CBS has set Justin Hartley’s replacement for Season 4 of Trackers.

For a show to last, viewers need a reason to keep watching. Sometimes actors decide to step out of their roles or leave the series. The character’s story may flow. It’s not uncommon for a show to return with a new protagonist, whether it’s an entirely new character, a new actor playing a younger version of a character from a prequel, or a son or daughter taking the reins.

for trackerColter Shaw (Justin Hartley) has a long way to go, so he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. After all, the series is only in its fourth season and the characters are stronger than ever. However, the season 4 premiere introduced a guest character and subtly set up for a potential return.

Colter meets a young man who reminds him of himself.

The events of Season 4, Episode 1, “Safe Harbor,” one of the best network TV shows, tells the story of a 15-year-old boy who asks Colter for help when his father goes missing. Sean (Derek Phillips) is a single father who leaves Charlie (Christopher Convery) alone to care for his younger brother when Sean disappears.

The first sign that Charlie is no ordinary teenager is that he catches the attention of Randy (Chris Lee) and, through online messages, tricks Randy (Chris Lee) into thinking he is an adult and his uncle. Even Randy was impressed that this young man had tricked him. Once Colter meets the young man, he can’t say no. His heart is bigger than his desire for money.

He knows Charlie can’t pay him, even though Charlie promised he would find a way. Moreover, Colter knows that if Charlie calls the police, the police will immediately take him and his brother to Child Protective Services. Colter immediately comments on Charlie’s determination and resourcefulness. You can see Colter seeing a lot of himself in Charlie.

Charlie continues to impress as he secretly listens to Colter’s phone conversations and follows his first clues. It was risky, but it required courage and smarts, and Colter recognized that. He even takes Charlie to school and says that he was in a similar situation as Charlie, who had to take care of his younger sister after their father’s death. Russell, played by Jensen Ackles, is believed to have gone to military school by then.

The two share an immediate kinship and mutual respect. After solving the case, Colter finally reunites with Charlie and Sean and learns how well Charlie cares for his younger brother. Even before that, Charlie was clearly a responsible young man. Colter, perceptive as he is, immediately notes it from their first meeting.

Has Colter found his disciple?

The final exchange between Colter and Charlie opens the door for the character’s potential return. When Charlie tells Colter he can’t pay (it’s unclear why Sean and his girlfriend don’t offer money, knowing how Colter risked his life to save him), Colter makes him a deal. Go to school, study hard, be nice to your dad, and contact me when you graduate.

Colter praises Charlie’s instincts and ability to know what to do in such a dire situation. Charlie found a way to contact Colter and avoid going to the police so his family wouldn’t be torn apart. He tried to get involved out of concern, but listened when Colter told him to back off and trust him.

The promise to “settle down” later is a great way to potentially bring this character back into the fold, even if Charlie doesn’t replace Colter. When Charlie turns 15, he will graduate from high school in three to four years, at which point he can continue his education or begin looking for a job.

if trackerwhich is rewriting the future of crime TV, is still airing in real time or via a time jump until then, and Charlie could return. Maybe he becomes Colter’s disciple or contacts him because he needs Colter’s help on another case. As an adult, he was able to help in a more direct way.

As it stands, Convery is already 18, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility for him to play a 19-year-old for another year or so. that It’s worth considering if Hartley decides to leave. trackerAlternatively, if you decide to move away from a lone wolf survival strategy or expand your team further, Charlie is a good choice..

Preparing for the future

Colter saying he’d like to follow up with Charlie in the future is a great way to secure the show’s future. tracker It hasn’t been renewed beyond Season 4 yet, but I’d be surprised if it wasn’t because it’s one of the most popular procedurals on TV right now.

The show has changed dramatically since its inception, largely through casting shake-ups. Most recently, Cassady McClincy Zhang was promoted to main cast member, playing Melanie “Mel” Day, Reenie’s (Fiona Rene) new assistant. So it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to add a young protégé character to Colter as well.

Looking further into the future, imagine spinoffs with Mel as the new Reenie and Charlie as the new Colter. Of course, this may be a wild idea that thinks too far into the future. Neither Colter nor Reenie are going anywhere right now. The show will probably continue in the same format for more seasons in the near future.

However, succession planning is important in every business. The same goes for fictional characters in TV shows, if the idea is to keep the concept going instead of ending it entirely. Colter’s job is physically demanding, and there are only too many episodes to watch with the same formulaic nature.

The show is already moving away from being completely Colter-centric, introducing a new storyline for Reenie and revitalizing the episodes. If the show is considering shaking things up even further, bringing Charlie back would honor Colter’s promise. It also has the potential to breathe new life into the series as it becomes a more prominent fixture in primetime linear TV lineups.

That may have been Colter’s intention when he said this line to Charlie. It may also have been a way to justify working without pay. Either way, this is the first time Colter has been impressed by a client who has shown tremendous promise and potential to continue his work.