James R | On 08, May 2022

This weekend sees Bosch back in action, as Amazon revives Michael Connelly’s detective for a new series. After seven seasons of Bosch on Amazon Prime Video, Harry Bosch is getting a spin-off titled Bosch: Legacy, which picks up roughly two years after the end of Bosch’s seventh and final season. That can make jumping into the new show – which is more a sequel or a continuation than a standalone – a bit daunting. Fortunately, we’re here with our beginner’s guide to Bosch.

Who is Bosch?

Forget the dishwasher, Bosch is Harry Bosch, a world-weary LA cop created by Michael Connelly who has appeared in more than 20 novels. On the page, he’s a Vietnam War vet, but Connelly and showrunner Eric Overmyer updated him for the screen, making him an Afghanistan veteran. His reason for becoming a cop is tied in with his mother being murdered when he was young, a case that ended up being reopened by him in the first season of the Amazon drama, after he suspected that her killer was still at large. All this happened while he was on trial for a previous case, but what becomes clear the more time we spend with him is that he’s not a corrupt cop although he can be unconventional in his tactics. He frequently clashes with his superiors because of his staunch moral code and determination to do the right thing. His motto: everybody counts or nobody does.

What happened at the end of Bosch’s last series?

A case involving a gangster and the death of a young girl left Bosch more weary of the system than ever and he ended up quitting the LAPD and becoming a private detective.

Who else will be returning from Bosch?

While fan favourite colleague Irving (Lance Reddick) isn’t back in Bosch: Legacy, two other familiar faces will be reprising their roles for the spin-off. First up is Mimi Rogers as attorney Honey Chandler, who was leading the case against Bosch back in the original drama’s first season and has often been a thorn in his side during the course of their careers, leading to a grudging mutual respect. In Season 7, she found herself the subject of an assassination attempt by the sinister Carl Rogers (Michael Rose, taking over the role from Max E Williams).

Also reprising their role is Madison Lintz as Maddie Bosch, Harry’s daughter, who has been a long-standing presence in the programme. They have always been close and she’s always wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps in some form or another, either as a lawyer or some form of law enforcement.

How does Bosch connect to Bosch: Legacy?

The series will follow Harry Bosch and Money Chandler as they both begin new chapters following the Carl Rogers case. Loosely based on the novel The Wrong Side of Goodbye from acclaimed author Michael Connelly, the first season of Bosch: Legacy will see the former LAPD detective called to the estate of ailing billionaire Whitney Vance, where Bosch is tasked with finding Vance’s only potential heir. Along the way, Bosch finds himself clashing with powerful figures who have a vested interest in the heir not being found, and teams up with Honey Chandler in a quest to find justice. Researching the family tree, Bosch uncovers shocking revelations that span generations, all while billions of dollars remain on the line. Meanwhile, Maddie Boschis a rookie patrol officer with the LAPD, grappling with what kind of cop she wants to be.

What new characters are there?

Bosch finds an invaluable resource in Maurice “Mo” Bassi (Stephen A Chang, Captain Marvel), a tech-forward gadget whiz who shares Bosch’s commitment to justice and fondness for smooth jazz. Meanwhile, Maddie is paired with Reina Vasquez (Denise Sanchez, The Good Place), a no-nonsense, hard-charging training officer.

What else can we expect?

With Connelly and Overmyer both involved behind the scenes of Bosch: Legacy, along with staff writer Tom Bernardo, you can expect a show with a similar feel and a strong, grounded drama rooted in characterisation. Once again filmed on location in Los Angeles, you can also expect the backdrop of the city to continue playing a vital role in the realistic, stylish tone of the series, along with a commitment to showcasing the diverse communities of the city that aren’t often depicted on screen. And, with Bosch’s return coming also in a different world from the original drama, you can expect Bosch’s frustration with the justice system, and his mission to fix it, to be a strengthened part of the plot and themes.

How do I watch it?

Bosch: Legacy is streaming exclusively on Amazon Freevee, Amazon’s new free streaming channel that’s part of the Amazon website and Prime Video app. It’s accompanied by ads and requires an Amazon account, but doesn’t need a subscription or any other costs to access it. Episodes 1 to 4 are available now, with 2 new episodes arriving weekly up to a total of 10 episodes.

As of the end of April, all seven seasons of Bosh are also included with Amazon Freevee, which means you can start with Bosch: Legacy and dip into Bosch’s back catalogue, or just binge your way through from the very beginning. Read our reviews of Bosch’s seven seasons here.

Add to Watchlist