In the fifth, edge-of-your-seat episode of Season 2 of "Tracker," titled "Preternatural," Colter Shaw (portrayed masterfully by Justin Hartley) embarks on a harrowing odyssey to track down a missing teenage girl named Emmaline Trace. This episode dives deep into the realm of the supernatural while also exploring profound themes of family bonds, trust, and the unyielding lengths one will traverse to safeguard their loved ones.
The episode kicks off with Velma (played with intensity by Abby McEnany) approaching Colter Shaw, her intuition burning brightly over the case of Emmaline Trace, a sixteen-year-old girl who has vanished without a trace from the sleepy town of Prior, Kentucky. Despite the modest reward, which represents the entirety of Emmaline's older brother Jasper's savings, Colter accepts the case, sensing the urgency and the heartfelt plea in Velma's eyes.
Upon his arrival in Kentucky, Colter's first clue leads him to Emmaline's brother, Jasper. The siblings had relocated from Tennessee to Prior for Jasper's mining job, which promised union protection and benefits, vital for nurturing his sister. Jasper stands firm in his conviction that Emmaline would never desert him, especially amidst the venomous hostility from the townsfolk, who view him as an intruder stealing their livelihood.
The hostility is thick enough to cut with a knife as Colter uncovers a sinister pattern: someone has been leaving roadkill on the siblings' porch as a grim message. His investigation propels him to the local coffee shop where Emmaline once worked, until she was summarily dismissed on false accusations of witchcraft. The shop owner, unhelpful and openly hostile, spits in Colter's coffee, forcing him to seek solace and information from a sympathetic employee about Travis McCannis, a man who had a heated public confrontation with Emmaline.
Travis had confronted Emmaline in the coffee shop after she made a bold promise to heal his wife Shirley's cancer. Despite his initial skepticism, Emmaline performed a miracle, successfully curing Shirley, who is now also expecting a child—a blessing for the couple who had been yearning for a family for years. Grateful and in awe, they would never harm Emmaline and keep her secret as she wished, fearing that her brother might not understand her healing abilities, a gift inherited from their mother.
Colter discovers that Emmaline has been captured by the reclusive Drell Clan, who dwell atop the mountain and are renowned for their insular existence. The patriarch of the clan, on his deathbed, harbors hope that Emmaline possesses the cure to his illness. After locating Emmaline on the mountain, Colter endeavors to rescue her, but she resolutely insists on staying to heal the patriarch, displaying her unwavering commitment to aiding the afflicted.
As Emmaline endeavors to save the patriarch, the clan's sons, mistakenly convinced that she is exacerbating his condition, turn their backs on her. Colter swiftly intervenes, saving Emmaline from being fired upon, and they escape into the dense woods, hotly pursued by the Drell clan aboard ATVs. In a twist of fate, Emmaline sustains an injury, prompting them to seek sanctuary in an abandoned store.
The Drells eventually catch up to them, resulting in a tense confrontation where Colter is struck by an arrow and left pinned to the wall. Just when all seems lost, the patriarch, now miraculously healed, intervenes. The Drells,的恐惧着Emmaline的诅咒， reluctantly release her. She promptly summons an ambulance for Colter, ensuring his survival, while the police descend upon the Drell clan.
In the aftermath, Emmaline is joyfully reunited with her brother, and Colter, despite his injuries, is deeply grateful for the favorable outcome. The episode concludes with Colter, missing his own sister, experiencing a poignant moment that humanizes the usually stoic tracker. As he departs the town, he places a call to his sister, emphasizing the paramount importance of family and the lengths one will traverse to protect it.
"Preternatural" stands as an exceptional episode, skillfully blending the supernatural elements with the raw, profound emotions of family ties and the moral quandaries faced when safeguarding loved ones. It underscores the show's prowess in delivering thrilling narratives while preserving a robust emotional core.
