‘Tracker’ is a completely different genre of television procedural.
For decades, procedurals have told the stories of first responders, law enforcement officers, and lawyers solving cases in big cities the way only they know how. Franchises like Law & Order, NCIS, and CSI have thrived on shows like these, building television empires that don’t seem to be going anywhere. But every once in a while, a fresh take on a familiar formula catches people’s attention, and CBS’s latest hit series Tracker fits the bill perfectly. ‘Tracker’ is a fresh take on a familiar formula There’s nothing wrong with loving a good procedural. Typically, these shows excel at developing and maturing long-running characters, and packing weekly sessions with inventive mysteries and crimes that somehow don’t feel completely stale. In a world of recurring entertainment where missing (or catching) an episode has become impossible, these shows are familiar and can draw you back after years of being away.
Though only in its first season, Tracker looks to be doing the same thing with Justin Hartley as “reward” Colter Shaw, solving missing persons and murder cases across the country, starting in the Pacific Northwest and the Mountain West, before moving east. Not only does Colter go places most cop shows don’t, but he’s also surrounded (albeit mostly digitally) by allies who don’t feel like they’re overstepping boundaries or clogging up space. While some shows can feel like a team effort, Colter relies on his loyal friends while doing all the dirty work and heavy lifting himself. Many of the cases involve missing people, but sometimes the basic idea overlaps with financial crime, mountain cults, and even murderous drug rings. While the show doesn’t take us there yet, Colter mentions that he often helps people find missing things as well as people. Tracker certainly overlaps with some of the staples of cop dramas (plus Colter often gets into trouble with the law), but overall it steers away from classic tropes, instead pushing our hero to seek out results outside the law.
While shows like The Rookie put a new spin on the old cop-centric idea, Tracker is different because it does away with the cop element almost entirely, focusing on a drifter helping people in need. It’s more Highway to Heaven than Magnum P.I., though don’t expect to see any angels here. Of course, Tracker is still a show that’s finding its feet, hoping to better balance its five-character cast and expand on the different kinds of “bonus” opportunities. Thankfully, the show still has plenty of episodes left to explore all of that.
Whether you know him from This Is Us, his time as the original Green Arrow on Smallville, or even his long-running TV days, Justin Hartley once again proves himself to be a valuable TV actor on Tracker. Hartley is a great Colter Shaw, and his handling of the character is unlike any of his previous leading roles. Sure, Hartley’s signature smile and charming manner are present in Colter as well as Oliver Queen or Kevin Pearson, but this time around, there’s a sadness to his character that’s different from what he’s done before.
Colter Shaw is one of those characters that we can root for but can’t relate to. That’s the experience of Reenie (Fiona Rene), after all. As viewers, we get to see more of Colter’s past than most people, but we still don’t have the whole truth. Hell, Colter doesn’t even seem to know his own life story. But whatever the case, what sets him apart from other bounty hunters or thrill-seekers in the Tracker universe is that he genuinely cares about the people he’s paid to protect, save, or rescue. In every episode, there’s a part of Colter that feels the pain of the people he’s paid large sums of money to help, and while you might think it’s just a fake empathy he shows whenever he’s “on the job,” we get the distinct sense that if this weren’t his chosen profession, he’d probably still be helping. Part of what makes Hartley perfect for this kind of role is the confidence it takes for someone like Colter Shaw to insert himself into other people’s lives. As a vagabond who moves his impressive camper from town to town and from place to place, he must be charming enough to convince people to
