#elwood reid critical

[whateverthedragonswant]

Full disclosure, I still have not seen past 3x10 but that pic of Jensen and Kylie from bts that was posted - even that STILL picture has chemistry emanating from it. And that's just them posing for a photo. HOW DID YOU MISS THIS SO BADLY, ELWOOD????

[justjensenanddean]

Justin Hartley Says Jensen Ackles Brings Tracker to the 'Next Level' as They Reunite for Season 2

Ackles will appear on the second episode of 'Tracker' season 2, airing on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS

The brothers are back together!

In PEOPLE's exclusive photo from the upcoming episode of season 2 of Tracker, Justin Hartley and Jensen Ackles reunite in their roles as siblings.

After first working together in season 1 with Hartley as Colter and Ackles as his estranged brother Russell, the longtime friends are coming together once again — but it isn’t without drama.

“Jensen and I have known each other for a long time, we just never had a chance to work together,” Hartley, 47, tells PEOPLE in a statement. “Jensen is the perfect guy to play Russell. It’s such a well fleshed out character in the book and even more so with what we’ve done on the show.” “And then Jensen just brings to it the next level,” he adds.

Episode 2 of season 2, titled “Ontological Shock” airs Sunday, Oct. 20, and sees Colter disappear while searching for a missing father. Reenie (played by Fiona Rene) then calls in Russell to help track him down in the intense hunt for the survivalist.

Hartley first teased Ackles’ return to the series during the Summer Television Critics Association 2024 Press Tour in July. Fans went wild seeing the two together at the end of Tracker season 1 when the Supernatural star made a guest appearance and they have been anticipating seeing him again.

“We got him, he’s coming back,” Hartley said at the time. “We’re having fun with that. It’s a great story.”

Although the This Is Us alum said “I don’t know” when asked how many episodes would feature Ackles, showrunner Elwood Reid assured viewers it would be for "more than one" episode. 

"It’s like family: when we text him [he says], ‘Tell me where and tell me when,’ and he shows up," explained Reid, who previously worked with Ackles on Big Sky. "He’s just that kind of guy.”

[jensenackles-daily]

At the Television Critics Association press tour on July 13th, 2024, Justin Hartley and Elwood Reid confirmed that Jensen Ackles will return to Tracker in more than one episode even after booking Countdown (x)

[blogger360ncislarules]

Good news “Tracker” fans, Jensen Ackles will return for Season 2.

After the CBS procedural series introduced the “Supernatural” star during the inaugural season, Ackles is set to return for Season 2 for more than one episode, star and EP Justin Hartley and showrunner Elwood Reid revealed during the Television Critics’ Association’s summer press tour.

“We got him, he’s coming back,” Hartley told journalists on Saturday during the CBS drama’s presentation. “We’re having fun with that, it’s a great story.”

The news comes after fan speculation that Ackles, who plays the estranged brother of Hartley’s Colter Shaw, might not be able to return for another installment of “Tracker” amid his casting in Prime Video’s thriller series “Countdown.”

Elwood, who also serves as an EP on the series, confirmed Ackles would appear in more than one episode. While the producers are keeping the upcoming storyline under wraps until the Season 2 premiere this fall, Elwood said he was “particularly excited” about the plot to come.

“I’ve worked with Jensen previously and Justin’s friends with him,” Elwood said, referencing his time as showrunner on ABC’s “Big Sky.” “It’s like family — when we text him [he says], ‘tell me where and tell me when,’ and he shows up. He’s just that kind of guy.”

Ahead of the Season 2 debut of “Tracker” on Sunday, Oct. 27, Elwood teased the forthcoming installment will include some “surprises.”

“This season is going to be … even better [and] more fun,” Elwood said. “We’ve got some big surprises coming up this season, I know everyone says that but we truly do.”

In Prime Video’s “Countdown,” Ackles stars as LAPD officer Mark Meachum, who is recruited to join a secret task force of undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement to investigate a suspicious murder committed in broad daylight.

