Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Tracker Season 3, Episode 7.It’s not often like that Tracker takes the time to establish that the bad guys might come back for more. In fact, aside from a sort of antagonist Leo Sharf (Pej Vahdat) and the one-off serial killer The Teacher (Nicolas It’s), Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) never faced the same opponent more than once. Even then, it’s not like Colter and Sharf were fighting each other on screen, nor did he fight the Professor until the very end of the character’s first on-screen appearance. But in this week’s episode, titled “Eat the Rich,” it looks like the CBS drama might be setting up Colter’s return — and it has nothing to do with “The Process.”
This week’s ‘Tracker’ featured Italia Ricci as a Boston-based ‘Fixer’
At the end of “Eat the Rich,” Colter Shaw does something a little unexpected. After seeing Noëlle Buchanan (Madalyn Horcher) and his father reunited, Colter returns to the scene of the crime to speak with the woman he believes was behind the death that surrounded the kidnapping and eventual rescue of the young woman: Italy RicciThe mysterious MC. Even though the public knows for certain that MC — who introduced herself to Colter only as “Madeline” — was directly involved in the events of this week’s case, Colter needs that personal confirmation. Upon confronting the bad guy (who escapes unscathed in the end here), he warns her that she’ll trip eventually – and adds that he wants to be there when she does. It’s a chilling scene that reminds us more of Hartley’s time as Green Arrow in Smalltownbut a welcome moment that highlights Colter Shaw’s genuine desire to see justice done.
Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen Colter Shaw’s Oliver Queen channel, but it marks an interesting turning point for Tracker in its entirety. While the CBS drama has already brought repeated twists into Colter’s life, most notably through his brother Russell (Jensen Ackles), mother Mary (Wendy Crewson), and rival award winner Billie Matalon (Sofia Pernas), none of them are actively antagonistic in nature. Okay, maybe Mary Dove Shaw is, but the show hasn’t delved into any of that further after Season 2’s “Echo Ridge.” Conversely, with Ricci’s character, Tracker has the opportunity to do the opposite of what he’s done with returning characters over the yearsbringing them back not to help Colter or ask for help, but to harm him. This is certainly an interesting opportunity to challenge fan expectations, as we know that other characters from Colter’s past will continue to return to the series to help our hero. In this case, MC could come back out of nowhere to put him under her thumb.
MC is an interesting antagonist in that she has vast resources that include not only monetary leverage, but also assassins. Knowing that Colter knows who she is (and apparently knowing a lot of other information about him), is it possible that MC will return in the future? Could she want to get rid of Colter before he can investigate further? Everything is possible on Trackerbut “Eat the Rich” makes it clear that whatever happens, Colter took his actions personally. This is more than just a throwaway line that threatens to see MC behind bars; it is a promise Colter makes to himself regarding his ultimate destiny. He wants to see her brought to justice, and even though he’s not actually in law enforcement, if he can help ensure MC gets what she deserves, it seems like he’s willing to take the plunge.
Could MC become a recurring enemy for Colter?
This of course wouldn’t be the first time Italia Ricci has played a recurring villain opposite a former DC Comics star. Ten years ago, the actress appeared in the Arrowverse series Supergirl as Siobhan Smythe aka Silver Banshee, a recurring Maiden of Might nod who appeared in several episodes of the first season (back when it still aired on CBS). She even appeared in the famous series The lightning crossover “The Best of Words”. But beyond the fun DC Comics Easter egg here, Tracker It’s high time to introduce a recurring villain that Colter Shaw can’t take down in simple hand-to-hand combat.. In MC’s case, she’s a criminal mastermind, and even though she’s on assignment from the Boston-based Benning family, that doesn’t mean her tendrils don’t extend anywhere other than Beantown. If Colter really wants to see Madeline behind bars, he’ll have to outsmart her, and that’s where the recurring element comes into play.
Granted, Colter is unlikely to return to Boston anytime soon. Nevertheless, Reenie (Fiona Rene) is known for traveling all over the country working as a lawyer (which doesn’t really make sense, but we’ll let it slide), so couldn’t the same be true for MC? We do not know or understand the full scope of his job description. If she really is a fixer for more than one criminal operation or a family of old rich people, it is possible that MC is traveling around the country handling different clienteles and other jobs that Colter might find himself in. What’s particularly interesting about using a villain as a long-term MC is that his work against Colter (and vice versa) could easily involve Reenie and Randy (Chris Lee), thus exposing the entire team to potential danger if Colter continues on this path. Considering Reenie is ready to do more this season, why not have Colter give her the task of taking down MC?
While Tracker will probably never turn into an organized crime drama (and we wouldn’t want that to happen), the series could yet turn Madeline into a recurring thorn alongside Colter and Reenie. While the show has found clever ways to put her back in Colter’s path, there’s no telling what kind of situation our favorite rewarder might find himself working in. Of course, this is all speculation. We have no idea what Tracker that the writers have in store for us this season, we only know that Colter Shaw will be at the center. If this week’s episode was any indication, Colter can find a job just as easily by accident as through a recommendation from Reenie or Randy. With that in mind, it’s about time the series also pursued a surprise antagonist like MC.
Tracker airs Sundays on CBS and is available to stream the next day on Paramount+.
- Release date
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February 11, 2024
- Showrunner
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Elwood Reid
- Writers
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Ben H. Winters, Hilary Weisman Graham
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Justin Hartley
Colter Shaw
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