Justin Hartley Reveals Shocking Truth: Who Really Killed Colter’s Dad?

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⚠️ WARNING: This conversation may reveal details about the season 2 finale of “Tracker” on CBS, titled “Echo Ridge.”

Be aware that this discussion might disclose information about the ending of season 2 of “Tracker,” which is called “Echo Ridge” and airs on CBS.

Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley), who refers to himself as a solitary survivalist, has leveraged his exceptional tracking abilities to solve various mysteries for both private individuals and law enforcement throughout the U.S. However, over two seasons of the CBS series “Tracker,” Colter has delved into the decades-long enigma surrounding the demise of his father, Ashton. Ashton’s paranoia about government surveillance led to their family living off the grid as survivalists, which further deepened this mystery.

For a while, Colter had harbored the suspicion that his brother Russell may have been the one who pushed their father off a cliff on a stormy night in the forest. However, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more to the story than what he was being told. When Russell asked for Colter’s assistance on a case concerning one of his missing Army buddies during Season 1, he claimed innocence and suggested another man was in the woods that fateful night who was responsible for their father’s death – a theory also proposed by their professor sister, Dory. In the second last episode of Season 2, Dory handed over a box containing Ashton’s journals and research papers she had received from an old family friend, Lizzy, whose mother turned out to be Ashton’s mistress.

On Sunday’s season finale, Colter came back to his hometown of Echo Ridge in California to uncover the mystery behind Brian Keane’s disappearance, which later turned into a gruesome discovery of a child trafficking ring. With his old friend Joe Marsh by his side, Colter managed to prevent the abduction of victims from an old farm during a late-night standoff – but he had a deeply personal motive for pursuing Carl Murphy, the suspected murderer and registered sex offender who was believed to have been responsible for Brian Keane’s death.

During the course of his investigation, Colter discovered Carl’s trailer where he kept his victims hidden. Inside, he found a carving of a wolf with “Ashton” etched on its base. At gun and knife point, Carl disclosed that he had received this figurine from his uncle, Otto Waldron, who had been a lineman for the county and assisted the Shaws in setting up their wind turbines. In the closing scene, Colter unexpectedly visits Otto’s home, where Otto confesses to having pushed Ashton off the cliff – at the urging of Mary, Colter’s mother (Wendy Crewson).

Hartley, an executive producer, expresses his belief to EbMaster, “What’s fascinating is we’re left questioning her motives, assuming the story is valid. I’m confident it is true because I can’t accept otherwise. I believe she was involved, and the events unfolded as he described, but we need to understand what pushes someone to such desperate actions. Was it justified? In what possible way could it be?

Hartley clarifies below how the cliffhanger will intensify Colter’s already challenging family relations, and he also discusses the special ingredient that has propelled “Tracker” to become the most-watched show on network television.

Or, if you prefer a more colloquial style:

Hartley explains below how the cliffhanger will take Colter’s family drama to a whole new level and shares what makes “Tracker” the hottest show on network TV right now.

You’ve remarked in recent interviews that the Colter you’re playing now is not the same one we met in the pilot. How do you think the character has evolved in these first two seasons, and what new layers did you find in the playing of the character this time around?

We frequently discuss this topic, indeed. Our series possesses a serialized aspect while maintaining its core as a procedural. What excites me is finding ways to distinguish it from conventional procedurals. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing inherently wrong with traditional procedurals, but I ponder how we can make ours stand out. One aspect I’d like to focus on is the development of our main character. If you look at classic 1970s procedurals, the character remains consistent from one episode to another. I believe viewers appreciate this consistency, but I find it intriguing to envision a character who grows and changes over time in our series.

Essentially, by the conclusion of each task, he acquires new insights and applies them in future encounters. In the second season, he’s been exposed to some grim realities, which have subtly altered his outlook. I believe this experience has made him more wary and less naive about human nature. Earlier, Colter held the view that everyone essentially is kind; however, his experiences have given him a deeper understanding of why others might not share this perspective if they’ve faced specific challenges.

In Season 2, as I was contemplating, I realized: “He seems quite solitary, lacking many companions, and his interactions with others are primarily through phones, voicemail, or video call.” To add an interesting layer, in Season 2, I decided to portray him having conversations with himself. This would help maintain his self-assurance as he’d say something, then agree with it. For instance, “This is a blood trail, isn’t it?” followed by “…Yes, indeed.” He would respond to himself because of his loneliness. As for Season 3, I’m considering introducing a quirk, perhaps a tic, but I believe the audience will appreciate the progression and remember these character developments as they watch, thinking, “I recall when he first learned that,” or “Ever since this event, he’s been different,” and thus, aiming to stay true to his established traits.

Is there a particular episode or storyline this season that stands out to you as indicative of that growth in the character?

As a dedicated fan, I recall an impactful moment in Episode 15 when Billie, my fellow rewardist and Colter’s ex, returns and he asks her to infiltrate a woman’s prison. I remember thinking that this could potentially be dangerous, and it seemed like the first time it struck him that his requests might not always be safe. For someone who prides himself on being cautious and strategic, overlooking such perilous consequences was quite surprising. It served as a stark reminder that perhaps Colter isn’t as thoughtful or careful as he thinks, pushing boundaries beyond what’s reasonable. I believe this revelation will linger with his character as the series progresses, hopefully even beyond Season 3.