[lol-jackles]

https://x.com/deansbestie_/status/1785233308269580622

In my opinion it just seems that Jensen only get work through friends and not because of talent or merit, even if AAs deny it, that's exactly what it seems, it's not the first time something like this has happened What do you think?

Elwood Reid was the showrunner of Big Sky in season 2 & 3 as well as it's writer/executive producer. The Elwood Reid Inc is one of the production companies behind Tracker. Therefore, your theory tracks.

With that said, networking is critical in any serious business venture, especially in the industry with a 96% unemployment rate on a good day. 

[sammysnaughtygirl]

Jensen Ackles to return for “Tracker” season 2: 'We got him,' says star Justin Hartley

Soldier Boy might be frozen, but Russell Shaw is wide awake and ready for action.

Jensen Ackles is set to return as the estranged elder brother to Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw in season 2 of Tracker. During the show’s panel at the Television Critics Association 2024 Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif., Hartley and executive producer Elwood Reid confirmed that they weren’t yet finished exploring the family drama between the two siblings, and would delve deeper when Ackles returned for a multi-episode arc the second season.

"We got him,” Hartley said of Ackles. “He’s coming back.”

As for how many episodes Ackles would return for, Hartley was unable to say but Reid did confirm that it would be “more than one.”

A representative for Ackles didn't immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly's request for comment.

Ackles guest-starred in the penultimate episode of the first season, reuniting Colton with his brother just in time to prod at buried family history ahead of the finale. Reid also hinted that more family drama lies on the horizon, teasing the return of Manifest actress Melissa Roxburgh as Colter’s younger sister, Dory per TVLine.

The CBS series centers on Hartley’s Colter Shaw, an experienced survivalist and talented tracker who travels the country in his RV, using his skills to help civilians and law enforcement solve crimes and find missing people. When Colter last teamed up with Russell, his brother sought his help to find a missing army buddy.  Tracker isn’t the only series that the Supernatural alum is expected to return to. Ackles previously appeared in season 3 of The Boys, the satirical superhero series from Supernatural creator Eric Kripke that is currently gearing up for its fifth and final season. Though his stint as Solider Boy — a filthy-mouthed World War II-era, Captain America-esque supe — ended with his being taken out of commission, Kripke previously told EW that he was purposefully leaving the door open for Ackles to return.

Ackles has since reprised Soldier Boy for a cameo in spinoff series Gen V but his return to the mothership-series is much anticipated thanks to the promise of a full-blown Winchester family reunion. Ackles’ Supernatural dad Jeffrey Dean Morgan recently joined the show for its fourth season and Kripke has teased the increasing likelihood of Sam Winchester himself, Jared Padalecki, landing a spot on the show as well.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.

[hologramcowboy]

https://www.thewrap.com/tracker-jensen-ackles-season-2-return/

After the CBS procedural series introduced the “Supernatural” star during the inaugural season, Ackles is set to return for Season 2 for more than one episode, star and EP Justin Hartley and showrunner Elwood Reid revealed during the Television Critics’ Association’s summer press tour.

“We got him, he’s coming back,” Hartley told journalists on Saturday during the CBS drama’s presentation. “We’re having fun with that, it’s a great story.”

“I’ve worked with Jensen previously and Justin’s friends with him,” Elwood said, referencing his time as showrunner on ABC’s “Big Sky.” “It’s like family — when we text him [he says], ‘tell me where and tell me when,’ and he shows up. He’s just that kind of guy.”

Season 2 debut of “Tracker” on Sunday, Oct. 27, Elwood teased the forthcoming installment will include some “surprises.”

I am very happy about this because I love Tracker. However, this makes it clear Jensen's Countdown is an ensemble show that will focus on way more characters than just him.

