Paramount has found success with more conservative-leaning shows in recent years, with the most prominent example being “Yellowstone” and its vast universe of spin-offs. Of course, if you’re going to venture into entertainment specifically designed for middle America, you’re inevitably going to produce some sort of survivalist-led series, which is exactly what we’ve got in the form of “Tracker.”
Ever been so hooked on a show that one missing character feels like losing a best friend? Yeah, that’s exactly how “Tracker” fans feel about Bobby’s unexpected disappearance. One day he’s there, chasing clues and making us laugh, and the next—poof! Gone without a trace. If you’re here screaming “What happened to Bobby on Tracker?!”—you’re not alone. Let’s break down the facts, explore the theories, and finally figure out what really happened to Bobby. Get comfy, because this ride’s going to be full of twists.
The show stars Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, the titular survivalist who makes a living by tracking down missing people for both law enforcement and everyday citizens, collecting the rewards and delivering a healthy dose of ass-kickery and machismo in the process. But unlike another itinerant all-American hero, Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher (the best on-screen version of the character), Shaw isn’t a complete lone-wolf, relying on a support team that includes his “man in the chair” Bobby Exley (Eric Graise).
Working out of a tech repair store in Chicago, Bobby provides Shaw with all the investigative support he needs and quickly became a fan-favorite in “Tracker” season 1. At the end of that inaugural season, the series bid farewell to Robin Weigert’s Teddi Bruin, one of Shaw’s handler’s who mysteriously left the show for its second season. Then, it seemed Bobby was to suffer the same fate after he too went missing from the season mid-way through. Thankfully, it seems Shaw’s man is very much back in the chair. But why did he go missing for so long in the first place, and is Bobby being phased out of “Tracker” entirely?
Bobby might be off the screen, but his presence still lingers in every episode. Whether it’s a planned hiatus, a behind-the-scenes fallout, or a narrative trick—we’re all still watching, waiting, and hoping. Because let’s be honest: “Tracker” just doesn’t feel the same without him.
