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

The Michael Connelly character Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch first premiered in a series of books begun in 1992. As this is written, the character has led to 24 distinct books and two distinct television shows. We focus here on the fifth season of the series Bosch (2014-2021), starring Titus Welliver in the title role. This season is based on Michael Connelly‘s book Two Kinds of Truth.

(From left, Chris Vance as Dalton Walsh and Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in season 5 of the Amazon original series Bosch).

Season five of Bosch picks up fifteen months after season four, with the dust having settled from the Elias case led by Harry Bosch, the exemplary accomplishment of having solved a case with ingenuity for Detectives Moore and Johnson, Eleanor Wish’s murder and its aftermath, and finally some firm knowledge underpinning precisely why Harry Bosch‘s mother in fact died. The season quickly moves past this into a pharmacy murder by men in masks pitted next to the review of an old case from early in Bosch‘s career. The case, investigated by Chief Irvin Irving and Harry Bosch, could raise uncomfortable questions about several closed should things go badly. The late Lance Reddick portrayed Irving.

(From left, Jacqueline Pinol as Detective Julie Espinosa and Jamie Hector as Jerry Edgar in season 5 of the Amazon original series Bosch).

The old case up for a review leads Bosch to hire attorney Honey Chandler, the attorney opposing Bosch‘s professional interests in the season 4 Elias case, to defend him against charges of planting evidence. Hector Bonner does much of the investigation on Bosh’s behalf. Meanwhile, Maddie Bosch is working in the Los Angeles Police Department through the summer, with an interesting balance for her between loyalty to her father, personality traits of her mother, and potential romantic feelings budding through the season. Mimi Rogers portrayed Chandler as Ryan Hurst portrayed Bonner.

(From left, Gregory Scott Cummins as Detective Crate Moore and Troy Evans as Detective Barrel Johnson in season 5 of the Amazon original series Bosch).

An interesting side story, as Bosch investigates the pharmacy murder turned pill mill undercover case with Jerry Edgar, becomes the ongoing story of the age of partner detectives Crate Moore and Barrel Johnson, as portrayed by Gregory Scott Cummins and Troy Evans. The response the two had to a crime in progress made a situation worse, led to a punishment for the detectives, and in the process created a headache for Lieutenant Grace Billets. Billets, as portrayed by Amy Aquino, work to defend Johnson and Moore while the two uncover an unethical yet real world practice of reporting borderline felony crimes as misdemeanors to improve the departmental records.

(Madison Lintz as Maddie Bosch in season 5 of the Amazon original series Bosch).

This headache for Billets happens in parallel to the pill mill case that sees Harry Bosch lose contact with Jerry Edgar. This off the books methodology functions well outside the chain-of-command, with Billets sticking her neck out in not escalating this up the chain when she first catches wind of the judgment calls that would be sure to ruffle the feathers of Chief Irving, who has been managing his involvement with the Christina Henry investigation of Bosch, oversite of impropriety by police in their manner of contact with the public, and a further recommendation that he, Irving, consider a run for mayor. Bianca Kajlich portrayed Henry.

(From left, Amy Aquino as Lieutenant Grace Billets and Scott Klace as Sergeant John Mankiewicz in season 5 of the Amazon original series Bosch).

The ninth and tenth episodes of this ten-episode season were the best of this season, which originally released in 2019. The truth underpinning the individual characters continued to be spot on to the truths that had come before, while giving us new developments and character paths that help me wish to keep on coming back. I give season five of Bosch 4.25-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, September 16, 2023

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

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

(Titus Welliver as Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch in season four of Bosch).

Season four of Bosch picks up three months after season three with subject matter from the Connelly books Angels Flight of 1999 and Nine Dragons of 2009. Irvin Irving, as portrayed by Lance Reddick, has been named police chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. As with Irving’s ascension to police chief, threads from previous seasons visit upon the police department, the larger community of Los Angeles, California and the personal lives of the police, members of their families, and the stakes for the cases under investigation with this season.

(From left, Jamie McShane as Francis Sheehan, Tamberla Perry as Gabriella Lincoln and Winter Ave Zoli as Amy Snyder in season four of Bosch).

