It Took Tracker 20 Episodes To Properly Honor Its Most Important Relationship
It took Tracker 20 episodes, but the story finally honored the most vital relationship in Justin Hartley’s CBS show. While Hartley’s character works with people who come and go in each episode, Colter Shaw’s Tracker team supports the self-proclaimed “rewardist” throughout, providing him with cases, intel, and legal support. Most importantly, Colter’s team is his community. As such, the series should include Colter’s team more often, which it failed to do enough in Tracker season 1. However, season 2, episode 6, significantly improved the series by bringing its characters together.
Colter has a strange run-in in “Man’s Best Friend” when someone steals a dog named Barkley from his truck at the gas station before he can find its home. The dog’s identification leads Colter to the scene of a home break-in where a mother and son are locked up. Colter gets entangled in a more severe case between Max Miller (Seamus Dever), Nate Riggins (Dylan Bruce), and a villain called David Lawson (Ian Butcher) when he agrees to find the dog again. When all ends well, Colter visits his colleagues, finally bringing the Tracker season 2 characters together.
Tracker Finally Shows Colter & Velma In The Same Room After 20 Episodes
Colter, Velma, & Reenie Reunite In “Man’s Best Friend”
Despite telling Reenie (Fiona Rene) and Velma (Abby McEnany) that he won’t make the trip at the beginning of the installment, Colter visits his team members at their new office in Tracker season 2, episode 6. It’s a tremendous moment, considering Colter isn’t featured in the same room as Velma throughout the first 20 episodes, despite his handler appearing to guide him through every case. Colter and Velma’s constant FaceTime calls allow them to keep in touch without sharing a location. As such, Colter’s long-distance relationship with Velma is a pillar of his successful on-the-road business.
Colter’s long-distance relationship with Velma is a pillar of his successful on-the-road business.
Colter and Velma aren’t required to share space regarding his operation, but the characters should occasionally share a room. Colter is the most prominent member of the Tracker cast, Reenie a distant second, featuring alongside Colter regularly in different cases in both seasons. Still, Bobby (Eric Graise) and Velma are in just as many episodes as Rene’s character, yet they hardly have any screen time. Bobby once worked a case alongside Colter in Chicago. However, Velma and Colter’s on-screen interactions in episode 6 are a first for the pair despite their close relationship.
Why Velma Is Colter’s Most Important Relationship
Velma Fills An Essential Need
Velma is undoubtedly Colter’s most important relationship. The handler is there for Colter day in and day out, feeding him employment opportunities and providing him with any necessary intel while managing his needs and finances. Still, anyone could technically do Velma’s job, and her role in Colter’s life extends beyond her duties to him. Since Tracker season 1, Velma has been a foundation of support for Colter. While Tracker’s Teddi (Robin Weigert) and Velma assist Colter in season 1, Velma’s role is unique in the way that she prioritizes Colter’s emotional needs.
When Colter is processing the 10-year anniversary of Tracker’s Gina Picket mystery in the season 2 premiere, Velma asks him how he’s doing because she keeps track of his life and knows it’s an important day for him. In the Tracker pilot episode, Velma urges Teddi not to hire Reenie because she doesn’t want to upset Colter with their bad blood. Velma uniquely looks after Colter, whose family is mysteriously distant and who can’t maintain a solid romance on the road. Thus, Colter and Velma’s vital connection gives all the more reason to feature the characters in the same room more often.
Can Colter & Velma Get Together Again In Tracker Season 2?
Tracker Has Plenty Of Opportunities To Highlight This Relationship
Strengthening Colter and Velma’s bond in Tracker season 2 would enhance the series. After Tracker season 2 handles Teddi’s exit, Velma’s story is an open book. Having gone through a vague separation from her partner, Velma grows close to Reenie, helping out with her new law firm as she grapples with what happened with Teddi. Thus, Velma is available to assist Colter in the field, potentially traveling while doing some soul-searching and meeting up with the rewardist along the way. Velma and Teddi’s separation is an untapped well of B-stories for Tracker season 2.
It took Tracker a long time to put the characters in the same room, and hopefully, it doesn’t wait so long to feature the friends side by side again.
With Weigert’s exit and the choice to break up Velma and Teddi in Tracker, Colter can be there for Velma to emotionally support her (or at least distract Velma) through her heartache, providing the same support that she has offered him. Tracker needs to expand Velma’s character with more backstory about her relationship and its progress, adding depth to Colter’s story and building on the LGBTQ+ representation that Velma brings. It took Tracker a long time to put the characters in the same room, and hopefully, it doesn’t wait so long to feature the friends side by side again.
