One original Tracker character is exiting in season 2, and even though it seems shocking, their departure was set up in the season 1 finale. It was recently confirmed that Teddi Bruin actress Robin Weigert would exit the Tracker cast before season 2. Interestingly, it's being framed as her exiting the show as a series regular, which sets up the potential for her to appear in cameos or even return in another season – more on that later. Regardless, Tracker season 1 laid the groundwork for her departure without audiences even knowing it at the time, and it could prove a very wise decision.
Robin Weigert's Teddi Bruin was a former rock band manager who now acts, along with her wife, Velma (Abby McEnany) as the handler for titular tracker Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley). Using her connections and managerial skills, Teddi does the heavy lifting of the considerable logistics Colter needs to do his job effectively, from finding new jobs, arranging payment, maintaining Colter's network of connections, and, occasionally, bailing him out of jail. It will be very interesting to see how Tracker season 2's story explains Robin Weigert's sudden absence.
Tracker Season 1 Finale Set Up Velma's New Role Separate From Teddi
Velma Is Set To Come To The Forefront
The last few episodes of Tracker, and, in particular, the Tracker season 1 ending, teased that Velma would take on a bigger role in season 2. A few brief scenes teased that Velma would be working with Reenie on a project that, as of now, remains a mystery, indicating that she would have a more significant part in the narrative. This was also set up on Reenie's end, with the lawyer quitting her job in the season 1 finale. Showrunner Elwood Reid also confirmed this at this year's TCAs, saying, "You’re going to see that Velma is taking on a very interesting role with something that was hinted at with Reenie’s character in the final couple episodes."
Why Robin Weigert's Teddi Is Being Written Out Of Tracker
Her Departure Was Likely Known For A While
Despite it being a major change for the show, it's not yet clear why Robin Weigert's character is being written out of Tracker for season 2. So far, though the producers and Reid, are teasing stories for season 2, but no one has spoken about Weigert's departure, nor have any of the actors. That's not surprising, as the news was only just announced and it's likely that, as time goes on, more information about Weigert's exit will come to light. It's a shame to lose Weigert, as she's a phenomenal actress, as shown by her work on acclaimed shows like Deadwood and Big Little Lies.
That said, it's entirely possible that Weigert's exit was known for some time considering the convenient setup in Tracker season 1. It could have been coincidental timing, of course, and planned from the start to give Velma a bigger role in the series. Still, it seems unlikely that the show would make a point to set up a storyline bringing Velma to the forefront with her own job separate from Teddi had the writers not had some prior knowledge that Robin Weigert would be departing. It's something that certainly needs to be addressed, so the previous Velma story setup indicates that Weigert's exit has been known since last season.
How Teddi's Absence Impacts Colter Shaw's Tracker Season 2 Story
Luckily, Her Absence Can Be Easily Worked Around
In truth, it won't be hard to write Teddi out of the show. She and Velma, while a vital part of Colter Shaw's operation, weren't necessarily a vital part of the show or its narratives. They only appeared for a few scenes each episode in Tracker season 1 to give Tracker information, and, as the season went on and Colter got more involved in his cases and unraveling the mystery of his father, they were moved to the background. Storywise, Teddi can be replaced relatively easily in Tracker season 2, with Velma mentioning Teddi and/or Teddi's instructions to Colter coming via text or phone instead of video chats.
As for Robin Weigert, she already has another project lined up. The Deadwood actress is in pre-production for the dark comedy movie American Dog, which also stars Joel McHale, Dulé Hill, James Roday Rodriguez, Angelica Ross, and Margaret Cho. If shooting that movie has partly contributed to her leaving Tracker – network TV shows take a big chunk of time, after all – there's nothing to stop her from having a few cameos or perhaps even coming back to the show in a greater capacity after Tracker season 2.
