Tracker won't have a spinoff (yet), here's why that's a good thing

If there’s one thing fans know about CBS, it’s that they love spinoffs. NCIS began as a spinoff of JAG before becoming a franchise with multiple entries. There’s also the FBI series and even Fire Country is getting one. The network just loves these, and it makes sense that they want to build on a successful show. 

That takes us to Tracker, which has become one of the hottest shows on the network. Premiering after the Super Bowl, the series follows Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley), a freelance “finder” of anything from missing persons to items. Traveling the country, Colter helps those in need while also handling his own difficult past. 

The drama mostly focuses on Colter, yet the first season introduced two intriguing characters in what seemed like “backdoor pilots.” First, Colter met up with his old “frenemy” Billie Matalon (played by Hartley’s real-life wife Sofia Pernas). The pair got along great with Billie’s feisty attitude and the episode played like she was guest-starring from her own show of tracking down rewards and bounties. 

Then, Colter later met his estranged brother Russell, played by Supernatural veteran Jensen Ackles. The Army veteran now works for a mysterious organization called the Horizon Group and hints at his own adventures. 

That leads to the question of whether Tracker could set-up a spinoff for either character. Season 2 is set to have Colter exploring more about his father and what drove the man to lead the family to live in the woods and train Colter. So, is it possible the show could one day get a spin-off?

Why a Tracker spinoff isn't in the works

Speaking to TVLine, showrunner Elwood Reid addressed the spinoff potential but made it clear there are no plans for the series to have any more installments yet. 

"It’s so funny because all my friends are like, ‘You’ve got to start thinking about spinning it off. Second seasons are very hard. I’ve seen this with shows, where they spin them off too early, then both shows suffer. The show is so singular with Justin [at its center] that it’s really important we keep expanding the world, expanding the cases and [expanding] what Tracker can do. Unlike a lot of shows — unlike a cop show in New York or Chicago, where they’re always dealing with a homicide — I can go into any world. I can go into stock car racing, I can go into Nashville, I can go into any world I want."

Executive producer Ken Olin agrees it’s better that Tracker maintains its own identity.

"Elwood and I, we’re pretty satisfied, too, by doing this [one show]. It’s a weird show to spinoff. But also, like, things don’t break through easily anymore…. I mean, look, Dick Wolf has been very successful and all that, but those [shows] are also how old now?"

To be fair, Reid did say “that if it made sense and seemed obvious to us,” they might be interested in a spinoff. For now, they’re concentrating on season 2, which will delve into Colter’s past and a shift as Robin Weigert has departed as his aide Teddi, leaving Abby McEnany’s Velma on her own and handling things. There are also going to be developments for Colter’s lawyer ally, Reenie. 

Reid is dead right that the show doesn’t need a spinoff just yet. It only has one season under its belt. It's way too soon to think of turning it into a franchise. Reid is also correct that the show already has Colter able to go to almost any location and mix up genres; we don’t need another show following the same formula. While Billie was a fun character (and Pernas deserves another series), she works better with Colter. Likewise, Russell would be better as a recurring face with the Horizon Group rather than given his own show already.

The chances of a spinoff happening down the road aren't low and it would make more sense seasons from now. The series still needs to get season 2 going and build on the momentum of season 1 without being distracted by a spinoff idea. Tracker works best focusing on Colter. While a spinoff can be a possibility one day, fans are happy for just one Tracker series right now. 

Tracker season 2 premieres Sunday October 13 at 8/7c on CBS.