Ballardis officially here — and it’s already making waves of its own. Ahead of its July 9 debut on Prime Video,theBoschspin-offis boasting a100% Rotten Tomatoesscorefrom its first five critics' reviews. That kind of unanimous praise isn’t easy to come by — especially when you’re stepping out of the long shadow ofBosch: Legacy, which wrapped up its three-season run earlier this year. And maybe even more notably?Ballardis pulling it offwithoutTitus Welliver. Kinda.
Yes, the franchise torch has been passed. But don’t expectBallardto spend its first season name-dropping Harry Bosch every five minutes.According to starMaggie Qand the creative team, this show is not about wallowing in nostalgia — it’s about building something new.
As fans know, Q plays Renée Ballard, a former beat cop turned cold case unit leader. She’s stepping into a job that comes with political minefields, long-unsolved horrors, and a distinct lack of institutional support. It’s gritty — but it’s not justBoschwith a new face.Ballardis dealing with a different set of demons, and doing it on her own terms.
“What makes her tick? I think that question marks make her tick. I think sadness makes her tick,”Q told Colliderin a recent interview. “I think that, also, her integrity, too, makes her tick.”
She’s not wrong —Ballarddigs into questionsBoschrarely addressed. The emotional toll of leadership. The weight of unprocessed grief. The casual sexism that persists in law enforcement. These aren’t footnotes. They’re core themes.
Is ‘Ballard’ Worth Watching?
The early praise is rolling in, withCollider’s Jasneet Singhhighlighting just how deftly the new series establishes its own identity:
“For a show that could’ve very easily gotten lost among the wavesBoschmade,Ballardrides them while carving up its own style and leaving anticipation in its wake. The foundations may be similar — they are both classic cop shows, after all — butBallardsteadily and coherently interrogates everything it aims to, exposing a different side to the underbelly of the justice system, one that women are generally impacted by. But it’s a show that any fan of the genre will enjoy, whether you’ve seenBoschor not, as cold cases and conspiracies wrap around the all-too-relatable pits of grief, trauma and loss.”
BallardpremieresJuly 9onPrime Video. Stay tuned to Collider for full-season coverage.
