If you pair up two ridiculously magnetic actors in an action-adventure collection, what you get in return is one hell of an entertaining hour of tv.
Tracker Season 1 Episode 12 could also be the perfect installment because the pilot.
And I am going to allow you to take a wild guess as to why that could be.
Whoever determined to solid Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw deserves their favourite beverage of alternative and large ol’ hug as a result of it was an ideal piece of casting.
Tracker has a knack for bringing in compelling visitor actors each week, however there was one thing further particular about Jensen becoming a member of the fray, and it in all probability needed to do with the very fact his look was two-fold.
Not solely was Russell a hyperlink to Colter’s previous and a beacon of knowledge relating to the Shaw Household drama, however he was additionally a big participant within the case of the week.
Russell got here seeking to make amends along with his child brother, and issues obtained off to a rocky begin as a result of Colter was Colter, and he wasn’t prepared to only purchase no matter Russell was promoting.
And to be truthful, though they’re siblings, Colter and Russell have been estranged for many of their lives. It will be onerous for anybody to take the phrase of somebody they hadn’t spoken to in so lengthy when it went towards one thing they’d believed to be true since they have been a child.
Whereas no love was misplaced between Dory and her mom when she and Colter met for dinner throughout Tracker Season 1 Episode 11, Russell felt a lot totally different. He was extra understanding than I might be if half my household thought I used to be a assassin.
Casting Jensen Ackles in a task means two issues instantly: you’re going to get charmed, and you want his character to stay round in any capability so you possibly can preserve being charmed.
Russell was VERY clearly preserving his secrets and techniques, and Ackles performed him in a cagey but in addition extremely endearing means. He was a man seeking to reconnect whereas additionally letting that innate sibling rivalry slip in often.
Colter needed to slowly coax these secrets and techniques out of him all through the hour, however Russell appeared real when he talked about their household.
Colter: Why would Mother let me imagine that you just did it?
Russell: Yeah, I do not know. I prefer to suppose she did the perfect she may. However Mother had her secrets and techniques, belief me.
One thing was very clearly up with Ashton and Mary, and all the children knew it, however of the three, Colter’s much less prepared to only chalk all the pieces as much as them being “loopy.”
He isn’t naïve sufficient to imagine they did not have their secrets and techniques and whatnot, however he views issues in a different way than them because of the closeness along with his mom that not one of the others share.
The concept another person was within the woods and will have been the one to push Ashton is a idea I’ve seen followers float round, and Mary’s involvement has additionally been bandied about.
This Shaw Household enterprise often is the slowest burning affair on tv proper now as we’re twelve hours into Tracker and have little or no info to go on. I am not mad about it, however my curiosity is so excessive, and I am impatient!
But when persevering with to pull this out means we could get Dory and Russell to return in Season 2, I am going to enable it.
Whereas Russell did come to see Colter and provides his aspect of the story, he additionally had a favor to ask. And when Colter determined to assist Russell discover Doug, you possibly can’t inform me part of him wasn’t seeking to showcase for his brother just a little bit.
We have established all through Tracker Season 1 that Colter is not solely within the reward enterprise for the cash. He does wish to assist folks, and when he makes a promise, he intends to maintain it.
However displaying Russell what he does and the way good he’s at it performed into his choice to tackle the case.
Tracker goes to Tracker, which means the case obtained a bit sophisticated within the center, however the case was a sideshow to the buddy comedy that was Russell and Colter.
Very similar to Colter, Russell additionally introduced as a little bit of a drifter, but it surely was obvious that Doug was necessary to him. And as extra of their historical past unraveled, you might see why.
Getting concerned with a civilian contract unit that made you signal an NDA meant that Russell and Doug needed to preserve many issues near the vest. And for Doug, within the weeks main as much as his disappearance, he was in all probability coping with a lot worry alone.
There was an awesome parallel between Colter and Russell, two brothers on shaky floor looking for their footing, and the Solano brothers, who have been shut sufficient for Carlos to bend over backward to avenge his brother’s dying.
