After a historic first season, Tracker has been experiencing a bit of a sophomore slump in terms of storytelling, but one element of episode 7 could fix a lot of the show's problems. The CBS action drama TV series, created by Ben H. Winters is based on Jeffery Deaver's 2019 book The Never Game. Tracker follows Justin Hartley's Colter Shaw, a survivalist and expert tracker who makes money off of his skills, and season 2 continues his adventures. Unfortunately, the mysteries and cases in Tracker season 2 have failed to be as interesting as the ones in season 1.
Tracker season 2 hasn't been as grounded in reality as season 1, and its storytelling methods are jumbled, making most episodes feel disoriented and underwhelming. The good news is that the show has a few months to return to its former glory as season 2 won't return until February 2025. Tracker's writers could look back the season 2's first eight episodes to analyze what has gone wrong and what has worked. In particular, they should note one successful element from episode 7, which features Colter searching for a missing dog, and apply it to future episodes.
Tracker Season 2, Episode 7 Shows How A Dog Can Make Colter's Operations Better
Colter Stumbles Upon A Dog At The Beginning Of The Episode
At the beginning of Tracker season 2, episode 7, "Man's Best Friend," Colter finds a dog named Barkley at a gas station. It's obvious the dog has an owner as he has a collar and leash. However, when trying to return Barkley, someone takes him. Colter later learns that someone stole the dog from his home, and the case gets much more complicated as the episode goes on. But the point of the matter is that a dog is just what Colter needs in Tracker season 2.
Tracker Season 2 Cast | Role |
|---|---|
Justin Hartley | Colter Shaw |
Abby McEnany | Velma Bruin |
Eric Graise | Bobby Exley |
Fiona Rene | Reenie Greene |
Jensen Ackles | Russell Shaw |
Floriana Lima | Camille Picket |
Sofia Pernas | Billie Matalon |
Although Barkley isn't Colter's to keep, the dog comes in handy while he works the case, proving Justin Hartley's character could use an animal to help him track people (and solve cases grounded in reality). Cops train dogs all the time to help them solve cases. So, it stands to reason that Colter should be able to, too. He's great with dogs, and man/dog duos on TV have always been iconic. Of course, working with animals on film sets is difficult. However, it might be worth it for Tracker to invest the time and effort so that Colter can have a dog for a partner.
Colter Adding A Dog To His Team Gives Tracker A Unique Dynamic
Colter Would Finally Have A Team Member In The Field
While Colter getting a dog would be helpful for the character when solving mysteries, it would also add a new dynamic to his team. Colter rarely works with his team members in the field. However, a dog would have to accompany Colter while he works on cases, making them the only team member who can do that. Perhaps this small change can help make Tracker good again (although, the show still needs to improve in other areas).
