See Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw in TRACKER following Super Bowl LVIII.
Everybody wins when TRACKER premieres after the showdown of Super Bowl LVIII on CBS Sunday, February 11th. Justin Hartley stars as tracker Colter Shaw who makes his living collecting rewards in exchange for finding missing people whether they want to be found or not. Shaw coins a phrase new to many. He calls himself a “rewardist”. Colter travels in his truck wherever the rewards might take him with his Airstream trailer in tow.
CBS original series TRACKER is based upon the Jeffery Deaver novel The Never Game, the first in a series of books that follow the Colter Shaw character. Deaver is credited with writing multiple episodes of TRACKER and joins the Executive Producer team along with Justin Hartley, Ken Olin, Elwood Reid, and Ben Winters.
Broad shoulders
Justin Hartley has the broad shoulders (literally and figuratively) required to play leading man Colter Shaw. Most will remember Hartley as playing Kevin Pearson, one of the “Big Three” on This Is Us. Hartley succeeds in giving a more understated performance in Colter Shaw. While Shaw is indeed strong and resourceful, he does not rely on bravado to sway his counterparts. Shaw’s work speaks for itself.
Colter Shaw is a loner in many respects but still values human connection with those he trusts most. Shaw also has the personal skills required to interact with family members offering rewards, eyewitnesses and law enforcement as he searches for clues to find the missing person. We get a glimpse of how Coulter acquired his keen skills of survival, observation and, of course, tracking. It will suffice to say that Shaw’s family situation provided an environment ripe for learning such skills.
Comms team
As previously mentioned, Colter Shaw has a core team of reliable colleagues that assist him in tracking someone. Delightful couple Teddi and Velma Bruin (played by Robin Weigert and Abby McEnany, respectively) provide a command base for Shaw’s business. They identify reward opportunities, research leads and even secure legal services when Shaw’s tactics go a little outside the lines. Bobby Exley (Eric Graise) uses the latest technology to get answers for Shaw, especially when the information is needed quickly.
Will they, or won’t they?
Speaking of legal assistance, Fiona Rene plays attorney Reenie Green. Reenie has come to the legal aid of Shaw on more than one occasion, serving it up with a side of sass. (The Lincoln Lawyer audience will be happy to recognize Fiona Rene from her role as the “tough as nails” Glory Days on the legal drama.) But there’s no question of “will they or won’t they” because we quickly learn that they already have. Reenie loves to feign irritation with Colter by reminding him that he slipped out quickly after a private encounter. Shaw insists it was for work, but Reenie seems to enjoy pulling at that thread. Now the question becomes more about the nature of the relationship between Colter and Reenie moving forward.
Thoughts
- Colter Shaw’s logic plays a pivotal role in the storytelling of TRACKER. He runs the numbers using the percentage likelihood of a particular outcome to guide his choices in real time. It is refreshing to get insight into Shaw’s decision making and see how logic can facilitate composure as danger lurks.
- As much as I loved Justin Hartley as the larger-than-life Kevin on This Is Us, I am pleased and impressed to see him portraying a less assuming character. As a fan, I was not sure if I would be able to “see” Hartley as someone other than Kevin. But Hartley fits the bill as Colter Shaw. Having read The Never Game myself, I think book readers will be pleased with Hartley’s portrayal as well.
- The TRACKER premiere plays as a procedural. This could be an issue for some readers who are accustomed to the larger scale searches in the book. It looks like there will be ongoing threads of mystery, however, surrounding aspects of Shaw’s family.
- TRACKER assembles a likeable and diverse ensemble of characters. LGBTQ+ and differently abled characters play key roles in Colter Shaw’s searches.
When and Where
Watch TRACKER live on the CBS Television Network following Super Bowl LVIII on February 11th, then continuing on Sundays at 9PM ET/PT. The series is also available using the CBS app.
Viewers can also stream TRACKER live via a Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscription in addition to on demand availability. Paramount+ Essential subscribers can watch via on demand the day following the original air date.
The verdict
TRACKER offers viewers a “rewarding” experience – check it out!
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