Prime Video's latest No. 1 show is a 'Bosch' spinoff with Maggie Q — and it's 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
"Bosch" fans, rejoice: it sounds like Prime Video's follow-up is going to continue the series' legacy as a compelling crime drama.
On July 9, the Amazon streaming service dropped the full first season of "Ballard," a new spin-off that shifts focus from Titus Welliver's Harry Bosch over to Renée Ballard (Maggie Q), the detective introduced in April's "Bosch: Legacy" series finale.
One day after release, the show had risen to the No. 2 spot on the Amazon streamer (putting it second only to the lackluster action thriller, "Countdown"), but in the few days since, "Ballard" has become the streamer's top watch.
Plus, "Ballard" has continued to hold onto that impressive 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning reviewers who've tuned in have liked what they saw.
Ready to dive in? You can stream all 10 episodes of "Ballard" on Prime Video right now, or you can find a little more info — and hear what critics have to say — about Prime's newest release below.
What is 'Ballard' about?
If you're not up to speed, "Ballard" is Prime Video's next series based on Michael Connelly's books.
Here, we follow Detective Renée Ballard (Maggie Q), who is charged with leading the LAPD's underfunded cold case division and taking on some of Los Angeles' toughest long-forgotten cases.
Per the series synopsis, we know the series sees her investigating layers of crime that go back decades, including a serial killer's string of murders; as she does so, Ballard unearths a deadly conspiracy within the force, and enlists the help of her team and Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) to crack her cases, navigating personal and professional challenges along the way.
In addition to Q and Welliver, "Ballard" also features Courtney Taylor, John Carroll Lynch, Michael Mosley, Rebecca Field, Victoria Moroles, Amy Hill, Ricardo Chavira, Noah Bean, and more.
Should you stream 'Ballard' on Prime Video?
If you haven't already started binging the 10-episode series on Prime Video, you'll be pleased to know that the first "Ballard" reviews are in... and the new "Bosch" spin-off has been warmly received.
As we mentioned above, the series has earned a rare 100% approval rating from critics on the review aggregate site, Rotten Tomatoes. Admittedly, that score's only aggregated from nine individual reactions, but it's still an encouraging sign to see every critic who's reviewed the series (at the time of writing) liked what they saw.
Reviewing for Variety, Aramide Tinubu, for example, called "Ballard" "one of the best police procedurals on TV," adding: "Smartly acted, beautifully paced and genuinely engaging, "Ballard" is a thrilling ride from start to finish."
Similarly, RogerEbert.com's Sherin Nicole praised the series for its "well sculpted" characters and for being "grounded by grit, genuine leads, and complex cases," adding: "This series fits right in with 'Bosch' and 'Bosch: Legacy': strident, true-to-life characters doing emotionally crushing work while dealing with the people and things that make life harder."
CBR's Brittany Frederick gave the series an 8/10 score, arguing it was "rougher around the edges" than the previous Michael Connelly shows, but was nevertheless entertaining in its own right. "While "Ballard" isn't as iconic as its predecessor," she writes, "it is a worthy addition to the "Bosch" universe and a high-quality crime drama that will keep viewers satisfied for hopefully years to come."
Comparatively, audience reactions for "Ballard" have been a little more split; it's landed an 80% rating from fans on Rotten Tomatoes.
There are still a number of 5-star reviews present on the platform — one viewer branding it "another Michael Connelly masterpiece" — but some fans aren't nearly as keen; in a 1.5-star rating, one viewer said the series was "one cliché after another" and "a dull parody of a police procedural."
Nevertheless, there are more positive takes logged at present, and, in tandem with the critics' takes, the consensus seems to be that "Ballard" is worth your time.
In short, if you were sad to see "Bosch" come to an end, or you just love getting wrapped up in a fresh case, most people who've streamed the show recommend you stream "Ballard" on Prime Video as soon as possible.
However, if police procedurals and crime dramas just aren't your thing, we can still help you find your next must-watch show. Check out our round-up of the best shows on Prime Video for tons more top streaming recommendations fit for any watchlist.
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Buzz Feed
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- Buzz Feed
27 Budget-Friendly Dog Products Under $15
A cult-favorite Kong extreme dog toy you can fill with your dog's favorite treat so they can get all their energy out and enjoy a lil' snack at the same time. This one will stand up to even the toughest of chewers! A persimmon stuffy with hidden kibble pockets that turn snack time into a mental workout, slowing down gulpers and keeping pups entertained while you do your thing. Promising review: "Our lil' border collie/corgi mix pup was gifted this cute persimmon toy by a friend, and she couldn't be happier! It scratches the itch of a squeaker, ball, and snuffle for treats. Glad to have a great intro to the world of Lambwolf toys." —Casey Get it from Lambwolf Collective for $12. A split elk antler, because your pup could win a gold medal in aggressive chewing, and this will withstand their super-strong jaws. This particular one is best for dogs 15 pounds and below, but here is one for medium dogs and another for large review: "My English bull terriers love to chew on antlers. 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A pack of EcoKind's Himalayan yak cheese chews your pup will absolutely love chewing on. Chewing on things can help engage a dog's brain and these last forevvvverrr so the engagement is practically never-ending! Promising reviews: "We were skeptical at first because the dogs weren't quite sure about them, but we can't let ourselves be caught without them now. Our 9-year-old male Australian Cattle Dog likes them occasionally, but our two under-a-year females love them, fight over them, and even fall asleep chewing on them!We especially like these smaller-sized pieces because the longer ones we got before seemed to lose favor with the dogs after a while, but these they can finish and not leave for me to find in strange places." —Danny Scarbro"I have a very easily bored, mischief-prone Australian shepherd-poodle mix, and these are a godsend. They don't stink, she loves them, they last far longer than other edible chew toys, and she remains interested in them all the way to the end. I was so happy to find these on Subscribe & Save at a good price." —Philly TransplantGet a four-pack from Amazon for $13.95+ (also available in other pack sizes). A personalized dog treat cutter for homemade biscuits made specially for your little pooch. Since you control what goes into them, you can pick your pup's favorite flavors and ingredients — they'll never want a store-bought dog treat ever again! Aint She Sweet Cutters is a small business that makes custom 3D-printed cookie, fondant, and clay review: "Super cute cookie cutters! I especially love the font! Customer service was great — I was able to get my custom request order taken care of, and her response was also very quick. Thank you so much!" —Nina it from Aint She Sweet Cutters on Etsy for $6.50+ (originally, $8.99, available in six sizes). And a dog treat mix so you can bake the most delish treats at home for your furry little angel baby. Just add water and the most important ingredient of all: love. 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A lightweight flying disc that can float on the water — this will make beach day an absolute blast for both you and your furry companion. Promising review: "I buy several of these a year. My pups play with them every single day. We have Yorkies that are 7–8 pounds, and this is the perfect size for them to play with. I appreciate the company offering a variety of sizes. This is soft but durable. We have several new ones on hand, and our pups are excited every time we get one out." —Jill Carrol Get it from Amazon for $5.37+ (available in two sizes and multipacks) Or a super durable Kong flying disc if you have a dog who is a big chewer and needs something a little more heavy-duty. This one offers the same flying, jumping, catching fun, with the added benefit of being a Kong-brand toy, so you know it'll withstand your hound. Promising review: "Absolutely amazing! He plays with it from dawn to dusk — chewing, tugging, retrieving. It doesn't get old to him. 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The HORI Piranha Plant camera for Switch 2 is on sale for only $40
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