Tracker Season 3 Episode 22 Review: The Best Ones
Tracker Season 3 Episode 22, “The Best Ones,” features an epic narrative that concludes the penultimate episode’s events.
The season finale answers several questions about the secret DARPA project Ashton Shaw was involved in, while introducing even more questions about Colter himself.
Even though the season does not end on a cliffhanger, the episode still provides exciting action, high stakes, and astonishing revelations.
Colter and Russell’s dynamic is the biggest highlight on “The Best Ones” because of the stark contrast between the brothers.
Despite Russell’s military background, he is far more optimistic than Colter. He believes they will succeed in taking down the DARPA project, no matter what it takes.
On the other hand, Colter is pragmatic. He is significantly more careful and less reckless while on the job. As a result, it is no surprise that Russell almost dies multiple times at the hands of the men hired to kill him and his brother.
It is a season finale, and all bets are off — anyone can die. Therefore, when Vickers gets Russell at gunpoint, it really does seem like Tracker is about to kill Colter’s brother, especially once shots go off.
It would be a bold decision to kill Russell, even though he is a fan favorite character portrayed by the beloved Jensen Ackles. Thankfully, Colter makes it in the nick of time and saves his brother, illustrating how his realism ultimately wins over Russell’s idealism.
The stakes are also incredibly high because of the people Colter and Russell are up against.
Usually, it is no trouble for Colter to take down his enemies. He is skilled, resourceful, and quick on his feet. Russell also has similar characteristics, making them the perfect team.
However, Tracker puts them to the ultimate test when they face equally skilled military men and other armed guards when rescuing Danny’s friend, Lola.
For once, the outcome of these encounters is not automatically in Colter’s or Russell’s favor. Hitmen shoot Russell in the shoulder and simultaneously kill his contact, Felton. Colter cannot fight off Vickers easily, and Vickers nearly stabs Colter several times.
This narrative decision delivers the show’s best action sequences yet, making the episode even more exciting.
Colter also finally gains closure regarding his father’s death on Tracker Season 3 Episode 22, “The Best Ones.”
Even though he will never know the exact details, this endeavor with Dr. Jukic, Danny, and Lola has provided Colter the emotional resolution he needs to move forward with his life.
Of course, moving forward involves a welcome appearance from Keaton as he and Colter prepare to fix up Ashton’s old pickup truck. It is a great way for Colter to move on.
John Keaton: What about you? That stuff your father was working on, you get the answers you were looking for?
Colter Shaw: No, not quite. Found out he was trying to do the right thing, though.
John Keaton: Well, sometimes, there’s a cost to that.
Unfortunately, Ashton Shaw’s death is anything but resolved.
In a shocking twist, Russell learns terrifying information about Ashton and Colter. The information is so heinous that Russell agrees to join McIntyre, the man in charge of this DARPA operation, despite it going against everything Russell believes in.
Russell also goes off the grid without saying goodbye to Colter, unable to face his brother with the new information he has. It begs the question of what Russell discovers in the secret file that McIntyre hands him.
It is possible that Ashton involved Colter in his unethical testing experiments, which would line up with Colter’s mother’s desperation to protect her children from their father.
However, the show does not reveal anything else about Ashton and Colter, setting up this mystery as the central storyline on Tracker Season 4.
What did you think of this episode of Tracker? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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Tracker airs Sundays at 9/8c on CBS.
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Sarah Novack
Sarah has been a passionate writer and blogger about various forms of media for as long as she can remember, and her favorite method of expressing this passion is through writing and discussion. She loves way too many TV shows, books, and movies, specializing in book-to-screen adaptations, fantasy, sitcoms, and procedurals.