Tracker knows what a beautiful thing having Jensen Ackles, who plays the transient elder brother of Colter Shaw (Justin Harley), on the series is, and likely hopes his appearances in the upcoming season will make up for a lie about Russell Shaw's role last season. With Tracker season 3 coming to CBS during its October premiere week, fans are ready for Russell's return.
While Ackles and Hartley have been upfront about how much they enjoy working together on Tracker, booking the Countdown star for a guest-starring role isn't easy. Tracker season 2, which promised more of Russell after introducing him toward the end of the show's first season, had a tough time delivering Colter's rough-and-tumble older brother when it came down to it.
As Ackles continues to grow in popularity over the years, seeing him in a role that allows him to move in and out of the story has been exciting for viewers, especially those who enjoy the difficult family dynamics that play out between Russell and Colter. With hopes of seeing more Russell throughout Tracker season 3, the series has the opportunity to make amends.
While Tracker season 3 has a lot to work on in terms of Colter's character and the way he operates within his team, if he has one by the time the series returns, there are a lot of positives when it comes to Colter, Russell, and their dark family secrets. Bringing Russell back into the mix could ensure viewers are satisfied.
Tracker Season 2 Promised Multiple Jensen Ackles Appearances
But That Didn't Happen
Jensen Ackles and Justin Hartley as Russell and Colter Shaw in Tracker
As Tracker season 2 got started, most viewers were under the impression that there would be far more of Russell Shaw than ultimately came to pass. Though Russell was always shown to be a more mobile part of Colter's story, after press had teased his return, it seemed likely that he would be coming back to Tracker more than a few times.
While Ackles is an incredibly busy actor who's consistently tackling multiple projects, it felt like Tracker would be an interesting place for him to land several times a season. Russell, whose relationship with Colter was consistently difficult throughout their adolescence and early adulthood, served an interesting purpose as the real issues between Colter's family came to a head with his introduction.
Though bringing back Ackles was something that was promised ahead of Tracker season 2, the season ultimately had a tough time delivering on its promises. Russell was seen in just one episode of Tracker season 2, and it was so early in the season that it didn't have a lasting impact on Colter's story throughout the rest of his arc. Unfortunately, Russell wasn't a priority.
Ackles' Russell Is Confirmed To Appear In Multiple Episodes In Tracker Season 3, And This Time, It's Real
He's Already Confirmed For Two Episodes
Colter and Russell in Tracker season 2, episode 2, talking to someone
Although it was tough to get Ackles back for Tracker season 2, the series seems to have made a point of bringing him back for the upcoming season of the series. While Russell is currently only slotted in for the two-hour season premiere of Tracker season 3, seeing him twice in the season so early on seems promising for the future.
Though Colter and Russell, along with their younger sister Dory Shaw (Melissa Roxburgh) and their mother Mary Dove Shaw (Wendy Crewson), have been a less-than-unified family over the decades since Ashton Shaw's (Lee Tergesen) death, discovering more about his final moments could bring them closer together. Tracker viewers have hoped for a Shaw family reunion since the show's earliest episodes.
Why Ackles Still Needs To Return As Russell Beyond Tracker Season 3's Premiere
Russell's Such An Important Piece Of Colter's Story
While seeing Ackles return as Russell in the two-hour season premiere of Tracker season 3 is going to be exciting, it's definitely not going to be enough of the eldest Shaw brother to last the season. Russell, who's a more light-hearted, gruff, sneaky version of his younger brother, is one of the most compelling characters on Tracker, and often shifts Colter's perspective after an adventure together.
Though Colter and Russell have never had a good relationship as adults, the pair have been building a better rapport in the first seasons of the series. Getting back into each other's lives and understanding that their contentious past can stay in the past has been good for both brothers, but particularly good for Colter as he grapples with the unfortunate unknowns about his father.
The Shaw family secret seems to be something that all three of the kids had to hold close to the chest, and knowing that there's a resolution, even partially, for the biggest part of their mysterious past could be healing for the trio. Keeping Russell in the loop throughout Tracker season 3 is something fans would enjoy both from a star and a story perspective.
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