Though Tracker has become the most-watched CBS show, the series has also proven itself as one that is able to make adjustments that benefit the ensemble. Before each season of the show, the series has undergone major cast changes, but that has not reflected poorly on the show.
That’s a lot of cast changes in a short time for a procedural like Tracker. Downsizing the cast between seasons, however sad it might be to see the actors go, does provide a silver lining for some of the remaining characters.
Tracker’s Character Exits Allow For Bigger Roles For Russell & Reenie
Fewer Main Tracker Characters Means More Screentime
Fewer main characters in an ensemble series means that the shrinking cast members will get more screen time. While Tracker revolves around Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) as he tracks down missing people, the other members of the main cast play important roles as well.
A lot of those roles are performed by Colter simply speaking on the phone with those other cast members, but a handful have come out in the field with him as well. Downsizing the cast means some of those cast members will have larger roles heading into Tracker season 3.
Reenie Green (Fiona Rene), who suffered some intense trauma after being kidnapped at the end of Tracker season 2, will likely see plenty more screen time as a result of the change. Showrunner Elwood Reid has already confirmed that Reenie will go through some changes in Tracker, and giving her more screen time helps that happen.
Likewise, Colter’s big brother Russell Shaw (Jensen Ackles) is returning as a recurring character in Tracker season 3. Russell is already confirmed to appear in the first two-part episode of season 3, the season premiere. Previously, Russell had only appeared in one episode per season.
Both Reenie and Russell will benefit from more screen time, which will give their characters and relationships with Colter more depth.
Why Russell & Reenie Are Colter’s TRUE Allies In Tracker
Russell And Reenie Know Colter Best
Teddi, Velma, and Bobby are clearly friendly with Colter and have done great work with him, that should not be discounted. Colter’s true allies, however, are Reenie and Russell. Colter has a deeper connection with both of them than he does the rest of the members of his team.
Colter’s relationships with all of the other characters predate the events of the show, but Colter only meets Randy (Chris Lee) in the second season when Bobby takes a leave of absence from the team to handle some family matters. That makes main character Reenie the member of the ensemble Colter has known the longest.
Reenie Green is only called in the first episode of Tracker because there are no other lawyers whom Colter has used in the past available. They have a complicated past, but Reenie makes herself his go-to lawyer. She pulls information on clients for him, finds arrest records, and even helps him in the field.
Reenie is also the one who calls Russell for backup when Colter goes off the grid himself. She is the only one who has Russell’s number other than Colter, and she trusts Russell to help his brother despite Russell’s own shady past.
The two of them are the people Colter can ask for help, no questions asked, no matter what has happened between them. Colter even believed that Russell had killed their father for years, and yet, he still trusts Russell with his own life.
Knowing that Reenie and Russell will have more screentime in the coming season only makes the anticipation for Tracker season 3 even higher.
