‘Tracker’ Season 3: The Process, The Threat, and a Fresh Direction for Colter Shaw
Having started its third season with a riveting two-parter opener, ‘Tracker’ Season 3 is not slowing down in upping the ante. The CBS drama with Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw is crisper, darker and much more psychological this season and it’s not just about capturing the bad guys anymore. Season 3 has one thing completely new, an adversary that is not flesh and blood but code and data – an algorithm called The Process.
In “The Process,” however, Colter is confronted with a danger that is more than the usual. What starts as a case of a chain of blackmail and manipulation ends up being just the tip of the iceberg, an online scheme to reveal secrets and control lives. This is Tracker entering the world of the contemporary thriller, and it works surprisingly well.
It’s not long before we realize The Process wasn’t some shadowy government operation but rather an escaped university experiment. Dr. Susana Tate (Lesley Fera) was its former director as a behavioral study until it spun out of control. When she attempted to end it, a couple of her pupils concluded the work ought not to finish – and that’s when things went terribly awry. By the time Colter and his brother Russell (Jensen Ackles) arrive, the operation has expanded into a full-scale digital extortion scheme that’s been around for almost ten years.
A Quick Victory — or Just the Beginning?
The brothers do succeed in destroying the machine powering the algorithm, but the win feels… a bit too easy. The show suggests there’s more under the surface, unfinished business that could come back to bite them. Viewers have noticed it too, the lines connecting Tate, her students, and the blackmail ring almost form a perfect shape. Something’s missing.
The Mystery of Gillian Meeks
That sought-after component may just be Gillian Meeks, one of Tate’s former students who is referenced but never seen. Tate tells Colter she may be in Europe, but with how Tracker adores a good twist, it wouldn’t be surprising if she’s the mastermind buried in the shadows.
The notion that Meeks can come back at a later time, perhaps for revenge or to reassemble The Process sounds like classic Tracker. If the writers play their cards right, she has the potential to become one of the most riveting villains the show has seen yet.
A Leaner, Smarter ‘Tracker’
What’s unique about Season 3 so far is how it straddles this bigger, serialized mystery with Tracker’s signature case-of-the-week structure. After a powerful but somewhat rattled Season 2, the series feels like it’s found its groove again.
With a smaller regular cast and a more compact story, Colter gets the spotlight again — a solitary “rewardist” pursuing truth and justice according to his own code. The addition of Jensen Ackles as Russell brings just the right amount of friction and warmth, and adds a dynamic element that fans are already loving.
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Back to the Core: What Makes ‘Tracker’ Tick
It’s also cautiously promising with the introduction of new character Mel Day (Cassady McClincy Zhang). When a show brings in new characters, it’s always a risk, but so far, Mel’s presence indicates a fresh energy rather than superfluous clutter.
The best part? It looks as if Tracker is quietly rebranding itself, getting in on some deeper conspiracies, moral gray areas, and high-tech threats — all while maintaining the emotional core of the series. “First Fire,” the episode after the two-part beginning, demonstrates the series can revert to standalone stories without losing the pace of its mystery arc.
Conclusion
Tracker Season 3 got off to a strong start. It’s sleeker and smarter, and taking its first strides in the kind of serialized storytelling that gives Colter Shaw’s roamings real staying power. If The Process is back or Gillian Meeks returns toward the end of this season, one thing is certain, Tracker is back in the game and it got our attention.
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