Hartley) brother, Russell Shaw. Although the Shaw brothers only teamed up in the penultimate episode, Hartley confirmed that Ackles would be back in Season 2 for “an amazing story” and even teased the possibility of his friend appearing in more episodes after that.
With a longer 22-episode season, one might assume Tracker would save Ackles’ appearance for the end to build suspense, but no! After two episodes, Russell Shaw is back and, in a twist, he’s back to save Colter.
In Season 2, Episode 2, “Ontological Shock,” premiering on CBS on Sunday, October 20, Colter disappears while investigating a missing man, Scott Palmer, and a ~supernatural~ mystery/government conspiracy. Concerned about the missing Stalker, Colter’s good friend/lawyer/icon Reenie Greene (Fiona Rene) calls the man she knows who can track him down.
After being sedated in an empty field, Colter awakens to find himself chained to a bed in an empty concrete room with a security camera recording his every move. Rather than wait to learn his fate, Colter breaks free, disables the camera, and turns off the lights. He plans to strangle and fight the guard who comes in to check on him, but the only armed man who comes in is Russell.
“Who else is going to get you out of this predicament?” Russell asks cheerfully before advising his curious brother to save the “who, what, where, when, and why” questions for later so they can move on. As if taking out three guards by himself wasn’t impressive enough, Russell tells Colter he’s brought him a present and hands him a gun. What a guy!
With Russell’s vast life experiences (most of which we know nothing about!), he proves to be the perfect person to accompany and advise Colter on the case. He knows all about those Department of Defense people who think they can “touch anyone, anywhere.” He knows how to check Colter’s neck for tracking devices. (They tracked the tracker!) And crucially, he knows how to lighten the mood. Ackles and Hartley have natural chemistry and a seemingly easy rapport, which adds a refreshing layer of entertainment to the show. Tracker is first and foremost a drama. But when Ackles comes on board, the show expands beyond its comfort zone in fresh ways.
Russell and Colter: A Great Tracking Team As the brothers hit the road in matching black trench coats, they chat about everything from childhood memories to aliens. (What Russell sees will blow your mind!) When the brothers break into the home of a professor involved in the case, Russell makes himself a homemade sourdough sandwich because he “had to fill the tank,” and Colter says he tried to stop him but “he was a beast.” You don’t see that kind of banter in typical survival dramas, folks! The brothers are goofy one minute and gun-toting the next. They have range, and together, they’re not afraid to use it.
As Russell tells a man with a gun to his head, “My brother likes to go his own way. He says left, I say right.” While Colter is more cautious and serious in his daily adventures, Russell likes to have fun whenever he can. He talks to himself when he’s alone, is always ready with a funny comeback, and knows exactly when to push his brother. But never forget, he’s got mad skills too, and can get the job done just as well — if not better (as this case proves) — than his brother.
In Decider’s interview with Hartley ahead of the Season 2 premiere, the actor talked about a potential love triangle coming, and we get a taste of a messy Colter/Russell/Reenie romance in this episode. Ackles’ personality and sense of humor shine through whenever he gets Colter riled up about his lawyer friend, and we can’t help but laugh. “I keep asking her out to dinner and she keeps avoiding me,” Russell laughs, before adding, “That’s okay. Save her? That’s 100 percent a date — especially when you tell her how brave and heroic I was.” At that point, Colter interrupts Russell, and again later when Reenie calls Russell and Russell says, “Better
