Bosch: Legacy came to an end with its third and final season, closing up a ten-year run that started with the crime series Bosch. Bosch and Bosch: Legacy followed Harry Bosch, who first started as a homicide detective working at the LAPD before resigning and becoming a private investigator. Both series are based on the Michael Connelly crime novels featuring the titular Harry Bosch, with many other recurring characters and book series that share a connection with Harry Bosch’s series. And with the end of an era, many fans hope to see some of their beloved characters from Bosch and Bosch: Legacy in the upcoming spin-off series, Ballard.
Ballard will follow LAPD detective Renée Ballard, another character with her own Michael Connelly book series. Ballard and Bosch frequently work together in Connelly’s novels, so it makes sense that many fans want to see Harry Bosch return for the upcoming spin-off. But there are many other characters, whether from Connelly’s novels or created just for the TV series, that fans want to see return. The upcoming Ballard spin-off is also set in Los Angeles, which opens the possibility for many characters from Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, which was also set in Los Angeles, to make a return in Ballard.
Chief Hughes Could Take the Role of Chief Irving
Chief Hughes was introduced in Bosch: Legacy as the new Chief of Police after Chief Irvin Irving’s retirement. And much like Chief Irving’s role in the original Bosch series, Chief Hughes had an antagonistic role that, while it didn’t make her a fan-favorite, was certainly needed in the story. Chief Hughes clashed with Honey Chandler as soon as Chandler announced her candidacy for District Attorney of Los Angeles, which probably didn’t earn Hughes any points with viewers.
But a character like Chief Hughes has the potential to create an interesting relationship with Renée Ballard, the same way Chief Irving and Harry Bosch had their own unique relationship in Bosch. Seeing Chief Hughes return would also give a sense of continuity and familiarity after she was introduced in Bosch: Legacy. Renée Ballard is bound to come face to face with the Chief of Police at some point, and Chief Hughes could be a small yet palpable link between Bosch’s universe and Ballard’s.
Perry Lopez Proved His Loyalties When Working With Harry Bosch
Detective Perry Lopez appeared for the first time in Bosch: Legacy Season 3 as Jimmy Robertson’s new partner. Lopez and Robertson were tasked with investigating Preston Borders’ claims that Harry Bosch had asked Borders to kill Kurt Dockweiler in prison. However, Harry’s name was soon cleared, but Lopez continued to be part of the series after the tragic and shocking death of Jimmy Robertson.
Detective Lopez proved to be a good ally and partner to Harry Bosch as they both worked together to investigate what happened to Jimmy Robertson. Lopez didn’t know Harry but trusted that he wanted to do the right thing by Jimmy, and helped Harry access information from the LAPD, which soon got Lopez in trouble. Lopez didn’t get enough character development, but the way he proved his loyalty to Robertson, as well as his connection with RHD, where Renée Ballard works, could be enough to bring back Perry Lopez’s character in Ballard.
Scott Anderson Has the Potential to Be a Major Character
Scott Anderson is a recurring character in Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, who works for the LA Times. Anderson is a reporter who usually covers the crime beat and who has used Harry as a source on multiple occasions. And in some cases, Harry Bosch, as well as Jimmy Robertson, have used Scott Anderson to leak information to the press about an investigation or cover-up within the LAPD.
Scott Anderson is the perfect character to bring back for a sense of continuity, but also because he has the potential to be a major character as well. In the Michael Connelly book series, there’s another character who is also a reporter for the Times, who has the same relationship with Harry as Scott Anderson, and who later becomes a big character. Bosch and Bosch: Legacy proved that the show uses Michael Connelly’s novels for inspiration, even if they aren’t faithful adaptations, so keeping Scott Anderson in Ballard could open up more possibilities for the character.
Mo Bassi Won Over Fans With His Lovable Personality
Maurice «Mo» Bassi is a character that first appeared in Bosch: Legacy and who worked closely with Harry Bosch and Honey Chandler throughout the series’ three-season run. Mo is a technical expert and another jazz fan who helps Harry with his investigations. Mo’s abilities help Harry get information about suspects, current investigations from the LAPD and even the FBI, as well as putting trackers and other bugs in a suspect’s home, office, or car.
Mo’s abilities as a hacker and tech-savvy associate prove to be a key element of Harry’s investigations over and over again, so it would make sense for Mo to continue his partnership with Harry in Ballard. It’s also possible that Renée Ballard herself could use Mo’s assistance more than once in her underfunded, all-volunteer, cold-case unit. Mo could even volunteer to be part of Renée’s unit, which could be the perfect way to bring back a character that many fell in love with in Bosch: Legacy.
