Tracker – Season 1 Episode 4 “Mt Shasta” Recap & Review

Mt Shasta

Episode 4 of Tracker once again pairs up Reenie and Colter as they track down a runaway teen. Erika Kennedy, Reenie’s friend, sent her teenage son, Noah, to a special school called Shelter Stone. Noah suffered from a substance abuse problem. The parents thought that along with the other students in a similar circumstance, Noah’s situation would improve…and it did. But that was until he ran away. The episode picks up in the aftermath as Reenie and Colter begin investigating.

The school’s principal, Gilroy, informs the trio that the school’s security team, led by Tom Ritter, is currently looking for him. He is “unaccounted for” at the moment. Erika is apprehensive about his well-being. But Reenie encourages her to think positively as the best man is on the job. After going through his room, Colter deduces that Noah has a girlfriend. His mother has no ilk of such a relationship. In order to expedite the process, Colter befriends Jonny, Noah’s friend who was the last to see him.

Although initially, Jonny had said that he saw Noah leaving the library, he tells Colter the truth when alone. He last saw him arguing with Zeke, part of the school’s maintenance staff, and he looked scared. Upon reviewing the camera footage from the school’s gate, Colter finds out that Noah was in the backseat of the car as Zeke drove it out, indicating that this might be a case of kidnapping.

Colter presses on Bobby to find out the details of Noah’s call log from the previous night. He had phoned a number registered to Lisa Jefferson multiple times, hinting that she might be Noah’s girlfriend. When Colter gets to her house, he is concerned to notice lacerations and marks of domestic abuse on her. Lisa reveals that her ex-boyfriend, Ray, is still harassing her. Even though she said no to him, Ray wouldn’t give up and physically hurt her. 

Colter asks her about Noah and Zeke’s reputation. Lisa calls Zeke a “good guy” and Noah her “boyfriend.” She explains that they were together at the school a while back before she dropped out. So now, it is clear that Noah sneaked off with Zeke to see Lisa. He isn’t kidnapped. Ray is a drug dealer and a dangerous person and yet, Noah said that he would “talk to him.”

Colter learns that Noah and Ray had a confrontation at a bar. The bouncer says that Ray did not give up catching Zeke’s truck and went into the woods. Colter finds Zeke while driving through the trail. He is badly injured and has a bullet wound. Colter also finds his truck, overturned by the side of the trail. Ray drove them off their path, forcing the vehicle to turn. There is blood in the backseat as well, meaning that Noah is injured. Colter asks Teddi and Velma to send law enforcement and an ambulance to his location as Ritter joins him in tracking down Noah. They follow a trail of blood, which isn’t too long as Noah’s wounds are coagulating.

The duo splits when it ends, planning on meeting back again at the same spot. Instead of Colter finding Noah, it happens the other way around as Noah points a gun at him. He doesn’t know if Colter is one of Ray’s associates and is very panicky. However, Colter remains calm and manages to win his trust. He tends to Noah’s wounds and plans on taking him back. But en route, they intercept Ray who has a gunshot wound. Colter calls Bobby for help, mends the wound, and asks Ritter to remain vigilant.

Noah and Colter carry on toward his truck. Ray catches up with them and has blood in his eyes. Colter tries to reason with him but to no avail. Ray starts shooting as soon as Noah tries to run away but Colter gets him in the shoulder.

The police arrests Ray and Noah is reunited with Erika. The next morning, Reenie and Colter take their leave from the place. Before leaving, he commends Principal Gilroy for the good work the school is doing. Noah survived for 24 hours in the woods with no supplies and a wound, which is good credit for Shelter Stone. It is also hinted that the relations between Reenie and Colter have started to sweeten, hinting at a possible long-term thing in the future.

The Episode Review

Among the slew of small towns that Colter’s RV has been to this season, Mt. Shasta is arguably the most scenic. The contained environment is becoming a constant feature of the storytelling, and no one is complaining.

Some very important themes like substance abuse and toxicity in relationships are raised from a teen perspective in the episode. They certainly help in grounding the characters of Noah and Lisa and allow a visceral connection with the viewers.

The subplot in Episode 4 isn’t anything special, which is a disappointment. Perhaps the episode needed more curveballs to make it more interesting. I think Reenie should feature even more heavily going forward. Fiona Rene’s chemistry with Hartley is great and they look the parts on screen.

The makers should be encouraged to experiment with the format as well. Maybe a few episodes with the spotlight on Teddi and Velma or Bobby wouldn’t go amiss. Even though the execution has been good till now, the final product is becoming a little monotonous.