Justin Hartley's Tracker Finally Gets A Worthy Competitor With ABC's Bold New Crime Show

5 days ago 11

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CBS's Tracker may be looking at its most worthy competitor with ABC's upcoming crime series. Ever since it debuted in 2024, Tracker immediately shot to the top of the ratings, even dethroning NCIS, which held the spot for years.

Marking Justin Hartley's network TV return after his stint as Kevin Pearson in NBC's This Is Us, the show based on The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver shines a different light on him as an actor. Finding missing persons as his means of living has put Colter Shaw in various situations, and so far, fans remain invested in his story.

What makes the series' success so much more impressive is how it is able to maintain its popularity despite Tracker's significant changes in the last couple of years. The project has already overhauled its entire supporting cast, writing original characters such as Teddi, Velma, and Bobby. As season 3 continues, however, Tracker may finally be looking at its first true competitor when ABC launches its next big crime show starring Scott Speedman.

RJ Decker Has A Similar Premise To Tracker

As part of the 2025-2026 TV cycle, ABC is set to launch RJ Decker. The titular character played by Speedman is described as "a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who starts over as a private investigator in the colorful-if-crime-filled world of South Florida." Based on Carl Hiaasen novel, “Double Whammy,” the premise of the show echoes some of the foundational elements of Tracker, including having a lone wolf operating in a dangerous world of crime but is not technically a law enforcement officer.

While Colter primarily focuses on finding missing people, animals, and items, Decker's purview is a little wider. Per ABC's official brief, Speedman's character is tackles "cases that range from slightly odd to outright bizarre with the help of his journalist ex, her police detective wife, and a shadowy new benefactor, a woman from his past who could be his greatest ally… or his one-way ticket back to prison.” This allows RJ Decker a bigger plot sandbox to play in.

How RJ Decker Can End Tracker's Network TV Domination

That said, the biggest factor that boosts RJ Decker's chance of eclipsing Tracker season 3 can be seen through its first trailer. Despite the show not yet having an official release date, ABC rolling out a proper first look suggesting that it is coming sooner rather than later. Clocking in at a minute, the video makes it clear that Decker is nothing like Colter, and that could very well be an advantage.

Tracker writes Colter as a more straightforward character. How enjoyable he is depends on the people he interacts with, hence why it's great when he's partnered with more playful players like Jensen Ackles' Russell. Decker, on the other hand, is already fun. He's disheveled and unorganized, and yet, he is effective in his job. Arguably, he's more fun to watch, especially in the long run, as his character develops.

CBS Effectively Explains Why Tracker Got Rid Of Bobby & Velma

In one of the most mysterious cases of the year, Tracker season 3 effectively explains why Colter Shaw could no longer employ both Bobby & Velma.

Of course, this is not a guarantee that RJ Decker will be an immediate hit. There are other factors that will determine that. However, based on what has been shown about the series thus far, it's best positioned to offer an alternative to Tracker, especially for those looking for a more flamboyant hero to follow.

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