Tracker Season 2 continues to keep its audience hooked with its unpredictable mix of strange mysteries. In Episode 5, titled “Preternatural,” the plot introduces a new supernatural element — witches.
The episode kicks off in Prior, Kentucky, where a teenage girl named Emmaline Trace (played by Alison Thornton) is singing a well-known American folk song in the woods.
She is foraging for mushrooms and herbs, gathering them in jars, when she encounters a harmless snake. This snake, although non-venomous, sets the stage for something ominous that’s about to unfold.
As Emmaline continues her foraging, she senses something wrong, and soon enough, she finds herself surrounded by men with guns. This sets the stage for the central mystery of the episode. Emmaline’s disappearance quickly becomes the focus of Colter Shaw, a rewardist known for his skills in tracking and his somewhat unconventional approach to solving cases.
A Mysterious Disappearance and a Reward with Little Payoff
Colter Shaw, whose primary interest lies in solving puzzles rather than making money, is contacted by Velma (played by Abby McEnany). Velma urges Colter to investigate the case of Emmaline’s disappearance, though the reward offered is only a modest five thousand dollars.
Despite the low reward, Colter agrees to take on the case, intrigued by the mystery surrounding this teenage girl. Velma explains that Emmaline and her older brother, Jasper (played by Connor Price), are outcasts in their town and have been dealing with difficult situations since they moved there from Tennessee.
Velma herself relates to their story, as she grew up without a father and with a mother who was institutionalized. This background explains Velma’s empathy toward Emmaline and Jasper and her desire to help them. She tells her friend Reenie (played by Fiona Rene) that, while Emmaline and Jasper have faced hardship, she believes they need someone to protect them.
Reenie, who has a complicated history of her own, agrees that people like Emmaline and Jasper are not easily understood. “There are some people that are raised,” Reenie remarks, “and some people that are forged,” which hints at the resilience both siblings have had to develop.
Colter heads to Kentucky to begin his investigation, meeting Jasper soon after arriving. Jasper reveals that he and Emmaline are considered pariahs by the locals and explains that their strange behavior is likely due to the peculiar nature of their mother, who was also a healer.
Jasper’s job in mine safety inspection brings him into contact with a man named Jim Wheeler (played by Travis Hammer), who has been dumping roadkill on the Trace family’s doorstep. Jim’s strange actions are, at first, difficult to understand, but Colter begins to suspect that there is more to the story.
The Town’s Gossip Leads to Strange Claims
Colter’s next stop is the Icy Cone, the local ice cream shop, where Emmaline worked before her disappearance. Here, he hears rumors about her firing. It’s said that she was let go from the job after an incident involving Shirley, one of her coworkers.
As Colter gathers information, he also learns that some townspeople believe Emmaline was a witch. This claim seems unbelievable at first, but Colter’s determination to uncover the truth pushes him to seek out more information.
The awkward encounter with Emmaline’s former coworker, Barbara, provides more details. Barbara explains that Emmaline had been promoted to a higher position after one of the regular workers, Shirley, started missing work.
This promotion sparked some resentment from Shirley’s husband, Travis (played by Cameron Fuller), who came into the shop and yelled at Emmaline. Soon after, Emmaline was fired, though the reasons behind her dismissal remain murky.
Colter, still trying to understand the situation, tracks down Travis to see if he might be involved in Emmaline’s disappearance. However, Travis reveals an unexpected piece of information. He credits Emmaline with curing his wife’s ovarian cancer and infertility. Colter, intrigued by this, begins to wonder if there is more to Emmaline’s story than mere superstition.
Uncovering the Hidden Truths of Emmaline’s Powers
Using his skills as a tracker, Colter figures out where Emmaline had been foraging. The mushrooms she had been using for her healing remedies lead Colter to an abandoned cabin deep in the woods. Inside, he finds a collection of jars and notes that Emmaline had likely been using for her healing work. Colter calls for Jasper to join him in investigating the cabin, where they make a disturbing discovery.
