In the engrossing seventh installment of Tracker's second season, aptly titled "Man's Best Friend," Colter Shaw (portrayed by Justin Hartley) embarks on an exhilarating cross-country odyssey. His mission? Not merely to track down missing individuals, but also to embark on an unforeseen quest to reunite a beloved lost dog with its devoted family. This episode vividly illustrates the extraordinary lengths Colter is willing to go to lend a helping hand to those in distress, even when those in need have four legs and a wagging tail.
The episode kicks off at a gas station, where Colter's keen eyes spy Barkley, a scrawny dog pawing through the trash. Noticing Barkley's collar, Colter realizes the dog isn't a stray but someone's cherished pet. He swiftly intervenes to shield Barkley from a harsh store clerk and earns the dog's trust, gently guiding him into the back of his truck. However, while Colter steps away to fetch water, Barkley is treacherously stolen from his vehicle, leaving Colter perplexed, given Barkley's initial appearance as a stray wanderer.
Colter's meticulous investigation leads him to Barkley's residence, a mere twenty miles from the gas station. Upon arrival, he's confronted with a chilling tableau: Barkley's owners, Aiden and his mother, are found tied up and terrified, victims of a home invasion. The perpetrator, it transpires, absconded with Barkley alone, leaving the family in a perilous plight. Colter swiftly liberates them and dials the police, but the officers remain laser-focused on the home invasion, brushing aside Colter's hypothesis that Barkley holds the key to unraveling the crime.
Aiden, a young boy still mourning the loss of his father from the previous year, had received Barkley from his mother as a companion to ease his grief. The dog had blossomed into Aiden's closest confidant, and his mother had resolutely refused a lucrative offer to sell Barkley. Intrigued by the dog's significant value, Colter resolves to assist Aiden in his quest to retrieve Barkley, with Aiden generously offering his birthday money as a reward.
Colter's investigation takes a surprising twist when he uncovers that the perpetrator who infiltrated Aiden's home is Max Miller, a former soldier grappling with addiction and PTSD. Max had entrusted Barkley to his friend Nate Riggins to secure a loving home but later reclaimed the dog in a fit of desperation. Further delving reveals that Max is enmeshed with a shadowy private contractor named David Lawson, who is hot on the trail of stolen statues buried by Max.
As the narrative unravels, Colter and Nate trail Max into the heart of the woods, where he is engaged in a desperate excavation of buried statues. They soon discover that Lawson, a ruthless individual with a violent past and a disregard for leaving survivors, is hot on the trail of these relics. Even more alarmingly, Lawson has possibly taken Max's wife, Chelsea, hostage. The trio—Colter, Nate, and Barkley—pursue Max to a fateful rendezvous with Lawson, leading to a harrowing confrontation. In a dramatic twist, Lawson fires upon Max, but Nate swiftly neutralizes the threat.
In a poignant scene, Barkley assists Colter and Nate in locating Chelsea by tracing her scent from a personal item she once owned. The episode reaches its climax with the tender reunion of Chelsea and Max, followed by Colter fulfilling his vow to Aiden by reuniting him with Barkley. With heartfelt advice, Colter encourages Aiden to use his birthday money to spoil his mother, emphasizing the inestimable value of family ties.
The episode concludes on a cheerful note as Colter surprises his friends at Reenie's newly established office, ready to unwind and bask in camaraderie for a few days. His friends, demonstrating remarkable supportiveness, underscore the profound bonds and camaraderie that exist among them. "Man's Best Friend" is an episode that blends heartwarming sentiments with high-octane action, capturing the essence of the Tracker series while tugging at the audience's heartstrings with the tale of a boy and his loyal dog. Colter's steadfast dedication to aiding others, irrespective of the challenges, shines brightly in this episode, marking it as a highlights of the series.
