Warning! Spoilers ahead for Tracker season 2.Tracker season 2 continues to miss Bobby's services, and at this time, there's only one acceptable reason for his absence. Justin Hartley's self-confessed "rewardist" has fully moved on from the Gina Picket case, which dominated the first half of the show's current year. Instead, he has been focusing on new cases, where he could help distressed people reunite with their missing loved ones. However, as Tracker season 2 settles back into its procedural roots, one of Colter's biggest allies remains missing-in-action. This understandably raises concerns about his current predicament and well-being, especially with the lack of updates.
As its titular character, Tracker lives and dies with Hartley's Colter. However, it has been shown time and again that he wouldn't be as effective in his job as a "rewardist" without his trusted team. While Reenie takes care of the legal matters involved in his cases, and gets involved on the ground from time to time, Velma becomes his official booker, bringing him the cases that he works on. Eric Graise's Bobby, on the other hand, deals with all the necessary research. However, he has been absent from the Tracker season 2 cast for 4 consecutive episodes now.
Why Bobby's Continued Absence In Tracker Is Alarming
Bobby Has Been Gone For Too Long
On the heels of its very successful debut year, Tracker had to say goodbye to Robin Weigert's Teddi. Specifics about what led to her exit remain uncertain, but considering how the show has yet to fully write her out, concerns about Eric Graise's character being phased out are not without any merit. Because of how vital Bobby's role is in Colter's operation, however, he supposedly sent his cousin, Randy, to replace him. Thus far, the only official information provided about what's happening with him is that he's currently out to deal with some family matters.
Tracker has kept Bobby's situation vague enough that they can come up with any kind of explanation for his absence later on. For what it's worth, it doesn't seem like Graise is busy with a different project, so it's possible that this is purely narrative-motivated. That being said, Bobby missing his fourth consecutive Tracker season 2 episode demands brand new information about his whereabouts.
The Only Acceptable Explanation For Bobby's Absence Is That It's A Set-Up For A Future Arc
Tracker Season 2 May Be Setting Up A Bobby-Centered Story
While Tracker keeps their options open as to how to explain Bobby's absence when he returns, there's really only 1 way to justify his prolonged disappearance. That's if this is all part of setting up a major storyline that involves the Exley family moving forward. Back in its debut year, Colter had to deviate from his usual tracking modus and come to Chicago in order to help Bobby's friend. That ended up being a one-episode storyline, which was arguably a standout from Tracker's debut year.
In its sophomore year, it would be great for the CBS procedural to make all of these concerns over Bobby's absence worth it by using it as a way to launch a more personal storyline for Colter's team. If Hartley's hero can go around the country and help total strangers with their respective struggles, it's safe to assume that he would not have any issues jumping in on the Exley family affair, if his friend ends up needing some assistance towards the final stretch of Tracker season 2.
