Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Tracker season 2, episode 20
Tracker has had something of an inconsistent second season – but the season 2 finale, "Echo Ridge", knocks it out of the park. It left me incredibly excited for season 3. Not only did the finale end on an epic cliffhanger, but it is setting up season 3 to be the best yet, which is impressive, given that at points in season 2, I was worried the show had lost its way. However, episode 20 ticks every box when it comes to what makes Tracker work.
The episode takes place in (no surprise, given the title) Echo Ridge, which is where Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) was living as a child after his father took the family off-grid. He's been called in for a case, as usual, but because this is in his childhood home, we get to see him reconnect with people he knew. It's surprisingly lovely. At the same time, things get incredibly dark as he uncovers a child trafficking operation, so this is not an episode of sweetness and light — it's an excellent balance.
The case itself isn't the focus, and neither is Colter reuniting with friends in the woods. It's the dynamic between him and his mother, who really, really doesn't want him to keep following up on his father's death. Initially, this is nothing new, and the assumption is that she doesn't want him to become obsessed. However, the episode ends on the most intense cliffhanger of the series — and it's one that changes everything for Colter Shaw.
Echo Ridge Is Something Entirely New For Tracker (& It Works)
If This Is What's Coming In Season 3, I'm On Board
Tracker deviates from the standard formula in multiple ways in this episode, making it a standout for the show. Some of the changes are smaller, like the decision to have Colter find his target… but not until after they have been murdered. It was actually something of a shock to realize that Colter was going to be too late to save the day, as this has previously been saved for colder cases.
It works because the case doesn't end there. Colter continues to hunt down Carl Murphy, who was involved in child trafficking, and eventually gets the FBI on board to save an entire group of kidnapped children. This lets Tracker have a happy ending, and Colter continues to be a hero, but it still creates space for a darker episode where he doesn't save the day entirely.
It's not the only way that "Echo Ridge" gets dark, either. Colter isn't pulling punches in this one, as he shoots to kill, not to wound, with one exception. When chasing down Carl Murphy, he very calmly and intentionally shoots him in the legs to stop him running, and then threatens to cut off his fingers to make him talk. I've previously complained about Colter being a little too squeaky clean this season, so I was surprised, but thrilled to see him give in to his dark side a little bit.
Finally, this is one of very few episodes where there are two plotlines and they directly connect. Previous episodes this season have seen lackluster cases where a secondary plot (usually Reenie and Leo) is given equal screentime, but "Echo Ridge" works because the two plotlines are actually interconnected. We've seen this in the past with "Ontological Shock", but never to this extent. Bringing them together so completely works perfectly, meaning that the case of the week still has room to breathe, and the story isn't jumping between the two plotlines awkwardly.
Otto's Big Reveal Changes Everything For The Show
Obviously, the biggest moment of the episode is the very end, when Colter tracks down Otto Waldron (Alex Fernandez), the trafficker's uncle, and their conversation ends with a gun pointed at Otto, a single tear, and the reveal that it's Colter's mother who is behind his father's death. If you had told me before watching that the episode would reveal who actually pushed Asher off the cliff and who they were working for, I would have been furious, because it sounds like that is a sloppy conclusion to a two-season long mystery. And I would have been wrong.
The reveal adds complexity to a plot that would otherwise have been at risk of devolving into a straightforward government cover-up. Now that Mary Dove Shaw (Wendy Crewson) is involved, it raises a whole host of new questions. Is Mary working with the government? This could be a possibility, but doesn't explain why she would get a friend to kill Asher. Was Mary attempting to protect the family? Also possible, but then why would she allow Colter to believe Russell (Jensen Ackles) was a killer? Every possible answer leads to more questions, which is the whole point, and it's done incredibly well.
What's Next For Tracker — Season 3 Set-Up
Where Will Next Season Find Velma, Reenie, and The Rest of Team Tracker?
Tracker season 3 has been confirmed, although no release date has been announced. It may return in the fall, but that is purely based on the release schedule for season 2. When it does return, though, there are a whole lot of plot lines to be picked up.
Obviously, the biggest question is going to be whether Colter shoots Otto, and if he confronts his mother immediately. The third season could choose to pick up exactly where season 2 leaves off, or it could jump ahead and reveal these answers over time, but either way, after this finale, it has to focus on what happened to Asher.
At this point, I would welcome a season that focuses primarily on this question, even though it's a departure from the more procedural format, but the show shouldn't continue to drip-feed this investigation over multiple seasons to come. This just wouldn't make sense, as Colter now has multiple lines of investigation to pursue and has been shown to be dedicated to that until he hits dead ends.
Beyond Colter's story, there are some big questions around the fate of the rest of Team Tracker. Bobby and Randy are the only two who feel settled, and will presumably both return for more bickering in season 3. However, Reenie (Fiona Rene) appears in the finale to question if she will continue to work for Sharf (Pej Vahdat) after everything that happened last week, and it seems that we have not seen the last of him.
The biggest question mark, though, hangs over Velma's (Abby McEnany) head. This season has neglected Colter's handler almost completely. She barely appeared in most episodes, and was missing from others entirely. In season 3, Velma needs a solid plot line of her own, otherwise she just stops making sense.
Wherever Season 3 goes, the best news is that Tracker season 2 has ended with a serious bang and the best episode of the season — exactly what a finale should be.
