Reviewed: Amazon Studios' 'Bosch'...

Veteran cop Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) may not go looking for trouble, but it tends to find him. Being faced with a lawsuit for the supposedly wrongful death of a suspect he shot two years before, Harry is convinced that the legal proceedings are a distraction from letting him do what he does best: police the City of Angels. With a reputation for cracking cases but bending the rules if they need to be, he's still one of the most determined crime-solvers in LA's Homicide Division and rather than take enforced leave as the trial begins, he manages to stay unofficially on duty rotation. It's during the weekend before the trial that he's called up into the canyons above Los Angeles where a man has found a large bone. Usually such finds turns out to be nothing, but the person who found it is a doctor and he is convinced it's the humerus of a child.

The investigation confirms the opinion and before long the whole skeleton of a badly beaten and regualrly brutalised child is uncovered, bringing back some personal memories for Bosch himself. As Bosch tries to juggle preparation for the court, his interest in the case and the various agendas of those who would rather see him fired than continue to be a loose cannon who won't tow the party-line, it's obviously going to be a tough time for everyone concerned...

And so, after legal-wranglings and much tenacity on behalf of his creator - Michael Connelly - the best-selling Orion books featuring Harry Bosch finally make it to the screen and brings with him a determiantion from all concerned to make the adaptation as loyal as possible within the new format - probably helped by Connelly being so closely involved himself. Yes, there's an argument to be made that the pilot will play better with those who know the character and already have an investment in a series of stories that stretch back well over a decade, but this is a solid introduction to the world of Bosch and the tales that Connelly has spun to date.

Though procedural in format, that is a strength to which the pilot (like the books) deliberately plays, handing us a series of separate story strands that each highlight aspects of Bosch's  sometimes bristley personality as they progress. The pilot itself is just a starting point and doesn't fall into the trap of instantly resolving most of the elements it sets in place. This could be frustrating for those long-term fans who want to see the events (mostly taken from City of Bones and The Concrete Blonde) play out to a climax but the reality is that this pilot is a showcase of creative intent for a bigger run. If the popularity of this pilot leads to a  full run being commissioned by Amazon - and on the strength of this episode and the in-built appeal of the existing fanbase it's hard to think it will not -  these are all aspects that will gain pace and momentum. The court case, involving Bosch's killing of a suspect, looks intended to be the backbone of the proposed series with the front-end of the series being the investigation into the child's murder. 

It's also a showcase of  business intent from Amazon as well. Clearly this is a project in which the relatively new programming venture  has conviction and though the eventual series would effectively be a web-based endeavour, there has been just as much apparent time and effort spent in giving it the same qualities as any mainstream show. A few cases of profanity aside, this could easily have made the grade on any of the main US networks. 

Existing fans will have had their own image of Bosch, but while Titus Welliver might not have been the obvious choice, he turns out to be a good one - able to inhabit the bloodhound physicality and dogged  persona of a weathered cop whose motto may be 'everyone counts or nobody counts' but who equally prefers his own company over the red tape that gets in the way of the crime-scene variety. He does it so well, it will be difficult NOT to picture him while reading the books from this poitn forth - which is probably the highest compliment you can give an actor. 

There's also able support from a range of familiar faces. Lance Reddick brings his typically authoritarian air to proceedings as ambitious Police Chief  Irvin Irving;  24's Annie Wersching is Julia Brasher, a rookie cop with a growing interest in Bosch that could be personal as well as professional and Alan Rosenberg is the coroner evcavating the body and revaling the grim details at the heart of the case. Fans of The Walking Dead should also watch out for Scott Wilson (who played Hershel) as the doctor who convinces Bosch there's a case to be solved to begin with.

All in all, Connelly and his fans have every right to be pleased with this result. Blood Work was a disappointment, The Lincoln Laywer a firm step in the right direction, but Bosch may well have found a second safe harbour in a series format. So we encourage existing fans and those waiting to be converted to catch the pilot, streaming through this month, on LoveFilm and  Amazon.com  - where it can be viewed without a subscription and fans can rate the results.

The future of on-screen drama may well be found in such projects and Bosch sets a high standard to be maintained. Let's hope the full series follows...

Read our interview with Michael Connelly about the series here...