Getting the Solano identify meant that Colter and Russell needed to do a whole lot of legwork throughout Virginia, and maybe nothing crazier than breaking right into a morgue to look at a lifeless physique.
There have been some nice scenes between the brothers, particularly once they’d each be awed by each other’s expertise. And it was humorous to see Russell drop into Colter’s world and uncover he had a lawyer and a Bobby on standby to assist.
It has been a short while since Colter landed behind bars, however to know Colter is to know he would not be there for lengthy.
Russell: You saying she’s truthful sport?
Colter: I am saying she’s off-limits.
A Reenie sighting is ALWAYS a superb factor, and Russell getting just a little flirty together with her was exactly what I believed would occur. Russell was a reasonably flirty man basically, however who would not be just a little smitten with Reenie?
Colter shortly shut it down, however I would not count on something much less from him. The very last thing he wants is any drama infiltrating his little crew, and Russell could also be a pleasant man beneath all of it, however he is nonetheless bother.
Perhaps the nice sort of bother? However nonetheless bother.
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Because the seek for Doug raged on, it turned increasingly apparent that the Horizon Group had one thing to do with paranoia and his worry, and Russell’s dedication to discovering Doug was admirable.
When Russell stated he owed Doug, he wasn’t kidding. Doug put himself in hurt’s strategy to defend him, and if the Shaw brothers have something in widespread, it is their dedication and follow-through.
Russell wasn’t dropping off the Discover Doug prepare till he discovered Doug.
There was some motion on this one! And it got here with the Shaw brothers coming throughout some bulletproof vests and smoke bombs to penetrate a closely guarded house to retrieve Doug.
It will have been cool to see just a little extra of what was certainly an insane gunfight, however I’ve to recollect typically it is a community tv collection, not Tacker: The Film.
They have been fortunate to stroll away, with Russell solely getting a bullet wound to the arm, contemplating how outnumbered they have been. However I assume you by no means guess towards the Shaw brothers!
When the duo left that home with Doug, I questioned if anybody would point out that they by no means obtained Carlos. He was nonetheless within the wind; in idea, you’d suppose he’d nonetheless be on a mission to get Doug.
So, it wasn’t a shock when Russell instructed Colter he was staying behind. Somebody had to make sure Carlos would not proceed going after Doug, and Russell took it upon himself to make that occur.
I felt a little bit of unhappiness on the episode’s finish, figuring out we might seen the final of Russell for now as a result of Ackles and Justin Hartley made a magical pair.
Their chemistry was wonderful; only a few phrases have been exchanged between the pair at occasions, and a lot was spoken with their expressions and physique language.
Colter’s entire factor is being a lone wolf, and I GET IT, however I might not be opposed if Russell wished to maintain popping up in numerous cities.
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And whereas that is not more likely to occur, he should return when the household drama ramps up once more. We nonetheless want our Russell, Colter, and Dory reunion earlier than this collection ends sometime!
Tracker Notes
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Tracker has moments of humor, however there have been legitimately a number of scenes that have been hilarious and made so due to Ackles’s comedic timing. Flirting with entrance desk morgue woman Yolanda, even AFTER she obtained him arrested? So foolish however so rattling humorous.
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Russell and Colter being so in sync once they took down these scammers on the tattoo store was perfection. If I hadn’t identified there have been deep-seated points between the pair, I might have by no means guessed it.
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I like the dynamic between Colter and Reenie, and whereas I imagine Colter would not need drama involving his work, and that is why he shot down Russell’s advances towards her, I ponder if he was just a little jealous.
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Russell leaving Colter his knife? Stab me proper within the feels with that knife, why do not you?
That was a beautiful hour of tv’s hottest new present.
There’s just one extra episode this season, so please drop a remark under and let me know what you considered the hour and what you wish to see within the finale!
Whitney Evans is a senior employees author for TV Fanatic. She is a lover of all issues TV. Follow her on X.