[whateverthedragonswant]

☝️ Just another thing fanboy Elwood is ruining this season in favor of the most ridiculous fanservice ever recorded.

this is such a small fandom that I don't wanna bring negativity to it but I am soooooooooooo frustrated with how little screentime Cassie and Jenny have on the show now. Their relationship has always been the heart of the story and I don't want to watch them work cases separately, I want to watch them TOGETHER. It feels like now we only get to see them interact for a couple minutes at a time. It just sucks. LET ME SEE EPISODES ALL ABOUT THEM AND THEIR OLD MARRIED COUPLE ENERGY THAT IS ALL I AM ASKING

[may064]

Oh that hologramcowboy person re-blogged me and blocked me! Good riddance! I can finally not see their shit!

I was tired of seeing them parading around as a Jensen fan and spouting absolute bullshit. This person is not-in-the-know or whatever. If they are, bring some proof, anything! Oh! even better! They’re in the know as much as Goob is! So, good for them, I guess ;).

But, if they were so in-the-know and so confident of themselves why couldn’t they bring any proof of literally anything they said? They have got a million theories and a tight philosophy about how good of an actor Jensen is NOT. But they couldn’t answer for Kylie and Katherine. Why their storyline ALSO sucks this season and not just Jensen’s. If Jensen changes the script so much and doesn’t understand his character (which is, bs honestly. No director or production team will give the actor so much control that he can change his character’s entire arc. (Also, Jensen has eidetic memory and can remember lines very well and can understand his characters very well. This is a known fact. He goes slowly through the script when he first gets it just to understand the character’s motivations and where they’re coming from. Therefore, another lie debunked.) So, rest assured that whatever’s happening it’s happening with the consent of the producers and the development team.) I’m sure the production team is there to point out any mistakes that don’t go with the character? Or does Jensen have them all tied up with ropes or has people holding guns to their head? And even after he’s said that he can accept any criticism? Elwood Reid is there, he’s not going to get starry eyed at Jensen. He can surely tell him when he’s going wrong and I’m sure does when it happens. Alos, there’s a thing such as fucking bad writing? And it has been going on since season 2, before Jensen came in? If the writing’s bad, even the best actor in the world can’t do anything?

So, this bullshit is just anti-behaviour. If not, then bring proof. Any proof. Also, super fun if anybody doesn’t agree with you or cheer you for hating Jensen or doesn’t want him to retire, they’re automatically an AA. Great, in that case, sure!

[whateverthedragonswant]

Omg I'm dying laughing rn though I'm really trying hard to stop. I'm rewatching certain Jenny scenes in 3x11 for writing purposes and what do I see?

Not only is Jenny more affectionate while Beau is giving her a hug like Poppernak just did but when Beau gets the call about Avery, he looks to Cassie first then Jenny, telling them an officer spotted him. Jenny tells him "Go", he nods then looks to Cassie who tells him "Yeah, we got this." THEN he leaves.

As he's leaving, he bumps into Poppernak literally and then he passes right by Jenny who moves out of his way but puts a hand on his shoulder, and tells him to call her later. He says yeah, never stopping to look at her, and walks out the door.

THEN when Jenny says she knows where they can start looking for the people who took Gigi, there is a shot of Cassie getting up and throwing a pen into a coffee cup.

Remind you of anything?

This episode is all about parallels while bringing back some good ol' Cassie and Jenny working together goodness (which is why it's such a great episode for writing fuel), it allows Katheryn to shine as well as Jensen in their performances among some of the other cast members, it allows Cassie back into the lead she's supposed to be for once, we get back to the roots a bit of what is really the heart of this show (the 2 ladies), and gives us more of a closer look into Beau's story as well.

So while Beau deals with Avery who is trying to steal 15 million that has put his daughter and her mother in danger, Jenny is dealing with the fallout of Gigi grifting the wrong people that she stole 30K from Jenny to try to fix that now has mother and daughter in danger. Parallels.

This episode has such potential and I actually would argue is one of the more decent ones we've seen all season. Maybe that's due to Ryan's involvement in writing the episode, I'm not sure, but it's fantastic all around.

But here's what cracks me up when I think just how badly they fudged this season up and how hard the actors had to work to try to offset some of these bad story decisions. Why the parallel between Beau and Cassie?

