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While Trackerremains a series that focuses on Justin Hartley's Colter Shaw at its core, Jensen Ackles' return as the enigmatic Russell Shaw is more important than ever when the CBS hit series returns. While Tracker season 3 brought Ackles' more reckless elder brother back into his orbit several times, the season's end left off on a somewhat sour note when it came to Russell's involvement in his younger brother's life. After finally reaching a place of closure around their late father's death, Russell received some unsettling information about Colter's childhood that he wanted to keep hidden from his brother.
With Russell choosing to keep whatever darkness he may have unearthed about Ashton's behavior toward Colter in their youth, he chose to leave town quickly after striking a deal to keep his brother out of the loop. With Reenie (Fiona Rene) set to cover Russell's tracks with Colter for the foreseeable future, it's not clear just how long Ackles' character will be out of the loop, which could be potentially devestating for Tracker season 4. Among other changes, including the show's move from filming in Vancouver to Los Angeles, Tracker could be markedly different in its upcoming fourth season.
While there may be major changes on the horizon, Tracker needs Russell more than ever as it lays the groundwork for the next part of Colter's story. With his long-winding family mystery finally having been resolved to some degree, what remains for Colter can't function correctly without Ackles' Russell.
Tracker Season 4 Is Expected To Explore More Of Colter's Past
Although there are still a few months before viewers can jump into Tracker season 4, the show's primary focus in its upcoming season will likely be a bit different than in the past. With Tracker's season 3 finale revealing that, after years of only seeing him roving around in his airstream, Colter has a home base, it appears the series will be adding a newfound sense of depth into his character throughout the coming season. While Colter's gone through a lot in finding out about his father's past, his own issues have hardly been touched in the show's run.
Moving into Tracker season 4, digging further into who Colter is as a person and what's happened to him outside his rocky childhood makes sense. Learning more about Colter's life away from his family, especially considering how much time he's spent trying to move past what happened to him in his youth, would be interesting. In doing that, however, Russell's presence would be important. While Russell and Colter's lives may not have crossed paths much in the years prior to Tracker's beginning, their shared experiences are a huge part of Colter's backstory that viewers aren't entirely aware of yet.
Without Russell's presence, there are layers to Colter that viewers won't be able to access, and knowing that the story could be heading toward a long stretch without Ackles, Tracker season 4 could be headed down the wrong path.
Tracker Functions At Its Best When Russell Is In The Picture
Although Russell hasn't been in much of Tracker throughout the show's run, his presence in Colter's life and in the story in general always makes the show stronger. The dynamic between Colter and Russell, which has shifted tremendously over the course of three seasons, has been one of the best on the series. While the pair don't always see eye to eye, they're able to communicate in a sibling shorthand that allows them to take on tough situations with ease. In working together, the Shaw brothers look out for each other while seeing the bigger picture at the same time.
While Russell leaves for reasons that Tracker has yet to fully reveal, knowing that he's looking out for Colter makes it clear that the door is open for his return. Even so, the show never makes it obvious when Russell will be back, or for how long. Though Colter has roots, albeit loose ones, Russell doesn't, which makes him tough to pin down. Regardless, Tracker is at its best when Russell is a part of Colter's story. Their dynamic allows for a more fluid style of storytelling, and Russell's charm plays off Colter's tough exterior better than anyone else's.
Tracker season 4 needs Russell back sooner rather than later to keep the series moving forward.
