In recent years, hit shows on cable news sites like CBS have become wildly “woke” with still fan favorites like “FBI” and its various spinoffs failing to maintain popularity, perhaps as a result of the new fusion of hour-long political lectures into stories.
The composing and cast of these shows consistently reveals an advocate plan, and some people switch to streaming solutions in search of better entertainment. But this previous year, the new present” Tracker” was a hit, becoming network’s most- watched show in its first year and piling up 7 million live people for its episode in May.  ,  ,  ,
The story of the show seems surprisingly straightforward and somewhat suggestive of older TV shows. Colter Shaw, the character, calls himself a “rewardist”. Shaw came up with the phrase to describe himself as a sensor, making money off of prize work while looking for things and missing individuals.
Each event follows the gun-toting warrior, played by Justin Hartley, responding to a call from a needy person or object by the episode’s conclusion. Shaw’s may- do approach and one- man crusade against poor guys hints at the unique” MacGyver” series and plot lines. There is an intriguing subplot as Shaw investigates eerie family secrets, in addition to the numerous missing-person scenarios. The show manages to combine up- to- date style with old- fashioned charm, which is both enjoyable and familiar.  ,
Besides its sense of nostalgia,” Tracker” has other elements that make it unusual for a CBS show. Shaw travels by car in a vintage Airstream trailer behind his truck instead of visiting New York City or Chicago. He mostly travels on the West Coast and in the Midwest. Nearly every episode brings out beautiful scenery and small-town aesthetics.
Additionally, CBS created a cast that was unrelated to some of the channel’s biggest hits. Additionally, military veterans, small business owners, and other small-town characters who rarely appear on other CBS shows are portrayed sympathetically in the writing. That’s not to say every character is realistically portrayed,” Tracker” is still a TV show, but there is a wider range of motivations and personalities on display than in typical CBS offerings.  ,  ,  ,
” Tracker” also highlights a mature outlook on difficult relationships. Shaw’s father suffers from mental instability, which shapes the choices he makes and affects other characters. In the end, the family experiences rifts and an ongoing subplot as a result of the mental instability. Shaw speaks openly about his dysfunctional family and gives his parents the benefit of the doubt, refusing to criticize them negatively. Shaw’s ability to acknowledge the problems and still forgive is a welcomed change in a society that is increasingly encouraging adult children to dishonor their parents.
The episode also shows rocky relationships between Shaw and his siblings. Another forgiveness-oriented perspective on relationships is expressed by Shaw when he decides to rekindle a friendship with his separated brother and rekindle it.
Given the prevalence of promiscuity in contemporary media, the lack of intense sexual relationships among the main characters in” Tracker” is unusual. The “love’em and leave’em” theme that was supposed to be a part of the series was dropped in favor of acknowledging the harm that kind of relationship causes was included in the pilot episode. The second season could see a complete shift in these relationships now that only the first season has been released, but the mature perspective regarding the family and romantic relationships is undoubtedly a highlight of the episodes thus far.
A commitment to good triumphing over evil is clearly visible in the show. Other CBS programs, which struggle to define evil and increasingly offer justifications for all kinds of lawless behavior, occasionally deliver that message. In” Tracker”, the good guys help the weak, do n’t take bribes, try to do the right thing, and go home to their families. The bad guys are the ones involved in drugs, prostitution, human trafficking, and violence.
When possible, Shaw attempts to resolve a conflict with words, but in a way that is reminiscent of old Westerns, he uses physical force to end it when he is rescuing the weak. Although this screenplay wo n’t win any awards, it should provide a strong audience for viewers who are knowledgeable about the distinction between right and wrong and who want to see the man who champions justice prevail.  ,
Of course,” Tracker” was not created to defy modern entertainment standards. The show’s cast represents differing sects of America ( Shaw’s assistants and friends include a lesbian couple, a disabled black man, and an Asian woman ) yet does not devolve into activism. Rather, it highlights the authenticity of a demographically diverse country. Although the people he works with span a wide range of ethnicities and modes of living, the traits are only depicted on the screen and not woven into the plot. There were no lengthy lectures on various DEI topics or speeches on gender roles or political party affiliation. The focus on the story, not the agenda, is promising in the first season.
Given its parallels to older television programs and traditional American values,” Tracker” is a surprising CBS offering. Many fans will be eager to see if the following season offers the same charm and excitement as the first season, which attracted enough viewers to warrant a second one.
