Bosch: Legacy - Will Guest Spots In Ballard Be Enough For…

Summary

Fans are rallying to save Bosch: Legacy as Harry Bosch's solo stories come to an end.
The Ballard spin-off won't be a joint show with Bosch, despite the books featuring them as co-leads.
Harry Bosch still has more stories left, and a recurring role in Ballard won't do justice to his character arc.

The fans are desperately trying to save Bosch: Legacy after it was announced that the upcoming season 3 would be the last hurrah for Harry Bosch's solo stories on Prime Video channel, Freevee. The fan movement is gaining momentum and Amazon's misleading PR spin is being exposed for what it is. It's not quite the end for Harry Bosch as he'll appear in a recurring role in the Ballard spin-off series, but fans are questioning if this is going to be enough to do justice to the iconic character in the long run.

Ballard was originally conceived as a companion show to Bosch: Legacy, with Michael Connelly's crime universe expanding. This is why it was shocking when it was announced that the parent show was ending, before the first season of Ballard even hits television screens. Amazon's statement was misleading as they said there was more to come from the franchise, despite the abrupt ending of Bosch: Legacy. This was questioned when they shelved the planned Jerry Edgar spin-off soon after that. Harry Bosch shouldn't be a recurring character in the Bosch-verse. After a decade, it still feels like there are so many more solo stories to explore with the ex LAPD detective turned PI.

The Books Renee Ballard Appears In Are Joint Adventures With Harry Bosch With The Exception Of One

Even before the surprise Bosch: Legacy season 3 announcement, it felt a bit odd that Harry Bosch would only appear in three episodes of Ballard season 1. The book is based on Michael Connelly's 2022 book, Desert Star, and it's a joint Bosch/Ballard adventure. However, fans settled for it being a bonus to get some extra Bosch appearances to go alongside his main story in Bosch: Legacy. However, in light of the main show's cancelation, it now looks extremely odd that Amazon is sidelining the protagonist, and essentially passing the baton to Renee Ballard, who has only ever appeared in one solo book in Michael Connelly's series.

Ballard's only solo appearance was in Connelly's 2017 book, The Late Show, and this was followed by five appearances in books alongside Harry Bosch. These subsequent books weren't Renee Ballard stories with Bosch just popping up to assist her, both characters were the joint co-leads in each story. So it poses the following questions: Why is Bosch only appearing in a bit part role in Ballard? And also, why is Bosch's main story being completely abandoned with so many stories left to tell?

Renee Ballard and Harry Bosch's Joint Book Appearances

Dark Sacred Night (2018)
The Night Fire (2019)
The Dark Hours (2021)
Desert Star (2022)
The Waiting (2024)

Harry Bosch Still Has A Lot Of Stories Left In Him And A Recurring Role In Ballard Won't Be Enough To Do Justice To His Character Arc

Ballard Season 1
Starring	Maggie Q, Courtney Taylor, John Carroll Lynch, Michael Mosley, Rebecca Field, Victoria Moroles, Amy Hill, Ricardo Chavira, Noah Bean, Alain Uy, Hector Hugo and Titus Welliver
Based on the books by	Michael Connelly
Directed by	Jet Wilkinson

Harry Bosch is a unique television character because his stories become more compelling as the show progresses. Ever since he jumped from Michael Connelly's books to Prime Video in 2014 in the original Bosch series, fans have been captivated by his crime solving skills. Over a decade has passed by, and Bosch still has plenty left in the tank, with Michael Connelly still featuring the character in his book series, albeit retired but as grizzly as ever, and assisting Renee Ballard with cold cases.

The Save Bosch: Legacy Petition Is Gaining Momentum

A petition to Save Bosch: Legacy was launched in September 2024. Fans can sign it HERE
Fans want more solo adventures featuring Harry Bosch.
The petition has over 3,700 signatures so far.

So, if Connelly is still writing stories with Bosch as the co-lead alongside Ballard, why is he only a recurring character in the Ballard television series? Guest spots for Harry Bosch in Ballard aren't going to be sufficient moving forward, and they don't align with Connelly's plans for the character. Bosch's three-episode arc in Ballard, alongside her appearance at the end of Bosch: Legacy might also not be enough to do justice to the Desert Star book its based on. Also, if subsequent seasons are to also adapt Connelly's joint Bosch/Ballard adventures, these sporadic Harry Bosch appearances clearly won't be enough. Not to mention, all the plot points in Bosch: Legacy that will be left hanging in the air, with creative plans likely made for at least one more season, before Amazon abruptly canceled the show. After a decade of intricate planning to expand the television universe, Harry Bosch is being relegated to token guest appearances. A character who appears in three episodes of a series doesn't get the chance to be explored in any depth. These types of characters are there to chew the scenery, and assist with the exposition, while leaving the main work to the lead character. In this case, it's going to be Renee Ballard doing all the major crime solving, in stories that were originally designed to be joint investigations with Harry Bosch.