After a rocky start to its sophomore season, Tracker has finally delivered the kind of thrilling, unpredictable episode fans have been craving. Episode 4, titled “Noble Rot,” breathes new life into the series, ending a frustrating trend of overly obvious villains that has plagued the show’s recent installments. With a clever twist and a genuinely suspenseful resolution, the episode sets a new standard for what the rest of the season could—and should—aspire to.
A Promising Show Held Back by Predictability
Tracker’s first season was a breakout success, largely driven by Justin Hartley’s charismatic performance as Colter Shaw, a modern-day reward-seeker who solves mysteries and tracks down missing people. But Season 2 has struggled to recapture that magic. Despite returning fan-favorite characters and emotionally resonant cases, the show’s biggest weakness has been its predictability—especially when it comes to revealing its antagonists.
In the first three episodes of the new season, villains have been telegraphed from their very first scenes. Whether it was the shady acquaintance from a decade-old disappearance in episode 1, the conveniently placed adversary at a Department of Defense site in episode 2, or the cliché kidnapper in episode 3, each supposed “twist” landed with a thud. The outcomes were so obvious that the suspense all but disappeared, putting the show’s momentum at serious risk.
Episode 4 Changes Everything
Fortunately, episode 4 marks a turning point. Colter is called to a luxurious wellness retreat for CEOs after a woman mysteriously vanishes during her stay. The catch? The retreat’s director, William Locke, wants the investigation kept under wraps to avoid bad press. From the start, both Locke and his assistant, Peter Reynolds, behave suspiciously, and the episode toys with viewers’ expectations by casting doubt on their motivations.
But instead of delivering another obvious outcome, Tracker surprises its audience. The mystery unravels in layers. Colter’s discovery of an underground chamber filled with dead bodies instantly raises the stakes—and the tension. What initially seems like a serial killer scenario takes a sharp turn when Colter questions Rona, a retreat employee who promptly contacts an accomplice, Jesse Pardue. What follows is a stunning reveal: the deaths were the result of construction accidents, and the real culprit is the site manager who buried the victims to cover up his negligence.
Then comes the real shocker—his own accomplice shoots him, and he falls into a woodchipper in a sudden, grisly finale. It’s a moment of pure television drama that finally brings Tracker back to the level of suspense and surprise that made it such a hit in the first place.
Why This Twist Works
What makes this episode stand out isn’t just the unexpected ending—it’s how the story builds toward it. For once, the show doesn’t give away its villain in the first act. Instead, it presents multiple suspects, subtly misleads the audience, and reveals the truth at just the right moment. It’s a reminder of how powerful good writing can be in procedural dramas, where the journey to the solution should be as gripping as the outcome.
Moreover, the episode taps into darker themes, such as corporate negligence and the lengths people will go to protect their reputations. The villain isn’t just evil for the sake of it; his actions are rooted in real-world fears and pressures, giving the twist a layer of emotional weight.
Lessons for the Rest of Season 2
Noble Rot sets a much-needed example for the rest of the season. If Tracker wants to maintain its standing as one of the most compelling dramas on television, it needs to abandon the cookie-cutter formula of predictable antagonists and lean into the narrative complexity seen here. Adding depth to supporting characters, misleading clues, and morally gray situations will keep audiences on their toes.
The show already proved its ability to pull off this kind of storytelling in season 1’s acclaimed episode “Aurora,” where Colter uncovered a shocking twist involving an unexpected accomplice in a seemingly straightforward murder case. The suspenseful buildup and emotional payoff of that episode made it a fan favorite—and Noble Rot recaptures that magic.
A New Hope for Tracker
With 13 episodes in its second season, Tracker still has time to evolve. If it follows the blueprint laid out in Noble Rot, it can rise above the procedural crowd and return to the quality storytelling that made it a standout in its debut season. Episode 4 isn’t just a good episode—it’s a much-needed course correction and a hopeful sign that the best of Tracker is yet to come.
As Colter Shaw’s journey continues, fans will be watching closely to see if the series can maintain the suspense and character-driven drama that makes it more than just another mystery-of-the-week show. After all, in a series built on the thrill of the chase, predictability is the real villain.
