Tracker Season 2, Episode 19, “Rules of the Game” is clearly wiping the slate clean so that the CBS show can have a massive finale. But even with that in mind, it’s a fairly nail-biting episode. Bolstered by the presence of several recognizable faces amongst the guest cast, this episode is a standalone story that still delivers an emotional punch, even if its fallout is very quickly skipped over.
Okay, let’s be real—Tracker Season 2 didn’t just raise the bar, it torched it. What started as a slow burn thriller has officially turned into a full-blown explosion of mind-bending plot twists, emotional wreckage, and unforgettable performances. And get this—it all happened before the finale even aired. So buckle up, because we’re diving deep into how Tracker Season 2 just flipped the entire playbook, why fans are freaking out online, and what you might have missed before the fireworks of the season finale even began.
“Rules of the Game” wraps up the recurring storyline of Reenie Greene’s newest client, Leo Sharf. From Leo’s introduction it was clear that there would be something going on with him, and this episode reveals that and then some. Naturally, this puts Reenie in the crosshairs, and making the situation personal gives this Tracker case an emotional edge that it constantly benefits from.
Tracker Season 2, Episode 19 Delivers a Clear-Cut Case of the Week
The Audience Can See a Definitive Beginning and End. The best thing about Tracker Season 2, Episode 19 is that it knows what it is. It’s strongly focused on telling one good, self-contained story that ramps up the tension just enough to get viewers primed for the season finale. It’s not just throwing a quick plot together because there’s only one episode left before the end, and it’s not looking too far ahead, like NCIS did at the end of Season 22. The writers know they only have a finite amount of storytelling space, but they make sure to use all of it.
“Rules of the Game” efficiently wraps up the ongoing subplot of Leo Sharf and Reenie’s dealings with him. It’s not the most unexpected story; the idea of the ruthless businessman being made to pay for the sins he’s committed has been played out in countless TV crime dramas and a few movies, too. But it falls in line with what viewers already suspected about Leo’s character, so the audience is easily able to go along for the ride. On top of that, there are enough plot twists to keep people interested, even if a few of them — such as the reveal of the true antagonist — are easy to predict. Fans just want to see what will happen; they don’t mind if they know how they’re getting there.
There is a slightly different, and perhaps stronger, episode hiding in plain sight. The catalyst for the episode is the abduction of Leo’s assistant Francie Butler, and the ransom video sent to Leo includes a one-hour countdown clock. But by the time Tracker comes back from its first commercial break, roughly half of that hour is already gone. Viewers immediately know that Colter can’t beat that deadline and that negates the tension that putting a timer on the situation creates. It would have been interesting to either extend the timer to something the show could play with throughout, or to do the episode in semi-real time and make time a much bigger factor.
Let’s face it: Tracker Season 2 left us speechless. With twisty plots, unforgettable characters, and a mind-blowing pre-finale episode, the show has officially crossed into elite territory. Whether you’re a long-time viewer or just now catching the wave, Season 2 makes one thing clear—you’re not just watching Tracker… you’re experiencing it.
