Tracker has been a standout addition to the community’s action-drama and procedural lineup. Nonetheless, the present has undergone vital adjustments, together with the lack of a number of forged members over its three seasons, with two of them not returning for Season 3. These weren’t aspect characters both. They had been thought of among the many small listing of major characters on the present.
Certain, the collection facilities round Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw as a lone wolf survivalist who takes on personal lacking individuals instances for reward cash. However the group he works with, typically remotely, is simply as necessary to the work as he’s. And the best way the departures of the most recent two characters had been dealt with in Season 3, Episode 1, “The Course of,” does not sit properly.
Bobby’s Disappearance Was a Topic of Dialog Via ‘Tracker’ Season 2
As Season 2 progressed, followers started to ask, “The place’s Bobby?” The character, performed by Eric Graise, was a gifted younger hacker Colter relied closely on for analysis work. He regarded into telephone information, safety footage, monetary particulars, and backgrounds — absolutely anything Colter wanted to get however did not have the time or persistence to attend for the normal police channels to come back via. His rapport with Colter was implausible, with Bobby typically exhibiting that he needed to be extra concerned and even develop nearer to Colter as mates. An episode even facilities on one in all Bobby’s mates as a lacking particular person, giving the actor an opportunity to shine within the discipline past the pc display.
However impulsively, a younger man named Randy (Chris Lee) popped up in his workplace. He was already identified to Colter, and we discovered that he was Bobby’s older cousin, the person who taught him every thing he knew. He was standing in for Bobby whereas he handled some private household points. The mentions of Bobby’s whereabouts had been transient (“Yah, Bobby’s doing positive” or “he is coping with quite a bit proper now”), however then they obtained right down to enterprise with no matter Colter wanted. Episode after episode, when Colter picked up the telephone, Randy was on the opposite finish. He has his personal highlighted episode, much like Bobby’s, when an ex-girlfriend goes lacking, and he groups up with Colter within the discipline to search out her.
Followers had been delighted to see Bobby pop again up right here and there, with no actual rationalization of why he was again for fleeting moments solely to vanish once more. These Season 2 scenes targeted on him being indignant at how Randy modified issues round in his workplace, the pair participating in pleasant combating with each other. Nevertheless it was clear the writing was on the wall: Randy was going to take over, and Bobby could be written out of the present. And that is exactly what occurred. But the best way it occurred does not sit proper.
When Season 3 picks up, Randy is organising a Wi-Fi system in Reenie’s (Fiona Rene) workplace. The point out of Bobby is transient and passing. As he and Reenie are speaking, Randy will get a textual content. He says it is from Bobby, who writes, “Hey.” “How is he?” Reenie asks. He is killing it, apparently. He formally stop his job on the restore store and now works as an encryption specialist at a brand new start-up. “Between the inventory choices and the wage,” says Randy, “he is bringing house the bacon.” Reenie’s solely response? “Wow, good for him.” The dialog then shifts to Reenie’s behavior of utilizing compromised passwords.
It sounds all properly and good. Individuals transfer on from jobs on a regular basis, typically staying in contact with previous mates and colleagues, typically not. Realizing Bobby’s character from Season 1 and the few episodes he appeared in throughout Season 2, it is clear he cherished what he did, particularly the fun of working with Colter. That appeared to satisfy him greater than any desk job would possibly. He was concerned in one thing nice, serving to reunite folks with their lacking family and friends.
So, we’re presupposed to imagine he simply determined to up and depart that morally fulfilling work for a no-name start-up? It does not make sense. He had an altruistic angle, suggesting that whereas he adored exhibiting off what he might accomplish each time Colter known as him, he additionally cared about what he was doing. Contemplating the good-looking sums Colter obtained paid, Bobby’s cuts had been most likely vital relative to the small quantity of labor he did. So extra money, even when the explanation needed to do with household payments he needed to pay, would not be a draw both.
