Tracker Season 1’s Ending & Season 2 Set-Up Unpacked By Justin Hartley: “Let’s Revisit This”
Tracker star Justin Hartley has unpacked the ending of season 1 of the show, revealing how new information surrounding Colter’s father could lead to a deeper mystery in season 2. The season finale of the action drama saw its main hero learn his father was having an affair with Lizzy’s mother, his old friend telling him she discovered it after her mother’s death. This opens a new path of motivation for why Colter’s dad was killed, and how the characters in Tracker will approach the mystery moving forward.
Speaking with TV Insider, Hartley discussed how the ending of Tracker season 1 sets the stage for season 2, revealing what to expect next from the show. The actor explained how the complexity of this new revelation will impact Colter, while also confirming how wild season 2 is going to be thanks to this new information. Check out what Hartley had to say below:
I think it’s very, very cool that this guy who has all the answers, Colter Shaw, who figures everything out and has his world figured out and it’s very simple, thought something and is now realizing that it’s completely different than what he thought. I love the idea of a twist. There is a huge twist because now it’s like, wait a minute, someone else has a motive now.
The person out there who killed my father is still out there, maybe. I don’t know if this man’s still alive or whatever. Russell [Jensen Ackles] said there was another man out there and now I find out about an affair and I’m like, wait a minute, that looks like very strong motive. I love the mystery of it.
There’s all the government work, too, and all of these things when you’re like, “Oh, my dad’s nuts. He’s going paranoid, the government’s after him, people are going to kill us.” And now the more Colter’s finding out about this stuff, he’s like, “Wait a minute, was this lunatic actually onto something? Let’s revisit this.” And why are people hiding all this stuff from him?
It’s just a lot of mystery and I love the way that our writers wrapped up Season 1 and answered a lot of questions and you feel really satisfied when you watch the episode—at least I did, and I hope everyone else does. But at the same time, it certainly does lead to a holy hell for Season 2. I love that, too, the lead-in for Season 2 and the big cliffhanger.
Where Will Colter’s Investigation Go In Tracker Season 2?
While he still doesn’t have all the answers surrounding his father’s death, Colter’s investigation has led to a variety of revelations surrounding who Ashton Shaw really was. Prior to the events of season 1, he hadn’t been aware that his dad was working with the government, a new twist that could have explained his paranoia. Learning of the affair likely absolves Russell of the crime, as it seems his brother didn’t have any strong motivation to have wanted their father dead.
Now that the show’s protagonist has more context surrounding his father’s life, Tracker season 2 can more thoroughly explore how all the puzzle pieces fit together. It’s possible the government really did have a hand in Ashton’s death, with him discovering something he wasn’t supposed to during his contract work. There’s also a strong possibility Lizzy’s father, or even Colter’s mother, had a role to play, having discovered the affair and deciding to kill him out of revenge. Something even more complex may be going on as well, with these current clues only being the start of the truth.
Colter has teased more backstory in the next season of Tracker, meaning there could be answers surrounding his father’s death very soon. However, given the slow pace of his investigation coupled with a much more complex narrative showing up, it could be quite some time before he learns the truth. Even so, season 2 will likely provide valuable information that helps him learn what really happened the night his father died.
All episodes of Tracker season 1 are streaming on Paramount+.
