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Weekly Spotlight: Tracker, TLOU, and Chicago P.D. – Where Were the Stars Aligned for Drama?

Added on April 26, 2025 inEntertainment News Cards, TV News Cards

In the constellation of television characters where stars align to form memorable arcs, the last week shone a spotlight on a few celestial standouts. It’s interesting how the cosmos influences our fictional heroes, and perhaps in this particular alignment, the empathetic movement from Pisces to Aries seasoned their journeys with a unique blend of emotional depth and a touch of fiery resolution.

From the chilling landscapes of ‘The Last of Us’ to the gritty streets of ‘Chicago PD’, characters have navigated impossible situations, fought against devastating odds, and reunited in ways that left us entranced with their growth. Did your favorites mirror your slightly over-enthusastic side this time, or did they channel that inner tenacity we all crave?

Each has carved a niche in our hearts—some through heroic bravery, some through their all too human imperfections. You can’t help but ponder the correlation between the Mercury’s transit and the strength showcased by characters like Abby. With Kaitlyn Dever’s casting, there was skepticism—a kind of astrological ‘retrograde’ in the world of casting. But her impeccable performance was like a cosmic alignment, mutually exclusive from the initial forecasts of criticism.

What about the rest? From Gabriela in ‘Paradise’, whose layers unfurl with every episode like a Scorpio’s secrets, to Jorge in ‘The Cleaning Lady’, I bet the clever Aries spark is influencing his strings-pulling. The actors portray these characters with such vigor, and they all have their own celestial dance on screen.

But here’s the thing—did your astrological signs coincide with the paths these characters took? Take Randy from ‘Tracker’, for instance—his comedic timing and a sort of Leo-like largesse make him a delightful addition, proving that there’s always room for a bit of humor in the darkest hours.

TV, just like astrology, has mysteries undiscovered, but here at TV Fanatic, we strive to give you the lowdown in a way that resonates. If your zodiac sign tends towards the sentimental, we’re here to catch those tears and celebrate the laughter. If our reviews struck a chord with you or you felt the astro-flow in these character arcs, let us know. Save this piece, share it, or drop a line in our comments section.

After all, we’re here for you, our readers, our stars, who make this indie site shine brighter than any Saggitarius’s lucky star!

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Some characters leave you mulling over their arcs well after an installment ends.

Whether it was some impossible situations bringing out the best (or worst) in them, devastating developments, or difficult reunions leading to closure, there were many standout characters during the week.

From The Last of Us and Chicago PD, to Will Trent and Tracker, we share the characters who resonated with us and left a lasting impact.

(Colin Bentley/CBS)

Of course, we’re real TV Fanatics who are every bit as passionate about our favorite shows as you are. We’re a humble little indie site that loves to share our work, but we’d also love to know if you’re enjoying it.

If this strikes you, save it, share it, or hit the comments below and let us know.

We’re here because of you and your support, so thank you.

Kiana Cook – Chicago PD

(Elizabeth Sisson/NBC)

We’ve already raved about Toya Turner’s performance during Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 19 as she continues to prove why she’s a great addition to the series.

In a strong-centric hour, we saw Kiana Cook deal with some growing pains on the unit as she took point on a robbery case and tried to break in her first CI, Ruby.

She had a rough go of it, trying to lean into her natural ability to sympathize with those around her while still struggling to trust Ruby a bit too much.

A particular standout moment for Kiana was following an uncomfortable interrogation between Voight and Ruby; she wasted no time standing up to her boss, letting him know upfront that she didn’t care for how he handled the situation and her CI.

Clearly, Kiana has her own code of conduct, and she stands firmly and confidently in that. There are certain lines she doesn’t dance around, and her willingness to be so direct with Voight earned our respect and his.

Along with working the case, we gained even more insight into her family life, particularly her strained relationship with her mother, which came to an intriguing climax in the final moments of the hour when she finally returned her mother’s calls.

Honorary Mention – Ruby

(NBC/Screenshot)

Natalia del Riego was one of the season’s best guest stars thus far as the spunky and flawed Ruby.

She was a total scene stealer from her moments of dodging Burgess and Atwater’s questions to her witty quips and pride in her dancing skills.

Is it just us, or did Ruzek have to refrain from laughing a few times with her during that lap dance scene?