Would Cassie have become the new sheriff had the series continued and Beau actually stayed in character, following Carla and Emily back to Houston? Not likely, given Cassie has staunchly refused to go back into policing and still has her PI business. Not to mention that would be a huge disservice to her character as well as Jenny's.

Is it a romantic parallel? Nope. The show runner made it pretty clear that Beau supposedly only sees Jenny in that light.

To set up a romantic parallel between Beau and Jenny? While I wouldn't put it past them to actually do that and think they accomplished something there, that doesn't seem to be what's happening here either, especially since Jenny is not the one tossing the pen and given Beau's pilot mode responses to her physical contact.

So why the parallel? Why have Cassie sitting like Beau was, throwing the pen into a coffee mug as they got up? When Jenny and Poppernak were present in both scenes, with Jenny knowing where to go and leading the way? With a phone call happening to Beau both times?

Well, let's look at who wrote this episode: Ryan and Christine Roum. And let's look at the title of the episode "Super Foxes". Jenny leads Cassie to see Tanya and Donno in the next scene where Jenny has to ask beg for Tonya's help to find her mom, none of her disgust for Tonya present. Tonya eventually agrees to help.

Now let's go back to 3x02. Who wrote that episode? Kyle Long and Christine Roum. What's the title? "The Woods Are Lovely, Dark and Deep" Not a parallel to foxes at all, in fact it's a line from a popular Robert Frost poem.

But in this episode what do we have? Beau is trying a sandwich from Tonya and Donno's diner The Blue Fox when Beau calls Jenny over to try it. She flat out refuses (we saw the previous episode how much she can't stand that Tonya isn't in jail) and goes on a rant with Tonya appearing behind her. Beau dashes off to help Cassie while telling Jenny to help Tonya. Jenny begrudgingly does while taking Poppernak with her. This case leads to the pen scene later on, where they're leaving to head to Tonya's house to save Paul.

This is the parallel. They literally did this to not only set up the Jenny and Tonya scene after to show Jenny's change but also to call back to 3x02. The pen parallel was the best they could do rather than pour everything they had into the Jenny and Tonya scene (which Katheryn and Jamie-Lynn were the ones to make it work btw) to wrap it up and make it more meaningful for Jenny's character which was at the forefront of this episode. They used Cassie again in order to focus on Jenny, sidelining how important Cassie actually is to the story itself. (Let's not forget y'all, she's the main character from the books this show is based on)

And then they did it to her again with Beau in the same damn scene! Even in an episode that's not about the AA-led campaign for Beau/Jenny kiss kiss tag team for once (though they still keep it in your face in their separate stories by the whole Emily and Carla scenes). Beau looks to Cassie again before Jenny like he had in 3x02 and 3x01 because he "still isn't ready to let Jenny in yet". So they literally use Cassie yet again to further someone else's story, one who isn't even one of the main characters. (Listen, I love Beau but that's the cold hard truth, it's not a slight against the character or Jensen)

And they even continuously used Poppernak for the Beau and Jenny push as well. Granted, he's not a main character but he has become a pillar in Jenny's world so to speak. Plus, the way J. Anthony Pena played him, there was SO much potential there with his character.

Literally both POC characters were pushed aside for the White characters to set up a romance that they didn't even commit to in the end (that ending scene is not romantic, sorry not sorry - Beau still can't look at her or tell her what happened in Houston without imbibing more alcohol, she settled for handhold). Just cold hard facts. And again, crappy writing.

THIS is why this show failed. Because of ridiculous story decisions like this. No wonder the cast had to work so hard to try to make things make sense when it came to marrying their performances with the writing. Because when you strip this down and look at the whole thing, what on earth do you see? A gift of a great story (from the books) and a David E. Kelly production that put an exciting twist on the whole thing was given to Elwood Reid and his writers and they completely ruined it. They literally took it and smashed it into pieces in a trash compactor then presented it to us and were like "See this masterpiece I made?"