Important threads for this season tug on racial strife, with the murder of civil rights attorney Howard Elias, as portrayed by Clark Johnson, serving as a central catalyst. Elias was in the process of representing a black man accusing LAPD of police brutality. Irving appoints Bosch to lead a task force, which includes Jerry Edgar, Santiago ‘Jimmy’ Robertson, and sergeant Amy Snyder and Gabriella Lincoln. Jamie Hector, Paul Calderon, Winter Ave Zoli and Tamberla Perry portray Edgar, Robertson, Snyder and Lincoln, respectively. A significant storyline involving Francis Sheehan, as portrayed by Jamie McShane, emerges that captures the attention of this this task force.

(From left, Amy Aquino as Grace Billets and Jamie Hector as Jerome (Jerry) Edgar in season four of Bosch).

Grace Billets, as portrayed by Amy Aquino, continues to serve as lieutenant for the Hollywood division of the LAPD, where the Elias investigation is based. While trying to manage the personalities of the multiple threads of police officers already mentioned, Billets is juggling an assignment as captain without the job title, which presents difficulties that are felt in their own ways by threads of the past for Bosch with Edgar, Robertson and Snyder. Calderon’s own past plays a part in this investigation, while Jerry Edgar has familial struggles with his wife, Latonya Edgar. Ingrid Rogers portrayed Latonya Edgar.

(John Getz as Bradley Walker in season four of Bosch).

Bradley Walker, as portrayed by John Getz, played a relevant role in the fourth season. While having the ear of Irvin Irving as the president of the police commission for the LAPD, in addition to being a former officer, Walker had requested ongoing updates into the investigation into Elias. Harry Bosch had suspected Walker of complicity in the death of Marjorie Phillips Lowe, Bosch’s mother. Things worsened when Bosch‘s ex-wife and the mother of Madeline Bosch, Eleanor Wish, was murdered. The background between Wish and Reggie Woo became more transparent after the murder, with the relationship between Harry and Madeline becoming more visible. Madison Lintz, Sarah Clarke and Hoon Lee portrayed Madeline, Eleanor and Reggie, respectively.

(Sarah Clarke as Eleanor Wish in season four of Bosch).

The fourth season of Bosch offered a good deal of clarity for the larger story being told across the lives of the central characters of the Amazon original series Bosch. With that longer range storytelling, in combination with groundwork laid for additional seasons of the show, I recommend this series. I grant season four of Bosch 4.5-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, November 12, 2022

Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector and Amy Aquino in Season Three 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 third season of the series Bosch (2014-2021), starring Titus Welliver in the title role for the series.

(From left, Jamie Hector as Jerry Edgar, Titus Welliver as Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch and Peter Douglas as Tom Jay in the third season of Bosch).

Season three of Bosch picks up with a 16-months on time between the second and third seasons. Harry copes with the truth of the Los Angeles Police Department‘s role in his mother’s death, and that the guilty party had died without facing the truth. Harry‘s daughter, Maddie Bosch, as portrayed by Madison Lintz, has moved in with him as Maddie’s mother and Harry’s ex-wife, Eleanor Wish, has moved to Hong Kong with her current husband, Reggie Woo. Sarah Clarke portrayed Wish as Hoon Lee portrayed Woo. The conclusion to the Father Tabakian murder charges against Veronica Allen, with Tabakian portrayed by Jack Topalian and Allen portrayed by Jeri Ryan, intersects with Bosch‘s fragile emotional state right from the beginning of the season.

(From left, A.J. Tannen as Middle Aged John and Bridger Zadina as Thomas ‘Sharkey’ Niese in the third season of Bosch).

Three other cases gain Harry Bosch‘s interest in this season, one being the death the homeless Billy Meadows as witnessed by Army Green Beret Thomas ‘Sharkey’ Niese. Another is the murder of Donatella Speares, which has led to a trial against Hollywood movie director Andrew Holland. A complicated alternate theory has former LAPD detective Rudy Tafero helping Holland to deflect guilt. A third case, the death of suspected serial killer Edward James Gunn, leads to Detective Jimmy Robertson, as portrayed by Paul Calderon, pursuing Harry for criminal charges. Chad Van Allen, Bridger Zadina, Ana Flavia Gavlak, John Ales, Arnold Vosloo and Frank Clem portrayed Meadows, Niese, Speares, Holland, Tafero and Gunn, respectively.

(From left, Titus Welliver as Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch and Amy Aquino as Grace Billets in the third season of Bosch).

