The latest Michael Connelly creation adapted for TV isn’t afraid to take big swings, and its star Maggie Q shows why she’s been a staple in the industry for years. Ballard is another stellar police procedural that carves out its own unique narrative and earns its spot among current top shows across all streaming platforms.
In Ballard, we follow Q as the title character introduced in the finale of Bosch: Legacy. The former homicide detective has recently been bumped down to working cold cases with a group of volunteers after speaking out against the actions of another detective (Ricardo Chavira, Desperate Housewives) with no departmental support. Viewers that had the benefit of seeing her in Bosch are already aware of her vigor, but those that are coming in fresh will catch on quickly.
While Ballard and her team work to solve a litany of cold cases demonstrating their value to the department, its creation stemmed from city councilman Jake Perlman (Noah Bean, Nikita) and the unsolved murder of his sister. It’s the case they need to solve, but every potential lead seems to go nowhere.
Familiar characters from across the Bosch universe make brief appearances, but Ballard never leans on them too long for support. They serve their purpose as fun and logical cameos that remind you, they share the same Los Angeles. Instead, the new cast drives the series.
Working closely with Ballard are reserve officer Rawls (Michael Mosley, Ozark), volunteer Colleen (Rebecca Field, A Star Is Born), intern Martina (Victoria Moroles, Teen Wolf) and retired training officer and mentor Thomas Laffont (John Carroll Lynch, The Founder). Former officer Samira Parker (Courtney Taylor, Insecure) is also recruited by Ballard due to her knowledge of a case they are working on, and they become fast friends. Taylor is a standout. It’s great to see them enjoy some lighter moments together, but when they discover a shared trauma, it strengthens their bond and their resolve.
After a slow build, spending time to introduce its characters as they work cases, the show finds its footing, fitting into the Bosch mold of realistic police procedural, while stopping short of getting too deep into the legal aftermath. Each member of Ballard’s team has a circumstance that befalls them, and they emerge on the other side of it having developed some depth within their characters – beginning to feel like real people. Rawls evolves beyond his combination of sarcasm and cynicism, Colleen’s empathy is palpable, Martina grows up quickly and Laffont is the glue that keeps the department together.
In full transparency, there is a pivotal sequence in Episode 6, “Beneath the Surface,” that takes the series from perfectly enjoyable to captivating. The narrative turn isn’t especially unique, but Maggie Q is incredible, and the episode puts her impressive mix of physicality and vulnerability on display. It’s one of several important junctures that chip away at the tough exterior Ballard displays, offering more insight into her makeup. From that point forward, things stay in another gear as the team moves forward in their investigations. As an audience, you feel the emotional toll of each dead end, making the inevitable breakthroughs and reveals more satisfying.
As previously mentioned, Ballard isn’t afraid to take big swings – the stakes are real, and even the most likable characters aren’t bulletproof. That’s a staple of Michael Connelly’s writing that’s played out in all its iterations, and it adds to the realistic circumstances explored.
There is plenty to like about Ballard, which audiences have discovered, as the series was an instant hit on Prime, but Maggie Q is the clear driving force and there is a lot left to explore with her character. It’s a role that she’s deserved, and one she’s likely to excel in for a long time. If you need one last reason to watch, Ballard has a dog named Lola, played by a pit bull rescue. If anyone could steal a scene from Q, it’s Lola. She’s perfect, and any attention to animal rescue is tremendous.
