Tracker Season 2 Needs to Avoid a Very Harmful (& Past) Trick for Its First Lead Exit
Tracker is losing its first lead for season 2, and to be fair to her departure, the show really needs to avoid a toxic and overused TV trick. It was recently reported that Robin Weigert’s Teddi Bruin will be leaving Tracker before season 2. This is shocking news considering that the show is only just past its first season, which was a huge hit with both critics and audiences. According to CBS, Tracker is the most-watched original show since Desperate Housewives 20 years ago, an impressive feat. Part of the reason for the show’s success is the great mix of its main cast, who all have unique and interesting characters.
So the show losing a major character so soon is certainly surprising, especially considering how important Teddi was to the show. As a former band and tour manager, Teddi Bruin now serves as Colter Shaw’s manager, taking care of everything from finding him his next job, to arranging payments, to bailing him out of jail when he needs it. She’s his eyes, ears, and support, and it’s hard to imagine how Tracker season 2 will handle the departure of Robin Weigert. While she doesn’t have as much screen time as Reenie and Bobby, Teddi is arguably the most important part of Colter Shaw’s operation next to Colter himself. While some have suggested that Tracker season 2 could set a precedent by killing Teddi off, that would be a bad idea. As one half of the only gay couple on Tracker, Teddi’s death continues, whether intentionally or not, the “bury the gays” trope. This is a harmful stereotype that is often used to dismiss gay characters, and Tracker has so far done well to naturally incorporate representation that isn’t often represented on TV, from Teddi and Velma’s marriage to Bobby’s prosthetic legs. Teddi’s death inadvertently undermines much of that representational progress, which is unfortunate considering how strong it is on that front.
Hollywood’s “bury the gays” catchphrase has long been used on television, and is a source of irritation for gay viewers and those who want to see smarter, more thoughtful storytelling in TV shows. The “bury the gay” catchphrase first developed in late 19th century literature, initially following a very specific arc of one half of a gay couple dying and the other half later realizing that they had never been gay, often ending in a happy marriage in a heterosexual relationship by the end of the book. It was a not-so-subtle message to reinforce the idea that being gay is a sin, and that sinners do not deserve happy endings or escape punishment. The morally “right” ending was one in which a gay character died.
It was a not-so-subtle message to reinforce the idea that being gay is a sin, and that sinners do not deserve happy endings or escape punishment.
With the explosion of other newer media in the 20th century, the theme of burying gays developed, especially on television. Rather than being a specific plot point, the theme expands to encompass a broader, equally disturbing pattern of gay characters, often in relationships, being killed off, thus reinforcing the stereotype that gay characters are more easily dismissed than straight characters. While queer representation has – too slowly – gotten better, there have been recent instances of the theme of burying gay people actually making audiences uncomfortable, especially when paired with homophobic storylines.
Arguably, the CW’s sci-fi show The 100 has sparked a conversation about better queer representation and focused on the harms of the theme of burying gay people. The show’s handling of the death of fan-favorite character Lexa, who happens to be a lesbian, was a horribly bad storyline that has sparked calls to reconsider how queer love stories are played out on TV. After a long period of teasing gay viewers, The 100 finally saw Lexa and her lover Clarke consummate their relationship, only for Lexa to be instantly killed by a bullet meant for her lover. Since then, the inclusivity storylines have gotten better, but shows like Tracker need to be careful not to fall off the rails.
However, there’s no word in the reports that Robin Weigert will ever return to the show; the only thing that’s clear is that she will no longer be a cast member.with the lazy farce of burying one of the two lesbian women. The show has incorporated texting and video calling; it would be easy to continue Teddi’s presence on the show through technology without having to show her. While Teddi is a big part of Colter’s operation, she doesn’t get much screen time, which would make it easier to keep her character in the show without being obnoxious. With the show seemingly setting up a new storyline for Velma, it would be easy to shift the focus to her and keep Teddi in the background through flexible means.
If Tracker wanted to get more serious, it could have Teddi and Velma divorce, with Teddi pursuing other avenues. The divorce wouldn’t even be a part of it; it’s entirely possible Teddi could have her business take her away from Colter Shaw’s handler, instead leaving it to Velma, Reenie, and Bobby. All three of them would have handled things better, especially since Reenie quit her job as a lawyer at the end of season 1. Regardless of how Tracker handles Teddi’s departure, there are much better ways to handle it than brutally killing her off, a fate she and the gay audience don’t deserve.
