Tracker season 2 ended by revealing Otto Waldron had accidentally killed Ashton (Lee Tergesen) during a physical confrontation, after Mary asked him to figure out why her husband was becoming so paranoid. Season 3 began with Colter revealing the truth to Russell, who finally reconciled with his brother after blaming him for their father’s death for so long.
Speaking with TVLine, Reid expanded upon Tracker season 3’s twist involving Ackles’ Russell and his reaction to learning the truth about what happened to his father. The showrunner explained how season 3’s focus will be on “airing out that poison” the Shaw family has been afflicted with since Ashton’s death. He explains how this reaches into Colter and Russell’s dynamic:
I think the short answer is no [Russell and Mary weren’t in contact the whole time] — not really. Maybe a “Hey, I’m in Canada”-type check-in, but nothing deeper. Russell has a different understanding of what went on in that family before Ashton’s death, and that comes out in their conversation. He was the older brother, the protector, and he saw things Colter didn’t. But his mom lied to him, too. This season is about airing out that poison — the lies that infected the whole family, especially their relationship with Mary. We’ll eventually get a scene with Mom that gives more context, but right now, both brothers are still trying to figure out how much of her story they can actually believe.
Yeah, absolutely. He thought he was protecting his brother and went along with the easy lie Mary offered, but now he’s seen the damage it’s done to Colter. Russell’s probably spent years wishing Colter would move on, but he knows that’s not going to happen. Colter’s stuck, and Russell’s instinct — once again — is to reach in and help.
They’re both alpha males who talk around their feelings, but there’s real guilt there for Russell. He’s the kind of guy who puts the past in the past and moves forward. Colter can’t do that, and that dynamic is what makes their scenes so interesting.
Colter and Russell are no stranger to working together, but the duo haven’t always seen eye-to-eye because of their history. Colter always felt a rift between him and his brother because of the blame ascribed to him for their father’s death. But, now that the truth has been revealed, it seems like that old wound is finally starting to heal.
Based on Reid’s statement, it seems the cast of Tracker will be wrestling with the past for quite some time. Russell is set to return in season 3, episode 2, which acts as part 2 of the premiere, and his knowledge that Mary lied to him about Ashton’s death will likely play a key role in his development moving forward.
But just because Colter and Russell are closer than they’ve ever been doesn’t mean it’ll be easy for them to reckon with the past. The showrunner explains how it’s not easy for them to talk about their feelings directly all the time, something evident in their relationship across the series. This dynamic could evolve now that Russell knows the truth.
