[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the Tracker Season 2 finale “Echo Ridge.”]
Colter’s (Justin Hartley) getting solutions about what occurred the night time his father was killed, however they will not be those he needs to listen to. The Tracker Season 2 finale, which aired on Sunday, Might 11, noticed him return dwelling to Echo Ridge for an investigation, just for that to steer him to a giant piece of his household thriller.
A lady calls Colter in to seek out her lacking brother, which results in the invention that he stumbled upon a child-trafficking ring. He was killed for his try and intervene. Then, at one of many homes the place the kidnapped children have been saved, Colter stumbled upon one in all his father’s carvings. That, finally, led him to the person whom his brother Russell (Jensen Ackles) noticed within the woods with their father the night time he died, Otto (Alex Fernandez). He confirmed that he pushed Colter’s father off the cliff — and revealed that his mom (Wendy Crewson) had requested for his assist!
“We’ve so some ways to go in Season 3. We haven’t even picked up the items of it but,” govt producer Elwood Reid tells TV Insider after that cliffhanger.
“I bear in mind being in that room with Justin when he pulled the gun on the man, and Justin was proper on the sting. He was so emotional. He knew what that second was. We solely did two takes of it. Often on one thing like that, I do 20 takes. He did two takes, that was it,” Reid reveals. “He’s like, ‘That’s it, we’re executed.’ He was prepared. He’s been ready the entire season for this.”
Beneath, Elwood Reid breaks down the finale and teases what’s forward in Season 3 for Colter and that household thriller, attainable returns from Jensen Ackles and Melissa Roxburgh as Russell and Dory, Reenie (Fiona Rene) recovering from what she went by means of in Episode 19, and far more.
Colter has discovered who threw his dad off the cliff, however now there’s the matter of what occurred to steer as much as that. There’s apparently his mom asking for assist. In order that seems like his mom wished his father lifeless. However to start with is every thing that this man has mentioned thus far the reality?
Elwood Reid: Sure.
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So at this level, what does Colter assume it means?
It’s fascinating as a result of one thing Justin and I talked about, once you take a look at the entire of the present, I believe one of many issues that’s fascinating concerning the present thematically is that Colter’s actually assured and positive when he’s on the lookout for individuals and looking for one thing, however relating to this huge, enormous factor in his previous, he doesn’t know. And I believe that’s a part of what tortures him. And also you see him together with his brother Russell, Russell’s like, “F**okay it, who cares? It doesn’t matter. It’s up to now.” I believe one of many issues that Justin and I wished to do was ring out with him the place we actually go away quite a lot of unanswered questions and I believe they’ll proceed into subsequent season.
I don’t assume, me personally, and Justin and I’ve spoken about this fairly a bit, is that there’s no passable reply about what occurred once they have been kids. And there’s quite a lot of actually darkish stuff I don’t even assume he talks about with this brother and sister. And the hope can be subsequent season is to return in and open up a little bit little bit of that field and look inside — I don’t imply the field field, I imply the field that he carries round in his chest — and begin to see a few of these issues that made him or unmake him and see how that impacts him by means of the season. So I believe that’s one of many issues the place we wish to begin subsequent season. However yeah, I don’t assume there’s a neat reply to any of these items. Similar to it’s all household stuff. It’s sloppy households are messy.
What are you able to say although about what his mom wanted assist with precisely? Is it what it seems like or is it a lot extra sophisticated?
It’s actually fascinating you say that as a result of I used to be actually cautious of giving — Alex Fernandez who performs Otto, is an actor I’ve used earlier than in my different reveals like The Bridge. I’ve used him a bunch. He’s a professional I name on a regular basis. I used to be very, very nervous about giving each his mom and Otto, these characters, something that they’d play. There’s some historical past there, which I believe we’re going to unravel within the opening of Season 3 about possibly maybe a private relationship together with her and this man. But additionally one approach to weirdly take a look at it’s Colter grew as much as be a man who comes and helps individuals. I believe again within the day, Otto might have been that man for his mom, however why goes to be an even bigger query that we’ll discover in Season 3. And I believe the why of it, hopefully Russell, who’s performed by Jensen Ackles, has most likely a little bit bit extra, few extra items of that puzzle than Coulter does. Colter’s the one man that stayed together with his mom, his sister went off to stay with aunt and uncle, and Russell went off and joined the army. He’s the one man that sort of lived in that lie, that bubble, that lie a little bit bit longer. So I believe that’s going to return with a giant pot of emotion when he does actually lastly confront his mom about all this s**t.
