Jensen Ackles’ Highly Anticipated ‘Tracker’ Return Has UFOs — and ‘Supernatural’ Easter Eggs
Later in the episode, Colter gets into Russell’s car, which looks like Dean’s iconic Impala. (Some viewers may remember Russell slowly patting the Impala during his Tracker debut in season 1.) “This is a great ride, I wouldn’t mind getting behind the wheel of this thing,” Colter tells Russell, who replies, “That would never happen.” Tracker brought Jensen Ackles’ character Russell back for season 2 — and the Supernatural Easter eggs that followed.
In the latest episode, which aired Sunday, Oct. 20, Justin Hartley’s character Colter went missing while searching for a professor who had become embroiled in UFO research. Colter was later rescued by his brother, Russell, as they tried to solve the case.
Colter and Russell eventually find the missing man on a military base. Both Shaw brothers were in different trailers on the property when they heard something happening outside that they couldn’t explain.
“I heard it, I felt it, and I saw the light,” Russell tells Colter. “It could have been a teleporter from another planet that landed 50 yards from us.”
The Most Iconic Guest Stars From Justin Hartley’s ‘Tracker’ Series: Sofia Pernas, Jensen Ackles, and More The conversation—and Russell’s belief in the unknown—serves as a nice nod to Ackles’ role as Dean on The CW’s hit series Supernatural. Before Ackles was cast as Russell, he starred opposite Jared Padalecki on Supernatural from 2005 to 2020. The two former co-stars played brothers who were always on the hunt for monsters.
During Supernatural’s long run on The CW, there was an episode that alluded to aliens. Though it eventually turned out to be fairies, Tracker brought the theme back to Ackles’ roots, evoking the nostalgia some fans were looking for when he returned to the show.
What to Know About Season 2 of Justin Hartley’s Hit Show ‘Tracker’: Sofia Pernas Returns and More Russell reaffirmed his love for the car when Colter asked to drive into the woods. “This baby doesn’t run on gravel,” Russell responded. This mirrors Dean’s behavior on Supernatural, as he affectionately calls his car “Baby” on the show.
After Supernatural ended, Ackles, 46, decided to take the car with him.
“In terms of taking something on the last day, I’m definitely taking something that I’ve had my eye on since day one of Supernatural,” he told Digital Spy in September 2020. “But it’s okay, I’m not stealing it. I got permission. I begged and begged and pleaded for years, but I finally got permission this year. They’re letting me drive the Impala home.”
Ackles also revealed that he had an Impala clause built into his contract. “I’ve been talking about it for two years, and they finally put it in my contract last season,” he shared on Michael Rosenbaum’s “Inside of You” podcast a month later about Padalecki, 42, being offered to drive the car home. ‘Supernatural’ Cast: Where Are They Now? While the Tracker episode ended with Colter and Russell parting ways again, fans can rejoice as Hartley, 47, previously confirmed that Ackles “will be back” for a few episodes in season 2. “When it came time to cast Russell Shaw, I was like, ‘We’ve built this whole thing up. It’s important that we get someone in there who’s just a giant. Someone you’re going to believe in because he’s going to go up against Colter, in a good way or a bad way, and someone you also believe is his brother,'” the actor shared with Collider in May. “And I just think Jensen Ackles would be perfect for that role.”
