Fans Demand: Give Jensen Ackles’ Russell a Lead Role in ‘Tracker’ Season 3!

by

In the TV show “Tracker” on CBS, the creators have been switching up the characters quite a bit. Despite Justin Hartley’s character Colter Shaw being the main focus throughout each episode and regular appearances by Fiona Rene’s Reenie and Abby McEnany’s Velma, some other characters seem to come and go. For instance, Eric Graise’s Bobby was absent for several episodes, while Robin Weigert had already left the series permanently as Teddi.

As a movie aficionado, let me tell you, the entrance of Jensen Ackles on this show was nothing short of electrifying, instantly winning over viewers. The excitement among the fanbase reached new heights when it was disclosed that his character would return and play an even more significant role in the future. Regrettably, that didn’t come to fruition during the second season. With mere episodes left in this season, leaving scant room for him to make an appearance, fans are keeping their fingers crossed that Ackles’ character, Russell, will be central to a captivating plotline in the confirmed third season.

Russell Shaw Was a Shining Light With an Air of Mystery in ‘Tracker’

In the second last episode of Season 1, titled “Off the Books,” Jensen Ackles made his debut on Tracker as Colter’s estranged elder brother, Russell. Their relationship had been strained for years due to an incident where Colter found Russell at the cliffside where he discovered his deceased father. Suspecting Russell was involved in the death, Colter had kept his distance. His mother, Mary (played by Wendy Crewson), also advised against reconciliation, fearing that it would only bring more harm.

In this scenario, Russell hadn’t given up on trying to reach out to his brother. Despite enlisting in the military and later working with a group of mercenaries, he persistently attempted to make contact, all to no avail. Eventually, he grew tired of waiting and sought out Colter, confronting him directly. This wasn’t just about making amends.

He did assure his brother that he had no part in their father’s demise, even disclosing that he saw another individual in the woods on that fateful day. However, it was also due to a sense of urgency, as his army companion had gone missing and he needed Colter’s assistance. Unable to resist the allure of a case, Colter agreed, which ultimately led to their reconnection.

Russell contrasts significantly with Colter in various aspects. He’s both arrogant and amusing, lacking the same gravity as Colter. He often flirts with Reenie and even attempts to charm others, causing Colter discomfort. In a sense, he embodies the role of an older brother, teasing his younger sibling while also demonstrating his affection.

1. Using his military background and the same survival instincts Colter picked up during his youth, he can go head-to-head with Colter without breaking a sweat.

2. At the conclusion of that episode, Russell unexpectedly left but not without giving Colter a symbolic gesture of gratitude – his pocket knife, indicating his love and unwavering support for his younger brother.

Russell Only Shows up Once in ‘Tracker’ Season 2

Contrary to speculations that Ackles would play a larger role in the series, he makes just one more appearance during Season 2. In the second episode titled “Ontological Shock,” Colter is on an alien-hunting mission for a missing man. When Colter disappears mysteriously, Reenie becomes frantic and contacts Russell for assistance.

As anticipated, Russell sprinted towards Colter. Upon finding each other, they managed to rescue the man. However, their actions led them to discover a secretive government facility, hinting at a possible cover-up concerning extraterrestrial life. This episode also connects to their father’s story as the kidnapper of the person Colter was searching for revealed to Russell that he knew who he was and claimed that his father had been probing too deeply into their affairs, leading to his demise due to a long-standing family pattern of thwarting government interests.

It appears that Russell doesn’t seem taken aback by this idea, suggesting he might be aware of things that Colter isn’t. There’s a sense that Russell, Mary, and even Dory (Melissa Roxburgh), Colter’s younger sister, have more information about Ashton (Lee Tergesen) and his activities than they are revealing.

In his own childhood circle, even Lizzy (Jennifer Morrison), a friend of Colter’s, possessed more knowledge about Ashton than him. It was Lizzy who disclosed to Colter that Ashton was involved in an affair with her mother. However, she assumed he was already aware of this secret. Since then, discussions surrounding Colter’s family have been scarce.

Fans Need More of Russell in ‘Tracker’

Beyond being an entertaining and lively figure, Russell’s interaction with Colter is remarkably captivating, and his playful exchanges with Reenie are a treat as well. Should the story of the Colter family’s mystery concerning Ashton resurface in Tracker, it would be crucial for Russell to reappear and contribute to those revelations. Given Mary’s hesitation to allow Colter to associate with Russell, it’s evident that he possesses knowledge she doesn’t want exposed.

Fans are eagerly anticipating the return of Russell in some capacity before Season 2 concludes, and they hope that as Season 3 progresses, it will delve into Colter’s personal storyline while still maintaining its traditional, case-based structure. This implies that the showrunners should consider reintroducing the characters who have been absent, with Russell being the most crucial among them.

It’s quite possible that the family mystery from Season 2 will be further explored in the remaining episodes, as Hartley mentioned back in February that it “gets real.” This could make for an exciting conclusion to the season. Meanwhile, Ackles is currently working on the fifth and final season of ‘The Boys’, scheduled for 2026 release, and there’s a possibility he might also appear in the second season of its spin-off series ‘Gen V’, although no launch date has been announced yet. Additionally, within this same franchise, Ackles will star in the prequel series ‘Vought Rising’, which was announced at San Diego Comic Con in 2024 but doesn’t have a release date as of now.

In addition to his roles, Jared Ackles will appear in the Prime Video series titled “Countdown,” set to premiere on June 25, 2025. This series was produced in Los Angeles from September to December 2024. Meanwhile, filming for the second season of “Tracker” took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, between July 2024 and April 2025. Despite this overlapping schedule, it seems that Ackles managed to find time to shoot scenes for the concluding episodes of “Tracker’s” second season.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for some surprises before we reach the end of Season 2. Russell’s creator, Hartley, hinted to TV Insider that there could be a sneak peek or something of the sort before we say goodbye to this season. Hartley isn’t fond of tying up loose ends neatly for the sake of ending a season; instead, he prefers to advance the story in a way that makes sense and keeps things intriguing.

If the show doesn’t feature the bearded, beloved, elder sibling in Season 2, it should reintroduce him in Season 3 to further establish him as an audience favorite. Don’t forget to tune in to catch all the action on Paramount+’s Stream Tracker.

Read More

2025-05-06 05:02