I Know Exactly How Tracker Season 2 Can Survive the Departure of a Main Character
I know exactly how Tracker Season 2 can survive the departure of a central character. While the show primarily follows Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw, a self-proclaimed “bounty man” who finds missing people for bounties, a key element to Colter’s success is his core team. Included in Colter’s team on Tracker are people like Robin Weigert and Abby McEnany as Colter’s handlers Teddi and Velma Bruin, and Eric Graise as Colter’s technical wizard Bobby Exley. While Colter’s team is vital to his operation, its members don’t get much room for growth—something the show now has a chance to fix.
Aside from Colter himself, legal expert Reenie Green (Fiona Rene) is perhaps Tracker’s most compelling character. Aside from Rene, Colter’s Tracker Season 1 team lacked strong characters. Now, ahead of Tracker Season 2, I believe the series has a significant chance of redeeming that. Tracker was the most-watched show of the 2023-2024 cycle, but a dynamic that held it back when it could have propelled the series even further is changing. The dynamic is shifting due to the departure of a key character ahead of season 2. If handled properly, the departure could help Tracker achieve even greater success. Tracker Season 2 lost its first cast member, a major development for the Justin Hartley-led series ahead of the 2024-2025 fall TV cycle. The series announced that Robin Weigert will not be returning as Teddi Bruin. I’m not necessarily surprised by this development. There will be changes in Tracker Season 2 that challenge the show’s successful first season. I’m not too worried about this announcement because Tracker can survive without the Teddi Bruin character. Logistically, as one of Colter’s handlers, the role is easy to replace. However, there is one caveat.
[Robin] Weigert’s departure means Tracker has to justify the relationship to fit the circumstances.
Robin Weigert’s character is married to Colter’s other handler, Velma Bruin, played by Abby McEnany, who plans to stay. Weigert’s departure means Tracker has to justify the relationship to fit the circumstances. If Weigert were to be gone permanently, the characters would have to break up. While Velma and Teddi had a perfect relationship in Tracker season 1, the relationship was often overly contrived, distracting from the story without adding complexity. Velma and Teddi’s interactions as a couple have fallen into sitcom stereotypes that feel more awkward than funny. A breakup would add some much-needed character development and make Tracker’s supporting cast more than two-dimensional story additions. Velma and Teddi teased their near-perfect marriage in season 1, making it unlikely that they would voluntarily break up in Tracker season 2. However, the writers could choose to split Velma and Teddi up to address the fact that their relationship didn’t really work in season 1. I understand that killing Teddi off the show could be appealing, given the action/drama premise of the show. However, Teddi and Velma breaking up is the best way to navigate Weigert’s departure. The characters don’t experience much conflict. When they do, it feels like caricature. Their breakup would allow Velma to grow. Tracker season 2 has new possibilities to make Velma a more fleshed out character. It’s possible that Velma and Teddi’s relationship is too comfortable and one of them will leave in search of something more. While it would be sad for the cast to lose Deadwood’s Calamity Jane, Velma Bruin is a character who can stand on her own. It’s been reported that Velma will interact more with Reenie Green in Tracker season 2, and it would be interesting to see her grow beyond the mold she built in season 1. In turn, this could set up an interesting premise for the entire supporting cast.
