There aren't many instances where a spin-off show matches the original. However, "Bosch: Legacy" is more of a combination of a continuation of events from "Bosch" as well as being a spin-off. This show's focus is on Bosch, Honey Chandler, and Maddie. And frankly, this show is easily as good as its predecessor. Having read the books, I had some idea of the direction that Harry Bosch's career would go.
Bosch is now a private investigator. While he may no longer have the badge, he's still got the experience, the connections, and even some high-tech help from "Mo" Bassi as Bosch is still somewhat technologically inept, which is always a source of fun and humor. Bosch may be older, but he also proves that he's more than efficient in his detective savvy as well as still having the combat chops. In short, Bosch is still a guy you don't want to cross.
Honey Chandler is still reeling from the effects of being shot from the last season of "Bosch." However, it doesn't take her long to bring her lawyer chops back up to speed. As efficient as Bosch is at being a detective, the same can be said of Chandler in the courtroom. And, of course, the relationship between Bosch and Chandler is always a bit problematic, but they do respect each other and their capabilities. In short, from a professional standpoint, it's a perfect "marriage" between detective and lawyer.
Finally, we have Maddie who is a "boot" patrol officer with LAPD. Perhaps for the first time, we get a real sense of what it means to be a probationary, rookie police officer. I'm tired of shows that show rookies magically acquiring a set of skills to an expert level. We don't get that here. Maddie proves that she's got a lot to learn before she can be considered a seasoned officer with her superior constantly correcting and even badgering her for mistakes. While her partner seems like a tough mentor, she's supposed to be, because it's her job to help Maddie learn as well as survive.
Once again, we have several cases that are being worked this season. First, we have a doctor who's been brutally stabbed to death on the street, and Bosch having to deal with a careless and overzealous detective when he begins to look into the case. How Bosch treats this idiot is priceless and in typical Bosch fashion! Second, we have Bosch being summoned by a billionaire (in true "Big Sleep" fashion!) to see if he has any heirs to his fortune. And finally, we have Chandler trying to find a way to go after Carl Rogers for hers and Maddie's attempted murder from "Bosch." And we also have some street issues coming up for Maddie as a rookie officer--one of which gives us a doozy of a cliffhanger! It kind of made me wish that I'd waited to start this series as I've still got about 8-9 months to wait before Season 2! Damn!
It's still gripping police/detective procedural storytelling. What's the most compelling is seeing how Harry transitions from being a police detective to being a private investigator. Since he no longer has a badge, there are things he's unable to do, but there are also plenty of things that he's now able to do as well. And, man, I still love to see how smart Bosch is in figuring things out. He's still a master at reading people as well as sifting through evidence and finding details that--for others--would be overlooked or even discarded.
We also get a few appearances from Crate and Barrel--funny as ever--, Jerry Edgar (briefly) and a few others. All in all, a great start to another epic series that, frankly--and probably due to COVID--is taking too damn long in between seasons!
My only issue is with the new theme song, which is God-awful! Where's the jazz theme that coincides with Harry Bosch so perfectly? If they weren't going to go with the original theme, then they should have at least gone with another jazz tune.
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