Tracker is always introducing new story lines and surprising changes — including a potentially long-term romance for Justin Hartley‘s Colter Shaw.
“One of the things I think we’re trying to do this year is open up life outside of the office,” executive producer Elwood Reid exclusively tells Us. “With Colter, we’re going to see the buds of a relationship forming.”
According to Reid, the show is dropping hints at something larger.
“We don’t know what it is yet. So it’s someone who Colter is pursuing — and what does that look like? Then can we get a much larger story out of that?” he continues. “That’s one thing that I think is unique to this season, which is we just never see Colter in a social and possibly romantic situation outside of the Billie universe.”
Though Colter has a connection with Billie (Sofia Pernas), nothing is off the table.
“This is much different. … Then the other thing, which is just an overall theme of the show, is how can we test and challenge Colter morally and physically,” Reid says.
He continues: “Many TV shows — long-running network shows — have characters who become infallible and become superheroes. There’s nothing wrong with that. But I think that one of the strengths of Justin as an actor is he has access to this emotional component or dynamic that a lot of leading men tend not to have. What does it look like when he fails or makes a mistake and that costs somebody their life or doesn’t get a result? Those are the things that I’m excited about getting into this year.”
The hit CBS series, which premiered in February 2024, introduced fans to survivalist Colter, who travels the country to help solve various missing persons cases. Colter’s job hasn’t allowed him to explore a serious relationship in the past — but that could change.
“We’re not just jumping right into it. We’re just showing the buds of it. This is the seed we’re planting, but what would happen if that relationship got leveraged against him somehow or that person or somebody close to that person got into a situation that needed Colter’s help?” Reid notes. “Would that blow the relationship up? Would that deepen the relationship?”
Reid also points out that Colter might not be “in any position to have any kind of long-term relationship.”
“We don’t want him to be a guy that just rolls into town and romances somebody and then leaves the next day,” he tells Us. “I do think he has a bit of a code and [we’re] playing with that a little bit. But with an actor like Justin, it’s just being able to see him flex that muscle a little bit because he is very charming. … Colter is a team leader, so he doesn’t want to show that weakness, but could we find somebody that he could open up to a little bit?”
Earlier in the series, Colter often found himself connecting with Billie, who is played by Hartley’s real-life wife, Pernas. Season 4 will shake up those expectations when it comes to Colter’s love life.
“The thing about Billie is they’re two people who do the same thing. So they know the rules. What would happen if you started to put strings on there?” Reid tells Us. “And putting the Billie thing aside for a second, what would happen if there was someone who challenged him emotionally in a way where maybe his job comes into cross purposes with that? That’s the thing we’re toying with. We’ve shot two scenes with this person, so [we’re] just seeing if it’ll work.”
Tracker returns to CBS Sunday, October 4, at 9 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Paramount+.
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