Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector and Amy Aquino in Season Two of ‘Bosch’

The Michael Connelly character Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch first premiered in a series of books in 1992. As this is written, the character has led to 24 distinct books and two distinct television shows. We focus here on the second season of the series Bosch (2014-2021), starring Titus Welliver in the title role for the series.

(From left, Brad Carter as Chilton Hardy and Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in the second season of Bosch).

The storyline for this season picks up six months after Harry Bosch‘s police unit in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California sought a serial killer in the show’s first season. The ten episodes of the second season were adapted from the Michael Connelly books The Last Coyote, Trunk Music and The Drop. The story sees Harry Bosch following a new case of a Hollywood film producer with potential connections to the mob. Information about the years-ago death of Bosch‘s mother introduces the possibility of driving the detective to distraction.

(From left and near lectern, Erika Alexander as Connie Irving, Lance Reddick as Irvin Irving, Steven Culp as Richard O’Shea and Leslie Stevens as Patricia O’Shea in season two of Bosch).

Deputy Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Irvin Irving as portrayed by Lance Reddick, at first aims to stay above the details of the investigation that Harry is pursuing. Irving‘s son, portrayed by Robbie Jones with the character name George Irving, goes undercover on the force. Harry’s investigation heads to Las Vegas, Nevada as George’s experiences in plainclothes begin to introduce a set of considerations for the full Irving family.

(From left, Jamie Hector as Jerry Edgar, Jeri Ryan as Veronica Allen and Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in the second season of Bosch).

Harry’s time in Nevada reveals that not all is well for Harry‘s ex-wife, Eleanor Wish as portrayed by Sarah Clarke, and her situation with her current husband. The child between Eleanor and Harry, Maddie Bosch as portrayed by Madison Lintz, in certain ways is caught in the middle of multiple situations. Deputy Chief Irving, meanwhile, chimes in with his support of the mayoral race by supporting Richard O’Shea. Steven Culp portrayed by mayoral candidate O’Shea.

(From left, Jamie Hector as Jerry Edgar and Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in season two of Bosch).

While Deputy Chief Irving’s support for mayor begins to introduce some political fallout for the deputy chief, things too get messy between Bosch‘s murder investigation, the mob and his familial past. Bosch‘s encounter with mob boss Joey Marks, with roots in Armenia and as portrayed by Tom Mardirosian, lead to serious questions for what course to pursue. Bosch and his partner, Jerry Edgar as portrayed by Jamie Hector, pursue Marks while Bosch takes specific measures to protect his daughter and ex-wife.

(From left, John Marshall Jones as Jay Griffin and Sarah Clarke as Eleanor Wish in season two of Bosch).

Circumstances escalate severely in the familial lives of the Irving family and the Bosch / Wish family take unexpected and dark turns as the tensions elevate each family. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) brings in a surprise approach, through Jay Griffin as portrayed by John Marshall Jones, that prompts the LAPD officers to reconsider their original theories of the murder that opened this season. There are the threads of the murder investigation along with the FBI‘s interest in a potentially related set of crimes. There’s familial fallout for the Irvings, the Bosches and the Wishes sharply placed in focus against the trajectory for the mayoral campaign and violence that comes to call with the mob story that includes the tales of Veronica Allen, as portrayed by Jeri Ryan, and Carl Nash as portrayed by Brent Sexton.

(From left, Amy Aquino as Grace Billets and Madison Lintz as Maddie Bosch in Bosch).

The stakes in play for season two make for entertaining television. The tension is real, the characters have depth and character growth. Addressing the puzzle with Harry Bosch‘s mother was an appreciated twist. The investment in feelings among the characters makes for an engaging experience binging this season. I grant season two of Bosch as presented as an Amazon original series, 4.5-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas, and Season Two of ‘Manifest’

The television show Manifest (2018- ) recently aired the final episode of a 13-episode second season on the National Broadcasting Company this past Monday, April 6th. The second season began its run in January, aiming to keep an audience similar to the show’s higher ratings seen in the first season. The final four episodes performed better, though the show never quite reached the level of the finale of season one.

(From left, Melissa Roxburgh as Michaela Stone, Jared Grimes as Adrian and Josh Dallas as Ben Stone in season two of Manifest).

