It’s been a week of exciting finales – last week, ‘The Boys’ series finale and then the season finale of ‘Tracker’. I enjoy the show no matter what, but it’s extra special when both Shaw brothers are onscreen – Jensen Ackles as Russell brings out a whole other side of Justin Hartley’s Colter, from their banter to the emotional bond they’ve started to re-establish.
WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE SEASON FINALE AHEAD!
As the two try to rescue Danny from the secret lab, we get some nice brotherly banter as Russell keeps lying to Colter that he’s texting with Reenie (when he clearly isn’t).
Colter lets it go the first time as Russell claims that Reenie just likes to check in on him, make sure he’s okay, she worries about him…
Russell: You know what that’s like…
Colter: I don’t know.
Russell: She doesn’t do that to you?
He’s such a big brother.
The brothers manage to save Danny but I was holding my breath the entire time.
The second time Colter does call Russell on saying he’s texting with Reenie, and he admits he has a lead from his contact. Determined to “cut the head off the snake” and stop the project instead of just saving these kids, Russell goes off on his own to meet with Felton, who seems to be trying to warn him for real this time. But they’re ambushed and Russell ends up getting shot (though he manages to shoot a truly impressive number of bad guys first).
Meanwhile, Colter singlehandedly manages to rescue Danny’s friend Lola, another kid who’s been held prisoner and experimented on, even though the ex-Delta force guy who’s been assigned to kill Colter and Russell (Damon Vickers) is scary as hell. Colter thinks he’s taken him out, but he’s got a bulletproof vest on so he’s still on their tail.
This entire episode was so STRESSFUL – they did a great job of keeping the tension off the charts, and once Russell was bleeding what looked like nearly to death, I was even MORE stressed. Jensen Ackles is always almost too good at embodying his character’s feelings, whether emotional or physical, and that’s the case here. It’s in the way he sits so stiffly, propped against the wall, every little movement bringing excruciating pain – he moves only barely enough to pick up his cell phone when Colter calls, and he can’t stifle a groan when he does.
He tries to speak as normally as possible, but he can’t hide an involuntary groan and he’s breathless from the pain and blood loss and Colter can tell.
Colter: You get hit, Russell?
Russell: Yeah, we got ambushed… I’ve had worse.
Lola (who’s psychic) can tell he’s anything but okay; she gives Colter a serious look and says “he needs you.”
Gotta say, I loved that – and I loved that Colter rushes to his big brother’s side and drops to his knees trying to rouse him, calling him “Russ” like they probably did when they were growing up and close.
