“Bosch” (Amazon Prime)
There is no better casting than that of Titus Welliver in the role of Harry Bosch in the Amazon Prime series “Bosch”. I have never met Welliver, never spoken to Welliver, so I do not know how much of Welliver’s performance is his own personality adjusting to the role, or his creation of a fictional person who comes to life in his hands. I just know the Harry Bosch of Michael Connelly’s wildly popular novels is the man I see created on the screen, and that rarely happens.
This year marks “Bosch’s” fifth season on Amazon, and the storyline basically comes from Connelly’s novel TWO KINDS OF TRUTH. Harry is involved in fighting the DA’s office which is trying to say he placed evidence at the scene of a crime. This “evidence” resulted in the arrest and conviction of a rapist/murderer. To fight the case Harry hires his old nemesis, attorney Honey Chandler (Mimi Rogers), who dives right in with plans to protect Harry.
Meanwhile Harry is involved in a drug case which requires him to go undercover. Here again Welliver shows his acting skills by morphing into a crippled drug addicted war veteran. He is totally believable in the role and Harry manages to convince the people who are involved with the drugs that he is a needy user. It is a complicated situation which plays out well on the screen.
Even with all of this going on, plus more plot branches, the main focus for me was the relationship between Harry and his college age daughter Maddie (Madison Lint). Harry and Maddie are totally dependent on each other. They have no one else. But there are barriers between them that can not be bridged. At least they can not easily be bridged. At various times one will reach out to the other only to feel rebuffed. It is an awkward dance they do. The fact it stays awkward is a testimony to the talents of Welliver and Lintz and to the writing for the series.
Credit should be given to the entire production team for making “Bosch” look and feel exactly the way the series should look and feel. From the haunting jazz music Harry plays at home to the bright lights of LA that serve as a backdrop for his home, everything is perfect.
The total cast of “Bosch” is composed of one good actor after another. They are too numerous too mention but Amy Aquino, Harry’s boss, and Jamie Hector as Harry’s partner, shine. So does Lance Reddick, who is good in everything in which he appears, and is superb as the Chief of Police in LA. Also look for Bess Armstrong as a stern judge and Juliet Landau (daughter of Barbara Bain and Marin Landau) as a court reporter.
The ten episodes of season five fly by and leave you wanting more. Thankfully we know “Bosch” has already been renewed for season six. A relationship between Bosch and Honey would not be in keeping with Connelly’s stories but they are an intriguing couple.
Just make sure you set aside some time to watch this fifth season of “Bosch.” The show is back and better than ever, but then I say that after every season. Still it is absolutely true.
“Bosch” is available on Amazon Prime now.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
