Ballard: A Hollow, Preachy Imitation of Bosch

Ballard tries to ride on the coattails of Bosch, but it falls flat almost immediately. The show is bogged down by excessive, empty dialogue that adds nothing to the plot or character development. The pacing is painfully slow, lacking the tension and rhythm that made Bosch compelling.

Instead of building an engaging crime drama, it leans heavily into predictable, surface-level “woke” stereotypes: the overly independent female lead, the “body positive” comic relief, a token character in a wheelchair, and a parade of incompetent or villainous white male characters. These tropes are inserted so blatantly that they overshadow any potential for authentic storytelling.

The writing feels more like a checklist of political talking points than an organic narrative, and the result is a shallow, preachy mess. Fans of Bosch expecting the same grit and nuance will be sorely disappointed. Ballard isn’t just a weak spin-off — it’s a poor imitation that never earns its place.