I spoke with Tracker star Justin Hartley about the thrilling second-season premiere. The episode delved into a decade-old case that continues to haunt the protagonist, Colter Shaw, to this day – the disappearance of a young woman named Gina Picket.
In the opening scene, we see Colter paying an unwelcome annual visit to a suspect named Frank, played by Justified’s Ryan Dorsey. Colter, typically the picture of calm and composure, is visibly shaken, even putting Frank in a chokehold in a moment of raw emotion.
“When we started this show, we got the character from the book. And it was important for [fellow EP] Ken [Olin] and I to make sure that people had a reason to watch,” Hartley explained. “We need to give people a reason — to show them why they’re watching this guy. He’s special and great at what he does… and it just became one of those things where, towards the end of Season 1, you think that what we haven’t shown is that he’s not infallible. He couldn’t get to the bottom of something that happened, and it does bother him… he can’t let things go.”
Hartley discussed Colter’s complicated relationship with Gina’s sister, Camille, played by Supergirl’s Floriana Lima. “It’s a trauma bond. It’s almost like — it’s very, very sad, but it’s like these married couples that lose their child, and they can’t be together anymore because they see their child in the other person. It’s hard for Colter and Camille.”
Colter had promised Camille he would bring Gina home, and he’s determined to keep that promise, even if Camille resigned to the idea that she may never have closure. “This storyline has been built in a way that, when you look at it, you go, ‘Oh man, that was a pivotal moment in Colter’s life that changed how he approaches his work and relationships with other people,'” Hartley said.
The actor also teased the return of Colter’s brother, Russell, played by Jensen Ackles. “Colter is going to bring it up to him — and he’s going to bring it up for two reasons. Number one, to let him know. But I think, also, to see if [Russell] doesn’t know [about it], what does he think of it? And if he did know [about it], why didn’t he tell Colter? Colter is skeptical of everyone in his family, including Russell.”
Elsewhere in the premiere, viewers learned that Colter’s trusted assistant, Teddi, played by Robin Weigert, would be absent for much of the season as she helps her mother. Abby McEnany’s Velma, Teddi’s wife, explains that Teddi “will be there for a while. She is helping her mom get sorted. You might say I was getting in the way, and it wasn’t good. So I came back. Don’t you worry because I am keeping busy?”
This narrative shakeup means Velma will spend more time working with Reenie, played by Fiona Rene, as she opens her criminal law office. “Reenie and Velma both have common goals with just some completely different ways of going about their business,” Hartley teased.
Despite the changes, Hartley assured fans that Melissa Roxburgh’s Dory, Colter’s sister, and Jennifer Morrison’s as-yet-unnamed character will return later in the season, even as the actors’ other TV commitments keep them busy.
“[Melissa]’s show ends [production] way before we end so we can bring her back in the latter episodes of our show,” Hartley noted. “And then Jennifer Morrison’s coming back to direct episode 6. I’m sure her character will be back.”
Overall, the Tracker team seems determined to build on the first season’s success, diving deeper into Colter’s past and the relationships that continue to shape him. As Hartley put it, “We have a whole other season to shoot that we have to make better than Season 1. So while we wanted all those storylines wrapped up, we also wanted those bows to sort of lead to other questions — bigger, deeper questions — about his past.”
With its gripping mysteries, complex characters, and tightly woven narrative, Tracker’s second season is poised to captivate audiences again. Fans will undoubtedly be eager to see how Colter’s haunting past ultimately impacts his future.