Who is Russell Shaw and why is Jensen Ackles returning to Tracker season 2 to play him?
The CBS drama Tracker, which follows Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley), a lone survivor who searches for missing people to collect bounties, premiered in February 2024 to a lukewarm reception. However, the action drama was a hit with viewers who loved formulaic proceedings with a twist that it was quickly renewed for a second season, which is set to premiere on October 27, 2024. In addition to the case-by-case nature of the show, there is also a long-running story about Colter’s personal life and his fractured relationship with his family. This includes the tragic death of his father, a skilled survivor who, after becoming increasingly paranoid, moved his family into the wilderness to live in isolation. His father tragically died under suspicious circumstances, which caused a long-standing rift between Colter and the person he was supposedly closest to: his brother Russell.
That character, who was only mentioned by name and appeared in flashbacks, finally made an appearance at the end of Season 1, played by Jensen Ackles. And fans will be delighted to know that Ackles will be returning to reprise the role in Season 2. Russell Shaw is Colter’s older brother, one of three Shaw children, along with his sister Dory (Melissa Roxburgh). When Colter was a child, he searched for his missing father when he didn’t come home one night. He found his father’s mutilated body under a hill, and when he looked up, he saw his brother Russell standing there. He assumed his brother was responsible for the death and cut ties with him.
Although Russell, now an adult, has tried to contact Colter several times, he has been rebuffed. Colter has ignored phone calls and ignored others who claim that Russell is trying to contact him. Since Colter lives on the road, traveling from city to city and state to state, it is not easy to get a hold of him. But Russell never stops trying. It is clear that he has something to say, but Colter refuses to listen.
In the penultimate episode of the season, “Off the Books,” Colter finally meets with his brother at the urging of his sister. Russell is quick to correct Colter and insists that he did not kill their father. He claims that his father fell or was pushed by someone else. Russell suspects the latter because he recalls seeing someone else in the woods that night. Furthermore, he claims to recognize the man as someone he witnessed his mother talking to on another occasion.
The pair make up over beers and a campfire, and while it may not be the same as it was in the old days, things are starting to mend. But Russell also has a final motive for reaching out. A friend of his has gone missing, and he thinks he’s in trouble. They both worked on a Special Ops team after serving in the military, and Russell believes he knows who might have kidnapped his friend and why. He wants his brother to help because he knows Colter is good at what he does. He’s willing to pay; he just wants his friend back with his wife and child.
The episode continues as the brothers put their past behind them and work together on a case. It’s almost like a comedy duo cop show, with the partner being more straightforward and blunt and the other more reactionary. Both are fearless and don’t play by the rules, but Russell has more unorthodox and rough-and-tumble methods. Still, there’s a lot of love (and history) between the men, and it shines through thanks to Hartley and Ackles’ onscreen chemistry.
After Colter and Russell successfully save Russell’s friend from a deadly and dangerous brawl, Russell thanks his brother and prepares to leave. A few days later, Colter decides to visit the motel where his brother is staying to say a proper goodbye, or at least spend some more time with him. After all, they’ve missed a lot of years. But Russell is gone.
However, he leaves a gift at the front desk for his brother, who he knows will come back to see him. Along with the money to ensure Colter gets paid for the work he did, there’s also a sentimental gift: the knife their father gave Russell when they were kids, along with a note that reads, “Keep it safe for me.” It’s a sign that Russell is passing the torch to his brother, but also a sign that he deeply trusts him. The friend Russell needed help saving had once returned to a murder site to retrieve that knife to protect Russell: it had his name engraved on it. The fact that he wanted his brother to have it says a lot.
What did Russell do? Having served in the military and then spent time with the Special Forces, Russell was looking for a less glamorous life. He said he planned to brew some good home-brewed beer, make enough money
