Trackerfans may be getting ready for the upcoming season of the CBS series, but before it returns this October,those who haven’t should binge through showrunner Elwood Reid’s dark three-season mystery.Tracker, which brings Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) into the spotlight, is one of the darker procedurals on the air right now. Helping families locate their missing loved ones, Colter handles a lot.

WhileTrackerhas been on for two seasons and is going into its third, the series has an established tone that viewers have come to enjoy. With Hartley leading the charge,there have been some intense episodes in the past few seasons ofTrackerthat have left viewers shocked,and with Reid in charge, that makes sense after seeing his past work.

Big Sky Jensen Ackles as Beau looking forward and sitting in a desk chair

ThoughTrackeris coming back soon, viewers may be looking for something else to binge to keep them busy before the new season returns to CBS. With over a month beforeTrackerseason 3’spremiere,fans of the show may enjoy going into Reid’s past archiveto watch this dark three-season mystery that features some familiar faces from the CBS series.

Big Sky Was Produced By Tracker Showrunner, Elwood Reid

With two similarly dark premises,fans of CBS’Trackermay enjoy another project Reid worked on, ABC’sBig Sky. WhileBig SkyandTrackerhave a fair amount of differences between them, the shows have a similarly dark tone that allow for deep, intense mysteries to carry the stories through the narrative. ThroughoutTrackerseason 2, the dark narrative took twisted turns.

Much likeTracker, Big Skywas able to weave its way into some dark stories. Starring Katheryn Winnick as Jenny Hoyt and Kylie Bunbury as Cassie Dewell, the detective duo were pushed together after a tragic death left them looking for answers. While the beginning ofBig Skycan feel overwhelming,the series picks up quickly and keeps viewers on their toes.

The cast of Big Sky (2020-)

Big Sky & Tracker Tackle Similar Mysteries In Different Locations

Tracker Is A Roving Mystery While Big Sky Stays Stationary

The worlds ofTrackerandBig Skyare often where the shows differ, though they both find themselves entrenched in the specificities of their surroundings.Trackeris a roving series, where Colter moves all over the continental US to track down missing people for their friends and family.Big Sky, on the other hand, often stays more stationary.

Big Skyprimarily takes place in Montana, showing off the gorgeous scenery and highlighting the dangers of the area all at once. ThroughoutBig Sky’srun, the show sticks to its roots and continually shows off the different areas of Montana as its backdrop, working hard to keep viewers invested in the stories of the space.The setting is an integral difference for the show.

Tracker

Tonally, Tracker Viewers Can Expect Similar Intensity From Big Sky

Big Sky Has Dark, Slow-Burning Mysteries

AlthoughBig SkyandTrackerhave some differences at play,the tones of the series are frequently similar. With case-of-the-week work on both shows,Big Skyoften has a larger case at play that runs throughout the series, but works to establish a rhythm between the team of detectives at the helm.

Big Skyseason 3, the final seasonof the series,brought Jensen Ackles into the mix as Beau Arlen. While Beau had been featured as a special guest duringBig Skyseason 2, he was a regular throughout its final season before Ackles moved into a guest starring role onTrackerin the following years. With familiar faces and a similar tone, fans ofTrackershould loveBig Sky.

Tracker 2024 TV Series Poster

Tracker

Cast

Tracker follows lone-wolf survivalist Colter Shaw as he navigates the country as a reward seeker. Utilizing his expert tracking skills, he aids private citizens and law enforcement in solving various mysteries while grappling with issues from his fractured family.

Big Sky

Big Sky is a crime drama based on The Highway books from CJ Box. The series centers on Jenny Hoyt, an ex-cop, and Cassie Dewell, a private detective, who work together to solve crimes in Montana. Katheryn Winnick and Kylie Bunbury star in the ABC series, which was subtitled Deadly Trails beginning in season 3.

Big Sky TV Poster