Talking of that confrontation, what are you able to say about what we’ll see between Colter and his mom and the way every are approaching that? As a result of they have been already going to be having a dialog earlier than that final scene.
It’s fascinating, and once more, I don’t wish to tip the actors the place to play. It all the time makes me nervous. I’m all the time stunned, notably with somebody like Justin, the much less I give him, the higher locations he takes it. He and I’ve a bizarre form of thoughts meld concerning the character. So little or no is on the web page and he all the time instinctively is aware of the place to go together with it. However I believe so far as his mom’s involved, she’s somebody, and I wish to be very cautious about this as a result of it’s very laborious to evaluate individuals this fashion. She was fairly okay with “mendacity” to Colter for almost all of his life and persevering with that lie deep into maturity. And the query turns into why? What’s actually there that she’d be prepared to lie? And I do consider there are some truths which might be simply higher not spoken. And I don’t know if Colter’s ever going to get — I imply, I shouldn’t say that. He’s going to ask the query, whether or not he will get a passable reply or not, I don’t know. However I believe that can play proper into Justin’s strengths. I believe relating to his mom, you see a little bit bit extra of an open wound, which I believe is nice.
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When Colter’s speaking to his mother about his siblings, he says he has no thought what Russell’s as much as, which is true, sure, however does he additionally not need her to know they’re on good phrases now? She didn’t need him speaking to his brother within the sequence premiere…
Yeah, that’s excellent. You’re one of many first individuals to choose that up as a result of once more, for a lie or a conspiracy to work, individuals all must have components of the reality and components of the lie. And his mom to start with was very, very adamant about, “You guys not speaking might be good for me as a result of I do know Russell would possibly know a little bit bit extra about what your father was as much as and a few of the individuals he was concerned with. I don’t need you to know that stuff, Colter.” So he’s been very form of consciously conserving that from her. And that’s why it’s humorous, the dialog within the finale when she’s fishing round about Dory, she’s probably not asking how Dory’s doing. She’s asking, “Did you guys speak about me? Or what did Dory let you know?” And Dory’s much more harmless as a result of Dory was moved away to her aunt and uncle. So I believe that’s the one individual she appears at that she will be able to most likely win again if we be taught a reasonably darkish secret about her for subsequent season. So it’s simply all enjoyable household dynamics to play with and hopefully, I can get these actors again to play with them.
Are there plans already to have Jensen and Melissa again and are you having them again on the identical time? Is it about scheduling?
It’s so f**king laborious to get their schedules. I imply, Jensen and I are associates. He was on a earlier present of mine [Big Sky]. I like the man. I textual content him on a regular basis. I’m like, I’ll take three hours of you. He’s very busy as you recognize in The Boys universe. So once we can get him, we will get him. And Melissa, I believe, is able to come up and play. And I actually love the scene she did on the finish of the season. In some ways she’s the largest clean canvas we’ve got so far as a personality goes. We really feel like she is aware of one thing, however we don’t know what it’s. Once more, I believe these things is admittedly juicy and fascinating. I by no means wish to give Justin full decision or solutions. I simply don’t assume life works that approach. And I believe he’s actually good at taking part in that uncertainty.
Reenie continues to be clearly feeling the consequences of what occurred to her and understandably, however what does this imply going ahead for her as a lawyer? Is she going to be extra selective with purchasers?
Yeah. One of many issues that we’ve talked about in the direction of the tip of the season, I believe, and it’s frequently evolving, the character of Renie, her character journey vis-a-vis Colter, too, is what her enterprise is perhaps going ahead, what she sees as her mission. I believe the extra she will get concerned with Colter within the jobs that they’re doing, I believe the extra that pulls on her in that route. And also you noticed the fallout from [Episode] 19, that was her legally representing a consumer and getting dragged into this actually darkish factor. I believe it’s going to make her query quite a lot of stuff. We’re going to seek out her to start with of the season, I believe, not a lot in a darkish place, however the place’s all this going? What do I wish to do with my life, sort of factor. And he or she’s going to make some modifications, hopefully.
The sequence started establishing what gave the impression to be a sluggish burn for Colter and Reenie with their historical past, however then you definately launched Billie and you probably did go there with Colter and Billie this season. What are you able to say about Colter’s love life and simply what sort of relationship he might even have with what he does?
