As Tracker heads into its highly anticipated third season, fans are facing a growing concern: Is the series truly making the most of Justin Hartley’s immense talent? With Hartley leading the charge as Colter Shaw—a lone-wolf survivalist and reward seeker—the show has enjoyed solid ratings and a passionate viewer base. However, critics and fans alike have begun to question whether the CBS procedural is tapping into the full emotional and dramatic range Hartley is capable of. Ironically, the answer to reinvigorating Tracker might lie in a different series that already showcased just how powerful Hartley can be on screen—NBC’s This Is Us.
Justin Hartley: More Than Just a Rugged Hero
Justin Hartley has long been known for his charismatic screen presence, dating back to Smallville, The Young and the Restless, and of course, This Is Us. But in This Is Us, he wasn’t just the handsome lead—he played Kevin Pearson, a deeply flawed, emotionally complex actor struggling with addiction, family trauma, and self-identity. The role earned him widespread acclaim and helped This Is Us achieve a rare 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The layered writing, slow-burn character development, and emotional weight of This Is Us allowed Hartley to shine in ways that Tracker has yet to explore. In comparison, Tracker often feels like it’s only scratching the surface—leaning heavily on Hartley’s physicality and charisma while rarely delving into Shaw’s deeper psyche.
What Tracker Is Getting Wrong
The first two seasons of Tracker offered a gripping procedural format: Colter Shaw travels the country, solving mysteries, chasing fugitives, and searching for justice in exchange for rewards. The show’s pacing is snappy, the locations are diverse, and the action is reliable. But the personal arc of Colter remains frustratingly underdeveloped. We know bits and pieces of his traumatic upbringing—his father’s paranoia, his brother’s disappearance—but these storylines are often touched upon and then dropped for multiple episodes.
This structural imbalance has led many to feel that Tracker is wasting the emotional potential of both the character and the actor playing him. Hartley has proven, especially in This Is Us, that he can carry heavy emotional narratives and deliver performances that are both raw and moving. By confining Colter Shaw to a stoic drifter archetype, the show risks becoming formulaic—even with Hartley’s undeniable charm anchoring each episode.
How This Is Us Can Guide Tracker’s Future
What made This Is Us so impactful was its fearless exploration of character vulnerability. Kevin Pearson wasn’t perfect—far from it. But viewers rooted for him because they understood his pain, his missteps, and his longing for redemption. This is precisely what Tracker needs to emulate if it hopes to elevate itself in Season 3.
Colter Shaw’s mysterious past involving his father’s death and his family’s disintegration should be more than background noise. These stories should be the emotional core of the series. Imagine flashbacks structured like those in This Is Us, revealing moments from Colter’s youth that shaped his worldview. Imagine seeing Colter not just as a skilled survivalist, but as a man constantly grappling with unresolved trauma and moral ambiguity. These layers could finally unlock the richness that Justin Hartley is more than capable of delivering.
Season 3: A Pivotal Opportunity
With the show undergoing a notable cast reconfiguration—losing three main characters including Bobby Exley (Eric Graise), Reenie Greene (Fiona Rene), and Velma (Abby McEnany)—Season 3 is being shaped as a soft reset. While this may seem risky, it actually provides the perfect opportunity for Tracker to lean into character depth.
By centering the upcoming season on Colter’s personal journey and psychological evolution, Tracker can avoid becoming a victim of procedural repetition. The groundwork is already there: a troubled family past, a morally complex profession, and a protagonist who often finds himself at emotional crossroads. The show just needs to stop running from these themes and embrace them head-on.
Hartley Deserves a Story Worthy of His Talent
Justin Hartley isn’t just another TV lead—he’s an actor capable of anchoring an emotionally resonant, award-worthy drama. Tracker was billed as his next big vehicle, and it still has the potential to be just that. But to get there, the showrunners must stop wasting Hartley’s emotional range. If This Is Us taught us anything, it’s that stories about broken families, internal battles, and complicated redemption arcs resonate deeply with audiences.
Season 3 should stop being afraid to go there. Let Colter break down. Let him confront the ghosts of his past. Let him lose control. Only then will Tracker stop feeling like a missed opportunity and start living up to the potential it so clearly holds.
Tracker has the chance to evolve into a series that’s not only entertaining but meaningful. But to do that, it must stop wasting Justin Hartley and start telling a story that does justice to both its lead and its audience. Season 3 is the time to act—before it’s too late.
