‘Tracker’ Season 3 Doubles Down On Justin Hartley’s Biggest Concern

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The show Tracker revamped its cast for Season 3, aiming to create a fresh feel. While some new characters, like Mel (Cassady McClincy), have been interesting additions, replacing Bobby (Eric Graise) with Randy (Chris Lee) doesn’t seem to address the concerns Justin Hartley, who stars as Colter, previously had about the show’s overall direction.

We’re starting to think the show altered a key character’s storyline, possibly to keep the actor involved, but that plan ultimately didn’t work out.

Justin Hartley Didn’t Want ‘Tracker’ to Be a Phone-a-Friend


Image via CBS

While explaining some cast changes to US Weekly, Tracker‘s executive producer, Elwood Reid, said he wanted to avoid the show becoming predictable. “I think it gets old if it’s always about calling for help every week,” he explained. Reid shared that Justin Hartley specifically asked for his character to be more independent. Hartley questioned, “Do I need to call Bobby all the time? Can I handle things on my own?” He wanted his character to be capable and not constantly dependent on others.

Reid also pointed out that the show’s success comes from focusing on Justin, rather than heavily featuring characters like Reenie, Velma (who left after season two), and Bobby. He explained that Bobby might only have a single phone call in an episode, and the show truly works by keeping the audience closely connected to Justin’s perspective.

Recent episodes have highlighted Colter’s work in the field, showcasing his collaborations with various people – including his brother Russell (Jensen Ackles), law enforcement, and rescue teams. While Colter is most effective as a tracker when actively working cases in the wilderness, not all investigations allow for that. Lately, the show seems to be leaning more into a procedural format where Colter is called in for assistance, rather than driving the investigation himself, and it’s starting to feel like that’s become the primary focus.

In Episode 3, “Angel,” Randy is the Tracker


CBS

The clearest example of this teamwork happens in Episode 3, “Angel.” Colter is asked to investigate the disappearance of Margot, a crime scene cleaner (played by Cassandra Naud). When she doesn’t come to work, her boss immediately suspects something is wrong. Colter’s first step is to have Randy check Margot’s phone, but they find no clues. Fortunately, Randy does locate Margot’s car and shares the location with Colter. This initial breakthrough wouldn’t have been possible without Randy’s help.

Colter discovered a second phone in the car and immediately called Randy. He connected the phone to his own so Randy could access the messages and see who she was communicating with. The messages led to a disposable phone, and Randy was able to pinpoint its location – about 20 miles away – using cell tower data. Colter headed there to investigate. He found the car, but the driver sped off when he approached. Colter managed to photograph the license plate and sent it to Randy, who quickly identified the owner and their address.

Okay, so Colter starts teaming up with these two guys, and it turns out they’re friends of Margot’s – total true crime buffs just like her and me! They’re actually searching for her themselves, which is great. For the first time, I felt like Colter was really using his own skills and instincts to find clues, instead of just following the perfectly laid-out path Randy had been giving him. It was a good change of pace, and he actually made some real discoveries!

When Colter and his friends discover the same angel wing symbol from Margot’s kidnapping at other crime scenes, he asks Randy to help him investigate past cases. They quickly realize all the victims were patients at the same therapy practice. Colter then goes to the therapist’s home and, using his phone, allows Randy to confirm he is the person responsible.

This recent episode really highlights how much Colter depends on technology, which is frustrating for a show about a survival expert. He should be relying on his instincts, not gadgets. This isn’t a new problem, though. Throughout Season 3 of Tracker, Colter leans on technology more than he did in the first two seasons. Even when he’s in the wilderness, like in the episode “The Old Ways,” he still depends on Randy for help.

In that episode, Colter asked Randy to investigate the social media activity of the missing teenagers, hoping to find clues about their whereabouts. Randy discovered the teens were interested in local urban legends, which gave Colter a lead. With assistance from Luke Parsons, a member of the search and rescue team, they were able to narrow down the search area. Later, when Colter found a phone belonging to one of the teens, he called on Randy again to examine an app on the device and access hidden messages, ultimately helping to solve the case.

Colter is the Heart, but Phone-a-Friend Remains In ‘Tracker’


Image via CBS

Colter remains the central figure, consistently demonstrating bravery and a willingness to risk himself for others and his work – and that shouldn’t be overlooked. However, removing Velma and Bobby didn’t actually allow Colter to operate more independently. While Mel could potentially fill Velma’s role and add a new dimension to the story, Randy essentially replicates Bobby’s function, performing the same tasks in the same way. The main difference is that Randy works in an office with Reenie, suggesting he’ll have a more stable position than Bobby, who previously worked in isolation.

Randy appears on screen as much, if not more, than Bobby did, and Colter depends on him heavily. In Episode 2, Colter even included Randy in a meeting with Russell. He’s also tasked Randy with investigating the enigmatic scientist David Pearson and how that relates to his father’s death. Essentially, Randy isn’t just assisting Colter – Colter wouldn’t be able to do his job without him.

He’s strong and resourceful, especially in challenging environments like mountains or remote areas, but he heavily depends on Randy for accurate information. Randy provides the crucial leads he needs to succeed. This reliance is a bit of a problem, though. The show seemed to be heading in a direction where he’d be more independent, relying on his own instincts and skills rather than constantly needing the team’s help – much like Jack Bauer didn’t succeed without Chloe. It feels inconsistent with that earlier goal.

It seems Randy joined the show to add a fresh, enjoyable element, rather than to lessen the need for technical assistance, as was first suggested. Reid explained to US Weekly in November 2025, during Season 3, that Randy brought a welcome warmth and fun to the show, something they had been missing. Reid added that they planned to continue exploring these new team dynamics and build on them as the show progressed.

It doesn’t look like Hartley will get the change he was hoping for regarding people needing help from others. It seems like everyone still needs tech support occasionally, and Colter especially relies on it. Randy is now the person Colter turns to for help – he’s calling a friend more than ever, just a different one this time.

Stream Tracker on Paramount+.

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2025-11-26 22:23