This week’s episode of Tracker brings a thrilling case for Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley). The story has familiar elements like a grandmother, a cabin in the woods, and a dangerous man on the run.
However, this is no fairy tale. Colter must use all his skills to find a missing girl and the survivalist who vanished with her. This case challenges him in new ways, both expected and unexpected.
The episode also introduces a group of bikers with a wolf-themed name, making some fans wonder if this is Tracker’s version of a werewolf episode.
Previous episodes have included themes of aliens, witches, and vampires, so the idea does not seem too far-fetched. Either way, Colter faces serious danger as he tries to uncover the truth.
Colter Takes on a Tough Opponent in Wolf Creek
The episode begins in Wolf Creek, Minnesota, where a young singer-songwriter named Angie (Sydney Scotia) performs a cover of Zach Bryan’s Oklahoma Smokeshow at a local biker bar. While she sings, a man named Ben (Jim Parrack) watches her from a dark corner. His presence feels unsettling, but Angie does not seem to notice or care. She leaves without any trouble, but by the next morning, she has disappeared.
Colter does not receive a call to find Angie. Instead, he is asked to track Ben, who is the main suspect in her disappearance. The authorities also believe he is responsible for the deaths of two bikers and a police officer who were at the bar that night.
Ben’s wealthy grandmother (Deborah Strang) hires Colter to find him before the police do. She explains that Ben grew up under the strict guidance of his survivalist father, who trained him to live off the grid and avoid capture. She fears that if the police corner Ben, more officers will die. Colter agrees to take the case and starts investigating in town.
The police and the local biker gang do not welcome Colter’s presence. Both groups have their own reasons for wanting to control the situation.
Since Colter is tracking someone with similar survival skills, his usual team does not play a major role in this episode. Reenie (Fiona Rene) does not appear at all, which feels disappointing. However, Velma (Abby McEnany) mentions that Reenie is expanding her office and may have hired her full-time.
Colter also meets Bobby’s cousin Randy (Chris Lee), who temporarily takes Bobby’s place while he deals with a family matter. Randy helps Colter research Ben’s criminal history and connections to Angie. His personality is just as engaging as Bobby’s, if not more.
It would be interesting to see them interact in the future. Bobby rarely gets to work with anyone besides Colter or talk to people outside of phone calls, so a new dynamic would be refreshing.
Colter Finds a Surprising Connection
Even though the team has a smaller role in this episode, Colter’s personal history comes up in an important way. When he finally meets Ben, they talk about their fathers. Both men were raised by survivalists who trained them to handle any situation. Colter admits that he never really understood what kind of dark future his father was preparing him for.
At the end of the episode, Ben’s grandmother tells Colter that whoever raised him must have done something right. This comment raises an interesting question. Now that the Gina Pickett case has been resolved, will Tracker show Colter’s past next?
A Dangerous Escape in the Woods
Colter follows Ben and Angie’s trail to a cabin deep in the woods. Once he finds them, he finally learns the truth about what happened.
The night before, Angie accidentally saw two bikers killing a police officer. They believed he was a snitch. Ben stepped in and stopped the fight, knocking both men unconscious. He then took Angie with him to keep them safe from both the bikers and the police.
Colter convinces Ben that running is not the best option. Instead of fighting and risking more deaths, he encourages him to clear his name. In many episodes, Colter teams up with people who have his skills. This time, he plays the mentor, teaching Ben how to face the situation without isolating himself.
The police arrive at the cabin, forcing Colter, Angie, and Ben to escape in Angie’s van. Strangely, even though it is her vehicle, she ends up in the back seat. This detail highlights how men often take control, even in situations where they are supposed to be helping.
Colter asks a local named Vic, who helped him earlier, to drive Angie to safety. Meanwhile, Colter and Ben work together to get video evidence proving that the bikers are responsible for the crime.
The Final Showdown
Colter and Ben successfully sneak into the sheriff’s office and gather the necessary evidence without harming anyone. However, their troubles are far from over. The bikers catch up to Vic and Angie and take them hostage at the bar. In a violent confrontation, they shoot Vic before Colter and Ben arrive.
Ben uses his survivalist knowledge to gain an advantage. He uses a “death whistle,” an eerie noise-making tool, to distract some of the bikers. This gives Colter the chance to enter the bar where Angie is being held.
The situation grows more dangerous when one of the bikers, Ricky (Aaron Stanford), captures Ben. However, Colter quickly turns the tables by revealing the truth.
He convinces Ricky that his own gang member, Nick (Nick Gomez), is the one responsible for the deadly events of the previous night. This revelation changes Ricky’s perspective and prevents more violence.
With the case resolved, Angie prepares to go on tour. Ben joins her as her bodyguard and roadie, ensuring she stays safe. Colter collects a well-earned $50,000 reward.
The Sheriff’s Unexpected Role
Law enforcement officials often see Colter as an outsider who interferes with their investigations. Many officers believe he makes their job harder or disrupts crime scenes.
At the start of this episode, the sheriff of Wolf Creek (Jacqueline Obradors) seems no different. She wants Colter to leave and even impounds his vehicle. She strands him on the side of the road so he does not get a head start in finding Ben.
However, the episode later reveals that she had good reasons for her actions. She was secretly investigating the biker gang’s criminal activity and gathering evidence against corrupt officers in her department. She needed to keep Colter in the dark to protect her work.
By the end of the episode, she and Colter part on good terms. This moment feels refreshing because it shows that, sometimes, the authorities have valid reasons for not wanting an outsider involved.
New episodes of Tracker air on Sundays on CBS.
Also Read: ‘Tracker’ Season 2 Episode 9 Recap: Colter Shaw Solves a Cold Case That Haunts Him for Years
