I’ve always held certain affection for detective dramas. It’s a tried-and-true genre for the big and small screen, and there never seems to be a shortage of viewing options. There are the plethora rape, kidnapping and murder plots that are unabashedly “ripped from the headlines” with their typical arcs. But aside from these procedural dramas that have infected television basically since it’s inception, there are several shows now at viewers’ fingertips that actually introduce true mystery, especially with the rise of the streaming networks.
Every once in a while a series comes along that harkens back to the early days of television, and though that formula can be stale the creators breath new life into plot and the actors deliver.
Such is the case with Amazon’s Bosch
Make no mistake about it, the series is essentially a repackaged, guilty pleasure in that it’s every bit mystery yarn and based on Michael Connelly’s books. It’s not literary perfection, and that’s exactly the allure. Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch (Titus Welliver), a dark and conflicted Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective whose moral compass pulls him in ways that almost always are the result of good intentions yet result in controversy.
As a result, he’s a both enigmatic and uncontrollable, a trait that can be problematic in a political culture. While the department’s rank and file adores him, commanding officers and even the DA’s office look upon Bosch as a liability. Capt. Harvey Pounds holds considerable contempt for his subordinate.
One of Bosch’s saving graces is appropriately named Lt. Grace Billets (Amy Aquino), who acts as his protector and deflector, freeing Bosch to concentrate on what he does best: Catching bad guys.
He’s no superman but is a temperamental loner, yet he won’t be outworked on the case because he has deep empathy for victims. After all, his prostitute mother was one, and her murder has haunted Bosch since he was 11 years old and was sent to live in an orphanage. He also lived with child abuse, and a good swath of Season 1 deals with the subject.
Welliver is a perfect choice to play the title role. In addition to possessing one of the best voices in Hollywood, he emits a brooding, sinister aura, as was the case with his “Man in Black” character in Lost or his gangster Jimmy O’Phelan in Sons of Anarchy. Aptly, one of his first roles ever was as Ralph Capone, Al’s brother, in the 1990 film The Lost Capone.
After making a names for himself playing similarly corrupt or unlikeable characters over the years (see Man on a Ledge, Transformers: Age of Extinction), it’s nice to see Welliver finally get top billing and redemption. But Welliver’s Bosch is an anti-hero, as the actor described in January on the “Tavis Smiley Show”. He’s complex and perhaps not the best father, but his passion is what makes him a great cop, and Welliver captures that to a tee.
Reminiscent of other imperfect lawmen such as Micky Spillane’s Mike Hammer, Bosch is spit and vinegar but you know his heart is in the right place. The series, while a serious drama, doesn’t take itself too seriously, either. But it does put you on the streets of Los Angeles and amid the cases that Bosch works. Welliver also brings an everyman quality to the role that’s likeable, just not too likeable. Good enough to get the job done, and that’s Bosch’s only objective.