CBS’s Tracker continues to lift the bar with “Monster”, an episode that blends psychological horror, intense motion, and robust character moments. What begins as a regular missing-person case shortly morphs into one thing a lot darker, as Colter Shaw finds himself monitoring a killer with a deeply unsettling backstory. The present continues to refine its components, utilizing good plot gadgets, layered character growth, and a creeping sense of dread to maintain viewers hooked.
A Basic Thriller Setup, Elevated by Sturdy Writing
The episode’s opening scene is straight out of a horror film—a quiet, unsuspecting mom placing her little one to mattress, a sudden noise in the midst of the night time, after which… she’s gone. It’s an immediately gripping chilly open that units the tone for your entire episode.
What makes “Monster” stand out from different Tracker episodes is how successfully it leans into psychological thriller territory. The pacing is tight, with one discovery seamlessly resulting in the following, every one revealing deeper layers of the case. The stakes really feel actual, and the thriller unfolds in a means that retains us guessing with out feeling compelled.
One of many episode’s strongest plot gadgets is the six levels of separation between the characters. Alice isn’t just a few random lacking lady—she has direct ties to Paul Hamilton, the killer. And Paul isn’t just a few nameless menace—he’s somebody Alice tried to assist. These connections make the stakes really feel private and add an emotional weight to the story.
Paul Hamilton: A Villain With Depth
Paul Hamilton is one among Tracker’s most chilling antagonists up to now, and what makes him so efficient is that he’s not only a senseless killer—he’s a damaged man with a warped sense of actuality. The episode doesn’t excuse his actions, but it surely does make him fascinating to look at.
| “Monster” – TRACKER, Pictured: Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw. Photograph: Sergei Bachlakov/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
His obsession with Alice isn’t romantic—it’s one thing deeper and much more unsettling. He sees her as the one one who ever actually noticed him, the one one who would possibly have the ability to “fix” him. His backstory, significantly the reveal that he killed his stepfather after years of feeling ignored and undesirable, makes him a terrifyingly actual form of monster—the type created by trauma, neglect, and rage. The present neatly makes use of the amusement park setting to replicate Paul’s mindset. It was a spot the place he felt deserted but additionally secure—a twisted paradox that makes it the proper closing battleground. And the home of mirrors? A traditional however extremely efficient selection, symbolizing each his fractured psyche and the distorted means he sees the world.
Alice: Extra Than a Damsel in Misery
Whereas Alice spends a lot of the episode in captivity, she is much from a passive sufferer. She makes use of each little bit of her coaching to maintain Paul calm, discuss him down, and manipulate the scenario in her favor. Her dialog with him about selecting to alter—not simply surviving, however actively working towards a greater self—parallels Colter’s personal struggles together with his previous. Alice’s previous as an addict additionally serves as an vital reminder that Tracker doesn’t simply take care of surface-level mysteries. This episode subtly explores the stigma round habit and the way in which individuals’s previous errors can be utilized towards them, even after they’ve labored arduous to maneuver ahead.
Colter: The Lone Wolf With a Heavy Previous
Whereas Tracker typically focuses on Colter’s talent as a tracker, this episode takes a welcome dive into his private life. The case itself is compelling, but it surely’s the ultimate diner scene between Colter and Reenie that provides a much-needed layer of emotional depth. Colter has at all times been a guarded character, however his story about his mom and the way she used pancakes as a approach to “restart the day” is without doubt one of the most susceptible moments we’ve seen from him. It explains a lot about why he retains shifting, why he by no means settles, and why he’s so reluctant to let individuals in.
After which there’s Reenie. She’s the one particular person Colter persistently lets into his world, and their chemistry continues to simmer. Her light push for him to contemplate remedy isn’t nearly skilled assist—it’s about letting somebody in. The way in which she tells him, “I like that you talk to me,” is a small however highly effective second. She sees via him, similar to Alice as soon as noticed via Paul. The distinction? Colter nonetheless has a option to let individuals in.
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| “Monster” – TRACKER, Pictured: Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw. Photograph: Sergei Bachlakov/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
Closing Ideas
“Monster” is one among Tracker’s strongest episodes but, balancing a compelling case with deep character moments. Using psychological horror parts elevates the stress, and the villain is without doubt one of the most complicated and disturbing but. In the meantime, Colter’s rising bond with Reenie provides an emotional thread that makes the present really feel richer with every episode.
Between Alice’s resilience, Paul’s chilling psychology, and Colter’s uncommon vulnerability, this episode is a standout. Tracker is proving that it’s greater than only a case-of-the-week present—it’s a sequence about damaged individuals looking for their means ahead.