Reina Vasquez Is a Competent and Loyal Police Officer
Reina Vasquez is Maddie Bosch’s training officer in Bosch: Legacy. Reina and Maddie develop a friendship and partnership while working on different cases in the street, and in Boch: Legacy Season 3, Reina proved where her loyalties were. Season 3 saw Reina deal with an investigation that tore her family apart after learning that her own nephew was part of a group of robbers she was investigating.
Reina’s story felt unfinished by the time Bosch: Legacy ended, so bringing her back for Ballard could be the perfect way to give her character closure. Renée Ballard might also need a few officers on her side whom she can trust, and Reina Vasquez could be one of them. Detectives and officers work together all the time, so it’d make sense to bring back familiar faces from the LAPD, like Reina Vasquez in Ballard.
J. Edgar Works in RHD Like Renée Ballard
Many fans were disappointed to see that Harry’s old partner, J. Edgar, didn’t make an appearance in Bosch: Legacy Season 3. J. Edgar was Harry’s partner in the Hollywood Homicide division of the LAPD. But after Harry resigned from the LAPD and the Hollywood Homicide division closed, J. Edgar moved on to RHD.
RHD, or the Robbery-Homicide Division, is a prestigious division within the LAPD that works on high-profile cases. Renée Ballard is also an RHD detective, though she is set to lead her own Open-Unsolved Unit within the division. Since J. Edgar and Renée Ballard work in the same division, this could be the perfect setup to see a beloved character like J. Edgar return, either to join Ballard’s unit or to lend a hand whenever necessary.
Crate and Barrel Are the Comedic Duo Fans Love To See
Crate and Barrel are an iconic and fan-favorite duo that first appeared in the original Bosch series as two detectives working in the Hollywood Homicide division of the LAPD. Their comedic timing and hilarious relationship with each other made them some of the best characters in Bosch, and many were happy to see them return in Bosch: Legacy. Crate and Barrel, now retired, helped Harry and Honey Chandler with different investigations.
Crate and Barrel would make a perfect addition for Ballard. Renée Ballard will lead an all-volunteer unit, and who better to have as volunteers for a cold-case unit than two retired detectives who were probably part of the original investigations years ago. Crate and Barrel add a much-needed dose of humor, while also helping with investigations in their own way, and seeing them work with Renée Ballard could be both hilarious and highly entertaining.
Honey Chandler Earned Her Place as the New DA of Los Angeles
Honey Chandler had probably the best character arc in the Bosch universe. Chandler’s tragic fate in Connelly’s novels was changed for the TV adaptation, something that many fans were happy to see, as they were able to follow Chandler’s journey from a despised civil rights attorney to the new District Attorney of Los Angeles. And as the new DA, Chandler should be the obvious choice to bring back in Ballard.
Honey Chandler earned her place as the new DA, but Bosch: Legacy didn’t give Chandler enough time to shine in her new role. Ballard could continue Chandler’s storyline and see her thrive and face new challenges in her position, this time working with the LAPD detectives instead of against them. Honey Chandler earned her place in the Bosch TV universe, and many fans would be happy to see her return in Ballard.
Maddie Bosch Has the Potential to Be a Talented Detective
Maddie Bosch, Harry’s daughter, became an LAPD officer in Bosch: Legacy. Fans got to see Maddie face new challenges and even become the target of a criminal, which shaped Maddie’s character and career. But her story seemed far from over by the time Bosch: Legacy ended, so seeing her return for Ballard would be a good addition, as many fans want to see what’s next for Harry’s daughter.
Much like Harry, Maddie has the potential to become a talented detective in her own right. Maddie’s mother was also an FBI profiler, which adds to Maddie’s potential for her future career. In Michael Connelly’s novels, Maddie even joins Renée Ballard’s Open-Unsolved Unit, so it’s possible that Ballard could take inspiration from that and bring Maddie in as a volunteer for Renée’s unit.
Harry Bosch Remains the Center of the Franchise
Harry Bosch is the face and heart of the franchise, and even though the upcoming Ballard spin-off will focus on Renée Ballard, there’s no denying that fans want to see Harry as well. It’s already been confirmed that Titus Welliver will return as Harry Bosch in Ballard. But for how long, or how often fans will get to see Harry in Ballard, is still up in the air.
Harry and Renée work together many times in Michael Connelly’s novels, so it would make perfect sense to make Harry a lead in Ballard as well, or at least a supporting character. And while it’s understandable that the people behind Ballard want to see the show and Renée become popular in their own right, having Harry there could only help. Hopefully, Harry Bosch will be an important part of Ballard and the spin-off will continue Harry’s story, while also giving Renée enough time to win over audiences.
