Tracker Family Mystery Is What Dropped NCIS From Viewership Top

CBS’ brand new action drama show Tracker was quick to conquer the network viewers’ hearts as the series’ first ever season reached a major milestone, dethroning CBS’ long-running NCIS on the list of the most-watched shows this season.

Having so far left fans with only one season and a major cliffhanger that will find its explanation in the next installment, Tracker surely brought some refreshment to the network’s schedule, and the mid-season plot twist does seem to be something that eventually guaranteed the show’s immense success.

Launched back in February, Tracker followed private investigator Colter Shaw and his cross-country trips during which he helped uncover citizens’ mystery until one of his own hasn’t suddenly come along.

As the first season proceeded to dive deeper into Colter’s personality rather than his work routine that the viewers had already had enough of, the whole storyline got even more intriguing details when the character’s family members were introduced and shown from their not-so-best side.

Colter Shaw’s family mystery thus left fans craving for more episodes each week, and now they are desperately waiting to see how the whole drama will unfold in Tracker’s next season.

Judging by the show’s impressive results during its run on TV, adding some personal mystery does seem like a good idea for creators to consider if they strive for better ratings for their shows. While Tracker has been successfully handling two simultaneous mysteries following Colter’s investigations in each episode and also covering a bigger mystery of his father’s death, NCIS isn’t really able to boast the same.

The police procedural drama series has been around since 2003, yet it surely has always prioritized the challenges of its characters’ work rather than their personal issues. Despite that, NCIS has much bigger chances to follow Tracker’s suit with the franchise’s two upcoming spinoffs that will focus on the more personal stories of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Anthony DiNozzo and Ziva David.

The NCIS spinoffs, titled NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony & Ziva, as well as Tracker season 2, will arrive at CBS this fall.