Tracker’s second season has felt a little unbalanced since its return, and episode 11 doesn’t quite meet the standard of episode 10, but it does feel like the show might be hitting its stride again. While Episode 10, “Nightingale”, was a perfect example of the show at its best, Episode 11, “Shades of Gray” gets a little grittier, as Colter (Justin Hartley) is drawn into the dirty business of a New Jersey crime syndicate.
Despite the episode not making use of Colter’s unique skills, it does have a lot of great twists (the reveal that a cupcake magnate is actually a mob boss being the big one), and a surprisingly clever way of highlighting Colter’s softer side.
The Big Mystery of the show (who killed Colter’s father) is still not touched on, but that’s not a bad thing, and “Shades of Gray” might yet link to this bigger case. Because Colter is (as always) successful in saving the day, he gets more than just his reward money. He also gets an unspecified “favor” from Ivy (Amy Pietz), and I would be shocked if he doesn’t end up calling that somewhere down the line.
Tracker Episode 11 Is All About Highlighting Colter’s Ethics & Moral Code
“Shades Of Gray” Is Aptly Titled & Focuses On The Good Bad Guys
Beyond the excitement of finding out who the bad guy is, and seeing Colter race against the clock (and warring crime families) to save the day, the best part of the episode is how it emphasizes who Colter really is. On the surface, Colter is appalled by the realization that Ivy is the head of a criminal syndicate, and makes it clear that he has no interest in helping people who are involved in organized crime. He even had a conversation with Reenie (Fiona Rene) about her own ability to work for human people, just to make sure we get it.
However, the more interesting way the episode explores this is in all the ways the writers find to avoid Colter actually killing people. The villain of the episode is taken down by his own stupidity (and a live subway track). The hired killers are shot by a member of a rival crime family who ends up helping out. And even the assassin who is about to shoot a tied-up Colter isn’t actually murdered by our hero, but by another member of the same crime family, who hated him.
Throughout the episode, Colter is pulling his gun on everyone in sight (including on a wet doormat, which was a bit of an overreaction), but he only shoots to wound, and only when necessary. This seems to be a theme with the recent episodes, as in “Nightingale” Colter was compared with the prime suspect (turned hero), especially in his view of the world as basically good.
Tracker seems keen to hammer home the point that Colter, for all his law-breaking, is a hero. It has me wondering, though, why it’s so important for the show to make this point. Is this just because it would be easy for him to slip into anti-hero territory, or will there be a major ethical conundrum in the near future this is leading up to?
The Cast Continues To Shrink (& It Remains Concerning)
Velma Doesn’t Make An Appearance In “Shades Of Gray”
Last week, Bobby (Eric Graise) was noticeably absent, replaced by his cousin Randy (Chris Lee). Tracker is setting this up as a temporary switch, with Bobby away on “a family thing”, but I’ll admit to some suspicions that Bobby may not return at this point. This would be a devastating blow to the show, as Bobby is a fan-favorite character and Teddi (Robin Weigert) already left after season 1. However, Velma (Abby McEnany) was also missing in this episode.
Usually, even if Velma isn’t the one finding a new case, Colter will call her at some point. And yet, even with Reenie and her boyfriend key players this week, Velma is nowhere to be found. This may simply be a one-off, with the episode trying to focus more on Reenie and her new boyfriend, but it’s concerning.
Having one character exit in a second season is not unusual. Having a second character leave midway through is a little eyebrow-raising. But should all three original members of Team Tracker depart the series, it’s not a great sign of things behind the scenes. Hopefully, next week sees Velma and Bobby back in the office, and order restored to Colter’s universe.
What’s Next For Colter Before The Season Ends?
Tracker May Get Supernatural Next, But Won’t Solve The Big Mystery (Hopefully)
Now that Tracker has spent one episode wrapping up Colter’s White Whale case, and two emphasizing his moral code, the next episode looks like it’s going to get spooky again. Some of Tracker’s best episodes have been borderline paranormal, so I’m looking forward to Episode 12, “Monster”, where a mother goes missing after tucking her son in. From the title and premise, it sounds like this is going to play on the concept of the monster under the bed, and that’s the kind of quasi-supernatural situation that Tracker excels at.
In addition, it’s likely to bring up some childhood memories for Colter, which will be another nice tie-in to the mystery of his father’s death. Tracker seems to now be laying out a clear path that continually alludes to this central mystery without attempting to solve it too quickly, while making sure Colter remains a sympathetic helper (and not a cold-blooded killer). It’s an excellent balance, and if Tracker continues to walk this line between episodic cases and the big questions, the rest of the season is going to be a treat.