I won't lie, I'm a huge Katheryn Winnick fan and to me it was sad to read an interview she gave back when she was first on the show, doing press. She was supposed to take a sabbatical after Vikings but got this offer, saw it was a David E. Kelly production, and knew she couldn't pass it up. So she went in full steam ahead. Anyone who has read/heard Katheryn talk knows how incredibly creative she is, knows she puts her heart and soul into the stories she tells. Not to mention Jenny Hoyt was a great character they created and it was the perfect marriage between Jenny and Katheryn on the screen. Whatever David's reasons for stepping away after season 1, Elwood was clearly the wrong choice to take over and lead this team of writers. They made some good decisions here and there like Beau and his storyline, Reba's casting, the Cassie and Jenny moments that were the heart of season 2, etc, but they really took the polished gem of potential David gave them and collectively ran over it with their cars.

I love the story of the books and I love the overall story of the show between the two women (what a smart twist to switch Cody for Jenny, to flesh out Jenny's character more, and split it down the middle between Cassie and Jenny in the storyline - that's David E. Kelly for you). This show had so much potential had they changed up either the showrunner or some of the writers or even both, but sadly they chose to do...that.

And examples like this one are proof in the pudding of how badly they missed the mark. If only they had done things differently perhaps we would have a season that pulled together better and actually made sense for all characters involved, rather than showing the desperation to stay on the air and sucking up to a section of one actor's internet fan base. We still might not have gotten a season 4 due to what's happening in Hollywood right now, but the characters would have been in a much better position by the end of the season in their storylines, then the equivalent of an apathetic wrap job in old newspaper with Scotch tape to "close things up".

So sad.

Eli Jorne and his writers told a better story in 6 episodes than Elwood and his writers did in 2 seasons (31 episodes). And Elwood was handed the world from David E. Kelly. Eli was given access to the TWD universe but had to completely create his own corner of it.

Sad.

[justjensenanddean]

Big Sky: Season 3: Cast, Premiere Date, Trailer, and Everything Else to Know

We're one week away from the premiere of Big Sky Season 3, and there's plenty to look forward to. The crime drama has a new name — it's now dubbed with the byline "Deadly Trails," likely a hint to what Katheryn Winnick's Jenny Hoyt and Kylie Bunbury's Cassie Dewell will follow in this season — and two new series regulars.

Country legend Reba McEntire joins as Sunny Brick, "the mercurial matriarch of the Brick Family" and a "successful backcountry outfitter with a secret history of missing customers," which sounds suspicious AF. Season 3 will take us on one of Sunny's hiking expeditions that goes awry and proves to be Jenny and Cassie's most formidable mystery yet.

There is of course also Jensen Ackles' Beau Arlen, who we met in the Season 2 finale. The Supernatural and The Boys actor is confirmed as a series regular in Season 3, and Ackles will continue as the newly appointed sheriff who is Jenny's boss.

At ABC's Television Critics Association summer press tour panel on Sept. 14., McEntire and Ackles talked about what drew them to Big Sky. "We couldn't refuse," McEntire said. "To get to come on the show with such wonderful characters already established, and then with great storylines and things that I am looking forward to every time I get a script to see what happened — that's when I know the audience is going to be entertained."

"When my initial conversation with Elwood [Reid] took place, he mentioned shaking some stuff up for Season 3 and I thought, well I can shake," Ackles said. He also joked: "I feel like I'm getting a little typecasted just being a guy from Texas who wears boots, because I'm literally wearing boots right now and I'm from Texas."

Ackles was also asked about previous roles he has played, including Soldier Boy in The Boys, and whether he's particularly drawn to characters who enforce their versions of justice. "I think there's a certain aspect of these characters that I feel like I would probably watch and find entertaining myself," Ackles said. "Which I think then, by default, makes me enjoy playing them and succeed in doing so."

Here's everything we know about Big Sky Season 3.

TV GUIDE

[blogger360ncislarules]

The brothers are back together!

In PEOPLE's exclusive photo from the upcoming episode of season 2 of Tracker, Justin Hartley and Jensen Ackles reunite in their roles as siblings.

