Bosch Season 1 Review!
Since Amazon's inception, in original streaming programs to compete against Netflix, they have been searching for their big draw. At first it was the Golden Globe winning comedy-drama Transparent. Just recently they've put all that focus onto their new Jack Ryan series, but in between these two shows they tried to make Bosch their selling point. A gritty detective story that prefers the slow burn over the action packed. And while Amazon's failure in finding the staple draw for audiences, all their shows, including this one, are all well made and a delight in their own ways.
Bosch takes place in an already lived in world. No rookie main character, no rookie partner to juxtapose the old ways, Bosch and his team are already fleshed out characters from frame one and the show's first delight is that; being thrown into the deep end when it comes to getting to know these characters. Bosch is the lead, a detective with significant years on the force. His partner, Jerry Edgar, is reliable and relatable. Usually the audience's POV when it comes to thinking out the crime, and at appropriate times the comedic relief.
Based off a series of novels by Michael Connelly, the first season kicks off this dark and moody investigation with the discovery of a twelve year old's remains. Hollywood detective Harry Bosch recently had trouble in court on a past case and uses this newly discovered cold case as a way to keep his mind busy while not being in the way. Twists and turns happen throughout the story, but it's always the characters and not the case that make you want to see the next episode.
Harry Bosch is a deeply flawed character that is still trying to pull his life together as he watches it slip through his fingers. His ex-wife remarried, he doesn't visit his daughter as much as he should, he's always afraid of family in the beginning. So much so that he hooks up with a rookie cop, which thankfully is a subplot that burns brightly in the back of the main story. Throughout the season you will be cheering, and yelling, at detective Bosch until the final scene.
Unlike most films and television shows that depict Los Angeles, Bosch really makes it apparent that there's nothing special about the place. It's just another city to the characters, and the way it was shot made the city itself feel like a character that was homey. I've never seen L.A. depicted on screen like this and expected the traditional; sun, girls, a place where dreams come to soar. Here, Bosch lives in an L.A. that's aged, lived in, tired.
Along with the boy's killer, Bosch is also tied up in a very recent serial killer case that may or may not be connected to the boy. Throughout the ten episode season Bosch and this serial killer exchange delicious dialogue, and have the classic cat and mouse chase that all great heroes and villains have. Episodes will have you on the edge of your toes as you see both parties go beyond expectations.
If that weren't enough, Bosch has to continually face police politics, court politics, inter-agency romance with a rookie, and the public image of himself being dragged in the dirty. This show is packed with meat, and veggies, and all that good stuff that make you water at the mouth when it comes to character. Every little thing influences something bigger later on and to watch it build like a snowball down a mountainside is glorious.
Overall, Bosch kicks the gate open and steals your life for the next ten episodes. It feels like you're reading a good detective book, and once you're done with one episode you want to watch the next, but after you sit in your cozy chair for a cigar break, and maybe squeeze in a whiskey or two before going back. This show is great, plain and simple, and if there's only up from here on out then count me excited.
A
