The hit CBS series Tracker took a break last Sunday, so the question on fans’ minds is just how long the latest Justin Hartley hiatus will last? Series are known to take a week off every now and then, but sometimes the hiatus lasts several weeks — and possibly even months! So is Tracker coming back(er) to us soon? Or is the survivalist drama taking an extended leave? Here’s what we know!
The official synopsis for Tracker Season 2, Episode 16, “The Mercy Seat,” is as follows: “Colter helps an old friend with a search and rescue mission for two missing sisters in the snowy Montana wilderness. Meanwhile, Reenie gets a visit from a new client that challenges her morality.” Written by Elwood Reid & Sharon Lee Watson and directed by David Barrett, Tracker Season 2, Episode 16 will also switch things up a bit by letting Colter out in the cold. As noted in a previous piece, based on “The Mercy Seat” promo photos, we know that Colter will be braving the snow to solve his latest missing persons case, and from the looks of things, he’ll even be riding a snowmobile!
We also know that Pej Vahdat will be playing Leonard Sharf, Diego Klattenhoff will be playing Roger McLaren, Ariana Guerra will star as Amelia, and Lexi Simsonsen will star as Shelly. So when can we watch Colter’s upcoming outdoor adventure? Is Tracker on tonight, April 13? When does Tracker return with new episodes? Where is Tracker streaming? And how can you watch Tracker live and online? Here’s everything to know about Tracker Season 2, Episode 16 — including first-look stills.
Is Tracker On Tonight (4/13/25)? Yes! Tracker is on tonight, Sunday, April 13, 2025. When Does Tracker Return With New Episodes? Tracker Season 2, Episode 16 Premiere Date: Curious when Tracker will be back(er) with new episodes? Tracker Season 2, Episode 16, “The Mercy Seat” is set to premiere on Sunday, April 13 on CBS. Fear not, the hiatus is over!
What Time Is Tracker Season 2, Episode 16 On CBS? Tracker fans know that premiere times have varied over the first two seasons, but if you’re looking to set your alarms for Tracker‘s Season 2 return, Episode 16 is currently set to air Sunday, April 13 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET on CBS.
How Many Episodes Are In Tracker Season 2? Though Tracker Season 1 consisted of 13 episodes, Season 2 will feature 22 episodes. Since 15 episodes have already aired, that means fans still have six new episodes to look forward to before the sophomore season concludes.
Is Tracker Season 2 On Paramount+? Tracker Streaming Info: If you’re looking to rewatch or catch up on Tracker during Season 2’s hiatus, you may be wondering if the series is streaming on Paramount+. The answer is yes! All 15 episodes of Season 2 are currently streaming on Paramount+. And when the series returns, new episodes will be available to stream live on Paramount+ with Showtime and next day for Paramount+ Essential subscribers.
Is Tracker Season 2 On Hulu? If you’re hoping to stream Season 2 episodes of Tracker on Hulu, sadly you’re out of luck. Tracker Season 1 was added to Hulu back in 2024, but unfortunately Season 2 episodes won’t be available for next-day streaming on Hulu. The sophomore season will likely be added in the future, but for now, head to Paramount+ or CBS to stream or watch live using one of the other methods listed here.
How To Watch Tracker Season 2 Live On CBS And Online: Want to watch new episodes of Tracker live when the show returns to CBS? If you have a cable subscription that includes the network, you can watch Tracker live by setting your TV to the proper channel a few minutes before new the episode airs. You can also use your cable username and password to watch live CBS episodes live on CBS, CBS.com, or by using the CBS app. If your cable package includes a DVR, you can always record live episodes for later viewing, too.
Don’t have cable? Don’t worry! There are other live viewing options, including fuboTV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, or YouTube TV, which offer access to CBS without cable. For those wondering, FYI, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV also offer free trials for eligible subscribers, so consider trying them out next time you’re looking for a way to stream Tracker.
Tracker continues to power through its second season, showcasing lead character Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) tackling all types of weird and wonderful cases involving missing persons. The action drama is episodic, with Colter being handed a new case in every episode in a different location across the U.S. However, an overarching story about his own family history was introduced at the beginning of the series. This mystery continues to be abandoned as we near the end of the season, suggesting that the story won’t be resurrected until Season 3. Thankfully, Tracker has been renewed. But this leaves fans itching to learn more about Colter’s sordid past and wondering when that storyline will be revisited.
The Mystery of Colter's Past in Tracker At the beginning of the series, fans learned that Colter’s father, Ashton (Lee Tergesen), wound up dead at the bottom of a cliff near the family’s off-the-grid home. A respected professor, Ashton had grown increasingly paranoid and moved his family to the wilderness, where he taught his sons and daughter how to live off the land. It’s these survivalist traits and instincts that led Colter to pursue his career.
