Justin Hartley Explains Why ‘Tracker’ Is Getting Darker in the Final Season 2 Episodes

The last episodes of Tracker season 2 are on the horizon … and Justin Hartley (who plays Colter Shaw) has some thoughts about what fans have seen from the show as of late.

Viewers of the popular CBS drama continue to tune in Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET, and they couldn't help but notice season 2 has gone in a more ominous direction as of late. While Colter regularly puts himself in danger for his job (it does come with the territory of being a tracker), folks are getting concerned that Tracker is taking on twists and turns that are more terrifying from one episode to the next.

So, what's going on and why did Tracker suddenly change the tone of the show? When speaking with The Hollywood Reporter for an interview published on April 20, Justin defended the show's decision in going a bit darker for the final episodes. As he explained to the outlet, there's a good reason behind it — and one fans should understand.

"I think it's important to keep upping the stakes," he said. "I like being Colter as a hero, finding people and all that. I also really like seeing him in a suspenseful thriller and a dangerous situation. I don't want our audience to forget that this man is mortal, he's not a superhero. He can die! The things he is doing are very very dangerous."

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Well, this makes a lot of sense! And with the last episodes of Tracker season 2 really exploring how Colter is changing both in the field and in his personal life, Justin (who is also an executive producer on the show) added that it's important for the show to grow along with the character.

"[Colter's] core values aren’t changing. So when you watch the show, you’re still going to see it’s the same man," he said. "But he definitely gets affected by these things … I didn’t just want it to be this thing where when you watch it you go, 'I know how this is going to happen,' or 'Oh, I know how he would react here.' I wanted the character to be forever evolving. I think our audience deserves that."

Well, it seems like Justin's plan is working, and fans will have to keep tuning in to see what happens to Colter and his comrades with each job he takes. And with Tracker already getting renewed for season 3, we're sure Colter will take on more heart-pumping cases that will raise plenty of goosebumps along the way.

Who's ready to tune in and see what's next?

Related Posts

Colter Finds a Critical Clue for a Potential Kidnapping in New ‘Tracker’ Season 2 Sneak Peek [Exclusive]

Colter Shaw is on the trail of another small-town crime, and he's about to find a clue with some sinister implications. Collider can share an exclusive sneak…

Tracker Season 2 Officially Debuts A New Member Of Colter’s Team (But It Still Doesn’t Have A Teddi Replacement)

Warning: Spoilers for Tracker season 2, episode 18 Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) doesn’t turn to new people all that often in Tracker, but that has changed with…

Reenie and Colter Get Sucked Into a Dangerous Kidnapping Case in New ‘Tracker’ Season 2 Sneak Peek

Tracker Season 2, Episode 18, titled "Collision", saw Justin Hartley's lone wolf survivalist, Colter Shaw, head out to Willow Creek, Michigan, to help rescue a missing girl,…

Thanks to ‘Tracker,’ ‘Matlock,’ and More, CBS Just Set a Staggering New Ratings Record

CBS is currently in an era of unprecedented network television dominance. By the time the 2024-25 broadcast season ends, the Eye Network will be crowned as the…

Tracker Season 2, Episode 17 Review: This Fantastically Twisty Episode Leaves Me With More Questions Than It Answers

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Tracker season 2, episode 17 This week, Tracker switches up the focus on supporting characters. It makes for a fantastic episode…

‘Tracker’ Season 2 Episode 18 Recap: “Collision”

CBS’s Tracker season two episode 18 finds Colter on the case of a missing former model in Willow Creek, Michigan. The episode begins with a young woman on the…