After the Gallagher case grows more complicated, Bosch focuses on discovering the fate of the family. Chandler and team make the final push before the DA election. Political calculations impede Robertson and Lopez's case work. A month after the election, Chandler's first big case as DA is prosecuting a cop killer. Bosch is brought on to help shore up the case. A break in the follow-home case leads Vasquez to a startling discovery.
Bosch wanted Kurt Dockweiler to be miserable in prison. He used Curtis to get the word out. That's why Preston attacked him. He saw an opportunity to break free and hurt Bosch in the process. Bosch was involved. His directive altered the system to his preferences. He wanted Dockweiler to suffer. He technically lied to Maddie. He was involved. He wasn't responsible for the murder though. It's just enough of an omission for Maddie to keep doubting her father. She knows he carries secrets. He doesn't always tell her the truth. It's important for her to keep her head down and focus on the work. And yet, she can't help but be involved in her father's life. He finds the missing Gallagher family. All four were killed and buried a couple miles from their cabin. Bosch maintained hope that they were still alive. The narrative made the audience perceive that as well. And yet, their murders occurred quickly after they were taken. Finbar wanted more time to collect as much money as possible. Killing his partner provided that to him. It was the same tactic he took with Sheila after she discovered it. Finbar is gone now. Bosch recognizes that at the crime scene. He will never be found. He has vanished. He achieved what he wanted. His cover has been blown. Bosch is left behind to pick up the pieces. He discoveries the bodies and has to break the news to Siobhan. It's all communicated through his demeanor. He provided clarity. The case officially becomes a police matter again. Bosch wants to be kept in the loop. Right now though, he's absolutely devastated. Maddie knows she has to be there for him. She has to set all of her concerns aside to do so.
The election for District Attorney happens as well. Chandler prevails. She was spontaneous when she made the decision to run. She will excel at the job. She already sees examples of the police failing to act because of the political connections of a suspect. She will seek to change that. It's more important to be there for the grieving father than meet an influential donor. Her campaign also needs a public exoneration of Bosch. The debate cost her public perception. She needs it back to win. Jimmy provides that. He ensures political concerns don't shape his investigation. He can't relax for a few days. He too must take action. He apprehends Rita. She is willing to make a deal. She confirms Bosch's innocence. It was all a setup. Jimmy ensures the story got out. This season brought him into the narrative as a trusted voice to investigate Bosch. Everyone knew his final determination could be taken as fact. He's comfortable with how the case ended. He pushed back against people in charge to provide this resolution. Bosch shares a drink with him. And then, Jimmy is murdered. It's such a sudden and jarring final action. One that immediately sets up new importance for the final episodes of the series. Jimmy was positioned as the best version of police in this world. He would cross the line to make his case. He always did so with honor. Everyone recognized it. A huge decision will now fall onto Chandler about how to handle the arrest and charges. Moreover, Bosch has lost yet another connection to the world he knew so well. He's adrift. He makes a difference in people's lives. He carries all of the darkness this job entails too. That reverberates through every aspect of the narrative. It's inescapable. Everyone has something to lose.
Was Jimmy the victim of a random act of violence? Or was he targeted for being police? That's the determination Chandler must make in her first month as District Attorney. The prosecutors in the office are open to her reforms. She actually has to follow through on her promises. She challenges every piece of evidence. She needs to produce a solid case with no holes. She can't leave any room for reasonable doubt. She must file appropriate charges too. Anyone who wears a badge wants the criminal to pay. Chandler wants to exact the right punishment. Everyone in the office says they have caught the right man. Bosch comes to a different conclusion. He conducts his own investigation. Instead, he finds it way too convenient the camera that would have caught all the action was mysteriously broken. It was purposefully turned off too. Someone framed a criminal known for food truck robberies in order to target Jimmy. That amplifies the stakes significantly. It requires urgency. Everyone must act boldly. This case will determine their immediate futures. They have to get it right. The episode largely delves into the details that the investigation will naturally cover. The time jump allows all of it to become known quickly. It's also the show pivoting the narrative to its next case of importance. It still has overarching themes and plots of the season. However, the narrative has shifted from Jimmy investigating Bosch for murder to Bosch investigating Jimmy's murder. It comes at a time when Bosch feels as if he isn't doing enough. He's depressed over not offering more. As a result, he lashes out at the people who have stood by him no matter what.
Every day Mo checks in to see if Finbar has slipped. So far, he hasn't. He vanished without a trace. Bosch and Mo have no leads to pursue. They haven't forgotten about him. They aim to track down the person responsible for killing the Gallagher family. They just don't have anything to do at the moment. That isn't satisfying for Bosch or Siobhan. Their lives were changed by this case. They were impacted personally. That's the overall ambition of the season. It has forced everyone into compromising positions. They face risks to their jobs because of their personal connections. Vasquez realizes her nephew is part of the follow-home robbery crew. She and Maddie see how sloppy Nestor is. They connect him to Victoria. She's obviously the leader. Vasquez wants to wipe the smug look off her face. And yet, she sees her reaching out to Albert. Suddenly, her family is in danger. She's been at the heart of this investigation since the crimes started occurring. It's been her mission to catch these criminals. Now, her motives have shifted. Maddie remains in the dark. Others continue to make decisions that impact her without letting her in. That's frustrating. But it also highlights the struggles within others. Bosch and Vasquez are both trying to maintain their composure in the face of unbearable situations. Maddie leans on them for support. They are complicated people who may inevitably let her down. That's the tragic cycle of her life. The robbery case is exploding while Jimmy's murder is just getting started. The pacing differences are significant. And so, this isn't as effective an episode as the one preceding it even though it enhances the drama of the final act.