Colter hadn’t spoken to his older brother Russell (Jensen Ackles) in some time. He saw Russell at the top of the cliff that fateful day when he found his father’s body and had since believed that Russell had pushed him. At the end of Season 1, Colter finally reunites with his brother, who assures him he did not kill their father. He adds that he saw someone else in the woods that day, and though he doesn’t know who it was, he knows it was a man he had seen their mother talking to before.
As for his mother, Mary (Wendy Crewson) lives independently and supports Colter’s decision not to talk to Russell. In fact, she encouraged him not to do so, suggesting that nothing good would come of it. This raised suspicions about what really happened to Ashton, what work he was involved in, and how much Mary knew that she wasn’t telling Colter.
While working a case in Season 2, Episode 2, “Ontological Shock,” Reenie (Fiona Rene) calls Russell to help when she’s worried Colter is in trouble (he was). A man working at a secret government black site investigating alien life forms tells Russell he knows who he is and says his father “asked too many questions.” This further suggests that Ashton might have been right about his fears and had a legitimate reason to move his family away.
During another case, when Colter travels to help Lizzy (Jennifer Morrison), an old family friend, he learns that her mother and Colter’s father were having an affair. She thought he knew about it, but Colter is completely in the dark and shocked to learn this news. Lizzy also reveals that Ashton went to visit her mother just before he died, and they had an argument. She tells him she found a box of Ashton’s belongings among her mother’s things following her passing and gave it to Colter’s younger sister, Dory (Melissa Roxburgh).
Colter had just seen his sister and brought up the topic of their father, but she didn’t mention anything. This further raises questions about what happened to Ashton, what he knew, and why both Colter’s siblings, as well as his mother, seem to be hiding something from him.
The 'Tracker' Mystery Has Taken a Back Seat As the show has progressed through Season 2, little to nothing has been addressed about this mystery. Ackles hasn’t been seen in Tracker since the second episode of Season 2, while Dory hasn’t been seen since the first season. Instead, Colter shifted his attention to another cold case of the missing sister of an old friend, which became the new multi-episode case. That has since been solved. With Ackles, Roxburgh, Crewson, and Morrison all supposedly reprising their roles, fans are confident that this storyline will pop back up again. But it’s looking less and less likely that it will be this season.
If so, it might be part of a cliffhanger teaser ending that leaves fans anxious for Season 3. First, Robin Weigert left Tracker as Teddi, and now, another main character is MIA. The reason for his absence has been confirmed. For now, the last mention of Colter’s family was when he sat down at a diner with Reenie after they solved a big case. She commented on his choice of pancakes for dinner, and he referenced his childhood.
He recalled that when his father was having one of his “episodes,” his mother would make the kids pancakes as a symbolic way of restarting the day. This is the first time Colter mentioned his mother, or anyone in his family, in some time. It’s possible that maybe he took Dory’s advice to leave the past alone and focus on moving forward. But Colter doesn’t seem like the type who would leave any case unsolved, much less one about his own family.
Why Was the 'Tracker' Mystery Paused, and When Might It Come Back? The reason this story was paused may not have anything to do with intentionally trying to draw it out for the sake of anticipation. There are possible practical reasons. Two actors whose characters are key to the storyline have been busy with other projects. Roxburgh is leading the series The Hunting Party, a procedural crime drama on NBC that premiered in mid-January and might have been filming at the same time as Tracker.
However, that show was filmed in Vancouver, BC, the same location where Tracker is filmed. Ackles, meanwhile, handled a voice role as Bruce Wayne/Batman for the 2024 movie Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths and has two projects in the works. Countdown is an upcoming Prime Video crime drama where he stars as the lead character. It was filmed from September 2024 through March 2025 in Los Angeles, likely eating up much of his schedule. He is also starring in and executive producing Vought Rising, a prequel series where he reprises his role of Soldier Boy from the series The Boys.
As fans wait for more information, theories continue to pop up in the Tracker community. The latest relates to Season 2, Episode 13, “Neptune.” Its storyline might be gearing up to reveal another nugget of information before the season is over. In this episode, a character is introduced (but not seen) called Deputy Director Bartholomew. They are the mysterious boss of a secret government organization, and fans think this person could be somehow tied to Ashton.
While investigating the disappearance of a woman who worked with that secret government team, Colter receives a call from an unknown person who warns him to stay away. After solving the case, Reenie receives a letter from Deputy Director Bartholomew thanking Colter for his assistance in taking down a rogue agent. But even Reenie is suspicious that the letter sounds more like a veiled warning.
Could this be a sign of the Shaw family mystery finally bubbling back to the surface, or will this be a one-and-done incident, never to be heard of again? Fans will have to wait and see. But waiting might mean through to Season 3 of Tracker before there’s anything more about this puzzling case. Stream Tracker on Paramount+.
