In the second episode of Tracker Season 3, titled “Leverage,” the Shaw brothers found themselves as targets in the very game they disrupted. After the cliffhanger ending of the season premiere, Colter and Russell had to use all their skills to track down the source of a sinister blackmail operation known as “The Process” and destroy it for good. The episode provided a satisfying conclusion to the two-part story, highlighted the powerful chemistry between the brothers, and set the stage for future adventures.
The Process Strikes Back
The episode immediately showed the human cost of The Process, opening with Harith Holmes, a man forced to do its bidding. After being told his task was complete, he received a new, terrifying text message: he was now ordered to find and deal with Colter and Russell Shaw. The brothers, aware they had become targets, met with tech expert Randy to piece together the digital trail. The clues falsely pointed to Raymond Ockman, the man they had arrested in the previous episode, confirming their suspicion that a much larger operation was at work.
Colter visited Lisa, the client he had saved, to better understand how The Process operates. She revealed she was blackmailed after her involvement in a scam was discovered, confirming the group preys on people’s secrets. Meanwhile, Russell teamed up with lawyer Reenie to investigate coordinates from the text messages. During their drive, Russell noticed they were being followed. In a high-stakes car chase, he forced the other vehicle off the road and captured the driver—Harith Holmes.
A Dangerous Game of Chicken
After taking Harith to a safe house, the brothers interrogated him. He explained that victims of The Process can be called upon at any time to “handle interruptions,” which now included the Shaw brothers. To protect Harith’s son and buy more time, Colter and Russell faked Russell’s death. This clever trick allowed them to continue their investigation without The Process suspecting.
Colter’s side of the investigation led him to a briefcase that contained compromising photos of Ockman. Randy traced the unique briefcase to a retired psychology professor, Dr. Susanna Tate. She revealed that The Process began as one of her academic experiments called “The Process of Leverage and Obedience.” She was forced to shut it down when some of her graduate students, particularly Don Schneider, began showing sadistic tendencies and a dangerous intoxication with power.
Confronting the Mastermind
With the names Schneider and his partner, Philip Jost, the brothers tracked the operation to a remote bunker. Russell chased down Jost, who was ultimately killed in the confrontation. Colter found Schneider inside, surrounded by computer screens. Schneider arrogantly claimed that The Process was now a self-sustaining algorithm that could no longer be stopped. He tried to psychologically attack Colter by pulling up files on his mother, Mary, and sister, Dory, demanding to know which one Colter would save.
Schneider asked Colter, “What would you be willing to do to save your mother and your sister? How well do you know your family?”
Colter refused to play the game. He deduced that Schneider craved recognition for his work and that the system could be destroyed by taking down its servers. After knocking Schneider out, Colter and Russell stood side-by-side and fired their guns at the computer equipment, shutting down The Process for good.
Brotherly Bonds and New Beginnings
In the episode’s final moments, Russell and Colter had a heartfelt conversation. Russell acknowledged Colter’s emotional distance when their family was mentioned and insisted they would need to talk about their mother’s role in their father’s death eventually. Colter admitted he was not yet ready. Russell then shared that working with Colter had inspired him. He decided he wanted to use his own skills to help people, much like his brother does, potentially setting up a new path for his character.
The episode also checked in on Reenie’s personal life, confirming her breakup with her boyfriend, Elliot. Her scenes with Russell provided a moment of connection, where he offered her support as a friend after her traumatic experiences in the previous season.
The two-part premiere was praised for its strong character dynamics and for giving supporting characters like Randy and Reenie more to do. The storyline concluded the immediate threat of The Process, though the show noted that the FBI is still searching for the third graduate student, Gillian Meeks, leaving a potential thread for the future.
Also Read: Tracker Season 3: New Episodes, Cast Changes, and How to Watch
Credits: CBR, Collider, TV Fanatic