Melissa Roxburgh as Michaela Stone and Josh Dallas as Ben Stone continue to be central sister and brother survivors of Montego Air Flight 828, which vanished for five and a half years, returning at the beginning of season one. Athena Karkanis portrays Grace Stone, Ben’s wife and mother to Grace and Cal, portrayed by Luna Blaise and Jack Messina, respectively. Season one deals largely with the relationships this core family has in reintegrating into a single family unit while trying to understand the mystery of the situation.

(From left, Jack Messina as Cal Stone and Athena Karkanis as Grace Stone in season two of Manifest).

Season two returns with resolution to a large cliff hanger involving Michaela’s ex-fiancé Jared Vasquez and Zeke Landon, a character introduced in the last third of the first season. Matt Long portrays Zeke whereas J.R. Ramirez portrays Jared. The relationships among these three change greatly in the second season, which includes a distinct narrative that pushes Michaela apart from Jared, who gets divorced. Drea Mikami, as portrayed by Ellen Tamaki, becomes Michaela’s partner at the New York City police department where Jared and Michaela work. Tamara, a bartender portrayed by Leah Gibson, connects part of this story.

(From left, Melissa Roxburgh as Michaela Stone and Matt Long as Zeke Landon in season two of Manifest).

Zeke’s story serves as an interesting fence post for the second season, connecting strongly with the narrative of the Stone family. As Ben and Grace spend a large portion of the second season of Manifest pregnant with various interpersonal stories bubbling up from there, the calling connects questions of an emotional place for Grace, Olive and the pending child for the season. Ben, Grace and Olive all drift in different directions about the roles of science, faith, and a potential spiritual connection to the calling, as most directly manifested through the story of Adrian. Jared Grimes portrayed Adrian, and raised the possibility of a malevolent interpretation to the calling.

(From left, J.R. Ramirez as Jared Vasquez and Ellen Tamaki as Drea Mikami in season two of Manifest).

Olive Stone and T.J. Morrison offer a narrative line that concretely and rather elegantly offers a means of rescuing the relationship from an essential disagreement between Olive and Ben. Luna Blaise portrayed the older version of Olive, whereas Garrett Wareing plays T.J., a survivor of Montego Air Flight 828. Ben’s work at a university, and as Olive’s caring father that connects psychologically to the needs of his daughter, works in separate parts owing to Morrison.

(From left, Luna Blaise as Olive Stone and Garrett Wareing as T.J. Morrison in season two of Manifest).

Ben and Zeke connect back to narratives including Saanvi Bahl, The Major, and NSA Director Vance. Saanvi, as portrayed by Parveen Kaur, is a fifth survivor with a recurring role in the second season. Saanvi’s experimentation and desire to reconnect to her life from 5.5-years before Montego Air Flight 828 are given voice. A narrative aimed at ridding passengers and others who experience the calling, and the governments interest in the medicine of stopping that, connects Saanvi to The Major and NSA Director Vance. Elizabeth Marvel portrays The Major while Daryl Edwards portrayed Vance.

(From left, Parveen Kaur as Saanvi Bahl and Elizabeth Marvel as The Major in season two of Manifest).

The interests of Vance and The Major do not delve into the supernatural, whereas the stories of Adrian, Cal, other survivors of Montego Air Flight 828, and even Zeke point at that notion. The larger story looks as if it will extend this notion into the next season, should one be offered. Lourdes, as portrayed by Victoria Cartagena, and Danny, as portrayed by Daniel Sunjata, who had relationships with major characters in the first season, quietly disappeared with the second.

(Daryl Edwards as NSA Director Vance in season two of Manifest).

My feeling is that there is enough story left in Manifest to bring the show back for a third season. The larger story season two of Manifest did not deliver the emotional punch of the first season, though this can be recovered. For example, I’d find it emotionally satisfying if the story of a pair of the central characters took a turn that didn’t fully recuperate within a single season. Perhaps having one of the lost characters return in third season would be interesting. Regardless, my recommendation is to review season two. The second season of Manifest earns a rating of 3.5-stars on a scale of one-to-five.

Matt – Wednesday, April 15, 2020