'Tracker' Just Set Up the Perfect Returning Villain for Colter Shaw

'Tracker' Just Set Up the Perfect Returning Villain for Colter Shaw Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) takes a new case in the 'Tracker' episode "Eat the Rich"Image via CBS By  Michael John Petty Published 1 minute ago Michael John Petty is a Senior Author for Collider who spends his days writing, in fellowship with his local church, and enjoying each new day with his wife and daughters. At Collider, he writes features and reviews, and has interviewed the cast and crew of Dark Winds. In addition to writing about stories, Michael has told a few of his own. His first work of self-published fiction – The Beast of Bear-tooth Mountain – became a #1 Best Seller in "Religious Fiction Short Stories" on Amazon in 2023. His Western short story, The Devil's Left Hand, received the Spur Award for "Best Western Short Fiction" from the Western Writers of America in 2025. Michael currently resides in North Idaho with his growing family. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for Tracker Season 3, Episode 7.It's not often that Tracker takes the time to establish villains as potentially coming back for more. In fact, aside from sort-of antagonist Leo Sharf (Pej Vahdat) and the one-and-done serial killer The Teacher (Nicholas Lea), Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) has never gone up against the same adversary more than once. Even in those cases, it's not like Colter and Sharf were duking it out on the screen, nor did he actually battle the Teacher until the very end of the character's first on-screen appearance. But in this week's episode, titled "Eat the Rich," it appears that the CBS drama may be setting up a returning foil for Colter — and this one has nothing to do with "The Process."

This Week's 'Tracker' Introduced Italia Ricci as a Boston-Based "Fixer"

Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) meets MC (Italia Ricci) in the 'Tracker' episode "Eat the Rich"Image via CBS

At the end of "Eat the Rich," Colter Shaw does something a bit unexpected. After seeing Noelle Buchanan (Madalyn Horcher) and her father reunited, Colter returns to the scene of the crime to speak with the woman he believes masterminded all the death that surrounded the young woman's abduction and eventual rescue: Italia Ricci's mysterious MC. While the audience for sure knows that MC — who introduced herself to Colter only as "Madeline" — was directly involved in the events of this week's case, Colter needs that personal confirmation. Upon confronting the villain (who gets away scot-free at the end here), he warns her that she'll eventually trip up — and adds that he wants to be there when she does. It's a chilling scene that reminds us more of Hartley's time as Green Arrow on Smallville, but a welcome moment that emphasizes Colter Shaw's true desire to see justice done.

Of course, this wouldn't be the first time we've seen Colter Shaw channel Oliver Queen, but it does mark an interesting turn for Tracker as a whole. While the CBS drama has brought back repeating foils in Colter's life before, namely through his brother Russell (Jensen Ackles), mother Mary (Wendy Crewson), and rival rewardist Billie Matalon (Sofia Pernas), none of them are actively antagonistic in nature. Okay, maybe Mary Dove Shaw is, but the show hasn't quite delved into all of that yet post-Season 2's "Echo Ridge." Conversely, with Ricci's character, Tracker has the opportunity to do the opposite of what it's done with returning characters over the years, bringing them back not to aid Colter or ask for help, but to harm him. It's certainly an interesting opportunity to challenge fan expectations, as we know that other characters from Colter's past will continue to return on the show to help our hero. In this case, MC could return out of nowhere to put him under her thumb.

MC is an interesting antagonist in that she has vast resources at her disposal that include not just monetary leverage, but assassins as well. Knowing that Colter knows who she is (and seemingly knowing a lot of other information about him), is it possible that MC could return again in the future? Could she want to get rid of Colter before he can investigate any further? Anything is possible on Tracker, but "Eat the Rich" does make it clear that no matter what happens, Colter has taken her actions personally. This is more than just a throwaway line that threatens to see MC behind bars; it's a promise that Colter is making to himself regarding her ultimate fate. He wants to see her brought to justice, and while he's not exactly law enforcement material, if he can have a hand in seeing that MC gets what she deserves, it seems like he's ready to take the plunge.

Could MC Become a Recurring Foe for Colter?

This, of course, would not be the first time that Italia Ricci would play a recurring villain opposite a former DC Comics star. A decade ago, the actress appeared in the Arrowverse series Supergirl as Siobhan Smythe aka Silver Banshee, a recurring foil for the Maiden of Might who appeared in several episodes of the first season (back when it was still airing on CBS). She even appeared in the show's famed The Flash crossover "Word's Finest." But beyond the fun DC Comics Easter egg here, Tracker is long overdue to introduce a recurring villain that Colter Shaw can't just take down in simple hand-to-hand combat. In the case of MC, she is a criminal mastermind, and while she's on retainer for the Boston-based Benning family, that doesn't mean her tendrils don't reach elsewhere beyond Beantown. If Colter truly wants to see Madeline behind bars, he'll have to outsmart her, and that's where the recurring element comes in.

Admittedly, it's unlikely that Colter will be returning to Boston any time soon. Nevertheless, Reenie (Fiona Rene) has been known to travel all over the country to work as a lawyer (which doesn't really make sense, but we'll let it slide), so could not the same be true of MC? We don't know or understand the full scope of her job description. If she is truly a fixer for more than one criminal operation or old-money family, it's possible that MC could travel all over the country dealing with different clientele and other jobs that Colter might just happen to fall into. What's especially interesting about utilizing a villain like MC in a long-term capacity is that her work against Colter (and vice versa) could easily involve Reenie and Randy (Chris Lee) as well, opening up the entire team to potential dangers if Colter continues to pursue this. Considering Reenie is set to do more this season, why not have Colter task her with taking MC down?

While Tracker is probably never going to turn into an organized crime drama (and we wouldn't want it to), the show could still turn Madeline into a recurring thorn in Colter and Reenie's side. If the series found clever ways to thrust her back into Colter's path, there's no telling the sort of cases our favorite rewardist could find himself working. Of course, this is all speculation. We have no idea what the Tracker writers have in store for us this season, we only know that Colter Shaw will be at the center of it. If this week's episode was any indication, Colter can find jobs just as easily by accident as he can through recommendation by Reenie or Randy. With that in mind, it's about time that the show pursues a surprise antagonist like MC as well.

Tracker airs Sundays on CBS and is available for streaming the next day on Paramount+.

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Tracker

Like TV-14 Drama Crime Release Date February 11, 2024 Network CBS Showrunner Elwood Reid Writers Ben H. Winters, Hilary Weisman Graham 9 Images Colter in TrackerCBSJensen Ackles as Russell Shaw and Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw in Tracker season 3, episode 1CBS via MovieStillsDBJustin Hartley as Colter Shaw, Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw, and Fiona Rene as Reenie Greene in Tracker season 3, episode 1CBS via MovieStillsDBEric Graise as Bobby Exley in Tracker©CBS / Courtesy MovieStillsDBAbby McEnany as Velma Bruin in Tracker©CBS / Courtesy MovieStillsDBFiona Rene as Reenie Greene and Eric Graise as Bobby Exley in Tracker©CBS / Courtesy MovieStillsDBBobby Exley's Eric Graise, Reenie Greene's Fiona Rene, and Colter Shaw's Justin Hartley BTS in TrackerMarci T. House with a flashlight in TrackerColter Shaw (Justin Hartley) opening a door with a serious expression in TrackerPhoto by Sergei Bachlakov for CBS, Courtesy Everett CollectionClose

Cast

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• Justin Hartley Colter Shaw
• Abby McEnany Velma Bruin

Genres Drama, Crime Creator(s) Ben H. Winters Powered by Expand Collapse

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• Tracker
• CBS

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