Let’s be honest Tracker has been one of the most refreshing TV hits of the past few years. With Justin Hartley leading the charge as Colter Shaw, the series carved out a unique space on network television. Viewers love the action, the mystery, and the emotional stakes. But Season 2 ended with a shocking twist that changed everything.
Now, as Season 3 looms, the pressure is on. And while there are countless directions the writers could take, there is one critical mistake they cannot afford to make or risk undoing all the goodwill they’ve built so far.
Recapping the Season 2 Finale Twist
Without diving into frame-by-frame spoilers, here’s the gist: the finale didn’t just wrap up Colter’s latest case; it dropped a bombshell about his personal journey. The reveal redefined relationships, shifted alliances, and left fans with their jaws on the floor.
It was bold. It was risky. And it worked at least for now. But it also created a dangerous temptation for the show’s writers moving forward.
The Big Don’t: Undo the Twist
Here’s the one thing Tracker Season 3 must not do: backtrack on the Season 2 twist.
Too many shows fall into the trap of walking back bold decisions whether through retcons, dream sequences, or “it wasn’t what you thought” reveals. That might feel safe, but it destroys trust. Viewers don’t like feeling cheated, and if Season 3 undoes its finale bombshell, the audience will feel manipulated.
Why Fans Hate Retcons
Think about other shows that played this game. When writers hit the panic button and undo their own twists, fans instantly lose respect. It’s like watching a magician reveal a mind-blowing trick, only for them to admit later it was just smoke and mirrors.
The twist in Season 2 of Tracker mattered. It raised stakes. It gave Colter’s story new depth. If Season 3 tries to erase or water it down, it sends the message that nothing in this universe really matters and that’s storytelling suicide.
The Power of Consequences
Great television thrives on consequences. Characters make choices, twists land, and the fallout shapes everything moving forward. That’s why the Season 2 finale was so powerful: it didn’t feel like a gimmick, it felt like a turning point.
Season 3’s job is not to dodge those consequences, but to embrace them. Even if it makes Colter’s world messier, that’s where the best drama lives.
Colter Shaw Needs Forward Momentum
Colter Shaw isn’t just a case-of-the-week problem solver he’s a man with demons, scars, and a complex past. The finale twist cracked his world wide open. If the writers lean into that, Season 3 could deliver some of the show’s richest storytelling yet.
But if they ignore it? Or worse, reverse it? Colter risks becoming static, a character running in circles instead of evolving.
What Tracker Got Right in Season 2
Before worrying about mistakes, let’s give credit where it’s due. Season 2 nailed several things that make Tracker stand out:
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Emotional layering – Colter’s past continued to shape his present.
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Fresh cases – Each episode brought new suspense while feeding into bigger arcs.
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Bold storytelling – The finale twist showed the writers weren’t afraid to take risks.
That boldness is exactly why Season 3 has to push forward, not backward.
The Temptation of Playing It Safe
TV executives often worry about alienating casual viewers. They might think, “If the twist was too heavy, maybe we should soften it in Season 3.” But safe storytelling is forgettable storytelling.
Fans don’t want the training wheels back on—they want to see what happens when the story hits top speed.
Lessons from Other Shows
Other dramas have faced this exact crossroad:
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Lost introduced twists, then fumbled by refusing to commit to them.
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Breaking Bad did the opposite every twist reshaped the world permanently, and fans loved it.
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This Is Us (also starring Justin Hartley) leaned into emotional reveals without undoing them, keeping audiences hooked.
Tracker has a chance to follow the Breaking Bad and This Is Us model: commit to the twist, let it change everything, and trust the audience to follow.
Fans Are Ready for Growth
Scroll through social media, and you’ll see fans buzzing about the finale. They’re not saying, “I hope it gets undone.” They’re saying, “What happens next?” The anticipation is real. And CBS needs to honor that excitement by delivering real progress, not fake-outs.
What Season 3 Should Do Instead
If the writers want to keep the momentum alive, here’s the playbook:
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Lean into the fallout – Show how the twist reshapes Colter’s relationships.
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Deepen the serialized arc – Make the consequences ripple through multiple episodes.
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Evolve Colter emotionally – Let the twist push him into uncharted territory.
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Balance case-of-the-week stories with continuity – Keep the procedural flavor while building long-term stakes.
Why This Matters for CBS
CBS struck gold with Tracker. In an era where streaming dominates, this series pulled in strong network numbers and a dedicated fanbase. But loyalty is fragile. If Season 3 fumbles by undoing its boldest move, that audience might drift away.
The Stakes for Colter Shaw
Colter isn’t just another TV detective. He’s a tracker, a survivalist, and a man defined by trauma. The Season 2 finale gave him new layers to explore. If the writers let him grow through those challenges, he could become one of the most memorable TV leads of the decade.
The Bigger Picture for Network Dramas
This isn’t just about Tracker it’s about the future of network television. Viewers are smarter, more demanding, and less patient with lazy storytelling than ever before. If CBS wants to keep Tracker competitive, it needs to prove that its twists actually matter.
Conclusion
The Season 2 finale of Tracker was bold, shocking, and game-changing. But the show now stands at a crossroads. The one thing Season 3 must not do is backtrack. Don’t undo the twist. Don’t cheapen it. Don’t take the easy way out.
Instead, lean into it. Let Colter face the fallout, let the world shift, and let the story evolve. That’s how Tracker transforms from a strong procedural into a truly iconic series.
FAQs
1. What was the big twist in Tracker Season 2’s finale?
The finale revealed a shocking turn in Colter Shaw’s personal life that redefined key relationships and raised the stakes for the future.
2. What mistake must Tracker Season 3 avoid?
It must not undo or walk back the Season 2 twist, as that would cheapen the storytelling and frustrate fans.
3. Why do fans dislike retcons?
Retcons erase the impact of past events, making viewers feel like their emotional investment was wasted.
4. What should Tracker Season 3 focus on instead?
It should explore the consequences of the twist, deepen Colter’s character growth, and weave continuity into episodic cases.
5. Could this twist make Tracker better long-term?
Yes—if the writers commit to it, the twist could add depth, raise stakes, and make Tracker one of the most compelling dramas on television.
