Dear Pathfinder, Please Don’t Waste Your Best Character (And It’s Not Colter)
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Tracker Season 2, Episode 4, “Noble Rot.” After Tracker Season 2 Episode 4, it’s time to officially tell the show Justin Hartley not to lose his best character. The record-breaking CBS procedural made waves immediately when it debuted in early 2024. Hartley plays Colter Shaw, a bounty agent who roams the country looking for missing people. Although he’s the main character of the series and mostly works alone on the ground, the series has a solid cast surrounding Hartley. Colter’s team is small, but all of its members do a great job. They mostly provide remote support for the bounty hunter as he engages in dangerous operations.
The nature of Tracker’s storytelling means that the cast changes on a weekly basis. The first three episodes of the second season featured three different guest stars—Camille Pickett, played by Floriana Lima, Russell Shaw, played by Jensen Ackles, and Billie Matalon, played by Sofia Parnas, respectively. They’ve all played key roles in Colter’s recent cases. In Tracker Season 2, Episode 4, “Noble Rot,” the series took it back to its roots: Hartley’s character works alone, though he gets help from the project’s best character. Their team is an effective reminder of how much the CBS process has underutilized its main asset.
Tracker Season 2 Episode 4 Highlights How Great Rini Is
Rini and Colter’s Chemistry Still Unrivaled
Rini, played by Fiona Renee, was introduced as part of Tracker in the first season, where she played Colter’s ally. As a lawyer, she often handles the legal aspects of his work, although she doesn’t seem to be technically involved. Still, Colter relies on her, so when she turns to him for help. Tracker Season 2, Episode 4, he comes calling. Reenie has made a few appearances in the show’s second season, but this is the first time she shares the screen with the honoree as they investigate the case of a missing woman in Napa Valley.
Throughout the episode, it’s clear that Rini and Colter have great chemistry. Much has been said about the potential for a romantic storyline between the pair, and although Tracker hints that they had an affair in the past, both Hartley and Renee ruin any chance of that happening. Other than that, though, Rini is just a great character overall. She may not be as much of a prize junkie as Billy, but she can certainly hold her own. She’s smart and charming, always thinking outside the box in difficult situations. These are just a few reasons why she’s so fun to watch.
Tracker barely uses Rini
Rini has a lot of storytelling potential in Tracker
As great as Rini is, Tracker barely uses her. She appears regularly on the show, but most of her involvement comes from working remotely. Even the few times she reunites with Colter and joins him on Earth, she continues to be a supporting character. Of course, Tracker’s focus is on Hartley’s character, but the show could have benefited from pairing them up more often. For starters, the banter between them is fantastic – probably on par with Coulter and Russell. Whether or not there is flirting involved, their dialogue is always witty.
Colter benefits from the people around him, while Reenie shows off her more playful side, perhaps because she is sharp and sarcastic.
Second, getting close to Rini actually makes Colter more interesting. Hartley’s character himself is boring. He comes across as too serious and straightforward, which are good qualities for a TV character, but he’s not fun to watch. Colter benefits from the people around him, while Reenie shows off her more playful side, perhaps because she is sharp and sarcastic. Finally, Renee herself is simply great. It would be great to see more of her personal story, especially since she and Velma are starting their own law firm in the wake of Teddy. Tracker Ra.
How Tracker Can Better Use Reenie Moving Forward
Tracker Doesn’t Need Major Changes to Give Rini What She Deserves
Don’t waste it, Rini doesn’t force you to reconsider your approach to the story. This problem can be solved with some adjustments in the future. For starters, give Rini more work to do. Sure, she works remotely with Colter a lot, but it wouldn’t hurt the show if she showed up on the field with him more often. She’s not trained in combat, but she’s smart and resourceful. Sometimes she decides she can solve a problem better and faster than Colter.
Another way to do this is for the Tracker to explore Rini’s backstory. This would mean diversifying the show’s story and dedicating some of the time to what could be a B-plot for the job of the week. Therefore, procedural measures can also ease the burden on Hartley, which is more important now that the Tracker has released more than 20 episodes in its second season.
Tracker follows lone survivor Colter Shaw as he travels across the country in search of a reward. Using his expert surveillance skills, he helps individuals and law enforcement solve various mysteries while also dealing with the problems of his broken family.
