Forget NCIS, Tracker Is Rewriting the Future of Crime TV

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For decades, crime shows have been a staple of prime-time television. Traditionally, these shows focused on a single hero – think detectives like those in Magnum P.I., MacGyver, and Columbo. However, recent years have seen a trend towards team-based shows like NCIS, FBI, and Criminal Minds, with even series like Law & Order: SVU and Psych featuring partnerships. Interestingly, one of the most popular new crime dramas is now bringing back the focus on a single lead character.

As a big fan of crime shows, I’ve been really enjoying Tracker. It reminds me a little of 24 – Colter Shaw has a support team, but he’s mostly a lone wolf when he’s out tracking people. And honestly, with how well Tracker is doing, I’m starting to think we might see a shift in procedural dramas. Maybe the next wave of shows will focus more on the skills of a single investigator, rather than big agency teams. It would be a cool change of pace!

Tracker is Reviving an Old Formula

Shows like Tracker and Reacher bring back a classic TV formula. Similar to how Michael Knight in Knight Rider (played by David Hasselhoff) often worked solo, even with a high-tech car like KITT and occasional help from others, these newer series feature protagonists who largely handle things themselves.

I’ve noticed a trend lately – shows like Magnum P.I., MacGyver, and even the classic Columbo all relied heavily on one central figure solving cases. And we’re seeing it again with newer series featuring characters such as Will Trent and R.J. Decker, though they usually operate within a team. But what sets this new show apart is its lead character, Colter. He’ll occasionally work with local cops, sure, but he really prefers to handle things solo – he’s a lone wolf, and that’s part of his appeal.

Colter occasionally teams up with his brother, Russell (Jensen Ackles), and stays in touch with others like Reenie (Fiona Rene) and Randy (Chris Lee) through phone calls. While fans love seeing Colter and Russell work together, Colter himself prefers to operate independently – he consistently says he’s most effective when working alone.

If crime dramas are going to move in this new direction, they need a compelling lead character. Shows like Tracker and Reacher demonstrate that this approach can be successful when the main character is well-developed. This creates a tighter, more character-focused story, as the plot revolves around one person instead of being spread across an entire team.

As a huge TV fan, I’ve noticed something really interesting about Colter. It truly revolves around the main character – whether he’s solving a single case each week or digging into the bigger mystery of his family and his father’s death. That’s different from shows like NCIS, where even though there is a lead, the stories mostly focus on the cases themselves, the team dynamic, and the personal lives of everyone involved. Colter puts the character front and center in a way those other shows don’t.

This trend applies to other new crime shows too. While they may center around one main character – like Will Trent (Ramón Rodriguez) in Will Trent – the stories also heavily feature supporting characters such as Angie (Erika Christensen), Michael (Jake McLaughlin), and Faith (Iantha Richardson). Similarly, High Potential focuses on Morgan (Kaitlin Olson), but often explores the lives of Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), Daphne (Javicia Leslie), and Ava (Amirah J), showing that she rarely works in isolation.

Shows like Tracker and Reacher are popularizing a style where the main character handles everything themselves, mostly working alone on-screen without a consistent supporting cast.

Tracker is Not Alone, But Colter is On His Own

Although Tracker has recently become very popular, it’s not the only show following this pattern. Netflix’s The Night Agent initially focused on the partnership between Peter (Gabriel Basso) and Rose (Luciane Buchanan) for its first two seasons, but later centered on a single protagonist in Season 3. Similarly, Bosch has always primarily followed Harry Bosch’s story, even with supporting characters.

While Tracker occasionally shows how Colter interacts with partners, it’s usually brief – like when he teams up with Billie (Sofia Pernas) for a particular case or gets assistance from someone such as John Keaton (Brent Sexton). These collaborations are rare, though. More often than not, Colter prefers to solve cases independently.

It’s true that Colter can’t solve cases alone. He depends a lot on Randy for almost everything, and uses Reenie’s legal access to important files and information. However, we rarely see them actually working with him on screen.

Unlike some shows, like NCIS, which center on a close-knit team constantly interacting, this one offers something different. It’s a bit of a return to older television styles, letting viewers really connect with one main character instead of spreading their attention across an entire group and their relationships.

Colter keeps his interactions with his team short and focused on himself, lacking deeper connection. Interestingly, this self-centeredness might actually make viewers more invested in him as the main character. He has a lot to prove if he wants to reach the level of memorable procedural leads like Magnum P.I. (Tom Selleck) and Columbo (Peter Falk).

However, Tracker is standing out from similar shows by offering something different: a main character who isn’t defined by oddities or a big personality. He’s simply highly skilled and prefers to work solo, taking center stage whenever he’s on screen. The story consistently focuses on Colter and his actions.

The TV series Reacher, starring Alan Ritchson, really focuses on one central character – Jack Reacher – and that’s a refreshing change. It brings back a storytelling approach that was common years ago but hasn’t been seen much lately. With the popularity of Tracker, it seems like shows might start shifting away from team-based investigations and focusing more on individual heroes again.

Provided Colter can keep intriguing fans,.

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2026-06-16 13:12