Jensen Ackles returned to my TV screen this week in the second episode of this season’s Tracker, and it was so good to have him back! We all loved Russell Shaw in his first guest star episode last season, but this time we got to know Russell a little better – and see him be both a smart, competent badass and adorably hilarious. We also got some shout outs to Jensen Ackles’ iconic Supernatural character Dean Winchester, which was a lot of fun and left me with a nostalgic grin on my face repeatedly.
Some fans seem concerned that when many of us love and appreciate those shout outs, that it somehow means we think Ackles is a one horse pony who keeps playing the same character. Pretty sure nobody thinks that, because it’s just plain not true. He’s such a talented actor, he can play all kinds of roles – and he also loves Supernatural and Dean Winchester every bit as much as I do. And that is really saying something! He’s enjoying those Easter eggs as much as we are, and crafting a character that’s true to the book series, a believable big brother to Justin Hartley’s Colter, and also sometimes reminiscent of Dean Winchester. That’s clearly not something he has to do, or something that makes him a one-note character actor – it’s something he wants to do. And I greatly appreciate it (while also appreciating characters like Soldier Boy who are nothing like Dean Winchester at all)!
I had a big smile on my face from the second Colter (who was abducted by some shady military possibly UFO hunting types while searching for a woman’s missing dad) was surprised to see Russell on the other side of the door, there to rescue him. The episode leaves up in the air whether there really was some supernatural – I mean, UFO – I mean, UAP — activity, with Russell being willing to believe after having “seen some things” and Colter more skeptical. Shades of Mulder and Scully!
Russell: UAP is the proper nomenclature.
That’s unidentified anomalous phenomena, fyi. (I learned that from this episode).
Colter: You’ve seen some things?
Russell: Some things that’d blow your hair up.
This was a great episode, right from the spooky X-Files/Supernatural opening with some Blair Witchy video selfies in the beautiful Vancouver woods through the brothers being badasses and taking out the bad guys and especially through the brothers very much being brothers.
Ackles and Hartley have been friends for a long time, and their comfort with each other comes through in the easy and realistic banter (and squabbling) the Shaw brothers fall into.
Unlike Sam and Dean, there’s a girl for them to compete over (kinda) – while Colter and Reenie are just friends for now, there’s some spark there, so Russell’s fascination with her is a source of some tension. (Lucky Reenie, who I really like – she’s the one who helps the brothers out of a jam in the end by sending a van to pick them up, swearing about “two dumb brothers”. So relatable). She also got the “sonofabitch!” line in this episode.
We also got a Supernatural nod with Russell having a hearty appetite and eating with gusto on camera, something Ackles regretted making a part of Dean’s character – but he’s a good sport, because Russell is apparently the same.
Russell to the taken aback scientist whose house they’ve broken into: Made myself a sandwich, that homemade sourdough is delicious…
Colter: Sorry, I told him not to, he’s an animal.
lol
Russell is actually far from that – he’s extremely competent, as we see again and again, and he’s smart. As he said, he’s seen some things, and we keep getting hints of his not-exactly-on-the-up-and-up past and his involvement with organizations as shady as the one they’re dealing with in this episode, but that just makes him even more interesting. Give me a complicated character every time!
I love that he thought ahead to leave this cheeky note on his car in case anyone stumbled over it. Like I said, smart!
And, I mean, we all remember Dean Winchester’s panic attack when Bela had the Impala stolen, so…
Russell doesn’t drive a ’67 Impala but he does drive a classic Chevy that looks similar – and he’s as proprietary as Dean was about driving it.
Colter: This is a sweet ride, I wouldn’t mind getting behind the wheel of this thing.
Russell: That’s never gonna happen.
He also insists on dropping Colter off at the edge of the woods to go find his truck after they’ve saved the day.
Russell: This Baby doesn’t drive on gravel.
Me: He called her Baby!!
