For three seasons, Tracker has relied on a convenient storytelling crutch: whenever Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) hits a dead end, he just calls Randy (Chris Lee), who magically delivers the clue that cracks the case. It worked because the show was so entertaining, but it left Randy feeling like little more than a human search engine. Now, CBS is finally fixing that problem by promoting Lee to series regular for Season 4.
This move isn't just about keeping a fan-favorite around. As Hartley and the creative team gear up for what they're calling the show's richest and most ambitious season yet, expanding Randy's role gives Tracker a chance to evolve beyond stories that revolve almost exclusively around Colter. It's a smart shift that could turn one of the show's weakest habits into a major strength.
Randy's Promotion Finally Explains His Skills
Randy first appeared in Season 2 as a replacement for Bobby (Eric Graise), but he quickly became Colter's most valuable resource—a combination researcher, handler, information broker, and occasional lifesaver. He's the one who finds the link between suspects or delivers a lead just when Colter has exhausted all options. But for all his importance, Randy has remained frustratingly one-dimensional. We know what he does, but not who he is.
Making Lee a series regular gives Tracker the opportunity to explore Randy's backstory. Where did he develop those skills? What drives him? What does his life look like when he's not on the phone with Colter? The show has already proven it can develop supporting characters—Reenie (Fiona Rene) started as a legal fixer but grew into a fully realized character with her own ambitions and relationships. Randy deserves the same treatment, and the chemistry between him and Colter has become one of the show's most enjoyable dynamics. Episodes that placed Randy closer to the action showed he can handle more than just feeding information through a headset.
Tracker Needs a Stronger Ensemble After Solving the Shaw Family Mystery
For three seasons, the Shaw family mystery gave Tracker an overarching narrative. Questions about Ashton Shaw's (Lee Turgesen) death fueled Colter's emotional journey and created tension with his brother Russell (Jensen Ackles). But with those answers finally arriving, Season 4 enters uncharted territory. Hartley has teased that the next chapter will focus heavily on character and backstory, pushing the show forward creatively. That's exciting, but it also means Tracker can no longer rely solely on Colter's personal baggage to carry the series.
The longest-running network dramas understand that no character exists in a vacuum. Even if one person remains the face of the show, audiences become invested in the people surrounding them. Those relationships create fresh conflicts, new emotional stakes, and stories that don't always depend on the lead to carry everything alone. Hartley has made it clear that Tracker is entering a new era and wants the show to evolve without making changes just for the sake of it. Expanding Randy isn't a drastic overhaul—it simply allows the series to deepen one of the pieces that was already there.
As Tracker prepares for its most ambitious season yet, promoting Randy to series regular is a smart move that addresses a long-standing storytelling issue. It gives the show a chance to build a stronger ensemble, explore new character dynamics, and keep audiences invested in the world beyond Colter's phone calls. For fans who've been waiting for Randy to step out of the shadows, Season 4 can't come soon enough.
