CBSβs Tracker takes a thrilling detour into the world of espionage with βNeptune,β an action-packed episode that raises the stakes like never before. What starts as a seemingly straightforward missing person case quickly unravels into a high-stakes conspiracy involving intelligence agencies, covert satellites, and a deep betrayal that leaves Colterβand the audienceβquestioning everything.
A Vanishing Act in New York City
The episode kicks off with Clare and her husband Logan enjoying a seemingly perfect day in New York. But in the blink of an eye, everything changesβClare steps into a dressing room to try on a dress, and she never comes out. Her purse, phone, and all personal belongings are left behind, and sheβs vanished without a trace. Logan is frantic, and when the police dismiss his concerns, he turns to Colter, offering a $20,000 reward for her safe return.
Colter, whoβs still lingering in New York after his last case, takes the job and quickly gets to work. At first glance, Claireβs disappearance seems random, but as Colter digs deeper, red flags start popping up everywhere. A supposed home burglary where nothing is stolen except Clareβs work laptop? A suspicious publishing company that Logan barely knows anything about? And then the biggest revealβClareβs workplace isnβt just a publishing house. Itβs a front for a covert counter-terrorism agency. And nearly everyone who worked there has been executed.
A Spy in Disguise
The body count skyrockets when Colter finds the entire office of SLD Publishing wiped outβfive dead, each one executed in cold blood. The only two employees missing? Clare and her boss, Eileen. A deep dive into Clareβs files reveals shocking details: sheβs not just an ordinary book editorβsheβs a high-level intelligence operative known as Neptune. Her job? Monitoring satellite data for security threats. And according to a voice recording found in her files, she was on the verge of discovering an anomaly before everything went sideways.
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| βNeptuneβ β TRACKER, Pictured: Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw and Oliver Rice as Logan. Photo: Darko Sikman/CBS Β©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
Colter barely has time to process this bombshell before Logan himself disappears. The last thing Colter hears over the phone is Logan saying, βI didnβt order room serviceββand then the call goes dead. Things go from bad to worse when an anonymous caller warns Colter to back off.
Of course, Colter does the exact opposite.
A Deadly Game of Cat and Mouse
Of course, Colter does the exact opposite.
A Deadly Game of Cat and Mouse
With help from Randy and Reenie, Colter pieces together the truth: Clare and her colleagues were unknowingly working with classified satellite intelligence, but someone within their ranks was selling sensitive data. That person? Eileen. And now she needs Clareβs help to finish the jobβwhether Clare wants to or not.
Colter tracks Clare to a basement, where sheβs alive and very much on the run. She explains that she had no choice but to disappearβEileen had already sent a kill order, and the only reason sheβs still breathing is that Eileen needs her to reposition a satellite. The moment she does, Clareβs as good as dead.
At a tense meeting between Eileen and Clare where Loganβs kidnapping is confirmedβit is revealed that Eileen is using him as leverage. If Clare doesnβt comply, Logan dies.
A High-Stakes Rescue & A Hard Goodbye
Colter tracks Clare to a basement, where sheβs alive and very much on the run. She explains that she had no choice but to disappearβEileen had already sent a kill order, and the only reason sheβs still breathing is that Eileen needs her to reposition a satellite. The moment she does, Clareβs as good as dead.
At a tense meeting between Eileen and Clare where Loganβs kidnapping is confirmedβit is revealed that Eileen is using him as leverage. If Clare doesnβt comply, Logan dies.
A High-Stakes Rescue & A Hard Goodbye
As Clare is forced into unlocking classified satellite data, Colter races to rescue Logan. What follows is a tense, close-quarters showdown in a safe house where Logan is being held captive. A shootout erupts, but Colter gets him outβthough not without Logan taking a bullet to the arm. Meanwhile, Clare is moments away from being executed when Colter intervenes just in time. Eileen taunts Clare, reminding her that she could have walked away, but Clare doesnβt hesitate. She wants to kill Eileen. With his steady demeanour and ability to handle high-pressure situations, Colter persuades Clare that killing Eileen wonβt bring them the full truth. If sheβs gone, so are their chances of uncovering the whole story. Clare relents, knocks Eileen out cold and calls in the breach.
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Eileen is taken into custody, but itβs clear this conspiracy goes higher than just her. Colter receives a cryptic message from Deputy Director Bartholomew, thanking him for his βserviceββbut is it gratitude, or a warning that the government is now watching him? Typical Colter plays it cool, vowing not to worry about it until they come to pay a visit.
Lingering Questions & A Mysterious Absence
Lingering Questions & A Mysterious Absence
In the aftermath, Clare reaches out to Logan, but heβs not ready to hear from her. She may have risked her life to save him, but the lies between them run deep. Colter, having been through his own share of family betrayals, understands all too well. He gives Logan a handwritten note from Clare, a simple message: Iβm sorry. I love you. Iβll be waiting. Whether Logan will forgive her remains to be seen.
While Neptune delivered a strong, suspenseful episode, it also highlighted an ongoing frustration: we still donβt know enough about Colterβs past. The breadcrumbs about his familyβs secretsβhis fatherβs research, Lizzyβs revelation, and his sister Dory hiding somethingβare still unresolved, and weβre now more than halfway through the season. When will we finally get answers?
And perhaps the biggest question of all: Where is Bobby? His unexplained absence is starting to feel more than just temporary. Randy has stepped up in his place, but Bobby was a core part of Colterβs team and an integral member of Colterβs found family. Is Eric Graise (who plays Bobby) still on the show, or has he quietly exited? The longer this mystery drags on, the more frustrating it becomes.
Final Verdict: One of the Best Episodes Yet
While Neptune delivered a strong, suspenseful episode, it also highlighted an ongoing frustration: we still donβt know enough about Colterβs past. The breadcrumbs about his familyβs secretsβhis fatherβs research, Lizzyβs revelation, and his sister Dory hiding somethingβare still unresolved, and weβre now more than halfway through the season. When will we finally get answers?
And perhaps the biggest question of all: Where is Bobby? His unexplained absence is starting to feel more than just temporary. Randy has stepped up in his place, but Bobby was a core part of Colterβs team and an integral member of Colterβs found family. Is Eric Graise (who plays Bobby) still on the show, or has he quietly exited? The longer this mystery drags on, the more frustrating it becomes.
Final Verdict: One of the Best Episodes Yet
Despite lingering questions about Colterβs backstory, "Neptune" delivers everything you could want from Tracker: high-stakes action, a thrilling mystery, and a deeply personal story of betrayal and survival. With its gripping espionage plot and standout performances, this episode proves that Tracker isnβt just a case-of-the-week proceduralβitβs playing the long game.
