The original post: /r/television by /u/keepfighting90 on 2026-04-13 15:45:12+00:00.
I finished The Wire recently (GOAT-tier show just like everyone claims), and have been in the mood for another grounded, realistic cop show. Did some research and Bosch came very highly recommended. I’ve read and enjoyed a couple of Michael Connelly novels, but never any of the Harry Bosch series so I figured I’d give the show a shot. I was a little skeptical going in because Prime Video can be hit or miss, but I wanted to see Titus Welliver in a leading role after really enjoying him as the bad guy in Lost, and of course I had to see what my dudes Daniels (RIP Lance Reddick) and Marlo were up to in LA.
I was instantly pulled in from the first episode, and binged the first 4 seasons in quick succession. While it obviously isn’t on the same tier as The Wire (nothing really is), it’s still a fantastic cop drama that’s easily one of the best I’ve seen in years.
What I love the most about this show is how no-nonsense it is. It’s paced really well, without really any wasted seconds or filler. The plot moves along well every episode, and the show still manages to spend some compelling, slow-paced downtime for character development and interactions. It never strays beyond exactly what it’s trying to do, which is to present a compelling, smart mystery solved by a fascinating main character. It doesn’t get into making the kind of social commentary The Wire does, or raise thorny questions around abuse of power like The Shield, but it’s not really trying to either.
It just feels pretty old-school in that way, without coming across as dated or stale. The structure and style are very familiar, but it’s executed to perfection. And although the quality is consistently great, it does get better in small, incremental ways every season.
Titus Welliver is as great as I expected him to be. He’s got a restrained, low-key charisma, can do deadpan, sardonic comedy well, and depth and vulnerability when needed. Jamie Hector is amazing as a good guy here, and Lance Reddick is of course the mf’in GOAT of playing stern police authority figures (seriously - Cedric Daniels, Captain Broyles from Fringe, this role - this guy was born to be the slightly aloof boss who seems disapproving but actually cares about you).
An ace in the hole this show has is the atmosphere. The way it captures the look and feel of LA, especially at night, is incredible and adds a ton of mood and vibes. In fact, outside of Michael Mann movies, Bosch might have my favourite portrayal of LA on screen.
All in all, it’s just an expertly-crafted cop drama, and outside of those elite-tier shows like The Wire and The Shield, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything better.
Oh and another factor that is worthy of consideration - the fanbase is amazing. In an age of crazy, unhinged fandoms of popular shows, this one is full of refreshingly mature, level-headed people. Maybe it’s because it just inherently appeals to an older audience? I would assume that a large part of the audience are also fans of the books, which definitely has a more dad-and-uncle demographic from what I’ve seen. Whatever it is, it’s great.