This Week’s ‘Tracker’ Highlights What The Show Has Been Missing

From the moment it first hit the air, Tracker was considered by many to be nothing short of a network TV replacement for action made-for-streaming thrillers like Reacher. With the promise that Justin Hartley‘s Colter Shaw would travel across the country on a new adventure each week, part of the excitement was that the similar premise might produce similar results. Yet, part of what makes Reacher stand out in the world of high-octane action thrillers (of which Prime Video has several) is the commitment to intense action sequences that throw the title hero into the ringer — and after Sunday’s latest episode, “Breakaway,” we think the CBS drama can do more.

“Breakaway” Emphasized ‘Tracker’s Position as an Action Show

It’s no secret that we’ve promoted Tracker as a network Reacher replacement, even going so far as to compare the way both shows are structured. But while Tracker has gotten close to Reacher‘s impressive action sequences on select occasions, the show could, frankly, lean into this aspect a bit more. We know that Colter Shaw is a capable survivalist and a fighter. That much is clear on his reputation alone. However, it’s rare that we get to see him go up against anyone truly worth his mettle. So when this week’s “Breakaway” puts the stunts in full view — with Colter engaging in car chases, hand-to-hand combat, and gunfights — we can be equal parts impressed and unsatisfied, knowing that it barely scratches the surface of what a series like Reacher is able to do. Sure, some of that has to do with the fact that Alan Ritchson is a hulking guy who looks like he can throw someone across the room without breaking a sweat, but his former Smallville co-star (Hartley and Ritchson played Green Arrow and Aquaman opposite one another) certainly has some action ability under his own belt as well.

Ironically, former Arrow star David Ramsey guested on “Breakaway” as stuntman Hale “Rip” Ripley, and, say what you will about the Arrowverse, that series (especially at the beginning) was well-known for its extensively well-choreographed fights, despite being on the CW. If Tracker wants to continue to bill itself as CBS’ weekly answer to Reacher, hoping to pull in more fans from the Prime Video series eagerly awaiting its fourth season return, then the best way to lean into that is to amp up the action and dial into Colter’s abilities in earnest. We’ve been told a lot about how his father taught him to survive, and Colter himself has been able to disarm thugs with relative ease on occasion, but it’s about time that we see him take on someone his own size. Even if his brother Russell (Jensen Ackles) needs to come back and further train him, we want to see Colter Shaw at his peak.

If ‘Tracker’ Wants to Compete With ‘Reacher,’ It Ought To Amp Up the Action

From the very first scene, Tracker Season 3 has been pushing Colter into more action-heavy territory. Perhaps that bar scene in “The Process” is the best example, as Colter gets in the middle of some local derelicts looking for a fight over a local bartender. With his brother by his side, the Shaws wail on these villains in a scene truly reminiscent of Reacher. Again, this isn’t to say that Tracker needs to mirror Reacher in every respect. While both are based on action thriller novels, Tracker strays considerably from the Jeffrey Deaver-penned source material (which is actually in the show’s favor), while Reacher adapts a specific book each season. So, clearly, the difference in technique serves Tracker quite well. However, that doesn’t mean that the show can’t get a bit more action-packed, especially as it aims to raise the stakes.

Action sequences don’t just satisfy the audience who (admittedly) want to see Colter beat up some bad guys to save the day. They also help raise the stakes, create tension, and reveal character. That’s why “Breakaway” was such an effective episode. Between the car chasing, the erratic robbery, and all the other moments of physical suspense, we believed the danger — and we also believed that Colter Shaw could help stop it. While it may never have the time or resources to put together action sequences the way a streaming series like Reacher does, we still believe that, after episodes like this, there is still room for Tracker to amp up the stuntwork week-to-week.

Tracker airs Sundays on CBS and is available for streaming the next day on Paramount+.