This 10-Episode Series Crushing on Prime Video Proves Detective TV Is Still King

The Bosch franchise expanded last year with the new spin-off show, Ballard, which follows Maggie Q‘s titular detective, first introduced in the series finale of Bosch: Legacy, leading the recently opened Cold Case Unit of the LAPD while tracking down a ruthless serial killer. With a second season officially in the works for the 100% Tomatometer-rated show, Ballard has already become a worthy addition to author Michael Connelly‘s shared television universe, more than proving that gritty detective shows are still king on streaming.

‘Ballard’ Offers a Unique Perspective of the ‘Bosch’ Universe

Ballard excels by offering a unique perspective of the Bosch universe through the point of view of its lead, as well as former LAPD officer Samira Parker (Courtney Taylor). Through Ballard and Parker, the series explores the gender and social inequality that women in their positions face. Early in the first season, it’s revealed that Ballard was moved from the Robbery Homicide Division, where she was assigned during her first appearance in Bosch: Legacy, down to the Cold Case Unit, which she views as a demotion.

Later episodes reveal that Ballard’s superior officer, Lt. Robert Olivas (Ricardo Chavira), an influential detective within the department, was also sexually harassing her. However, despite Olivas’ corruption and wrongdoing, it’s Ballard who gets punished and ostracized for daring to speak out against Olivas’ misconduct, with Ballard’s own colleagues turning their backs on her. Parker later admits that she was also harassed by Olivas, inciting her exit from the LAPD. It’s a refreshing new perspective for the Bosch world because it shines a light on gender politics and inequality that run rampant in the real world, imbuing the show with a grounded edge.

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Additionally, Ballard explores social and racial injustice through Parker and her father (Frankie Faison), who was a former LAPD beat cop in the early 1990s at the height of civil unrest following the Rodney King beating and riots. Parker’s father also faced disenfranchisement over law enforcement’s racial discrimination, which is another one of the reasons why she left the force. However, Mr. Parker also points out in “BYOB” that when a Black person wears the badge, it gives them “a purpose,” as he explains: “Someone has to watch the watchmen.” Her father’s genuine and honest conviction ultimately helps sway Parker to rejoin the force as part of Ballard’s unit, providing another refreshingly unique narrative that was not previously explored in Bosch or Bosch: Legacy.

‘Ballard’ Still Features Some Familiar Faces From the ‘Bosch’ Universe

Ballard nicely maintains continuity with its flagship series with the welcome returns of Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch and Stephen Chang as Maurice “Mo” Bassi. Welliver’s Bosch skillfully serves two roles throughout the series, including as an informal narrator in the earlier episodes, providing voiceover through his notes on a past murder investigation before the case was transferred to Ballard’s unit. Bosch also makes multiple appearances throughout the season, lending Ballard his candid advice and expertise. Later in Season 1, Bosch and Mo prove crucial in exposing the LAPD’s and Lt. Olivas’ corruption.

Ultimately, Bosch and Mo’s presence upholds narrative cohesion between Ballard and Bosch: Legacy through the confirmation that the characters are still hard at work pursuing their own investigations. Moving forward, Prime Video could hopefully resume their storylines in another season of Ballard, a new Bosch spin-off, or perhaps even a movie continuation somewhere down the line.

‘Ballard’ Proves That Gritty Detective Shows Are Still Prime Drama

Image via Prime Video

Ballard‘s riveting first season ultimately proves that gritty detective shows still make the best television dramas. Much like the previous Bosch shows, Ballard depicts the eponymous detective as someone who must spend every day facing darkness, but fighting not to become consumed by it. The theme is reflected in Ballard’s words to Bosch during her first appearance in Bosch: Legacy: “When you do this work, you go into the darkness, and I think some of that darkness has gotten into you.”

Ballard routinely enters that darkness throughout the first season, and she fights to keep it at bay, but it’s this inner conflict that ultimately makes for gripping television. Taking a page from its predecessor while exploring new perspectives that the flagship series never tackled, Ballard exceptionally showcases the power of justice over corruption with a gritty and grounded realism. We can’t wait to see what the writers have in store for Detective Ballard for the show’s upcoming second season, set to debut on Prime Video at a date yet to be announced.