After 3 Seasons, CBS Is Finally Moving Away From Tracker's Original Formula

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Still of Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw in Tracker season 3.

Published Aug 26, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT

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Tracker has become one of CBS' biggest hits over the course of the past few years, and as it moves into its fourth season, it's finally moving away from the original formula that made it a success. Throughout the past three seasons, CBS has brought new episodes of Tracker to life and created one of the network's biggest hits in years. Starring Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, the series follows the lone wolf investigator as he moves through cases all over the continental US, collecting rewards for tracking down missing people as he moves around the confines of the law.

Though the series is an episodic, procedural-style show that features a new case every week, Tracker has implemented an interesting style of serialized story throughout its first three seasons. With Colter himself an enigma, even to those close to him, the mystery that surrounds the show's main character is one that's been driving the CBS series forward throughout its run. Colter's late father, Ashton Shaw, taught him and his siblings, Russell (Jensen Ackles) and Dory (Melissa Roxburgh) everything about surviving the unexpected elements of the wilderness, but his mysterious death has hung over the series throughout its run thus far.

Throughout Tracker season 3, Colter moved closer to understanding what actually happened to his late father, investigating alongside his brother Russell for a few episodes as they uncovered the truth. Now, Tracker season 4 is poised to be a first when it comes to the show's central Shaw family mystery.

Tracker Season 3 Solved The Show's First Big Shaw Family Mystery

As viewers moved through Tracker season 3, which generated record-breaking viewership numbers for CBS throughout its run, they got the chance to unpack more about the Shaw family than ever before. While the first seasons of Tracker had made it clear that Colter and his siblings had struggled together and, at the same time, experienced different versions of their parents based on birth order, their understanding of the deep family mystery was similar. Colter's father's death had remained a touchy subject to say the least, and as the Shaw brothers got closer to the truth, their protective guards went up.

Throughout Tracker season 3, Colter got the chance to learn more about the circumstances that surrounded his father's death after discovering the man who'd killed him in the second season finale. As the mystery unraveled, Colter found himself more confused than ever about everything he thought he knew, and Russell popped in to provide details as needed. By the time Tracker season 3 came to a close, Russell and Colter had some closure surrounding their father's death, and though Colter felt ready to move forward, Russell had another mystery at hand, one he was purposefully keeping a secret from Colter.

Tracker Season 4 Promises To Provide Even Deeper Shaw Lore

Colter and Russell investigating a case together in Tracker season 3

Although Tracker season 3's end saw Russell leaving his little brother behind in order to go investigate what had happened to Colter when he was younger, the show was quick to ensure that it was only a temporary departure. At the end of Tracker season 3, Russell asks Colter's lawyer, Reenie Greene (Fiona Rene), to cover for his absence with the younger Shaw for the time being, but Ackles' character promises to check in when he has more information to share. With Ackles appearance in Tracker season 4 confirmed, it's clear that the show will be continuing the mystery storyline.

Tracker season 4 may be the first season of the series to be working with the full scope of what happened to Ashton Shaw, which effectively ends the series' first long-running mystery, but the lore doesn't appear to be stalling out. Instead, Tracker season 4 seems to be ready to provide even deeper lore for the Shaw siblings, doubling down on the fact that the family is full of secrets. As the series moves into uncharted territory, the family mystery appears to be growing even larger, which could make the upcoming Tracker season 4 the best one yet.