Ruby was such a fascinating character, allowing her love and loyalty to a criminal to override her natural ability for self-preservation, ultimately resulting in her going down, too.

But there wasn’t a second when she wasn’t onscreen where she wasn’t riveting and leaving you wanting more.

Watch Chicago PD Online


Abby – The Last of Us

Everything changes on The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2.
(Liane Hentscher/HBO )

The Last of Us delivered one of the show’s best episodes and possibly best of the year as Abby finally got Joe in her crosshairs.

Her mission, and that of her cavalry, was to find the man responsible for killing her father.

Kaitlyn Dever’s casting was controversial when it was announced, but critics cannot rationalize their hate after seeing her in her element as Abby.

The character required someone who could display profound emotions as she recounted what had happened to her father. How she sold it would make or break the episode, and Abby’s pain was visible whenever she spoke.

While killing someone is not an appropriate response in many instances, it made sense why she would seek revenge. Still, she would hesitate at some points because she was uncertain what would happen, hinting at a human part of her.

Abby’s act marks a turning point for the narrative and will be a huge driver for the rest of the season.

Watch The Last of Us Online


Randy – Tracker

(Colin Bentley/CBS)

Tracker had been on a lovely roll this season, but a few missteps during the latter half of Tracker Season 2 had us hoping the series would swing away from the darker hours and give us something a bit more playful. 

Tracker Season 2 Episode 17 was that hour, as Chris Lee continues to be such a welcome addition to the show. 

No matter the amount of screen time he gets, he steals every scene he’s in with great comedic timing and wonderful chemistry with Justin Hartley. 

Letting Colter and Randy team up led to one of the season’s best episodes, and the uber-talented Lee made a case for himself to stay in Tracker land and continue lending his skills to the team.

Watch Tracker Online


Gabriela – Paradise

Paradise Season 1 Episode 3 changes everything about the mystery.
(Hulu/Screenshot)

 Paradise is the show that keeps giving, and Paradise Season 1 Episode 3 peeled the layers back considerably on Gabriela. 

She’s a mysterious yet compelling new character for the wonderful Sarah Shahi.

Gabriela’s episode-ending revelation about a message from Cal for Xavier was shocking and showcased the true extent of her technique in getting under people’s skin. 

Plus, the twist about her picking Paradise‘s residents came out of left field. Sinatra’s the person who gets things done, but Gabriela is the Littlefinger of it all, pulling strings from behind the scenes.

Watch Paradise Online


Angie Polaski-Will Trent

(Wilford Harewood/ Disney)

I can never speak enough about Angie Polaski, but Will Trent Season 3 Episode 15 allowed Erika Christensen to show emotional depth as Angie dealt with her toxic relationship with her mom.

Angie needed her mother to admit that she pimped her out as a child, and that flashback scene in the jail was so powerful because sometimes the admission meant more than anything.

Angie once revealed she knew how challenging it was to love a horrible person, and you could feel that torment because she wanted a final chance to reconcile with her mom despite everything.

That fantasy scene symbolized Angie’s innermost desires and fears, from craving her mother’s love to fearing she’d become an addict like her.

Watch Will Trent Online


Jorge – The Cleaning Lady

The Cleaning Lady Season 4 Episode 2 shakes things up.
(Jeff Neumann/FOX)

We have a confession: there’s something particularly delicious about the fake marriage trope.

The Cleaning Lady followed up its installment with Thony and Jorge getting married in Vegas so that they couldn’t testify against each other, with all the trappings of conflict and sizzling moments people generally enjoy from this trope.

Jorge welcomed Thony and her son into his home to keep up the ruse and wanted her to fall in step, playing the role publicly.

But throughout the hour, Jorge is visibly taken with Thony at many different moments, even though he doesn’t want to be.

From the moment they were arguing, and he called her his wife’s name, to how speechless she was when Thony donned his late wife’s red dress, Jorge is grappling with so much, and it’s those sneak peeks into what lies behind all this cartel business that draws you in further.

He’s a man desperate to escape the cartel game alive, and with each passing second, his paranoia and desperation are palpable as they thrum beneath a calm, calculating surface.

It’s been great to see more layers to a complex character.

Watch The Cleaning Lady Online


Did your favorites make the list? Let’s discuss it below.

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