Nicely, once more, what you simply mentioned, I believe that’s one thing that Justin intrinsically is aware of. We’ll have conversations. He’s like, “Oh, I simply can’t go into city and simply sleep with all people.” I believe there’s that form of throwback factor to the present. And I believe relating to Billie, the explanation Billie’s a little bit bit protected for him, and I imply that in a wierd approach, is as a result of there are two alphas. I believe they most likely know they might most likely by no means be in one another’s orbit, however these two alphas meet and there’s sparks there. And I believe that’s what’s fascinating about the way in which we play these characters on this season. One of many issues that was actually vital to me as a author was to — I believe Billie has this actually assured masks that she has on on a regular basis. Within the episode, you bought to see the lie she was dwelling. So these are two individuals, when she’s speaking about her household and her mom, Colter didn’t even know that about her household. So I believe these two individuals are fronting to be these different issues and with one another they will actually sort of be themselves for that little little bit of second. However as you mentioned, he’s that sort of like man that’s on the highway doesn’t lend itself to relationships. So I believe there’s one thing actually fascinating about that dynamic.
After which with Reenie, it’s fascinating as a result of I believe there’s an actual emotional connection there and it’s was one thing fascinating within the author’s room. And with the actors, there’s an actual, I don’t wish to say like household, that’s the flawed phrase for it, however they do actually look after one another. What which means so far as romantically or stuff goes, I don’t assume we’re there but so far as the writers go, as a result of I wish to construct Reenie’s character out independently of Colter and her world. And that was one of many issues I believe we’re going to proceed to do in Season 3, which might be, reveals all the time work higher once you prop up a personality. They’re not simply sitting there ready for the result in take them off of a shelf once they’re prepared.
Bobby (Eric Graise) was gone for just a few episodes. Are we going to see him full time subsequent season? And is Randy (Chris Lee) going to proceed to stay round like he did in the direction of the tip of this season?
I believe we’ll see each of them. Like I mentioned, I simply completed [my] first season so the writers haven’t been within the room. A part of I believe the largest piece of the puzzle goes to be determining the Reenie of all of it, what Reenie’s world appears like, and determining how the group matches round that. What’s been fascinating about this present is we’ve executed reveals which might be actually — such as you noticed, there was an episode with Randy this yr that labored rather well. Then there’s additionally episodes the place we don’t see any of the groups, it’s simply Colter all by himself. These work rather well too.
I don’t need the present to fall right into a system the place it’s like each week we see the identical group and so they say the identical issues. I believe what makes you wish to come again to these different characters which might be in Colter’s group, so to talk, is once we simply don’t lean on them for form of to maneuver the plot alongside. So it’s a protracted reply to saying, I haven’t fairly discovered the motor of the present but, transferring ahead in Season 3, but it surely’s one of many issues we’re going to speak about when the writers get again within the room.
I’ve to say how a lot I liked Reenie and Velma (Abby McEnany) collectively this season.
Yeah. That goes in the direction of, it’s humorous, we’re speaking about writers’ room stuff right here, but it surely goes in the direction of constructing Reenie’s character out so she will be able to utterly exist and stand on her personal. I personally don’t like, and I do know even Justin and I speak about this, when it’s like telephone a buddy on a regular basis as a result of then you definately or I might try this. It’s like they must be fully-fleshed out characters with storylines that we care about, or it’ll simply be Justin 24/7. And I believe the present is richer when Reenie’s character has an actual world and we see her boyfriend [Michael Rady] and we see this sophisticated Sharf [Pej Vahdat] character that’s come into her life and we see stuff with Velma and we see stuff with Bobby and Randy. I believe that makes the present higher. However it’s laborious as a result of should you take a look at the poster, it’s Justin on the poster. I like writing for Justin. He’s simple to jot down for and he holds the digicam rather well, however we’ve got to speculate a little bit bit in these different characters, I believe, for the present to be sturdy.
Is there anything you’ll be able to tease about Season 3?
Yeah, I believe there’s going to be, I imply, knock wooden, if I can get a few of these actors, we’re constructing out, similar to we noticed in episode 16 when he had that buddy that was a search and rescue man, we’re constructing out a little bit bit extra items of his previous. And we’re additionally constructing out sort of, I’m hoping, and that is only a midnight thought I’ve had, is among the instances from Season 2 had a little bit Easter egg that can then come right into a case in Season 3, however then additionally dovetail again to some stuff presumably together with his father. I do know that’s a very bizarre crazy loop reply, however we’re making an attempt to construct a a lot greater image right here. And once more, that’s the enjoyable stuff, the a lot bigger arc stuff.
Tracker, Season 3, Fall 2025, CBS