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SPOILER ALERT: This interview accommodates spoilers from “Echo Ridge,” the Season 2 finale of CBS’ “Tracker.”

As a self-described lone wolf survivalist, Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) has used his professional monitoring expertise to assist crack all types of mysteries for personal residents and legislation enforcement throughout the USA. However for 2 seasons of the CBS drama “Tracker,” Colter has slowly begun to unravel the decades-long thriller surrounding the dying of his personal father, Ashton, whose paranoia about authorities surveillance had pressured the remainder of their household to reside off the grid as survivalists.

Whereas he had lengthy suspected that his estranged older brother, Russell (Jensen Ackles), was chargeable for fatally pushing their father off a cliff on a wet evening within the woods, Colter couldn’t shake the sensation that he wasn’t being instructed the total story. After asking for Colter’s assistance on a case involving one in all his lacking Military associates in Season 1, Russell insisted that he wasn’t at fault and that there had been one other man within the woods that evening who was chargeable for Ashton’s dying — a principle that their faculty professor sister, Dory (Melissa Roxburgh), additionally posited. Within the penultimate episode of Season 2, Dory lastly delivered a field filled with Ashton’s journals analysis papers which she had acquired from Lizzy (Jennifer Morrison), an previous household pal whose late mom was revealed to be Ashton’s mistress.

Sunday’s season finale noticed Colter returning to Echo Ridge, the California city the place he grew up, to analyze the disappearance of a diner proprietor (Brian Keane), who Colter found had been murdered after stumbling upon a horrifying youngster trafficking ring. With the assistance of his childhood pal Joe Marsh (Drew Powell), Colter is ready to cease the victims from being smuggled away from an previous farm late one night — however he has an much more private cause for going after Carl Murphy (Shane Leydon), the registered intercourse offender who had presumably killed the diner proprietor.

Throughout his investigation, Colter stumbled upon Carl’s trailer, which he had used to stash away his victims, and located a carving of wolf with the title “Ashton” scratched on the underside. Whereas he was held at gun and knifepoint, Carl revealed that he had gotten that figurine from his uncle, Otto Waldron (Alex Fernandez), who had labored as a lineman for the county and helped the Shaws set up their wind generators. Within the last scene, after Colter drops by his dwelling unannounced, Otto admits that he had pushed Ashton off that cliff — on the behest of Colter’s mom, Mary (Wendy Crewson).

“I believe what’s actually cool about it’s we nonetheless need to reply, ‘Why would she do that?’ — if, in reality, it’s even true. I’m going to exit on a limb and say it is true, as a result of I wouldn’t approve that [otherwise],” Hartley, who additionally serves as an govt producer, tells Selection. “I believe she undoubtedly had one thing to do with it, and it went down like he mentioned, however we nonetheless have to determine why folks do determined issues like that. Was it justified? How might it probably be justified?”

Under, Hartley breaks down how that cliffhanger will additional complicate Colter’s tough relationship together with his household — and explains the key sauce that has reworked “Tracker” into the most-watched present on community tv.

You’ve remarked in current interviews that the Colter you’re taking part in now shouldn’t be the identical one we met within the pilot. How do you suppose the character has developed in these first two seasons, and what new layers did you discover within the taking part in of the character this time round?

We speak about that so much, truly. We’ve got this present that has a serialized ingredient to it however is, at its coronary heart, a procedural, and one of many issues that’s essential to me is to make it just a little bit totally different than your typical procedural. Not that there’s something fallacious with a typical procedural, however how can ours be just a little bit totally different? I’d love this character to evolve. When you watch your traditional Seventies procedural, the character by no means actually adjustments; the character is at all times the identical each single week. I believe the viewers finds consolation in that, however I believed it might be cool to have our man evolve.

In different phrases, by the point he will get to the top of a job, he learns one thing and takes that into the subsequent time we see him. He’s seen some fairly darkish issues within the second season, and I believe it has made him just a little extra cautious. He begins to grasp just a little bit extra why folks on the market may not suppose that persons are as variety as he would suppose. Earlier than, Colter was like, “I believe on the coronary heart of everybody, there’s a pleasant particular person.” Not that he’s modified that [mindset] essentially, however I believe he understands extra why different folks may not suppose that in the event that they’ve gone by means of sure issues.