Whereas Lee does a superb job enjoying Randy, it is powerful to understand a personality like him when followers spend a complete season and a half (or so) attending to know not solely Bobby however his dynamic with Colter. To upend that for seemingly no good motive and herald a completely new actor for a really related character appears savage. The present’s creator advised Us Weekly again in Might that he did not need the collection to be a “phone-a-friend” each week, which could possibly be why Bobby was written out. Colter relied on him quite a bit, and perhaps an excessive amount of. However then, that raises questions as to what Colter’s dynamic with and reliance on Randy will probably be. If it seems to be a lot the identical, then this actually disrespects Graise and the implausible job he did.
Velma’s Growing Story Has Been Abruptly Lower Brief in ‘Tracker’
As if shedding Bobby after Season 2 and Teddi (Robin Weigert) after Season 1 wasn’t sufficient, it was additionally confirmed that Velma (Abby McEnany) wouldn’t be returning for Season 3. How is her exit dealt with? Randy asks Reenie the place the extension cords are, and she or he says she has no concept as a result of that is one thing Velma would know. He asks when Velma is getting again, and Reenie says she has no concept. She went to see Teddi, she says, as she’s attempting to avoid wasting her marriage. Randy is not all in favour of workplace gossip, in order that’s that, and he alters the topic. Velma turns into somebody who appears to be largely forgotten.
Followers will recall that Teddi was Velma’s companion in life and enterprise. The 2 had been Colter’s handlers, searching for out lacking individuals instances and delivering the roles to him. In addition they did mild pc analysis work that did not require Bobby’s stage of experience. Teddi left the collection after Season 1, with no rationalization given. It’s implied that she and Velma separated, which makes little sense given how picture-perfect their marriage seems in scenes of them collectively at house with their pets.
The point out of Velma is sort of like a tease, leaving the door open for her to return. The presumption is that they will wait a number of episodes earlier than mentioning Velma once more, maybe within the context of her and Teddi making up and deciding to maneuver on collectively and doing one thing else. However what’s most odd about that is that it is fully opposite to the narrative explored in Season 2. Velma moved into Reenie’s new workplace area, and the 2 grew nearer as they shared details about Colter’s instances and their private lives. It appeared like there was a chance to develop Velma extra as a personality past simply being with Teddi and on the opposite finish of the telephone. However now, that is lower quick. Life can throw you curveballs, in fact. However this additionally raises questions on how Colter will supply his instances to any extent further. Is he shifting to a referrals enterprise mannequin now?
Velma and Bobby Ought to Have Had the Likelihood To Say Goodbye in ‘Tracker’
Characters getting written off reveals is nothing new. It occurs on a regular basis for various causes. Not each departure requires appreciable fanfare, like a dramatic demise scene or an extended goodbye. However these characters did not get to play any position in their very own exits. It is powerful as a result of Colter can most likely rely on one hand the variety of occasions he noticed each characters in particular person yearly. Even scenes with telephone calls explaining their selections would make sense.
Having a dialog with Colter and passing the proverbial baton to Randy would have not less than offered closure. For Velma, in the meantime, a scene involving a heart-to-heart with Reenie about combating for the love of her life and discussing issues with Teddi would have not less than acknowledged the significance of the character. That each disappear with none likelihood to wrap up their tales is puzzling and unlucky.
It’s very comprehensible to need to shift the narrative extra to Colter, particularly with the present presumably focusing closely on his household this season. However to start with, Colter, Reenie, Bobby, Teddi, and Velma did seem to be a household. The truth is, they had been the closest factor to household Colter had outdoors his mom. So, to shrug them off as having simply moved on is disrespectful to the story itself. However much more so to the characters (and actors) who performed such an enormous position in making the present change into such an enormous hit. They deserved exits higher than the non-existent ones they obtained. Stream Tracker on Paramount+.
- Launch Date
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February 11, 2024
- Community
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CBS
- Showrunner
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Elwood Reid
- Writers
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Ben H. Winters, Hilary Weisman Graham
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Justin Hartley
Colter Shaw
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