Russell Shaw may have been “killed off” in Sunday’s episode of Tracker, but Jensen Ackles’ character ultimately lived to fight another day.
Midway through Part 2 of the CBS drama’s two-part Season 3 premiere, Colter and Russell faked the latter’s death — ketchup splatter and all — in a clever attempt to throw The Process off their trail. The moment was both brief and hilarious, perfectly capturing the brothers’ very different personalities.
“We shot a whole bit where they argued about how to fake the death,” showrunner Elwood Reid recalls. “Russell’s the ‘I’ve done this before’ guy, while Colter’s trying to do everything by the book. It was funny, but we had to cut it for time. The ketchup shot said it all — and it’s perfectly on-brand for Russell.”
The Process Targets Colter’s Family
Later in the episode, Colter comes face-to-face with The Process’ mysterious leader — a man who preys on flawed individuals too afraid to go to the police. Among them could be Mary and Dory, and those suspicious pictures on his computer screen might hint that The Process has real intel on the Shaw family.
Could we circle back to what was on those servers later this season? Reid is careful not to reveal too much, but he confirms that “the world of academia that the Process came from overlaps with Ashton Shaw’s world. That’s intentional,” he says. “We [first] planted those seeds in Season 2 — government experiments, social-science projects, the paranoia of the ‘70s. It’s all going to intersect in interesting ways later this season.”
The Mystery of the Phone Number
Another lingering mystery involves the phone number Colter mentioned in Part 1 — the one tied to a scientist who died the same year as their father. Russell promises to dig deeper into the clue, and according to Reid, that storyline will return “around Episode 6 or 7,” when Colter eventually tracks it down himself and uncovers another person connected to it.
Whether Russell will reappear during that arc is still unknown. But Reid makes it clear he’d welcome Jensen Ackles back anytime.
“He was shooting Countdown and about to start The Boys spinoff [Vought Rising] when we grabbed him for this arc,” Reid explains. “He literally had 10 days off, and I talked him into spending eight of them with us. He’s a great guy, and if I can squeeze him in again, I will.”
A Possible Spinoff for Russell Shaw?
Since filming the two-part premiere, Prime Video has cancelled Countdown, freeing up Ackles’ schedule — and sparking speculation that Tracker might be quietly setting up a spinoff centered on Russell. After all, the episode’s hints about him “going into business for himself” felt like a clear setup for something more.
Reid admits the idea has crossed his mind. “We’re cautious,” he says. “Tracker is Justin [Hartley]’s show, and we never want to do anything that cheapens it. That said, Russell’s military background opens the door to a very different kind of series — one that plays to Jensen’s strengths.”
As for that intriguing bit of dialogue at the end of Episode 2, Reid laughs. “We didn’t even ask for permission,” he says. “We just put it in there. As the kids say, I’m manifesting it. It could be a lot of fun if the timing ever lines up.”
🎬 Whether or not Russell Shaw gets his own spinoff, fans can rest easy knowing Jensen Ackles’ character isn’t gone — just regrouping for whatever Tracker has planned next.
