This Tracker Season 2 Update From Justin Hartley Makes 1 Romance Way More Likely
An important announcement from Tracker star Justin Hartley makes a particular romance in the series more likely than ever. In the show based on The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver, the former This Is Us actor established a robust on-screen presence as the series’ protagonist. This played a big part in Tracker season 2 scoring an early renewal after just four episodes. When the numbers came in, Hartley’s new action drama also ended up being the most-watched television series of the 2023-2024 cycle — an impressive feat, considering that it was just on its first season.
With an average of eight million viewers tuning in across the 13 episodes of Tracker season 1, plenty of speculation arose about Colter’s arc moving forward, including his love life. The character lives on the road in an airstream trailer, making entering a committed relationship quite tricky. Now that filming for Tracker season 2 is officially underway, it remains to be seen if Colter will finally start some kind of love affair in the show’s sophomore year. Hartley answered an adjacent question that ruled out one central romance during the procedural’s San Diego Comic-Con panel, effectively making a subtler romance more likely to unfold.
Colter Shaw Could Continue His Romance With Billie Matalon In Tracker Season 2
Sofia Pernas Portrays Colter’s Fellow Tracker
Hartley took questions about what to expect from Tracker season 2 at San Diego Comic-Con. When asked whether it would play out in season 2, Hartley addressed Colter and Reenie’s romance possibility when the series returns this fall. Unfortunately, he ruled it out for a respectable reason, explaining:
“I think all of the things about [Colter] that are heroic and brave become reckless and selfish. It’s like, I’m going to leave my house and go through all this stuff and put myself in danger and you’re back here worried about me. I just don’t think that’s a good look.”
While Colter and Reenie’s romance could still gain momentum in the future, the momentary pause could pave the way for Tracker to revisit another season 1 affair for the time being. Colter Shaw could rekindle his flame with Billie Matalon, portrayed by Sofia Pernas. She may not be a series regular like Reenie, but Billie is already confirmed to return when the hit CBS show returns this October.
Billie was introduced in Tracker season 1, episode 6, “Lexington,” when she and Colter worked the same job to track a missing prize-winning racehorse. She gave Colter stiff competition, and her ability to stay one step ahead of him is why the romance could work. While the chemistry between Hartley and Pernas differs from Reenie and Colter’s spark, it can still deliver a compelling romance.
How Tracker Season 1 Set Up Billie And Colter’s Romance
Colter And Billie Shared Intimate Moments In “Lexington”
Tracker season 1 set up the pair’s romance for season 2 by establishing the characters’ shared history and moving their relationship into the present. When they were snooping around the office of one of the horse’s owners in “Lexington” amid a lavish party, Colter and Billie revisited a vital moment in their timeline. As it turned out, she double-crossed him while working together, keeping all the reward money for herself. They playfully talked until Colter said, “I trusted you,” which caused both the Tracker characters to pause. Colter’s experience with Billy had a lasting impact.
It was clear from Colter’s reaction that he was hurt, but he agreed to team up with Billie on the case anyway. They began to establish a new sense of trust between them and picked up where their chemistry presumably left off, too. After Colter and Billie took action to save each other from a burning barn in “Lexington,” they almost shared a kiss in Colter’s truck until a phone call interrupted it. They were ultimately supposed to have dinner, but Billie dipped out at the last minute, leaving a rain check open for Tracker season 2.
Why Colter And Billie’s Romance Would Be An Exception To Hartley’s Statement
Billie Can Protect Herself (& Colter)
In his response to a potential romance between Reenie and Colter in Tracker season 2, Hartley pointed out its fallacies. He said throwing himself in harm’s way to save others suddenly becomes reckless if there is someone at home he also needs to protect. While Reenie isn’t helpless and is a genius when it comes to the team’s legal work, she is relatively green when it comes to fieldwork. In Tracker season 1, episode 4, “St. Louis,” Reenie was held at gunpoint, which brought immense stress to Colter. She has had memorable action moments but is not prepared for violence.
A romance with Billie would be an exception to Hartley’s statement because Billie is a trained hunter, more capable of protecting herself. Pernas’ character even stayed one step ahead of Colter throughout their investigation in “Lexington.” When Billie told Colter she thought she had to prove herself because he was acting superior to her, explaining her choice to take the reward money, Colter revealed he had always known she was the better tracker. Colter said, “I always thought you were above my level.” The statement proves Billie can hold her own, and Colter knows it.
Why A Romance Between Colter And Billie Feels Inevitable
Sofia Pernas Will Return To Tracker In Season 2
A romance between Colter and Billie feels inevitable, particularly because Sofia Pernas, the actor who portrays Billie Matalon, is Justin Hartley’s wife. Hartley could be planning for a romance between the reward-seekers, especially since he cast his spouse to play the part. The chemistry between the real-life lovers would be remarkable to see play out on-screen. Additionally, it also shouldn’t be difficult to sell the idea that they are in a relationship, considering Hartley and Pernas’ off-screen romance. A fling between Colter and Billie would be more understandably temporary due to their work, which could better suit the narrative.
If anything, Tracker season 1 already laid the foundation for Colter and Billy’s affair with their planned date at the end of “Lexington.” While that never happened, the door remains open for them to revisit in the new year. Hartley not only confirmed Sofia Pernas would return in Tracker season 2, but he also has nothing but great things to say about his experience working on-screen with his wife. Perhaps the characters could meet for dinner in Colter’s airstream somewhere in the great outdoors. It would be compelling to see them off the job.
[Colter and Billie] could both go their separate ways without labeling what happened.
While a romance between Colter and Reenie would be sweet, the series may want to keep the central relationship at a slow burn so that it can develop over time to hold viewers’ interest. That said, Billie’s character plays an adversarial romantic interest and has a more touch-and-go role in Colter’s life. The fellow reward-seekers could reinstate their romance in Tracker season 2 when their paths cross on the next job. Afterward, they could both go their separate ways without labeling what happened. It feels inevitable for Billie and Colter to pursue one another at some point in Tracker.
