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Many Bosch fans are going to tune into Ballard comparing the spinoff to the original. It’s a natural comparison, since Bosch and Bosch: Legacy are two of the best TV crime dramas of all time. Ballard is not there yet — but that’s because it is very much its own entity.
For anyone who missed Ballard’s introduction in the Bosch: Legacy finale, the spinoff picks up with Detective Renee Ballard now leading an LAPD cold case unit staffed by volunteers and primarily existing to solve the murder of a politician’s sister. It’s very different from Bosch, but it still has the quality that Michael Connelly always brings.
Ballard Season 1 Goes Far Beyond Being a Bosch Spinoff
The Show Has Its Own Distinct Approach That Takes Time to Develop
Context is important when understanding and appreciating Ballard. Michael Connelly created Detective Renee Ballard as a character in the Bosch universe, but she led her own novel The Late Show before she began collaborating with Bosch. The two characters are separate, fully developed individuals who just happen to work together. And that’s what Ballard is to Bosch and Bosch: Legacy — a show in the same universe, but with its own style and identity. Anyone who expects it to be exactly like Bosch will be disappointed.
This is a show and a cast that’s rougher around the edges, but that works because the idea is Ballard is leading a unit full of square pegs who aren’t meant to fit in. Maggie Q is an inspired choice to play Ballard; this is the first TV role post her breakout work in Nikita that feels like it truly fits her. She plays Ballard with plenty of brassy sarcasm that starts as her defining characteristic. But as the season goes on, Q becomes more comfortable with the more vulnerable (and more interesting) parts of Ballard. She doesn’t command the screen the way that Titus Welliver did as Harry Bosch, but that’s because Welliver is one of the greatest actors of all time, in addition to being a natural fit for Bosch. Q is showing her range in playing Ballard, and she gets better with every episode.
Courtney Taylor isn’t known for drama, but the Shrinking alum really sinks her teeth into playing Samira Parker. The most surprising performer is John Carroll Lynch as Ballard’s former partner turned colleague Thomas Laffont; by all accounts, Laffont should be just one more generic cynical veteran cop type. But Lynch gives him personality and an earnestness that makes him so fun to watch. All Rise alum Rebecca Field and Longmire‘s Michael Mosley provide solid comic relief, while Desperate Housewives star Richaro Chavira is delightfully unrecognizable in his role.
There’s also a Nikita reunion between Q and Noah Bean, who is well-cast as Councilman Pearlman, the obligatory character to remind Ballard how much pressure she’s under. Pearlman gets his own arc because his sister is one of the murder victims, and the Ballard writing staff takes the time to actually flesh that out, instead of writing him as an insufferable bureaucrat. Bean also does a great job at making the most expected of dialogue effective. When Pearlman and Ballard butt heads, it works because he and Q have that previous chemistry. Ballard isn’t as immersive or as intense as Bosch, but its cast has plenty of energy and the characters take big leaps across the ten episodes.
Ballard Maintains Michael Connelly's High Standards
Connelly Is Still Very Much Present in the New Series
While Ballard may not be as sharp as Bosch, it does still have the core elements of its predecessor — thanks to the fact that Connelly and several members of the Bosch and Bosch: Legacy creative team are still working on Ballard. That gives this show important consistency in a number of ways. Most obviously, Ballard still has Connelly’s books to provide a narrative blueprint and ensure that the dialogue still sounds like the Bosch universe. It still looks similar to Bosch, too, including an opening scene that will bring back memories of Bosch‘s first episode.
One very obvious exception is that Ballard doesn’t have a distinct title sequence, just a quick, generic title card at the start of each episode. It’s a small quibble but a disappointment, since the opening titles of both Bosch shows were so well done and helped to establish the tone of each series. Ballard may also take place in Los Angeles, but it doesn’t spend as much time making the city a character as Bosch did.
Showrunners Michael Alaimo and Kendell Sherwood don’t have Bosch experience, but they know how to handle a sequel; they both worked extensively on the Closer spinoff Major Crimes. They get the introductions of the characters and the exposition about how Renee Ballard got to the cold case unit out of the way relatively quickly, and connect the dots efficiently so that every scene is worth watching. Moments that would be filler on other shows carry more weight in Ballard. A great example are the scenes in which Ballard has to explain to different members of her team how things work; these could be throwaway moments, but instead they reveal more about the characters. Connelly’s voice and his commitment to character development are both alive and well in this Bosch spinoff.
Ballard Season 1 Is Elevated by Harry Bosch's Return
Titus Welliver Is a Very Welcome Presence
The biggest question asked about the spinoff was if Harry Bosch would appear in Ballard. It was a fair question, since Bosch: Legacy didn’t need to be cancelled, and since readers know Bosch and Ballard have that connection in the books. Connelly confirmed in early press that Bosch has a significant role in the spinoff, which is both good and bad for the show. On one hand, it gives viewers at least one firm reason to check out Ballard — and the series doesn’t make viewers wait long to see Bosch again. The writers show an immense respect to the fans by not dangling his return like a carrot to keep the audience on the hook.
On the other hand, Titus Welliver is still so utterly brilliant as Harry Bosch that when he appears, he unintentionally takes over every scene he’s in. He is (and always has been) on a whole other level of his own, so he elevates the show when he’s on screen and it feels less dynamic when he’s not there. Welliver and Maggie Q build a good rapport across Ballard that they didn’t have the time to fully develop in Bosch: Legacy, and because of that chemistry and the book canon, Bosch’s scenes feel like a seamless part of the ongoing mystery.
It’s just impossible not to watch him and want to see another Bosch: Legacy season. That creates a very long shadow that falls across Ballard despite everyone’s best efforts. Viewers are reminded of how great Welliver is and how he instantly nailed the role of Bosch, and they’ll expect the same from Q and from Ballard. But the character — and the series — aren’t there yet. There are growing pains that have to be worked out, both on and off-screen. Part of the entertainment value of the spinoff is watching the actors and characters find that confidence that was always part of Bosch. While Ballard isn’t as iconic as its predecessor, it is a worthy addition to the Bosch universe and a high-quality crime drama that will keep viewers satisfied for hopefully years to come.
Ballard premieres July 9, 2025 on Prime Video.
- Titus Welliver unintentionally takes over the show when he returns as Harry Bosch.
- Ballard doesn't quite have the same sense of place that Bosch and Bosch: Legacy did.
Ballard premieres July 9, 2025 on Prime Video.
