Amazon Prime’s longest running original series, Bosch, recently returned for its sixth season centered around L.A.P.D Homicide detective Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.). The series, which is based on the novels of author Michael Connelly, remains one of the better police procedurals, as it stays true to form with multiple investigations and storylines playing out over the course of its ten episodes. While the primary case is centered around the murder of a medical physicist who had been forced to steal radioactive cesium, which could be used in a terror attack, there are still loose ends and events from last season to be expanded upon as well.
One thing that Bosch does well is showing the full picture of an investigation from multiple angles. When the police-work ends, the courtroom battle begins, and the frustrating politics and loopholes in the system make Bosch and his partner Jerry Edgar (Jamie Hector, The Wire) jaded. You can appreciate the fact that the seasons don’t always have perfect endings. Just because the bad guys are caught, it doesn’t mean justice is always served, and that very real narrative is frustrating but fascinating to see play out.
Fans of The Wire can recognize that broader view approach to storytelling found in Bosch, and for good reason as co-creator and Executive Producer of Bosch, Eric Overmyer, co-wrote and produced the HBO show as well. As such, there are several familiar cast members throughout various seasons but primarily Hector, and Lance Reddick (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum) who plays Chief of Police Irvin Irving. This isn’t a series that’s heavy on action sequences, as its much more focused on developing its characters and creating the world within which these investigations occur. The setting for that world is, of course, a very familiar LA, which almost serves as its own character, much like Baltimore did for The Wire.
For both Bosh and Edgar, the cases that they are working outside of the physicists murder this season are much more personal. As Bosch pursues a lead in the death of Daisy Clayton, the daughter of Elizabeth, whom he befriended during an undercover investigation last season, Edgar is working with undercover DEA agent Charlie Hovan (Celestino Cornielle, The Fate of the Furious) to help bring down Jacques Avril (Treva Etienne, Black Earth Rising) whom he believes responsible for the murder of his informant and for other crimes in Haiti. While Bosch has continuously found himself too close to the cases he’s working and has put those he loves in harm’s way, this is the first time we see Edgar have to navigate tough choices in his own vendetta. It’s great to see Hector get close to equal billing with Welliver this season. He makes the most of it, and sets up some intriguing elements to play out in what was announced as the upcoming seventh and final season.
With three different cases playing out, there are several smaller narratives like one involving a formal complaint filed against Lt. Grace Billets (Amy Aquino, Beautiful Boy), or Detective Barrel (Troy Evans, ER) meeting with a friend for a meal to discuss an old case that would seem like they exist just to keep the characters involved. That may be true to some extent, but the opportunities also aren’t wasted to explore office politics, real HR issues in the workplace, and how someone approaching the end of their career may deal with questions about their own mortality. There is so much great source material for the show to pull from, it’s difficult to effectively narrow things down. While it may not be the most exciting element of the show, it’s integral to see enough of it to add depth and exposition to go along with the meatier elements of the overall plot. The fact that these characters are people with lives outside of the next homicide investigation is often overlooked in lesser depictions, and it’s something the format of Bosch allows.
One of those elements that was great to see explored this season is Maddie Bosch (Madison Lintz, The Walking Dead) coming into her own, and determining what she wants for her life. We see that she not only has a new boyfriend (Jonny Rios, Chambers), but also is a coveted intern with Honey Chandler (Mimi Rogers, Two and a Half Men). There is some stirring discussion between her and Bosch regarding his opinions on defense attorney’s and criminals, as he’s both been at odds with them undoing his hard work, and needed them when he was prosecuted himself, specifically Chandler. Like most teenagers, Maddie has gone back and forth on her intended career path and is swayed by her the environment. It’s their father and daughter relationship that provides a reset from the chaos surrounding Bosch’s work. Those quiet talks from their home in the hills with stunning views overlooking the city keep things from being all crime scenes and stakeouts, and allow the stoic Bosch to let his guard down for a few minutes, (assuming someone isn’t coming there to kill him).
The character-driven, broader storytelling approach of Bosch can be a welcome departure from the faster-paced action forward series many productions have turned into, with cliffhangers to close each episode. It’s a series that’s grounded in reality even if the stakes of this season seem bigger than most. If you appreciate a more authentic detective story, Bosch Season 6 is as dependable as Welliver is in the title role.
