If you’re a fan of Tracker, you’re probably still reeling from the latest buzz—one of the original cast members is officially out for Season 2. Yep, you read that right. Season 2 hasn’t even fully aired, and already the drama is spilling off-screen. Whether you’re binge-watching or casually keeping up, this twist is bound to shake things up.
Tracker loses its first original cast member ahead of season 2. Headlined by This Is Us star Justin Hartley, and created by Ben H. Winters, with Elwood Reid as showrunner, the action drama is based on the Never Game novel by Jeffery Weaver and follows Hartley’s Colter Shaw as a skilled survivalist who earns his living by helping others find missing persons and solve what they need in exchange for money. The adaptation quickly became the biggest show on CBS, and all of broadcast TV, and gained a fast confirmation for Tracker season 2.
Ahead of the season 2 premiere on Sunday, October 13 at 8 PM ET on CBS, TVLine reports that Robin Weigert, who played Teddi Bruin in Tracker season 1, will not return for the second installment. There’s no word yet on how the show will address Teddi’s absence, particularly because Teddi’s wife Velma (played by Work in Progress star and creator Abby McEnany) will remain on the show.
Robin Weigert’s Tracker Exit Is A Loss For The Show. Weigert Is An Accomplished, Versatile Performer. Weigert played a crucial but supporting role in season 1, with Teddi and Velma doing their part to help Colter with his cases. This is combined with a Tracker cast that also includes Eric Graise and Fiona Rene, both of whom are set to return. The action drama also has a wider net of guest actors, including Jensen Ackles, Jennifer Morrison, and Melissa Roxburgh, who each inform Colter’s story in some way. Another positive is the hit adaptation is still new enough to bounce back from a notable change in the ensemble.
Given that Teddi is an established presence, weaved into all the Tracker episodes so far, Weigert’s absence is unfortunate. She’s an Emmy-nominated performer for her role as Calamity Jane in Deadwood and also stood out as Nicole Kidman’s forthright therapist in HBO’s Big Little Lies. The horror hit Smile flipped that, using Weigert’s familiar and comforting presence for cleverly sinister purposes. It’s fair to say that the series’ first 13 episodes could have featured the acclaimed and dynamic performer with more of a purpose.
The good news is, with season 2 debuting very soon, interviews with the producers will likely offer some perspective on what happened with Weigert. It could be that her character didn’t fit into the CBS show’s current plans. Alternatively, it could be that Weigert chose to move on to other projects. Another positive is the hit adaptation is still new enough to bounce back from a notable change in the ensemble.
