Alan Ritchson’s Amazon action thriller Reacherhas become a dominant force on the streaming battlefield since beginning back in 2022 on Prime Video. Now casting a shadow as large as its titular main character over the genre, several similarly themed action shows have since emerged, and one is now gunning for Jack Reacher’s crown after dominating the streaming charts for more than 300 days.
Another Nomadic Avenger Reaches Historical Streaming Heights
With the fourth adventure for Alan Ritchson’s behemoth action hero wrapping up as of Sept. 16, another man with a particular set of skills who specializes in solving crimes and uncovering dark secrets sees his fourth adventure continue well into 2027. And with 300 days already under his belt, he is well on his way to rival even Reacher as the small screen’s most popular nomadic hero.
CBS’ answer to Prime Video’s monster hit action series is titled Tracker, and stars This is Us and Smallville star Justin Hartley as a lone-wolf warrior much like Mr. Reacher. Boasting an uber macho name much like his better-known predecessor, Colter Shaw, the action thriller series is based on the 2019 novel “The Never Game” by Jeffery Deaver. Tracker has been likened to Lee Child’s mega-hit series of novels since it was first announced, with the series now proving to be a worthy opponent on streaming as it delivers more Equalizer-style justice.
A trusted lone-wolf survivalist, Colter Shaw is driven by the troubles of his past, and uses his instincts to find the missing and collect rewards. Supported by lawyer Reenie Green, his business handler Velma Bruin, and tech expert Bobby Exley, Colter will stop at nothing to get the job done. Which sounds an awful lot like a certain former U.S. Army military police major-turned-drifter we know and love.
‘Tracker’ Is Now on Its Fourth Season
Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Fiona Rene, Chris Lee, Cassady McClincy Zhang, Peter Stormare, Melissa Roxburgh, Jennifer Morrison, and Jensen Ackles, Tracker has something that Reacher doesn’t. While both are certainly similar, Tracker has been pushing stories that arc over multiple seasons, with the Shaw-family conspiracy and the mystery of Colter’s past threading through the whole show. Tracker is also not afraid to switch formula and genre on a whim, often leaving the case-of-the-week format behind in favor of longer stories, as well as making room for science fiction elements.
While Tracker may not have quite reached the same critical heights as Reacher, the series has been met with seriously solid reviews from critics. Season 1 now holds a rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Season 2 coming in at 84%, and Season 3 at 75%. Oddly, despite its evident popularity, Tracker Season 4 has not accrued enough reviews for any scores at all, with the series paradoxically being both popular and unsung. Which frankly doesn’t seem to matter, as Tracker has now reached a monumental 337 days in the top 10 on Paramount+ in the U.S., as well as charting in places like France and Canada. So, while Jack Reacher is still the action champion, Colter Shaw is officially a very worthy runner-up. And he’s gaining fast.
- Release Date
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February 11, 2024
- Network
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CBS
- Showrunner
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Elwood Reid
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Justin Hartley
Colter Shaw
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