Prime Video’s Ballard Is the Perfect Blend of Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer

LOS ANGELES — In a streaming landscape filled with detective dramas and courtroom thrillers, few shows manage to break through the noise. But Prime Video’s latest crime series Ballard is proving to be the exception — and the reason may lie in its literary DNA.

Ballard, which premiered earlier this month, centers on former LAPD homicide detective Renee Ballard, portrayed by Maggie Q. Set in the sprawling urban canvas of Los Angeles, the series follows Ballard as she takes over the department’s Cold Case Division, assembling a team of retired detectives and volunteers to solve crimes long abandoned by the system.

Though Ballard is technically a spinoff of Bosch and continues the crime-heavy legacy of Prime Video’s flagship procedural, many fans and critics are now drawing compelling comparisons to another hit series: Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer. The connection? All three are part of author Michael Connelly’s gritty, justice-driven literary universe.

And now, with Ballard, the streaming world finally has a show that feels like a fusion of the best of both.

The Bosch Connection: Grounded Grit and Moral Complexity

Since its debut in 2014, Bosch — starring Titus Welliver as relentless detective Harry Bosch — has been a gold standard in detective fiction on television. Based on Connelly’s bestselling novels, the series thrived on its grounded storytelling, nuanced performances, and an unwavering moral compass in the face of systemic rot.

While Bosch: Legacy continued that tradition, Ballard offers a fresh take by shifting the focus to cold cases, often involving victims overlooked by the system.

“Renee isn’t just about solving cases,” said showrunner Elise Hernandez. “She’s about giving justice to those who were forgotten — and confronting the institutional failures that made them invisible in the first place.”

Much like Bosch, Ballard plays by her own rules. But unlike Bosch’s often grizzled perspective, Ballard brings a quieter determination, empathy, and a willingness to collaborate with unconventional allies — including civilian experts and former cops.

The Lincoln Lawyer Vibes: Legal System Tension and Social Commentary

But where Ballard diverges from Bosch — and veers closer to The Lincoln Lawyer — is in its exploration of the justice system’s flaws from a broader lens.

Like Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as charismatic defense attorney Mickey Haller, Ballard doesn’t shy away from exposing corruption, privilege, and systemic biases. The cold cases often tie back to buried police misconduct, racial injustice, and class divides — issues that Haller frequently grapples with in the courtroom.

“Michael Connelly’s work has always explored both sides of the justice coin — the streets and the courts,” said media analyst Craig Lerner. “Ballard meets that moment by connecting the investigative side of Bosch with the social themes that make The Lincoln Lawyer so timely.”

In fact, Ballard’s own past with the LAPD — marked by sexism, institutional gaslighting, and internal politics — mirrors the courtroom battles Haller often fights from the other side of the aisle.

Shared Universe, Shared Stakes

While Ballard, Bosch, and The Lincoln Lawyer are housed on different streaming platforms (Prime Video and Netflix), they are canonically part of the same universe in Connelly’s novels.

In a detail that excited longtime fans, Ballard made her screen debut in the finale of Bosch: Legacy, hinting at a wider expansion of the “Connellyverse.” Meanwhile, in the books, Mickey Haller and Harry Bosch are half-brothers — a family link that has yet to be explored onscreen, but remains fertile ground for future crossover potential.

“It’s all connected,” Connelly confirmed in a recent podcast. “They’re living in the same city, often working the same cases — just from different corners of the justice system.”

This shared narrative fabric adds an extra layer of excitement for viewers who have followed these characters for years, whether through books or screen.

A New Kind of Detective Hero

What sets Ballard apart is its lead.

Maggie Q’s portrayal of Renee Ballard is both fierce and vulnerable. She plays the role with a quiet intensity that contrasts sharply with the classic “tough cop” trope — opting instead for a character who listens, collaborates, and carries emotional weight from each case.

“She’s not trying to be Bosch or Haller,” said Hernandez. “She’s forging her own path.”

Conclusion: Why Ballard Works

For fans of Bosch’s no-nonsense investigations and The Lincoln Lawyer’s stylish legal twists, Ballard offers a gripping middle ground — grounded in realism, rich with character, and unafraid to challenge the justice system it operates within.

It’s not just another crime show. It’s the next chapter in a much larger, more connected story. And judging by the early reception, Ballard is exactly what Michael Connelly’s universe — and streaming television — needed.