After first working together in season 1 with Hartley as Colter and Ackles as his estranged brother Russell, the longtime friends are coming together once again — but it isn’t without drama.

“Jensen and I have known each other for a long time, we just never had a chance to work together,” Hartley, 47, tells PEOPLE in a statement. “Jensen is the perfect guy to play Russell. It’s such a well fleshed out character in the book and even more so with what we’ve done on the show.”

“And then Jensen just brings to it the next level,” he adds.

Episode 2 of season 2, titled “Ontological Shock,” airs Sunday, Oct. 20, and sees Colter disappear while searching for a missing father. Reenie (played by Fiona Rene) then calls in Russell to help track him down in the intense hunt for the survivalist.

Hartley first teased Ackles’ return to the series during the Summer Television Critics Association 2024 Press Tour in July. Fans went wild seeing the two together at the end of Tracker season 1 when the Supernatural star made a guest appearance and they have been anticipating seeing him again.

“We got him, he’s coming back,” Hartley said at the time. “We’re having fun with that. It’s a great story.”

Although the This Is Us alum said “I don’t know” when asked how many episodes would feature Ackles, showrunner Elwood Reid assured viewers it would be for "more than one" episode. 

"It’s like family: when we text him [he says], ‘Tell me where and tell me when,’ and he shows up," explained Reid, who previously worked with Ackles on Big Sky. "He’s just that kind of guy.”

Hartley’s Colter is an experienced survivalist and tracker who offers his skills to both civilians and law enforcement while also dealing with his own complicated personal life. In the season 1 finale, Colter uncovered some secrets about his father and siblings — a storyline that is carrying on into season 2. 

Tracker was an instant hit, renewed for a second season only a few episodes into its debut. It was also revealed to be CBS’s most-watched show since Young Sheldon’s premiere in 2018 and the No. 1 show on cable since its premiere, according to Nielsen.

The season 1 finale saw Colter learn a few things about his father — and his siblings. And the new season will pick up a few months later.

[sammysnaughtygirl]

Jensen Ackles Joins "Tracker" Season 2: Justin Hartley Confirms

When "Tracker" returns for its second outing, Jensen Ackles will return, bringing more family dynamics with him. This was confirmed during the Summer Television Critics Association 2024 Press Tour in Pasadena, California on July 13 by Justin Hartley who stars and is an executive producer.

We got him, he’s coming back," Hartley said. "We’re having fun with that. It’s a great story." Colter Shaw (Hartley) is an expert tracker and survivalist protagonist of 'Tracker.' He puts to good use his unique abilities to help out both regular civilians and law enforcement alike as well as manage his complicated personal life.

In season one, Ackles had starred as Russell Shaw- Shaw’s long-lost brother-in the penultimate episode. When asked how many episodes will feature Ackles in season 2, Hartley, 47, admitted, "I don't know." Showrunner Elwood Reid also couldn't specify but assured that Ackles' role would extend beyond a single episode.

"It’s like family: when we text him [he says], 'Tell me where and tell me when,' and he shows up," Reid shared. Reid has previously collaborated with Ackles on "Big Sky," further strengthening their working relationship.

Reid also confirmed to TVLine that Melissa Roxburgh will be back as Dory, Colter's younger sister from "Manifest." Her return adds another layer to the familial theme of the season. "Tracker" became CBS's most-watched show since "Young Sheldon" debuted after Super Bowl LVIII in January 2024.

Born Joseph John Hartley Jr., Justin has played popular characters on NBC’s "This Is Us," "Passions," "Smallville," and Adam Newman on CBS' "The Young and the Restless," which earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination. Jensen Ackles, who has spent 15 seasons performing in "Supernatural," has continued to build his career with appearances in "The Boys" and "Big Sky".

He was recently named the protagonist of Prime Video’s upcoming show "Countdown." "Tracker" premieres on October 27, CBS’s new number one show since "Young Sheldon" debuted after Super Bowl LVIII. This announcement comes just days after news broke that Jensen Ackles had signed onto the series.

