Tracker – Season 1 Episode 8 “Camden” Recap & Review

Camden

Episode 8 of Tracker Season 1 sees Colter Shaw land in Camden, Maine. He is tracking a missing dockworker, Ethan “Sully” Sullivan. His girlfriend, Daniella Barrera, has called for Shaw’s help. They meet at the restaurant where she works. She explains that he has been missing for two days. His behaviour is uncharacteristic, even more so considering they are all set to tie the knot in two weeks’ time.

Colter does not dismiss the possibility of Sully having cold feet, although Daniella rejects the suggestion almost instantly. Then there is also the issue of Sully’s chequered history with law enforcement.

As a child, he was involved with juvenile detention a lot. Dwayne, Daniella’s father, does not believe Sully is in trouble. Given his record, Sully might as well be hiding from something. Daniella also mentions a fight that Sully had the night he disappeared with Ryan Hopkins, who also works at the docks.

Sheriff Miller informs the family that Sully’s car has been found in the forest. They reach the spot along with Colter. After investigating the car, Colter concludes that the car was driven off the cliff using a powder bag. Someone wants to give the impression that Sully drove it off in a drunken state.

Miller is reluctant to work with Colter. He believes that the off-season is a dangerous time, bringing crime into the city and entrapping men like Sully.

Next, Colter goes to the docks to meet Ryan. He wants to check what the disagreement was about. Ryan becomes defensive when Colter questions him, although his response seems genuine.

Using Bobby’s help, Colter is able to get the name of a woman Sully had been contacting frequently, Simone Dawson. They went to school together and had a prior relationship. Colter goes to her house but is alerted to find it broken into. Inside, he finds her dead body and calls the police. Miller believes that Sully might have had a hand in her death. But Colter on the other hand thinks it might be a robbery.

Bobby tracks down the location of a bar where Simone went the night Sully disappeared. Interestingly, he was there too as his credit card was charged to pay.

Colter meets with Chelsea, the owner of the bar to enquire further. She reports that nothing out of turn happened that night, although Colter spots a young worker, Zach, lurking around. Colter confronts him to talk about the night. Zach isn’t as guarded as Chelsea and tells a different version. He says that two men came in after Sully. The couple was clearly afraid of the duo, one of whom was referred to by a nickname, “Clem.” After the men arrived, the couple left abruptly.

Right after Colter leaves, Chelsea calls someone on the phone saying that the tracker knows about Sully and Clem. Colter calls Miller and learns that Clem is actually Dougie Clemence, a thug who was released from prison just weeks ago. The two of them meet at Clem’s house to investigate where it’s discovered Sully and Clem knew each other from their childhood, often running into trouble together.

Inside, Colter finds evidence that suggests some person was brought inside in cuffs and tortured in the bedroom. The question is: what does Clem needs Sully for? When Colter calls Velma for more info, he learns that Clem and Sully were part of the failed robbery that sent the former away for years. Sully was supposed to be the lookout but bailed on his partner. This gave Clem a ready motive to hurt Sully.

Colter follows Chelsea to a secret location where the group is keeping Sully hostage. Colter photographs Ryan, Colter, and Clem getting into a car together. He takes all this info to Daniella, who reveals that Ryan wanted to get another job working at the warehouse. Sully worked there as a security guard but wouldn’t help Ryan.

The warehouse is closed temporarily for some gas line repair work. Colter posits Sully might still have his security credentials to get inside the place. Although it only houses lobsters, Colter thinks something illicit might be smuggled inside using them.

Bobby alerts Colter about Sully having swiped his card at the warehouse a few minutes back, prompting Colter to go there. He neutralizes Ryan, who is the lookout, and calls Miller, updating him on the situation. He tiptoes inside and finds that Clem wants to steal the drugs that are smuggled in the lobster boxes. Colter neutralizes another associate who is holding Sully at gunpoint. Sully confirms Colter’s theory about the men threatening him to participate in Daniella’s life.

Although he is home free and the police are arriving shortly, Sully picks up the loaded gun and confronts Clem. Colter manages to persuade the emotionally charged Sully to let Clem go, who runs straight into officers outside. Sully is reunited with the family. His return convinces us Sully is a changed man. 

The Episode Review

A well-thought-out premise meets solid execution in Episode 8 of Tracker. The show has consistently produced engaging episodes and “Camden” isn’t an exception.

The working class themes continue to dominate the headlines in Tracker. The makers keep using hyper-local issues in different settings to bring out inherent problems faced by townies. Maine is currently ravaged by a drug menace that is impacting jobs and the social life of people.

Hartley has to do most of the heaving lifting in the episode but does an admirable job. He has really taken to Colter’s role, giving the character his own physicality and personality. Darien Sills-Evans’ role as Miller is limited but he makes the most of his screen time. But when all is said and done, Tracker still cannot breach the upper ceiling previous episodes have set to establish itself in the esteemed category of network television.