A degree of slick handling through much of the storylines above, and what this means to different relationships between cops and for cops and their families, come to pass with this season. What will the appearances of corruption do to Harry Bosch and his partner, Jerry Edgar. Will Lieutenant Grace Billets get the promotion to captain that she has been seeking? Will interim chief Irvin Irving, with Mayor Hector Ramos getting reelected after Irving leaked a video that damaged Richard O’Shea, stay on as police captain? What happens to Harry Bosch, Maddie Bosch, Eleanor and Reggie. Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Yancey Arias and Steven Culp portrayed Edgar, Billets, Irving, Ramos and O’Shea, respectively. This season draws from the Michael Connelly books The Black Echo of 1992 and A Darkness More Than Night of 2001.

(Lance Reddick as Irvin Irving in the third season of Bosch).

The depth of storylines and detail packed into season three is accomplished remarkably well. Some storylines are resolved with this season while others are not. As with the Father Tabakian and Veronica storyline, clarity for a previous season comes into play with this third season. That Bosch, the Amazon original series, does this so well makes we want to keep coming back for additional seasons. I recommend this series, granting 4.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5 for season three.

Matt – Saturday, October 29, 2022

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

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

The Michael Connelly character Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch first premiered in a series of books in 1992. In the summer of 2022, the character has led to 24 distinct books and two distinct television shows. We focus here on the first season of the series Bosch (2014-2021), starring Titus Welliver in the title role for the series.

(From left, Jerry Hector (seated) as Jerry Edgar, Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch and Amy Aquino as Grace Billets in the television show Bosch).

Harry Bosch is a homicide detective in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California for the Los Angeles Police Department. Beyond his past service with the United States Army in the Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991 and Afghanistan, part of the discovery of the first season is learning about how Harry Bosch‘s past impacts the case presented with this season. The underlying story for this season of ten episodes was adapted from the Michael Connelly books The Concrete Blonde of 1994, City of Bones of 2002 and Echo Park of 2006.

(From left, Jason Gedrick as Raynard Waits in the television show Bosch).

The story of the season deals primarily with the discovery of buried skeleton in the woods. The deceased is a boy that had been horribly beaten, with evidence of abuse that had occurred for a prolonged period before this. Jerome (Jerry) Edgar, as portrayed by Jamie Hector, catches the case with Harry Bosch, who is standing trial in federal court. Amy Aquino portrayed Grace Billets, a lieutenant, supervisor and friend to Harry.

(Lance Reddick as Irvin Irving in the television show Bosch).

While quarreling with deputy chief Irvin Irving over the federal case, Raynard Waits, a serial killer pulled over for a traffic violation, confesses to the child murder being investigated by Jerry Edgar and Harry Bosch. The case leads from here leads to Jerry and Harry getting into the details of the dead boy’s past. Jason Gedrick portrayed Raynard Waits as Lance Reddick portrayed Irvin Irving.

(From left, Annie Wersching as Julia Brasher and Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in the television show Bosch).

Harry takes an escalating romantic interest in Julia Brasher, a rookie police officer assigned to the same station. Tensions escalate following the trial and with changing circumstances with Raynard Waits, which leads to further action towards Harry from Irvin Irving. The escalating circumstances leads Harry to buckle down on the current case in front of him. Traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada to see his ex-wife Eleanor Wish, as portrayed by Sarah Clarke, professional assistance from his ex-wife is requested. Annie Wersching portrayed Julia Brasher.

(From left, Sarah Clarke as Eleanor Wish and Madison Lintz as Madeline (Maddie) Bosch in the television show Bosch).

Harry takes the time to additionally see the daughter Eleanor and he share while in Las Vegas. Maddie, the daughter to Eleanor and Harry, is portrayed by Madison Lintz. Things escalate and change interpersonally on many levels at this point, taking a mature, sophisticated and engaging path through much of the background of characters introduced through the above background. The emotional intensity grows with each episode and change of circumstances.

(Writer Michael Connelly at an event for the television show Bosch).

