Tonight’s episode of Tracker leaned hard into its darker thriller roots — delivering a gripping, emotionally charged story where every step forward uncovers something even more unsettling. This was not just another case for Colter Shaw; it was a deep dive into obsession, betrayal, and survival — and it sets the bar high as the season races toward its conclusion.
The episode starts with a scene straight out of a nightmare: Riley Adams, a young woman trying to decompress after a rough day at work, drives home down an empty Michigan highway, chatting with her mom. The everyday realism — the “be home in a half hour” promise — makes the sudden attack that much more terrifying. A mysterious car smashes into hers, and when Riley gets out, thinking it’s just a hit-and-run, the real horror begins. The vehicle turns back around and speeds at her, and then — she vanishes.
It’s an instant gut-punch of an opener that pulls you right into the case’s urgency.
Colter is called into action by Velma and immediately brings his blend of empathy and methodical tracking, connecting with Riley’s frantic mother, Suzanna, who feels in her gut that something terrible has happened. Right away, Colter’s instincts tell him this isn’t just a runaway situation — and neither is the police’s initial assessment enough.
| “Collision” – TRACKER, Pictured: Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw. Photo: Darko Sikman/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
One thing Tracker does better than most procedural shows is lean into emotional realism: it doesn’t treat missing person cases like puzzles; it treats them like crises affecting real, hurting people. Colter’s conversation with Suzanna underscores that.
When Colter meets Detective Katie Douglas, the show makes a smart move by introducing a local cop who’s willing to collaborate. They form a solid partnership — Colter looking for small details, Douglas working official channels — and you can feel the mutual respect growing between them. The first suspect? A mysterious man tied to Riley’s New York past — Vincent Rourke, a shady nightclub owner with secrets to burn. His black Jaguar with New York plates and a crumpled front bumper makes him an obvious suspect. Through some classic Colter sleuthing (and a bit of pickpocketing), they discover Vincent was secretly meeting Riley because she was pregnant with his child. But here’s where the show keeps things fresh: Vincent isn’t the villain. He’s desperate, messy, and selfish — but not violent. This misdirection sets the stage for the real horror to be uncovered.
Enter Cheryl — Riley’s supposed childhood best friend. From the start, Cheryl seemed off, a little too eager to paint herself as a confidante. Colter uncovers the truth through subtle details, like matching the flower-painted nails on the vandal seen in hotel surveillance footage. The reveal that Cheryl had been stalking Riley — obsessed with her since they were kids — is a jaw-dropping moment. But the episode doesn’t stop there. When Cheryl is found murdered in her own home, staged as a suicide, it becomes clear that there’s an even more dangerous party involved. Tracker cranks the tension up yet another notch: this wasn’t just a case of twisted friendship; someone else manipulated the situation, framed Cheryl, and abducted Riley.
Colter and Detective Douglas dig deeper and connect the dots to Tyler and Monica Harper, a married couple with heartbreaking tragedy in their past and a terrifying agenda in the present. Their obsession with having a baby leads to them abducting Riley to steal her unborn child. Monica’s delusions — speaking lovingly to Riley’s belly while treating Riley herself as disposable — are portrayed with chilling intensity.
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| “Collision” – TRACKER, Pictured: Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw. Photo: Darko Sikman/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
While the case wraps up satisfyingly, the show teases the larger mystery of Colter’s own backstory. In the next episode, Colter’s sister Dory will return, bringing with her the elusive box tied to their father’s shadowy past. With just two episodes left, the show is perfectly setting the stage for personal revelations that fans have been waiting for all season.
And let’s not forget — the dynamic duo of Bobby and Randy continue to bring levity and brainpower to the mix. Watching Bobby’s tech wizardry and Randy’s more street-smart backup mesh is both fun and effective, keeping things from getting too dark for too long.
“Collision,” is a wonderful mix of tension, emotion, and surprise. It started as a simple missing person case and escalated into a layered, devastating story of obsession and stolen futures. Justin Hartley continues to anchor the show with warmth, intelligence, and quiet intensity, making Colter Shaw a lead worth rooting for. As we move toward the season finale, “Collision” proves that Tracker isn’t just about finding missing people — it’s about uncovering the painful truths that drive human behavior.
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