The Supernatural shout outs weren’t the only enjoyable things about this episode. Russell Shaw is a badass (much like his brother) and we got to see that on full display in tonight’s episode too. Confronted by a bad guy with a gun on him, Russell is unbothered enough to be snarky.
Russell: Pro tip, if you’re gonna shoot me, you should shoot me now.
Five seconds later he gets the drop on the guy and knocks him out.
Russell (shrug): Should’ve shot me when you had the chance.
He takes a specimen from the lab case before he leaves, with an admiring “spicy”.
I don’t know why that was so attractive, but trust me, it was.
Russell is cocky, but so is Colter sometimes, so they play off each other and it’s thoroughly entertaining to watch.
Russell after rescuing Colter and letting him know that Reenie called him to help: I’m kinda that guy, I mean the results speak for themselves.
Colter: Here we go…
Both the Shaw brothers were raised to be competent and, for lack of a better word, badass.
When he realizes Colter’s been freed with a tracking device on his phone (and implanted in his neck), Russell unceremoniously shatters his cell phone and then digs the device out of his brother’s neck with a knife. Like I said, badass.
Colter later gets him back by tossing Russell’s phone into the woods just as Reenie calls.
Russell: I better answer this, she could be worried…
Colter: tosses it in the woods.
We get to see that great acting we all know Jensen is famous for, both in his playfulness and in the way he shows us without saying a word how hard it hits Russell when the bad guy brings up knowing about his father. He plays it off and stays snarky, but there’s a moment when you can see he’s caught off guard by that.
Hartley and Ackles are both so good that they boost each other up even more, and the results are some great onscreen chemistry and some damn good acting.
The brothers parted ways at the end of the episode, but we know Jensen will be back. Russell shared what the bad guys said about their dad, and Colter shared about the box of their dad’s stuff that their sister has, so the brothers are a little more on the same page now.
Russell’s way of saying goodbye and I love you: Saved your ass.
Colter’s way of saying the same: You did not save my ass.
Russell (grinning): ‘Little bit
Colter (walking away): Hey Russ? Thanks for saving my ass… a little bit…
Brothers, man.
As Ackles films Countdown in LA, which I’m so looking forward to, I’m also very much looking forward to more of the brothers Shaw! Thoroughly enjoyed this episode.
The only thing I might quibble with is when Colter and Russell are driving along in Russ’s convertible (going extremely fast if you judge by the scenery FLYING by), Russell’s hair isn’t the least bit disturbed. But I’m not gonna quibble because Russell’s hair looks like this and I don’t CARE if it’s not realistic!
Also, eyelashes for days catching the sun.
Anyway…
Much like Fire Country, which I love all on its own and so am very much looking forward to Jared Padalecki’s Camden enriching an already enjoyable show, I’m loving Tracker. Jensen is the icing on the cake, and I’m thrilled we get to have him join the fun for a few episodes. Looking forward to next week’s episode – You can catch Tracker on Hulu, Paramount Plus and on CBS on Sundays!
Gifs jarpadandjensens, elainamarie89. Caps acklesism, justjensenanddean, esmecantsleep, ackleshair, hollywoodnorthbuzz, keepfrmdrowning
– Lynn
You can read all about how fandom has impacted
Jensen Ackles and how he feels about Supernatural
and Dean Winchester in the books ‘Family Don’t
End With Blood’ and ‘There’ll Be Peace When You
Are Done”. Info and links at:
My boys have truly branched out in their respective projects without leaving Supernatural behind. I love them in every role. I adored Beau , I hate/love Soldier Boy and Russel is just so badass.
Walker was great. I still miss it and I’ve been a fan of Fire Country since it aired. Can’t wait for Jared to join in episode 5.
Thanks for the update
Enjoyed Tracker. Jensen’s Russell is fun. Easy to see Justin and Jensen mix well on screen. Kind of a x files episode which was really a set up about their Dad and the government. Editing was choppy. Jensen stole the scene by eating that sandwich and wiping his hand in the jacket. I see separate characters when J acts. I do agree the hair not blowing in the wind broke the 4th wall for me.