Jensen Ackles Finally Reveals Whether Russell Shaw Is Coming Back For ‘Tracker’ Season 4
‘Tracker’ has spent the last three seasons proving that CBS still knows how to make a satisfying weekly procedural, with Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw crisscrossing the country solving cases while chasing the truth about his late father. The show built a devoted following largely on the strength of its central mystery, but it also found an unexpected fan favorite in Colter’s estranged older brother, Russell Shaw, played by former ‘Supernatural’ star Jensen Ackles.
Russell’s role expanded significantly during season 3, culminating in a finale that left his future genuinely uncertain. Toward the end of that finale, Russell betrayed Colter’s trust, not just by lying about where he was headed, but by keeping his brother in the dark about what he was really doing. Since Ackles isn’t a full time series regular, some fans even wondered whether the show might be building toward killing the character off entirely.
That cliffhanger has hung over the fandom for months, but Ackles has now addressed it directly. As production on ‘Tracker’ season 4 gets underway, the actor was asked about Russell’s fate during a recent fan convention appearance, and he kept the door open without making any promises. “I dip in and out of the show, Tracker. Just started its fourth season, so, I’m waiting for the phone call,” Ackles said, according to ScreenRant’s coverage of the event.
The comment came during Creation Entertainment’s Creation Toronto event, where Ackles was also asked about his busy schedule. He admitted he was looking forward to taking a bit of a break after working almost nonstop for roughly two years, while also confirming that his ‘The Boys’ prequel series ‘Vought Rising’ is on the way early next year, with Ackles reprising his role as Soldier Boy.
Ackles did not indicate that he has left ‘Tracker’ for good, and his response suggests he remains open to returning whenever the storyline calls for it. His limited availability appears to be the main reason Russell’s appearances have stayed sporadic rather than any creative decision to write him out.
There is still plenty of story left to justify a comeback. Russell spent much of season 3 chasing intel from a Department of Defense contact, a thread that ended with that contact’s death and left the brothers further divided heading into season 4. With the mystery of Ashton Shaw’s death now resolved, the show appears poised to use Russell’s unresolved arc to open a new chapter for the Shaw family.
Production logistics may actually help matters. ‘Tracker’ is shifting its production base from Vancouver to Los Angeles for season 4, a move that could make scheduling easier for returning guest stars. The series is confirmed to debut season 4 this fall in its usual Sunday 9pm ET slot on CBS, running through May, which gives the show plenty of time to bring Russell back if the story calls for it.
Fans clearly aren’t ready to let Russell go, and given how much chemistry Ackles and Hartley have shown onscreen, it is easy to understand why. Do you think Colter and Russell Shaw need to reunite this season, or is ‘Tracker’ better off keeping their fractured brotherhood as its lingering mystery?