In Episode 19, Reenie’s phone goes dead and Colter senses something amiss. His immediate response is to chase after her in a full sprint. These instances are crucial for developing Colter’s character and will undoubtedly be carried forward as the story continues.

So much of the show’s original premise was built around the mystery of Ashton’s untimely death. What kinds of conversations did you have with the rest of the creative team about this final twist about who was involved in his death?

We had suspected the mother’s role, but the particulars – the conversation, the approach for obtaining the information – remained unclear until our showrunner Elwood Reid came up with the idea and presented it. What makes this intriguing is we’re still left to ponder why she might have done such a thing, assuming it actually happened. Admittedly, I lean towards it being true because I wouldn’t sanction it otherwise. If in Season 3 we discover that he was lying and her involvement was merely fictitious, I believe that would be disappointing and lack credibility.

It seems quite plausible that she played a significant role in the recent events, as he described, yet there’s much to understand regarding the motives behind such desperate actions. Was her conduct justified? It’s hard to fathom how it could be, given the situation. She’s married to someone who endangers their children, and she felt compelled to address this issue. However, I remain puzzled as to how her actions could be justified, considering Colter’s moral code and principles he abides by. As we move into Season 3, there’s a lot to explore and understand. I appreciate the way Season 2 concluded because it ties up some lingering loose ends that needed resolution for a while.

Could you give voice to Colter’s internal dialogue in the final minutes of the finale as he arrives at Otto’s front door and then holds him at gunpoint?

It seems to me that he’s not going there primarily to acquire that specific information. Instead, he’s quite optimistic that this person might offer him something valuable. Persistence is Colter’s middle name; he’s like a dog with a bone, always pursuing and following every lead he can find. Since he has the carving, he’s hopeful that this person might have additional insights. When he gets there, he certainly does!

However, it’s important to note that this man believes his mother is not truthful. While it’s possible to deceive someone without being a habitual liar, he suspects his mother of withholding the truth about something. She may be keeping secrets, and perhaps this person possesses information that could clarify what transpired.

This matter has been troubling him, but uncovering the answers might bring him some solace. However, I believe whatever he discovers will not align with his expectations.

Otto has now implicated Mary in Ashton’s death. How would you characterize the existing relationship that Colter has with his mother, and how do you think the reveal of that dark family secret will throw that relationship into further disarray?

For decades, I’ve harbored the belief that my brother was implicated in a tragic event. I saw him standing where our father had fallen, and I filled in the gaps of what I didn’t witness with my own eyes, concluding that he must have pushed him. I cut off communication with my brother and shared my suspicions with our mother, who remained silent on the matter. I now understand that she was aware of the truth, choosing instead to let me believe it, even though it wasn’t so. This revelation is disturbing because it suggests that she knewingly allowed me to carry this false belief. It’s one thing to think, “I can’t fathom that my son suspects his brother of killing our father; I wasn’t there, but I sincerely doubt that’s the case.” But it’s quite another to choose to let him believe it, even though you know it isn’t true. That’s despicable! And that’s what she did.

Furthermore, it seems she was entangled in the situation and may have even orchestrated his harm – well, I’ll let Elwood handle that, given he caused this predicament; thus, it’s his responsibility to clean up, doesn’t it? But just joking, I’m really enjoying how the narrative unfolds, and the way it’s taking unexpected turns.

Elwood will continue to unravel the messy, dysfunctional family storyline in collaboration with the rest of the team, but as an executive producer who developed this project from the ground up, how involved are you in the direction of the story? Is there anything you’d like to do with the character?

I’m drawn to the concept of Colter finding himself in a typical work scenario gone awry. He receives a call about some task, there’s a reward involved, but unbeknownst to him, the whole setup is a trap. By the time he realizes this, it’s too late and his fingerprints are all over the crime scene. It seems like a regular storyline, but with a ‘fugitive’ twist. The length of such a plotline isn’t certain, but it could easily stretch across multiple episodes.

During his escape, Colter is not only dodging the law enforcement, but also trying to identify who is responsible for this murder. It’s a concept I find fascinating and I hope others will too. I’ve already presented several ideas to the team, and I still have more to share that I believe are captivating. Fingers crossed they agree!

The procedural format is versatile but can also feel constraining, but for two years in a row, “Tracker” has been the No. 1 show on network television. To what do you credit the overwhelming success of the show? How exactly have you and your creative team been able to break through in such an overcrowded genre?

The initial success was largely due to good fortune and strong support from our studio and network. They provided us with the necessary tools and a prime advertising slot following the Super Bowl premiere. However, it’s crucial to maintain quality because the large audience gained after the Super Bowl requires a consistently engaging show. People have limited time, so we strive to create unique, captivating stories and place our characters in believable, intense situations.

One thing we often strive for in our work is to avoid situations where music sets the emotional tone before the action unfolds. Instead of having music dictate how we should feel, I prefer a more organic approach where the audience can interpret emotions from the dialogue and actions of two actors interacting naturally. This method allows us to explore new creative boundaries, and fortunately, our studio and network support these innovative approaches.

We recognize and value our audience who appreciate our current format, so we won’t venture too far from it and start a musical or similar changes. Instead, our aim is to produce the best show possible each week, with my personal goal being that every episode surpasses the one before it in quality.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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2025-05-12 04:29