Within the second season, I used to be considering to myself: “He spends a number of time alone. He doesn’t have a number of associates. And when he’s round folks, it’s through cellphone, voicemail or FaceTime.” So what I’ve achieved in Season 2 — I don’t know in case you’ve seen this or not, however I believed it might be enjoyable that he talks to himself just a little bit, so as to not lose confidence. He’ll say one thing, after which he’ll agree with himself. I’ll do one thing the place I’ll be like, “Effectively, this can be a blood path, isn’t it?” After which I’ll go, “…Yep.” He’ll reply himself, as a result of he’s lonely. I don’t know what I’m going to do for Season 3 — perhaps I’ll have a tick or one thing. However I believe it’s a cool factor for an viewers to observe the present from the start and have that payoff, and be like, “Oh, I keep in mind when he realized that,” or “Ever since so-and-so occurred, he’ll by no means do this once more,” and simply attempt to maintain true to all of that.

Is there a selected episode or storyline this season that stands out to you as indicative of that progress within the character?

I believe it was Episode 15 when [Colter’s ex and fellow rewardist] Billie [played by Hartley’s real-life wife, Sofia Pernas] comes again and he goes, “Hey, I would like you to do me a favor. You owe me one. It’s not a giant deal, and also you’ll be tremendous. I simply want this data. Simply infiltrate this girl’s jail.” Effectively, she virtually will get killed in there. I believe that’s one of many first occasions it’s dawned on him that you would be able to’t simply ask folks to do issues for you which are that harmful. For a man who sees and maps issues out, and tries to be so cautious and so protecting and guarantee that, “OK, that is the one consequence that’s doable,” and for him to miss all of these doable pitfalls and all of that hazard that he put her in. I imply, that’s an eye-opening smack within the face if you go, “Wait a minute, perhaps this man’s being reckless. Perhaps he’s flying by the seat of his pants. Perhaps he’s not being considerate. That was a bridge too far.” So I believe he will certainly carry one thing like that with him. And I believe it was Episode 19 when Reenie’s [Fiona Rene] calling him, her cellphone goes lifeless, after which he tries to name her again and she or he doesn’t choose up. He simply senses one thing’s fallacious, he will get right into a lifeless dash, and he simply goes after her. These are issues that I’ll attempt to construct and carry with the character because it goes on and on, hopefully past Season 3.

A lot of the present’s authentic premise was constructed across the thriller of Ashton’s premature dying. What sorts of conversations did you may have with the remainder of the artistic crew about this last twist about who was concerned in his dying?

We knew the mom was concerned. However so far as the precise, particular particulars, the dialogue within the scene and the way I used to be going to get the data, we didn’t actually know till [showrunner] Elwood [Reid] got here up with it and pitched it. I believe what’s actually cool about it’s we nonetheless need to reply, “Why would she do that?” — if, in reality, it’s even true. I’m going to exit on a limb and say it is true, as a result of I wouldn’t approve that [otherwise]. If we are available Season 3 and we notice that man was simply mendacity and she or he has nothing to do with it, I believe that’s simply lame.

So I believe she undoubtedly had one thing to do with it, and it went down like he mentioned, however we nonetheless have to determine why folks do determined issues like that. Was it justified? How might it probably be justified? You might have a lady who’s married to somebody who’s placing her youngsters in peril, and she or he must handle that downside, however I nonetheless don’t know the way that motion is justified, particularly given Colter’s code and the principles he lives by. So we now have so much to unpack going into Season 3, however I really like how we ended Season 2 as a result of I believe it closes up some loops that we’ve left open for some time and for good cause.

May you give voice to Colter’s inner dialogue within the last minutes of the finale as he arrives at Otto’s entrance door after which holds him at gunpoint?

I don’t suppose he’s going there to get that specific data. I believe he’s hopeful that this man has one thing to offer him. Colter is a canine with a bone, and he’ll chase, chase, chase, and he’ll observe any lead he can. He has that carving, so he’s hopeful that this man may know extra. And when he will get there, I imply, boy did he ever! However right here’s a man who thinks his mom is a liar, who thinks his mom is mendacity to him. I assume you’ll be able to mislead somebody with out being a liar, however he thinks his mom is mendacity to him about one thing. She’s withholding data, and perhaps this man has one thing that may shed some mild on what occurred as a result of this haunts him. And in case you can determine the solutions to what’s haunting you, typically you will discover peace in that. However I believe what he finds out is in no way what he was anticipating.

