CBS’s Tracker continues to lift the bar with “Monster”, an episode that blends psychological horror, intense motion, and powerful character moments. What begins as a typical missing-person case shortly morphs into one thing a lot darker, as Colter Shaw finds himself monitoring a killer with a deeply unsettling backstory. The present continues to refine its method, utilizing sensible plot units, layered character improvement, and a creeping sense of dread to maintain viewers hooked.
A Traditional Thriller Setup, Elevated by Robust Writing
The episode’s opening scene is straight out of a horror film—a quiet, unsuspecting mom placing her baby to mattress, a sudden noise in the midst of the night time, after which… she’s gone. It’s an immediately gripping chilly open that units the tone for your entire episode.
What makes “Monster” stand out from different Tracker episodes is how successfully it leans into psychological thriller territory. The pacing is tight, with one discovery seamlessly resulting in the subsequent, every one revealing deeper layers of the case. The stakes really feel actual, and the thriller unfolds in a manner that retains us guessing with out feeling pressured.
One of many episode’s strongest plot units is the six levels of separation between the characters. Alice isn’t just a few random lacking girl—she has direct ties to Paul Hamilton, the killer. And Paul isn’t just a few nameless menace—he’s somebody Alice tried to assist. These connections make the stakes really feel private and add an emotional weight to the story.
Paul Hamilton: A Villain With Depth
Paul Hamilton is one in every of Tracker’s most chilling antagonists up to now, and what makes him so efficient is that he’s not only a senseless killer—he’s a damaged man with a warped sense of actuality. The episode doesn’t excuse his actions, but it surely does make him fascinating to look at.
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| “Monster” – TRACKER, Pictured: Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw. Picture: Sergei Bachlakov/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
His obsession with Alice isn’t romantic—it’s one thing deeper and much more unsettling. He sees her as the one one that ever really noticed him, the one one who may be capable to “repair” him. His backstory, significantly the reveal that he killed his stepfather after years of feeling ignored and undesirable, makes him a terrifyingly actual sort of monster—the type created by trauma, neglect, and rage. The present neatly makes use of the amusement park setting to mirror Paul’s mindset. It was a spot the place he felt deserted but additionally protected—a twisted paradox that makes it the right last battleground. And the home of mirrors? A basic however extremely efficient alternative, symbolizing each his fractured psyche and the distorted manner he sees the world.
Alice: Extra Than a Damsel in Misery
Whereas Alice spends many of the episode in captivity, she is much from a passive sufferer. She makes use of each little bit of her coaching to maintain Paul calm, speak him down, and manipulate the scenario in her favor. Her dialog with him about selecting to vary—not simply surviving, however actively working towards a greater self—parallels Colter’s personal struggles together with his previous. Alice’s previous as an addict additionally serves as an necessary reminder that Tracker doesn’t simply take care of surface-level mysteries. This episode subtly explores the stigma round dependancy and the way in which folks’s previous errors can be utilized in opposition to them, even once they’ve labored laborious to maneuver ahead.
Colter: The Lone Wolf With a Heavy Previous
Whereas Tracker typically focuses on Colter’s talent as a tracker, this episode takes a welcome dive into his private life. The case itself is compelling, but it surely’s the ultimate diner scene between Colter and Reenie that provides a much-needed layer of emotional depth. Colter has all the time been a guarded character, however his story about his mom and the way she used pancakes as a technique to “restart the day” is among the most weak moments we’ve seen from him. It explains a lot about why he retains transferring, why he by no means settles, and why he’s so reluctant to let folks in.
After which there’s Reenie. She’s the one particular person Colter constantly lets into his world, and their chemistry continues to simmer. Her light push for him to contemplate remedy isn’t nearly skilled assist—it’s about letting somebody in. The best way she tells him, “I like that you just speak to me,” is a small however highly effective second. She sees by way of him, identical to Alice as soon as noticed by way of Paul. The distinction? Colter nonetheless has a option to let folks in.
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| “Monster” – TRACKER, Pictured: Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw. Picture: Sergei Bachlakov/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
Closing Ideas
“Monster” is one in every of Tracker’s strongest episodes but, balancing a compelling case with deep character moments. Using psychological horror components elevates the strain, and the villain is among the most advanced and disturbing but. In the meantime, Colter’s rising bond with Reenie provides an emotional thread that makes the present really feel richer with every episode.
Between Alice’s resilience, Paul’s chilling psychology, and Colter’s uncommon vulnerability, this episode is a standout. Tracker is proving that it’s greater than only a case-of-the-week present—it’s a collection about damaged folks looking for their manner ahead.
