A love triangle is forming between Colter (Justin Hartley), Reenie (Fiona Rene), and Russell (Jensen Ackles) on CBS’ Tracker, but it feels out of place as season 2 begins. Hartley’s action/drama procedural was the most-watched show of the 2023-2024 cycle, dethroning NCIS as the most popular drama series. The Tracker characters drive the series forward, all of whom have their own charms and many of whom are part of Colter Shaw’s team. Tracker season 2 continues to build complex relationships between characters, including a love triangle between Reenie Green and the Shaw brothers.
The mystery of who killed Colter’s father on Tracker drives the show, but the small moments between the characters make it worth watching. Reenie and Colter had great chemistry in season 1, but the show complicated the developing chemistry in season 2 with another potential romance for Reenie. This dynamic was teased in the penultimate episode of Tracker season 1 when Russell showed up, with his brother Shaw liking the lawyer. However, if a romance did develop, Russell and Reenie’s relationship would have faced challenges from an unnecessary love triangle in Tracker season 2. Tracker season 2 returns with Russell Shaw and makes up for Reenie and Colter’s disappointing romance with Tracker. Reenie calls Russell to find Colter after he goes missing, looking for a missing person. Colter is jealous that Reenie and Russell are in contact even though it’s for his own good. At the end of the episode, Russell confesses that he finally went on a date with Reenie, but Colter denies it without his support. The season 1 sequel “Off the Books” officially sets up a love triangle between the Tracker characters, as Colter doesn’t want to be with Reenie but is clearly uncomfortable with her being with Russell.
The unofficial origin of the love triangle is the penultimate episode of Tracker season 1, when Ackles first appears as Russell Shaw. Shaw’s brother comes to his younger brother for help, and when they investigate, they find themselves in prison. Reenie showing up to help Colter and Russell is the first time all three characters interact, and the moment begins to paint the complexities of the complicated romantic relationship that develops in season 2. In season 1, Russell openly flirts with the lawyer, but Colter still disapproves in Tracker season 2. The love triangle between the brothers doesn’t make much sense. Colter has a lot of love interests in Tracker, so his discomfort with Reenie dating Russell is somewhat controlling, unless the rewarder has genuine feelings for Reenie that he’s not ready to admit. He could have expressed it even if that were the case, but Colter insists there’s nothing between them. However, Colter contradicts himself, saying that she’s “not allowed to.” Furthermore, before Tracker season 2, Justin Hartley addressed Colter and Reenie’s potential romance, saying that it’s unreasonable for Colter to be in a relationship because his behavior, while heroic, is often reckless and unfair to his partners. However, Colter has a lot of options in Tracker. Reenie is established as Colter’s longtime friend in the first episode of Tracker, but Reenie argues about Colter leaving her after an intimate night together. Tracker season 1 introduced Billie Matalon (Sofia Pernas), another of Colter’s exes and a prize-seeker. Season 2, episode 1 also introduced an old flame in the form of Camille, so his jealousy seems a little unfair. While it’s true that Colter asked Reenie to join him in the Tracker season 1 finale and she turned him down, she initially seemed to be the one who had developed feelings and was hurt in the past.
