Retired Detective Harry Bosch, now a private investigator, is hired by aging billionaire Whitney Vance to handle a personal matter with major implications. When the man who ordered her murder a year and a half ago walks free, a devastated Honey Chandler teams with Bosch to fix injustice. Maddie Bosch, still finding her footing as a rookie patrol cop, is assigned to a hard-charging training officer.
Times are changing. That's declared in the music that accompanies the opening credits. This is a new drama yet it continues the focus established on Amazon's Bosch. It even sees the necessity of a "Previously on" segment. The drama here is a continuation of what started over there. The focus is split more evenly amongst the three main characters - Bosch, Maddie and Chandler. That structural impulse is apparent right away. Of course, the three of them are frequently interacting too. Part of that comes from the ongoing court case against Carl Rogers. He hired a hitman to kill Chandler and Maddie. It failed. And now, the jury deadlocks in rendering a verdict. The trio pursued justice according to the system Chandler has always revered. And now, she has to embrace whatever tactics Bosch is willing to pursue. It's what is necessary to get justice for this heinous man being released onto the streets of Los Angeles once more. They can have philosophic debates about the criminal justice system elsewhere. When it gets personal, then all of them are willing to do whatever it takes to get exactly what they want. The system fails them. Their once solid case fell apart as one witness recanted everything on the stand. That storyline unites the characters. It's hardly the only thing going on in their lives. They are all juggling so many other story concerns as well. Bosch no longer works for the Los Angeles Police Department. He crossed lines on numerous occasions. He was always trusted to get the job done. People disapproved of his methods. However, he was always seen as a good cop who fought for the victims often overlooked by the system. He solved so many cases. He remains haunted by just as many. The increased focus on the cold cases on his desk may signal some development in that regard. At this point though, Bosch is simply counting on word-of-mouth to promote his business as a private investigator. He has some time on the job now. That's clear. It pairs nicely with Maddie going through the police academy and Chandler recovering from her gunshot wounds. All of these are still relatively new enough to show the characters still getting their footing. Maddie is learning how to patrol the streets. She clashes with her training officers who are upset about her breaking protocols and having an attitude. She remains committed to the job. Meanwhile, Chandler steps back into the courtroom to try her first case. She's defending an unhoused man accused of killing one of the city's most beloved doctors.
The changes are mostly subtle though. The foundation is still basically the same as what the audience has come to expect in this particular world. That's satisfying for the fans who have made the transition to the new show. It may not invite many newcomers. It takes knowledge of Bosch's relationship with his mother to understand why he is determined to look for answers about Whitney Vance's potential heir. That's not an easily accessible development. Bosch has disdain towards this man. He doesn't want to be summoned to the home of a multi-billionaire who has waited too long to pursue his life's regrets. That's not the work he wants to do. He is intrigued by the actual job. Moreover, the amount of money involved will produce countless complications for him to face. Of course, he still utilizes a badge in order to come across the information he needs. At the end of Bosch, the title character turned in his badge and gun because he could no longer work for the police. He refused to be silenced in the name of some larger good that came at the expense of victims. He was meant to go on this journey of self-reflection to see who he would be without that authority. And yet, he's right back to pulling the same moves as before. Change is gradual. The foundation is cracking though. It's not safe for Bosch to continue living in his gorgeous house in the hills. One earthquake is all it will take for it to come tumbling down. Bosch casually dismisses those concerns. It's a purposeful action though. One where Bosch can't keep accepting all of this as stable. He has to embrace the uncertainty and the unknown. That shakeup may be very transformative for his life and his career. He mostly likes his work because it gives him something to do in retirement. He and Chandler can continue to fight for the good and noble causes. Maddie's the one truly starting her life and figuring out exactly who she wants to be in this world. She has plenty of life experience already. She has endured a lot. It's nothing for her to take a punch to the face. She can live with that. It's part of the job. She remains hopeful about the LAPD. Her father and Chandler are the cynics who are open to embracing unsavory tactics now. Justice has failed them. Maddie is furious as well. These three can manipulate each other in the hopes of getting what they want. They know each other well enough to do so. The comfort is refreshing. It's immediately easy to accept. But again, the pull comes from the danger and uncertainty. Maddie is pursuing a suspect. She succeeds in the arrest only to be reprimanded by her training officer. Those difficulties define her new job. That's exciting and new. Meanwhile, the audience can be comforted by how similar Bosch and Chandler's plights are to what they've been. It's not challenging but it's still satisfying.