[whateverthedragonswant]

Holy shit that was one freaking fantastic episode! What a mid-season premiere!!!!

Doug is back the next episode!!! Oh God =(

Hen crying!!!

Maddie about to burst into tears!!!

Chim not knowing him in his fever dream!!!

Buck stopping breathing!!!

[blogger360ncislarules]

Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) is back on the case. After Tracker debuted earlier this year as the most-watched new show on network television, the hit CBS drama, about a lone-wolf survivalist who uses his expert tracking skills to help solve mysteries across the country, will return for a supersized second season of 22 episodes, promising to answer the burning questions raised in the final minutes of the first season.

When viewers last caught up with Colter, he learned a devastating secret from Lizzy (Jennifer Morrison), a close family friend whose missing daughter he had just tracked down. Lizzy told Colter that, shortly before his father Ashton died under mysterious circumstances, he had an affair with Lizzy's mother. After her mother's death, Lizzy found a box of Ashton's research papers and journals in a box under her bed. Lizzy sent that box to Colter's sister, Dory (Melissa Roxburgh), who neglected to mention, during her last encounter with Colter, that she had their father's belongings.

The revelation is enough to throw Colter for a loop, and he is now forced to question everything he thought he knew about his father's death and how much he could trust his surviving family members. But rather than opening the new season with Colter "spinning out" about his father's affair (and his mother's possible knowledge of his infidelity), executive producer and showrunner Elwood Reid wanted to throw the protagonist into a big personal case that has been a thorn in his side.

"What we built in is he has a case that's been his bugbear for 10 years. It's been the thing that's haunted him. He never solved the case, and we're going to meet a woman who he's involved with related to that case," Reid told TV Guide at the Television Critics Association press tour in July. "You're going to see the way that he processes the grief and the mystery of not being able to solve that case, in the first episode. He doesn't outwardly deal with his emotions all the time, and it comes out in a different way, and I think that's the trick and the challenge of writing this character."

Executive producer Ken Olin — who developed this series, based on Jeffrey Deaver's The Never Game, from the ground up with Hartley — said the creative team has always wanted to portray Colter as a classic male hero with "a very contemporary psychological backstory" that makes him feel more emotionally accessible.

"One of the things I'm just realizing is so cool about Colter, as he's evolved or been delineated by Elwood, is we gave him a really complicated dysfunctional family," Olin said. "What Elwood's done is create a character who is not inclined towards self-examination. It's sort of in that classic film [way]. He's not a character who self-examines, and yet he's obviously a character that cares. He has all these skills that he's trying to put somewhere. He uses these skills to help people, [whereas] his father's inclination was to just get off the grid [and not trust anyone]."

Titled "Out of the Past," the Season 2 premiere will find Colter investigating the disappearance of a missing family whose car was found abandoned on the side of the road in the backwoods of Arkansas — and this investigation will pull him into the world of organized crime. At the same time, Hartley said, the character is "going to take a little more time to figure out what his next move is" after feeling betrayed by his own flesh and blood. "It's a weird game that he's got to play whilst having all of these jobs that he's on," Hartley said.

Justin Hartley and Jensen Ackles, Tracker Sergei Bachlakov/CBS

The second episode will see the return of Colter's brother, Russell (Jensen Ackles), who is recruited by Reenie (Fiona Rene) after Colter goes missing on a case. (Reid confirmed the Supernatural star will continue to recur in the series for as long as he is available.)

Hartley noted that Colter's discovery of new information will shift the strained dynamics in the Shaw family going forward. "The interesting thing about that is Colter felt a certain way about his mother and his father, and he really didn't have anyone to talk to about it. Now, he kind of has someone that he might be able to bounce things off of, right?" Hartley said, alluding to Russell. "Granted, Russell's not particularly tight with their mom, although we did reveal that he does talk to their sister every once in a while — more than Colter does, perhaps. You'll start to realize, 'Well, maybe Colter is the most estranged one of the whole bunch. He's constantly on the road, constantly running from his past, chasing other things.'"