The conclusion of season one addresses many questions. Many unresolved issues setup intrigue that it seems clear will present fodder heading into future seasons that are on the way. The show itself is meant for a mature audience, with my recommendation to consider this point. I grant the first season of Bosch, presented as an Amazon original series, 4.5-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Review of the SyFy television series ‘Eureka’

The SyFy Channel series Eureka (2006-2012) depicted a “U.S. Marshall who [became] the sheriff of a remote cozy little Northwestern town of Eureka where the best minds in the US…secretly [were] tucked away to build futuristic inventions for the government.” The series ran for five seasons of charmingly humorous science that frequently would have things “go disastrously wrong.”

(From left, Trevor Jackson as Kevin Blake, Felicia Day as Holly Marten, Erica Cerra as Jo Lupo and Colin Ferguson as Jack Carter in the television series Eureka).

The central humor of this story is the storyline of characters intermixed with the mayhem where science runs comically amok. Colin Ferguson as Sheriff Jack Carter is the everyman at the center of saving the day for whatever dilemma the individual series brought. Part of the early series focused on the sheriff’s relationship with his rebellious daughter Zoe Carter, as played by Jordan Danger.

(From left, Colin Ferguson as Jack Carter, Debrah Farentino as Beverly Barlowe and Joe Morton as Henry Deacon in the television series Eureka).

Jo Lupo, as played by Erica Cerra, plays the combative deputy to Jack Carter, first as a rough and tumble competitor. Lupo becomes romantically attached to Jim Taggart, as played by Matt Frewer, and Zane Donovan as played by Niall Matter, through the course of the series. The antagonistic yet playful relationships among these characters serves the irreverent stories of the five seasons well.

(From left, Salli Richardson-Whitfield as Allison Blake and Niall Matter as Zane Donovan in the television series Eureka).

Central to the storyline of Eureka is the character of Allison Blake, as portrayed by Salli Richardson-Whitfield. Allison tangles at first with the complicated relationship between her ex-husband Nathan Stark, who is played by Ed Quinn. It feels like the original plan was for Nathan Stark to last in the series longer than he did, as Stark and Allison parent Kevin Blake as played first by Meshach Peters and later by Trevor Jackson. Nathan fathers a second child with Allison during the series, yet his character leaves the series with Trevor Grant and Jack Carter becoming love interests at different points in the series. James Callis plays Trevor Grant in one of the more satisfying yet short lived storylines in the series.

(From left, Chris Gauthier as Vincent, Jordan Danger as Zoe Carter and Neil Grayston as Douglas Fargo and S.A.R.A.H. in the television series Eureka).

Beverly Barlowe, as played by Debrah Farentino, is written as one of the more complicated characters through the course of the series. In offering a character whose narrative arc follows a logical yet emotionally complicated path across a fascinating storyline across the series, my only clue in this review is to articulate that her angle is personal, ethically misguided, yet of a compelling human quality to make her story interesting. Barlowe’s tale stands out as interesting, too, in comparison to the story of Henry Deacon as played by Joe Morton. Deacon parallels Jack as an everyman of the scientific community yet with a complicated history that at first intersects with a deceased wife and then with a wife he grows to care for through complicated means named Grace Monroe. Tembi Locke plays Grace Monroe.

(From left, Joe Morton as Henry Deacon, James Callis as Trevor Grant and Tembi Locke as Grace Monroe in the television series Eureka).

Douglas Fargo, also the voice of the automated intelligence for Jack Carter’s house S.A.R.A.H., is played by Neil Grayston. In many ways, Fargo is the comic relief first for Nathan Stark and later for the full storyline Eureka. Douglas comes into a friendly rivalry with Isaac Parrish, played by Wil Wheaton, as both have a scientific rivalry and ultimately a rivalry of the heart when it comes to Holly Marten, as played by Felicia Day. Deputy Andy as played by Kavan Smith along with Carpe Diem proprietor Vincent, as played by Chris Gauthier, add comedic value through the course of the series as well.

(From left, Ed Quinn as Nathan Stark and Kavan Smith as Deputy Andy in the television series Eureka).

As mentioned with a partial review on Rotten Tomatoes, Eureka kept an “assured sense of humor and game [that kept] it afloat, though an increased sense of stakes and willingness to switch up its formula [in later seasons] add[ed] some welcome excitement.” A pair of disjointed holiday episodes aside that did offer entertainment value, the full narrative of the Eureka series entertained me to the point of recommending you view the series. I rate the series Eureka at 4.0-stars on a scale of one-to-five.

Matt – Wednesday, November 18, 2020