Tonight’s episode of Tracker leaned onerous into its darker thriller roots — delivering a gripping, emotionally charged story the place each step ahead uncovers one thing much more unsettling. This was not simply one other case for Colter Shaw; it was a deep dive into obsession, betrayal, and survival — and it units the bar excessive because the season races towards its conclusion.
The episode begins with a scene straight out of a nightmare: Riley Adams, a younger lady making an attempt to decompress after a tough day at work, drives dwelling down an empty Michigan freeway, chatting along with her mother. The on a regular basis realism — the “be home in a half hour” promise — makes the sudden assault that rather more terrifying. A mysterious automobile smashes into hers, and when Riley will get out, pondering it’s only a hit-and-run, the actual horror begins. The car turns again round and speeds at her, after which — she vanishes.
It’s an on the spot gut-punch of an opener that pulls you proper into the case’s urgency.
Colter is known as into motion by Velma and instantly brings his mix of empathy and methodical monitoring, connecting with Riley’s frantic mom, Suzanna, who feels in her intestine that one thing horrible has occurred. Instantly, Colter’s instincts inform him this isn’t only a runaway state of affairs — and neither is the police’s preliminary evaluation sufficient.
| “Collision” – TRACKER, Pictured: Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw. Picture: Darko Sikman/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
One factor Tracker does higher than most procedural reveals is lean into emotional realism: it doesn’t deal with lacking particular person instances like puzzles; it treats them like crises affecting actual, hurting individuals. Colter’s dialog with Suzanna underscores that.
When Colter meets Detective Katie Douglas, the present makes a wise transfer by introducing a neighborhood cop who’s prepared to collaborate. They type a stable partnership — Colter on the lookout for small particulars, Douglas working official channels — and you’ll really feel the mutual respect rising between them. The primary suspect? A mysterious man tied to Riley’s New York previous — Vincent Rourke, a shady nightclub proprietor with secrets and techniques to burn. His black Jaguar with New York plates and a crumpled entrance bumper makes him an apparent suspect. By some basic Colter sleuthing (and a little bit of pickpocketing), they uncover Vincent was secretly assembly Riley as a result of she was pregnant along with his baby. However this is the place the present retains issues contemporary: Vincent isn’t the villain. He’s determined, messy, and egocentric — however not violent. This misdirection units the stage for the actual horror to be uncovered.
Enter Cheryl — Riley’s supposed childhood greatest buddy. From the beginning, Cheryl appeared off, a little bit too keen to color herself as a confidante. Colter uncovers the reality by way of refined particulars, like matching the flower-painted nails on the vandal seen in resort surveillance footage. The reveal that Cheryl had been stalking Riley — obsessed along with her since they have been youngsters — is a jaw-dropping second. However the episode doesn’t cease there. When Cheryl is discovered murdered in her own residence, staged as a suicide, it turns into clear that there’s an much more harmful get together concerned. Tracker cranks the stress up one more notch: this wasn’t only a case of twisted friendship; another person manipulated the state of affairs, framed Cheryl, and kidnapped Riley.
Colter and Detective Douglas dig deeper and join the dots to Tyler and Monica Harper, a married couple with heartbreaking tragedy of their previous and a terrifying agenda within the current. Their obsession with having a child results in them abducting Riley to steal her unborn baby. Monica’s delusions — talking lovingly to Riley’s stomach whereas treating Riley herself as disposable — are portrayed with chilling depth.
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| “Collision” – TRACKER, Pictured: Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw. Picture: Darko Sikman/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
Whereas the case wraps up satisfyingly, the present teases the bigger thriller of Colter’s personal backstory. Within the subsequent episode, Colter’s sister Dory will return, bringing along with her the elusive field tied to their father’s shadowy previous. With simply two episodes left, the present is completely setting the stage for private revelations that followers have been ready for all season.
And let’s not neglect — the dynamic duo of Bobby and Randy proceed to convey levity and brainpower to the combo. Watching Bobby’s tech wizardry and Randy’s extra street-smart backup mesh is each enjoyable and efficient, retaining issues from getting too darkish for too lengthy.
“Collision,” is an excellent mixture of rigidity, emotion, and shock. It began as a easy lacking particular person case and escalated right into a layered, devastating story of obsession and stolen futures. Justin Hartley continues to anchor the present with heat, intelligence, and quiet depth, making Colter Shaw a lead price rooting for. As we transfer towards the season finale, “Collision” proves that Tracker isn’t nearly discovering lacking individuals — it’s about uncovering the painful truths that drive human habits.