Otto has now implicated Mary in Ashton’s dying. How would you characterize the prevailing relationship that Colter has together with his mom, and the way do you suppose the reveal of that darkish household secret will throw that relationship into additional disarray?

For years, he was satisfied that his brother was concerned. He’d appeared up and seen him the place his father had fallen from. He’d crammed within the elements that he didn’t see, and what that appeared like in his mind was that his brother should have pushed him over. He stopped speaking to his brother and shared that data together with his mother, and his mother simply mentioned nothing about it. She let him consider that, understanding that it’s not true. Now, we all know that she knew. It’s one factor to go, “Man, I can’t consider that my son thinks that my different son killed their father. I imply, I wasn’t there, however I significantly don’t suppose that’s true.” And it’s one other factor to go, “I’m going to let him consider that, despite the fact that I do know it’s not true.” That’s fucked up! However that’s what she did.

And now, to search out out that she was concerned and maybe even put a success out on him on prime of that — look, I’m going to depart that to Elwood, and he can take care of that as a result of he’s created this mess, so he’s received to mop it up, proper? I’m kidding. I really like the place the story goes, and I really like how twisty it’s changing into.

Elwood will proceed to unravel the messy, dysfunctional household storyline in collaboration with the remainder of the crew, however as an govt producer who developed this mission from the bottom up, how concerned are you within the path of the story? Is there something you’d love to do with the character?

I really like the thought — and we haven’t seen it but — of Colter getting a typical job [gone wrong]. He will get a cellphone name from no matter, there’s a reward, and he goes in and finds out just a little bit too late that this entire factor is a setup, and somebody is attempting to pin this homicide on him. It is a dangerous model of it, however now he’s received his prints on every part, and it appears to be like like he did it, so now he’s on the run. I like that concept, kind of like a fugitive theme. I don’t know the way lengthy that would go on, however that would go on for a number of episodes. Then, whereas he’s on the run, he’s attempting to evade the authorities, and he’s additionally attempting to determine who’s chargeable for the homicide. I actually, actually like that concept. I’ve a bunch of pitches that I’ve given the room, and I’ve a number of extra that I nonetheless have to offer the room that I believe are compelling, and hopefully folks agree.

The procedural format is flexible however also can really feel constraining, however for 2 years in a row, “Tracker” has been the No. 1 present on community tv. To what do you credit score the overwhelming success of the present? How precisely have you ever and your artistic crew been capable of break by means of in such an overcrowded style?

It’s an incredible query, and I believe it’s modified just a little bit. Initially, we received actually fortunate. We’ve got a studio and a community that actually believed in us. They gave us all of the instruments, and so they gave us all the chance with the promoting and post-Tremendous Bowl [premiere slot]. After that, you simply need to show your self, as a result of clearly you’re going to have a giant viewers after the Tremendous Bowl, however then you must have a extremely good present. In any other case, persons are not going to return over and again and again. Individuals are busy! We attempt to provide you with actually compelling tales that folks haven’t seen earlier than, and we attempt to put this man in plausible conditions which are fairly harrowing on the identical time.

One of many issues that we do is, for example — gosh, with out getting too particular, and I don’t wish to throw anyone beneath the bus, however I’m not an enormous fan of those exhibits [where] the music kicks in earlier than something occurs, and also you’re kind of telling me tips on how to really feel, you already know what I imply? I at all times give this instance: It’s like Colter hasn’t even picked up his [ringing] cellphone but, and the music’s already going. It may very well be his girlfriend. It may very well be Amazon. We don’t know. Why do we now have this music? Why are you telling me tips on how to really feel? Generally, I believe you’ll be able to do away with all of that and simply have a scene that’s dry with two actors speaking. So I assume we attempt to push the boundaries that approach, and the studio and the community are receptive to all of that.

We’re additionally very conscious and respectful of the truth that we now have an viewers that finds consolation within the system that we now have, so we’re not going to go off the rails right into a musical or something like that, however we simply attempt to make the most effective present that we will each week. My objective is to make each single episode higher than the final.

This interview has been edited and condensed.