There are changes coming to a number of broadcast shows, with two hit CBS shows losing major cast members.Fire CountryandTrackerwill both see cast exits ahead of their upcoming seasons.
Cast exits can make a show, with them potentially helping to reignite some stale storylines. At the same time, they can break it, causing us to turn away because our favorite characters have left. It’s always a risk to write out a character or two, and bothFire Countryseason 4andTrackerseason 3are going to feel it.
However, one show is going to suffer more than the other with its upcoming exits, because of who that show is losing. When you start to lose the soul of a series, you know you’re in some trouble, and“creative reasons”don’t cut it.
Both Tracker & Fire Country Lost Two Main Cast Members In The Off-Season
WhenFire Countryseason 3 endedwith a major cliffhanger, we worried about the fates of our favorite characters, with one in particular more concerning than others. Then the show announced immediately after the finale that bothBilly Burke and Stephanie Arcila are leavingFire Countryas Vince Leone and Gabriela Perez respectively.
As forTracker, there was plenty of speculation throughoutTrackerseason 2 that some original characters would end up leaving. It took time, but eventually, the series confirmed that bothEric Graise and Abby McEnany wouldn’t return inTrackerseason 3as Bobby and Velma, respectively.
Tracker’s Cast Losses Will Arguably Improve The Show
In a way, the loss of Bobby and Velma could end up strengthening CBS’sTracker. Through no fault of their own, both Graise and McEnany didn’t end up adding much to the story, especially in the second season. They were mostly off-screen, mentioned in passing by other characters, such as Reenie mentioning a called withVelma inTrackerseason 3.
Without showing them or including them in the main storylines, it was difficult to get to know them and really care about what they were doing. By adding new characters, the writers can find a way to correct their wrongs and add more energy in the series.
Chris Lee has certainly already done that asRandy inTrackerseason 2, and his return in season 3 will add excitement to the series. This also opens the door for another series regular to be introduced, or a chance to add more recurring characters to help Colter now and then.
Fire Country Season 4 Will Struggle With Its Character Losses
The opposite can be said forFire Country, which is going to be worse with the loss oftwo mainFire Countrycharacters, especially the loss of Burke’s character. Vince Leone is arguably the soul of the series, and he is the reason many of us tuned into it in the first place.
We got to see how marriages can work with good communication and love, and now we’re losing that. It’s going to be worse because of how Vince is likely to be written out, as there’s no coming back from it.
Then there’s Gabriela, who has been the slow-burning love interest from the beginning. For three seasons, we’ve waited for Gabriela and Bode finally find a way to make their relationship work, only for us to now feel like we’ve wasted our time on them asFire Countryseason 4 begins. At leastTrackerseason 3 has a clear path forward without Randy and Velma.
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.