Reid also confirmed that there won't be many flashbacks (if any) this season unless he can find a way to incorporate Hartley into those kinds of scenes. Instead of relying on flashbacks to tell different versions of the Shaw siblings' childhood, the audience will be able to recognize the contrast between the way Russell and Dory reminisce about their childhood and the way Colter remembers it.

"Their mother is this big thing that we're going to pick up this season, and [we'll ask]: What does it mean? Was she lying to [Colter]? Was she protecting him? Was she doing a little bit of both, or was she actively using him for something? I think Colter is a guy that thinks about those things, but he doesn't talk about them with people," Reid said.

"You saw him with Jensen's character, Russell, who deals with it in a completely different way. He's like, 'Ah, f*** it. Move on.' And I don't think Colter can do that," the showrunner continued. "I think what makes him accessible and human and interesting is watching him wrestle with: Should I deal with this, or should I do what my sister and brother are telling me and just move on with my life? I think the answer to that, ultimately, is going to be he's going to pick it up, but in a way that's very distinctive."

Where does Hartley think that unwavering desire to search for the truth comes from? "I think it drives someone like Colter crazy when he's being lied to or manipulated, or people think they're manipulating him, because that's his game," the actor responded. "He doesn't really get manipulated, but he was a kid and he's just kind of taken on [this belief that] this is what happened [to his father]. It's what he was told, and now he's got to figure out: What are they covering up? Why does everybody seem to know all the information except him? That's kind of the opposite of what he's used to."

Although he had previously expressed an interest in directing an episode of Tracker, Hartley, who cut his teeth behind the camera on Smallville and This Is Us, said he has decided not to take on that additional role this season.

"I thought about it for about half a second, and then I was like, 'That would be taking away from my acting,'" he explained. "It's too much right now to do. I think as we flesh these other characters out and maybe give them more of a storyline, and it's not just me in every frame, maybe I'll have a little more time to direct. But for me to direct an episode of Tracker where I'm in every frame is like … What is that, ego? What am I doing? How can I watch it? I'm in it!'"

Abby McEnany, Tracker Sergei Bachlakov/CBS

"The Velma character is going through some difficult stuff at home, and she's going to find sort of a new purpose in life by helping Reenie open up her own business," Reid said. "Reenie is taking on some risks by opening up her own business, and we're also going to explore some of Reenie's romantic past, which is hinted at a lot. It was hinted at in the pilot and in other places, and [we'll see] how Colter reacts to that."

Although he has certainly had dalliances, Colter's nomadic life as a "lone wolf survivalist" doesn't particularly lend itself to forming long-lasting relationships. Hartley agreed that his character has more pressing concerns than a romantic relationship right now: "I don't think traveling around the country to save people and finding missing people with your girlfriend in an Airstream is very practical, so I think where the lone wolf [label] kind of fits him for now."

As the world of Tracker continues to expand, there will be opportunities to introduce new characters — and Hartley already has some in mind.

"I don't think [the Shaws] had a lot of family friends, but certainly, you have neighbors or people that knew family members from the past," said Hartley. "We don't have anything in there yet, but I always thought it'd be cool to reacquaint with someone that Colter knew from his childhood, from his early teen years — maybe a friend that he hasn't spoken to in 20, 30 years, and then he comes back into the fold and maybe he needs something. And then the friend's reminding him of something from his past, and [Colter's] going, 'What do you mean? I don't remember what you're talking about. I was a kid.' There are just so many avenues to explore on the show."

Hartley has already enlisted Ackles, one of his oldest friends in the industry, to play his brother. Could he recruit another one of his past costars to play a role like the family friend he was just talking about? Maybe a certain actor who has played Superman?

"I love Tom [Welling]," Hartley said of the man who played Clark Kent opposite his Oliver Queen on Smallville. "We'd have to find something for Tom, though — something that he'd be really excited about doing. If I read something and I'm like, 'Oh man, that's got Tom Welling written all over,' I would love nothing more than that, and that'll be the first call I make."