Neil Brazier | On 20, Apr 2017

Bosch returns for its third season on Amazon Prime Video, set 16 months after Season 2 ended where the eponymous detective Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) found out there was a lot more suspicion surrounding his mother’s death than he thought, including involvement from the very department he now finds himself working in. Hoping for closure, Bosch finds he only has more questions than answers, and it’s left him so bitter and angry that he’s rubbing people up the wrong way – even more than usual.

His change in attitude and cantankerous behaviour hasn’t gone unnoticed by those around him. Partner Jerry Edgar (Jamie Hector) and Lieutenant Grace Billets (Amy Aquino) are forced to question what’s eating at Bosch, when it looks like he’s more closely involved in a murder case than just having his name listed as a flag on the victim’s rap sheet. Drawing from Michael Connolly’s novels The Black Echo and A Darkness More Than Night, the opening three episodes sow many more seeds than the previous two seasons combined, each case intertwined meticulously. This keeps the show engaging far more than if it were a case-of-the-week series. There are times the narrative will force you to be the detective in order to keep up with what’s going on and which case you’re investigating next, but no part feels wasted; each one is crucial to the overall story.

Where Season 1 introduced us to Harry Bosch as a character and Season 2 showed us more of his family, this third run begins by looking at the mental strain being a brash detective will put on a person and his loved ones. Daughter Maddie (Madison Lintz) is now living with her father, while her mother and step-father are working on the other side of the world. Maddie is growing up, now almost old enough to vote, wanting to learn to drive and trying to fit in at a new school. Even though she is closer than ever, Bosch struggles being a real father to his daughter. Although intensely protective of her, his work still comes first; he immerses himself in each case, while his head swims with solving his mother’s murder.

Season 3 hasn’t lost any of its shine when it comes to painting Bosch’s world. Los Angeles is always bathed in sunlight, as if it’s trying to cleanse the city of its crimes, and when Bosch is off the clock in his glass palace, his city twinkles beneath him like a desperate plea for attention. Bosch himself is layered with complexities, perfectly portrayed by Titus Welliver who conveys so much emotion in just the way he holds himself or throws a look. The supporting cast are now firmly established and story arcs continue to grow from the prior season, as Chief Irving (Lance Reddick) must deal with the aftermath of his son’s death and femme fatale Veronica Allen (Jeri Ryan) faces trial. Each character has created their own identity, which makes Bosch enthralling viewing.

Although the opening episode starts the season off slowly reintroducing us to Bosch and the seedy underbelly of the City of Angels, it isn’t long before the show absorbs us once again. The temptation to binge only proves how captivating the series has become; Season 2 was renewed only a month after airing and a fourth is already planned for 2018. The success can be attributed mostly to Welliver, who has added producer to his resume this time around. His portrayal of Bosch is as elaborate as the storylines worked by Eric Overmyer and Michael Connelly; his impetuous temperament may upset some, but it’s gripping to watch.

All episodes of Bosch: Season 3 are available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, as part of a £7.49 monthly subscription. For more on the show, read our reviews of Season 1 and 2 here.

 

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