Tracker remains the most popular show on TV, but it can still get better. Tracker season 1 was the most popular series of the 2023-2024 TV cycle, dethroning NCIS as television's most-watched scripted show. Viewers were drawn to Hartley's performance as Colter Shaw, who lives on the open road, finding missing people for money.
As Tracker season 2 is midway through its run, the ratings prove that Hartley's show hasn't slowed down. In contrast, Tracker season 2 performed even better during its sophomore run, maintaining its lead on all other scripted TV shows. Still, the procedural show can be better as it hits its stride and finds its creative identity. The midseason finale (Tracker season 2, episode 8) exposed the ways that Hartley's series could improve, especially after the first handful of episodes bopped around between paranormal narratives that shifted the show's grounded nature.
Tracker Was One Of The Most Popular TV Shows In 2024 Despite Season 2's Problems
Tracker Has Impressive Viewership
Tracker maintained its popularity despite a series of creative blunders in season 2. After the premiere introduced a new overarching mystery for Colter with Gina Picket's cold case (and a supposed on-again-off-again romance with Gina's sister, Camille), the next few episodes confused the show's identity. Colter and Russell Shaw investigated a Department of Defense site connected to what was heavily implied to be an authentic alien encounter. While Colter maintained he didn't believe in aliens, tethering the show to its grounded premise, Tracker season 2, episode 5 continued its odd storytelling shift, introducing a girl named Emmaline with quasi-magical powers.
Still, according to a report from Variety regarding the 100 most-watched telecasts of 2024, Tracker received more entries than anything except live sports casts, like the Olympics and the NFL. Coincidentally, Tracker's most-watched episode was season 2, episode 5, "Preternatural," which earned nearly 12 million viewers. The numbers prove that beyond not affecting the series, Tracker's odd storytelling shift has maybe even boosted the show.
How The Remaining Of Tracker Season 2 Can Improve The Justin Hartley Show
Tracker Season 2 Can Still Improve
Still, despite Tracker's enduring popularity, improvements in Hartley's show will ensure the series is fit for a likely Tracker season 3. While its creative risks may have paid off for now, Tracker needs to do a better job of using its supporting characters and helping us care about Colter's overarching mysteries. The stakes are relatively low in Gina's case, as we know virtually nothing about her, and Colter's relationship with Camille is confusing. Moreover, the Shaw family mystery is moving along slowly, and season 2 lacks headway on some of the most interesting clues Colter discovered in season 1.
Tracker season 2 can tie it all together by giving us a compelling ending to Gina's cold case that ups the stakes for Colter and Camille's relationship or else resolves it so he can move on. It should rely on the show's best elements, like Fiona Rene's Reenie Green, while bringing Colter's other team members to the forefront. Tracker has a great procedural premise with the mystery surrounding what happened to Colter's father as its heartbeat. Hartley's series needs to build on its Ashton Shaw mystery while offering compelling reasons why we should care about the other plots it incorporates.
Source: Variety
