I was really excited when the Bosch franchise was resurrected. But after watching all the episodes currently available, Bosch:Legacy just doesn't have the emotional depth, backstory-inflicted pain, and general undercurrent of darkness of the original. I miss the grittiness.
First, I 100% agree with everyone who has complained about the title track. IT. IS. AWFUL. Yeah, we get it: "Oh, my, my--times are changin'!" (that's the entirety of the lyrics, ugh). Showrunners: if this somehow gets picked up for season 2, PLEASE ditch this bad Walmart-version-of-a-Michael-Jackson-B-side track for something more sophisticated.
The storylines are standard fare, but at least they weave in a few passing references to the prior series. Titus Welliver and Mimi Rogers carry the show best as they can with as much gravitas as the script allows. But taking into account Madison Lintz's mediocre performance in the original series, her Maddie character is now completely unbelievable as a rookie police officer. I wish I could commit to the premise, but it just doesn't work. (UPDATE: Just watched the most recent 2 episodes, and they are DANGEROUSLY close to jumping the shark, especially with Maddie's story arc. So her partner gets shot and the captain decides *Maddie* should inform the family. Really?!? And when she does so, she doesn't mention her partner is STILL ALIVE until 30 seconds into the conversation! C'mon man!)
The baddies are completely one-dimensional, more so than the first series. And the "Bad Russians shaking down crooked American businessmen" trope is SO 1980's. They rarely appear on-screen unless a 30-second discussion of a plot detail is needed, and most of their 'badness' is explained by the main characters discussing what they found online, or after breaking into the bad guys' homes or businesses. It all feels too much like the cookie-cutter, 60-minute cop procedurals infecting network TV.
In summary, I wish this reboot would've been more "Breaking Bad" and less "NCIS: (insert variation here)". Maybe if this first go-round is as successful as the original, the showrunners will feel more empowered--and have the budget--to take some risks and get back to the dirtier version of this franchise.
First, I 100% agree with everyone who has complained about the title track. IT. IS. AWFUL. Yeah, we get it: "Oh, my, my--times are changin'!" (that's the entirety of the lyrics, ugh). Showrunners: if this somehow gets picked up for season 2, PLEASE ditch this bad Walmart-version-of-a-Michael-Jackson-B-side track for something more sophisticated.
The storylines are standard fare, but at least they weave in a few passing references to the prior series. Titus Welliver and Mimi Rogers carry the show best as they can with as much gravitas as the script allows. But taking into account Madison Lintz's mediocre performance in the original series, her Maddie character is now completely unbelievable as a rookie police officer. I wish I could commit to the premise, but it just doesn't work. (UPDATE: Just watched the most recent 2 episodes, and they are DANGEROUSLY close to jumping the shark, especially with Maddie's story arc. So her partner gets shot and the captain decides *Maddie* should inform the family. Really?!? And when she does so, she doesn't mention her partner is STILL ALIVE until 30 seconds into the conversation! C'mon man!)
The baddies are completely one-dimensional, more so than the first series. And the "Bad Russians shaking down crooked American businessmen" trope is SO 1980's. They rarely appear on-screen unless a 30-second discussion of a plot detail is needed, and most of their 'badness' is explained by the main characters discussing what they found online, or after breaking into the bad guys' homes or businesses. It all feels too much like the cookie-cutter, 60-minute cop procedurals infecting network TV.
In summary, I wish this reboot would've been more "Breaking Bad" and less "NCIS: (insert variation here)". Maybe if this first go-round is as successful as the original, the showrunners will feel more empowered--and have the budget--to take some risks and get back to the dirtier version of this franchise.