Jasper explains that their mother was also a healer, and he believes the fire that killed her was caused by people who feared her abilities. It seems that Emmaline’s powers, much like her mother’s, had made her a target of suspicion.
The theme of fear surrounding people with special abilities seems to be a central part of the mystery in this episode. While Colter’s investigation doesn’t involve as much research or hacking as in previous episodes, it’s clear that the small-town gossip plays a large part in unraveling the truth.
Colter Shaw Finds Emmaline, but Danger Awaits
Colter’s journey leads him to a remote family compound, where drug dealers live off the grid. Jim Wheeler had warned him about these people, and rumors about the family had circulated around town.
However, no one knew exactly where Emmaline had been foraging, and she kept the location of her healing practices a secret. When Colter finally reaches the compound, he finds Emmaline, though she is reluctant to leave.
Emmaline reveals that she had been kidnapped by the drug dealers to heal their sick father. Despite her best efforts, her healing “spell” doesn’t seem to work, and the men quickly turn on her. Colter intervenes and helps Emmaline escape, but during the getaway, she is injured by one of the compound’s booby traps.
The pair eventually find refuge in an abandoned shopping mall, where Colter tends to Emmaline’s ankle. As they catch their breath, they talk about their siblings and share a brief moment of peace. But their calm is short-lived. The drug dealers soon catch up with them, and a tense standoff ensues. The dealers are armed with guns, and Colter is nearly out of ammunition.
The situation takes a dramatic turn when Colter is shot with an arrow. The drug dealers leave him for dead, taking Emmaline with them. However, Colter, being the resourceful survivalist he is, manages to cause a distraction, allowing Emmaline to return to his side and help him.
A Bold Move and a Final Stand
At the compound, the drug dealers receive a call that their father is feeling better, perhaps even cured. Emmaline uses this information to her advantage, threatening to put a blood curse on the entire family if they don’t let her go. Colter is impressed by Emmaline’s quick thinking. Though she admits later that she made up the curse part, it proves to be enough to scare the drug dealers into retreating.
With the danger momentarily averted, Emmaline returns to Colter’s side and helps heal him. While they wait for an ambulance to arrive, the two bond further. Emmaline’s skills as a healer have proven invaluable, but it’s also clear that her journey has been fraught with danger.
Colter’s Change of Heart and a New Resolution
As the episode draws to a close, Colter checks himself out of the hospital against the wishes of his friends, Reenie and Velma. He leaves a voicemail for his sister, inspired by Emmaline’s actions and reminded of his own family.
He also takes a jar of Emmaline’s healing ointment with him, a symbolic gesture that marks his decision to start embracing a more whimsical approach to life. Emmaline’s mysterious abilities and her connection to her family’s healing practices have made Colter reconsider his rational beliefs and look at things in a new light.
His decision to contact his sister is a step closer to solving the Shaw family mystery, and it’s clear that Colter is evolving as a character. This episode of Tracker has not only revealed more about Emmaline’s past and powers but also pushed Colter to grow in ways that might affect his future decisions.
In Tracker Season 2 Episode 5, Colter Shaw’s investigation into Emmaline Trace’s disappearance uncovers not just a strange case but a deeper connection to his own family’s past. The episode blends supernatural elements, such as Emmaline’s healing abilities, with the gritty reality of small-town gossip and secrets.
While Colter initially approaches the case with his usual skepticism, Emmaline’s resilience and unconventional powers challenge his rational beliefs, forcing him to reconsider his view of the world. Her bravery in facing danger to heal others, even at great personal cost, leaves a lasting impact on Colter, encouraging him to reach out to his sister and grow beyond his usual boundaries.
As the season progresses, it’s clear that the mysteries of the Shaw family will continue to unfold, with Colter’s personal evolution intertwined with the cases he solves. Tracker remains a thrilling blend of suspense, mystery, and character development.
Tracker continues to air on CBS on Sundays at 8 PM ET, with episodes available to stream the following day on Paramount+. With its mixture of mystery, supernatural elements, and character growth, this show remains a thrilling watch each week.
