Justin Hartley’s CBS series Tracker faced the challenge of writing out a major cast member after an unexpected departure, but how did the show handle this transition onscreen?
In the season 2 premiere, which aired on Sunday, October 13, the character Velma (played by Abby McEnany) hinted at some emotional distance between herself and her wife Teddi (portrayed by Robin Weigert). This rift is why Velma is spending more time assisting Reenie (Fiona Rene).
“[Teddi] is going to be there for a while. She is helping her mom get sorted. I was getting in the way, you might say, and it really wasn’t good,” Velma explained. “So I came back. Don’t you worry because I am keeping busy.”
In August, it was confirmed that Weigert would not be returning as a series regular, despite having been a consistent presence throughout season 1.
Weigert’s role primarily involved sharing scenes with McEnany, as their characters collaborated with Hartley’s character, Colter, to solve missing persons cases across the country for reward money.
Hartley had previously teased how the narrative would shift in season 2, sharing insights in September. “At the end of last season, Reenie decides that she’s leaving her firm and going it on her own.
She’s got that big life change, and in a way, she teams up with Velma. You’ll see a lot of the two of them working together, which creates a really interesting dynamic.”
The change in the storyline means Velma is taking on a new role, especially since Teddi is no longer around. Hartley further elaborated on the evolving relationship between Velma and Reenie: “[Reenie and Velma] both have common goals but approach things in completely different ways,” he said.
“Bobby [Eric Graise], our computer whiz, is still hacking away. And we’ve got some really cool surprises coming for Reenie.”
Hartley also revealed that despite their busy schedules, both Jensen Ackles and Melissa Roxburgh would be returning as Colter’s siblings.
Ackles, 46, is set to star in the upcoming Prime Video thriller series Countdown, while Roxburgh, 31, will lead midseason drama The Hunting Party.
Their return was made possible by careful scheduling. “Melissa’s show wraps production well before we do, so we can bring her back for the later episodes,” Hartley noted. “And Jennifer Morrison is coming back to direct episode 6, so I’m sure her character will make a return as well.”
Tracker, based on Jeffrey Deaver’s novel The Never Game, debuted in February following Super Bowl LVIII. It quickly captured an audience, as fans tuned in weekly to follow their favorite survivalist.
By the end of season 1, Tracker had become the most-watched series of the 2023-24 TV season. With its renewal for season 2, new cases await Colter, continuing his journey to solve more mysteries.
Reflecting on the direction of the show, Hartley discussed the future in an interview in May, emphasizing the importance of outdoing season 1: “We have a whole other season to shoot, and it has to be better than the first.
We wanted to wrap up those storylines but also leave threads that lead to bigger, deeper questions about Colter’s past.”
He added, “I think we did a good job of answering the questions we raised throughout the season, but those answers now open up a bigger mystery, something we can unpack in season 2.”
Tracker airs Sundays at 8 PM ET on CBS, with new episodes streaming the following day on Paramount+.
