In the captivating seventh episode of Tracker's second season, titled "Man's Best Friend," Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) embarks on a journey that takes him across the country, not just in search of missing persons but also in an unexpected quest to reunite a lost dog with its family. This episode showcases the lengths Colter will go to help those in need, even when they have four legs and a tail.
The episode begins with Colter at a gas station where he encounters a dog, Barkley, rummaging through the trash. Colter's sharp eye catches sight of the dog's collar, indicating that Barkley is not a stray. He intervenes to prevent the dog from being harmed by a store clerk and manages to gain Barkley's trust, leading the dog into the back of his truck. While Colter is away fetching water, the dog is stolen from his vehicle, an event that puzzles Colter given Barkley's initial appearance as a stray.
Colter's investigation leads him to Barkley's address, located twenty miles from the gas station. Upon arrival, he discovers a harrowing scene: Barkley's owners, Aiden and his mother, have been tied up by an intruder who broke into their home. The intruder, it turns out, only took Barkley, leaving the family in a dire situation. Colter helps them free and calls the police, but the officers are more focused on the home invasion than the dog's theft, dismissing Colter's theory that the dog is the key to the crime.
Aiden, a young boy who lost his father the previous year, had been given Barkley by his mother to help him cope with his grief. The dog had become Aiden's best friend, and his mother had even turned down a lucrative offer to sell Barkley. Colter, intrigued by the dog's value, decides to help Aiden find Barkley, with Aiden offering to use his birthday money as a reward.
Colter's investigation takes a turn when he discovers that the man who broke into Aiden's home is Max Miller, a former soldier struggling with addiction and PTSD. Max had given Barkley to his friend Nate Riggins to find a good home, but later stole the dog back. Colter learns that Max is entangled with a private contractor named David Lawson, who is after stolen statues that Max had buried.
As the story unfolds, Colter and Nate track Max to the woods, where he is digging up the buried statues. They learn that Lawson, who has a violent past and no qualms about leaving witnesses, is after the statues and is likely holding Max's wife, Chelsea, captive. Colter, Nate, and Barkley follow Max to a meeting with Lawson, where a tense standoff ensues. Lawson shoots Max, but Nate manages to take him out.
In a touching moment, Barkley helps Colter and Nate find Chelsea by tracking her scent from an item of hers. The episode concludes with the reunion of Chelsea and Max, and Colter fulfilling his promise to Aiden by reuniting him with Barkley. Colter also advises Aiden to spend his birthday money on his mother, highlighting the importance of family.
The episode ends on a lighter note with Colter surprising his friends at Reenie's new office, ready to relax for a few days. His friends prove to be incredibly helpful, showcasing the strong bonds and camaraderie among the characters.
"Man's Best Friend" is a heartwarming and action-packed episode that not only delivers on the suspense and intrigue that Tracker is known for but also tugs at the heartstrings with the story of a boy and his dog. Colter's unwavering commitment to helping others, regardless of the circumstances, shines through in this episode, making it a standout in the series.