Season 3 of Tracker: A New Chapter for Colter Shaw
How will Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) process the revelation that his mother (Wendy Crewson) played a significant role in his father’s death? This is the central question that will drive the narrative as Tracker returns for its third season, premiering on Sunday, October 19. The season promises to delve deeper into the emotional and psychological toll this discovery takes on Colter, while also exploring how he navigates his relationship with his brother, Russell (Jensen Ackles), who makes a return for the two-part premiere.
The story begins just a few weeks after the events of the previous season. Colter has gone off the grid, but it’s only a matter of time before his brother finds him. Their conversation, which continues from the cliffhanger ending of the last season, is a pivotal moment. It reveals the truth about Otto (Alex Fernandez), the man who confirmed he pushed their father off the cliff, and the involvement of their mother in the events leading up to the tragedy.
The Conversation That Changes Everything
Showrunner Elwood Reid shared insights into how the conversation between Colter and Russell unfolds. “It was a way to make it more active for Colter with someone who — remember for a long time, he kind of blamed his brother with having something to do with it,” Reid said. The scene, set in an Airstream, is tense and emotionally charged. It captures the complexity of their relationship, where both brothers are grappling with the truth and trying to understand the motivations behind their mother’s actions.
Reid emphasized that while the full conversation with Otto isn’t shown immediately, there are flashbacks and moments that will revisit the events of that night. “What’s more important is just because it was a pretty heavy bomb we dropped, hearing what Colter thinks that bomb means and then hearing what his brother Russell thinks it could mean, and then you kind of put these two things together.”
Brothers Rebuilding Their Relationship
Colter and Russell have slowly been rebuilding their relationship since the start of the series, and this season continues that journey. However, the revelations about their father’s death add another layer of tension. “There’s some little nuggets which I won’t give away about what’s going on in Russell’s life,” Reid said. “But suffice it to say, when you get to that scene, just like when you got to the scene at the end of last season, the brothers realize — the audience learns how tense and heated and some of the external forces that were on that family previous to the father’s death.”
Russell’s perspective offers a different view of the past, one that Colter may not have fully understood. “He has a different, probably darker memory of it that was shielded from Colter, if you remember, because Russell disappeared and Colter stayed back with his mother.” This dynamic adds depth to their interactions and sets the stage for further exploration of their family’s history.
Colter’s Emotional Journey
Colter is still reeling from the information he received. He hasn’t yet spoken to his mother, as he feels the need to process everything first. “There’s so much to talk about it and I need to know more before I go back there,” Reid explained. “It’s far more complicated emotionally.” The conversation with Otto and Russell helps Colter begin to piece together the truth, but it also raises more questions.
As the season progresses, Colter will continue to investigate the people around his parents at the time of the tragedy. “There was a number he found in his father’s stuff that he asked Randy [Chris Lee] to look into that’s going to bear a little bit of fruit and then it’s going to slowly get him closer to what his father was actually up to.”
Jensen Ackles’ Return and Other Returning Characters
Jensen Ackles returns for the two-part premiere, and Reid hinted at the possibility of his return for more episodes. “We have an open door policy. He’s busy being a superhero and being a cop on Amazon. Jensen and I are friends. We worked together before and I love him, so, we’ll take him as much as we can get him.” Alongside Ackles, other familiar faces will return, including Melissa Roxburgh as Dory and Fiona Rene as Reenie.
New Arcs and Storylines
The season kicks off with a two-part premiere, setting the tone for the rest of the season. There will be additional multi-episode arcs, including a fall finale that delves into dark secrets from Colter’s family past. “I don’t know. Maybe you talk to showrunners who have encyclopedias. I’m a guy who flies by the seat of his pants,” Reid said. “I have general ideas about where that’s going to go and some sort of emotional guideposts, but I’m open to anything happening as far as that goes.”
Colter’s Internal Struggles
Throughout the season, Colter will be in a dark place, dealing with the emotional fallout of the revelations. “You’re going to see him in a really dark place and getting to see his interactions with his brother and how that comes about,” Reid said. “I’m really proud of our two-parter. Production wise, those are always hard to pull off. But also just from a storytelling standpoint, a lot of times I see two parters and I go, ‘God, this could be one episode. They’re just stretching it out.’”
Colter is not one to lean on others easily. “No, I don’t think Colter’s really a leaner. I mean, he’s kind of a guy who’s like, ‘Screw it, I’m going to go off, sit in a bar by myself and get my s**t together.’” His strength and independence are part of what makes him an intriguing character, but it also means he often internalizes his struggles.
A Dream for a Family Reunion
While the focus remains on Colter’s journey, there’s always the dream of a full Shaw family reunion. “That’s the dream. Once I get one nailed down, it’s always that Ackles guy. He’s the one that’s causing the problem. So I don’t know. I’ve got to check with his superhero show to see how he’s doing there.”
What to Expect in Season 3
Season 3 of Tracker promises to be a compelling continuation of Colter’s story, blending mystery, emotion, and character development. With the return of key characters and the introduction of new mysteries, the season is set to deliver a mix of personal and broader narratives that will keep viewers engaged. As Colter continues to uncover the truth about his father and his family, the stakes are higher than ever, and the journey is just beginning.
