Critic Reviews

It wouldn't come as a surprise if this series lasted a decade on the network. It really is that good, and Colter Shaw is just a delightful character to watch on screen that we can only hope he sticks around for a long time.

If parts of Season 2 felt too muddled and bogged down by overextended anticipation, Season 3 will feel like a breath of fresh air. If the rest of the season is as strong as this premiere, which plays to everything audiences have come to love about Tracker, then we're in for a real network TV-sized treat.

While the series has some minor issues, Tracker is addictively entertaining. A charismatic lead, plenty of adventure, hints at unrevealed secrets, and an appealing supporting cast make this yet another satisfying CBS crime drama.

The very definition of comfort-viewing television and (based on the three episodes made available to me) seems poised to make an extended run.

The network has found a new leading man for a show with a decent balance of spectacle and intimacy, flashy action scenes and quippy romantic tension.

Tracker works mainly because Justin Hartley doesn’t try to reinvent his acting style to play Colton Shaw. And the show has just enough of a backstory, and quirky side characters, to give viewers reasons to tune in beyond the case-of-the-week stories.

The stories can be predictable, which is in itself predictable, or a little silly, not unusual among episodic procedurals, and perfectly acceptable. What’s worth turning up for is Hartley, who as Colton projects a calming, unruffled presence.

Tracker has streamlined its storytelling once again in Season 3, and the show is better for it. What we hope is that Colter gets more complex cases like the one that involved The Process, while he tries to figure out how to confront his mother about his father’s death.

McEnany and Weigert have each starred in better series and this material is beneath them, but their lived-in performances prove they aren’t snobs, elevating “Tracker” every time they’re on screen.

Is this great TV? Oh, no. But it is undemanding, enjoyable, and has potential for further development. It’s easy on the brain and, oh yes, the eyes. Which kind of makes it perfect post Super Bowl viewing.