Part of the thrill of each new episode of Tracker is watching how Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) is going to get both himself and others out of new, deadly situations. Be it backwoods killers hiding out in the mountains, mob enforcers, government agencies, or other disturbed individuals, Colter confronts the darker side of humanity on a regular basis. But while most episodes of Tracker hinge on Colter finding a missing person, there is one other side to being a rewardist that we have yet to really dive into: missing items.
'Tracker' Ought to Explore Other Kinds of Reward Seeking
Justin Hartley in Tracker Season 2, Episode 18.
For most of Tracker’s run, Colter Shaw has been trying to track down missing persons. Whether said person has been kidnapped or murdered or is on the run from some sort of government or criminal element, we’ve seen just about every combination of missing persons cases — and will no doubt be surprised when Tracker brings us more come Season 3, despite cutting two crucial characters from his team. But if the show really wants to try something out of left field, something that will throw Colter and the audience for a loop, then it's about time that our hero searches for something that's a bit more unconventional. Missing objects may not be as common as missing persons, but that doesn't mean that they don't happen. More than that, it's highly likely that whoever is missing said items has even deeper pockets than a parent or friend trying to hire someone to find their loved one.
It could be anything really. Someone's prized '66 Mustang that they bought at auction, a signed Elvis Presley guitar, or even some sort of historical document or object that holds major significance for a town. Heck, we'd even settle for missing dinosaur bones, just as long as Tracker finds a way to make whatever Colter is searching for next both dangerous and exciting. There are other sorts of reward-seeking out there, and something like this may be just the perfect opportunity to loop Billie Matalon (Sofia Pernas) back into the show. Missing persons cases may be the bread and butter of a show like Tracker, but just as the series can dive into straight-up horror territory (and, we hope, even emulate the Western), so too can we see the other side of the rewardist business. After all, as Colter often said in the show's earliest episodes, "Everybody is looking for something," not just someone.
Of course, part of the reason that Tracker centers so much on missing persons cases specifically is that Colter is a lone wolf protagonist with a heart of gold. He genuinely wants to help people, and he loves to see families reunite in a way that he was never quite able to. We can understand Colter's natural draw to saving others when we further examine his upbringing, being unable to save his father from a mysterious death. But despite that, Colter still needs to eat. He's got bills to pay (as do the rest of his supporting cast), and so there will likely be times that he takes jobs that are a bit out there and unconventional. Searching for missing jewels or a misplaced painting may just turn out to be a bit more lucrative than tracking down someone's missing child — and could make for quite the story.
'Tracker' Could Introduce Colter Shaw To Treasure Hunters
Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, raises his hands in the 'Tracker' Season 2 finale "Echo Ridge."
Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) and FBI Special Agent Moss (Tahmoh Penikett) at a crime scene on 'Tracker'
Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw on the phone in 'Tracker' Season 2 Episode 18.
Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) wanders the woods in the 'Tracker' Season 2 finale "Echo Ridge"
Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw in the woods on 'Tracker.'
Back in Season 1’s "Lexington," Colter was on the trail of a kidnapped racehorse, so it's not as if Tracker hasn't drifted into this territory before. Throughout the show, we’ve seen him find other animals and vehicles all over the map. But it would really be something if Colter was sent to recover new objects, which could result in anything from a Tracker treasure hunt akin to something out of National Treasure to recovering a priceless artifact or heirloom. Tracker shouldn’t be afraid to expand its reach to more than just missing persons, as Colter could do a lot of good recovering items that belong to those whose lives would be shattered by their disappearance. Or maybe even clear someone's name in the process.
By diving into the world of missing objects or items, Colter could come across the world of treasure seekers. These sorts of hunters have shown up in plenty of shows over the years, and it would be fun to see Colter interact with this very specific character archetype. Again, Billie would be a great addition to an episode like this, and it's highly likely that (given her penchant for going after coveted high-prized items and jobs) she probably knows many who work specifically in that field. No, we're not saying that Tracker needs to become a full-on treasure hunting show, but just that an episode or two inspired by Indiana Jones couldn't hurt.
With a show like Tracker, the possibilities are endless as to the sorts of dynamic, action-packed combinations the writers can come up with. We've seen some pretty off-the-wall stories already, and no doubt we'd love to see more. If the show could try its hand at another formula for an episode or two sometime down the line, it may help keep Tracker from the risk of becoming stale. Sure, we watch this show for Colter Shaw, but audiences still crave some variety in their weekly dose of rewardist entertainment. While we're at it, the show could easily use these sorts of cases to bring back characters like Brent Saxton's Keaton or Tahmoh Penikett's Special Agent Moss, provided there was a clever hook to get them there.
Tracker is available for streaming on Paramount+.
