Harry Bosch might not be a part of the LAPD anymore, but he is still busy investigating cases on his own as he returns in the Bosch spin-off series, Bosch: Legacy. With series like Better Call Saul and Mayans M.C. dominating television, spin-offs, sequels, and revivals have become hugely popular, and last year, even Dexter got a sequel miniseries.
When fans of Bosch: Legacy are done binging their way through such spin-offs, they can check out some of the other cult classics in the crime procedural genre. As is evident from its title, Bosch: Legacy is centered upon its titular character's exploits in a world of mystery and crime. Similar character-driven crime shows include Monk, Ray Donovan, Luther, and many others.
Better Call Saul (2015 - 2022) - Stream On Netflix
Saul Goodman, the fast-talking and quick-witted lawyer played by Bob Odenkirk, was first introduced as one of the recurring characters in Breaking Bad. But since the success of the crime drama, Saul got his own prequel series with Better Call Saul.
Considered to be one of the TV show spin-offs on modern television, Better Call Saul makes for essential viewing if viewers like a spin-off like Bosch: Legacy. Odenkirk's committed lead performance is the driving factor in the series that explores its protagonist's tumultuous past as an ex-con and then as a criminal lawyer.
The Killing (2011 - 2014) - Stream On Hulu
Starring Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman as two homicide detectives, The Killing deals with their various cases and investigations. With some familiar tropes from other crime drama shows, the U.S. version of The Killing (originally a Danish show) still shines with a humanized look at its two leads.
Viewers can experience the emotional strain that they might go through dealing with traumatic cases and a stressful job. In Bosch: Legacy, fans of the original get a more aged and stressed version of Bosch. With his daughter in the police force and his own independent investigations leading down dark rabbit holes, Bosch must up his game in the new show.
Dexter: New Blood (2021) - Stream On Prime Video
Despite drawing a cult fanbase, Dexter's finale drew polarizing reactions. However, years later, the 2021 sequel spin-off New Blood attempted to answer some questions and add a new dimension to the morally grey antihero of the series. Set nearly a decade after the events of the finale, Dexter seems to have finally attained peace, as he leads a secret life in a small town. However, when his son returns, his homicidal urges start coming back to him. The chaos that ensues forms the remainder of the plot.
Spin-offs can be a risky move, especially if they spawn from heavily popular dramas, as there is always the fear of fans comparing the new show with the original. Still, Dexter: New Blood managed to garner positive responses, much like Bosch: Legacy.
Mare Of Easttown (2021) - Stream On HBO Max
A sleepy town is rocked by the murder of a teenage girl and local detective Mare Sheehan will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery. As she grows more and more obsessive, she must also deal with her inner demons. And if it weren't enough, a rebellious daughter is another one of her responsibilities.
Even though Maddie Bosch is all grown up as an LAPD officer in Legacy, her father obviously still has some parental concern even while working alongside her. Hence, TV shows like Mare of Easttown and Bosch: Legacy show the emotional costs of being in a profession like law enforcement.
Archive 81 (2022) - Stream On Netflix
Archive 81 starts off with a young archivist being hired by a mysterious millionaire for an equally mysterious restoration project. What was supposed to be an ordinary job of restoring some tapes turns into a larger adventure as the protagonist starts encountering paranormal phenomena through these tapes.
Despite the other-worldly nature of the storyline, Archive 81 does include Martin Donovan's Virgil Davenport as a major character. It is his character who hires Mamoudou Athie's Dan Turner in the first place. Bosch: Legacy similarly starts with William Devane's Whitney Vance using the services of Bosch to find if he has an heir for his multi-million dollar business. In both cases, the leads subsequently unearth larger conspiracies.
Mayans M.C. (2018 - ) - Stream On Hulu
The daily affairs of the titular outlaw biker gang are what form the premise of Mayans M.C., a show that spurns out of stories of the characters from FX's Sons of Anarchy. Carrying on the stylish and violent vigilantism of the original, Mayans M.C. is a worthy spin-off that shines with its own characters.
Both internal and external conflicts of the gang make for engaging entertainment. If viewers need a spin-off that is set years after its predecessor and still retains the original's charm, then Mayans M.C. can be quite a proficient companion piece to Bosch: Legacy.
Ray Donovan (2013 - ) - Stream On Peacock Premium
In one of Liev Schreiber's best roles, he plays a Hollywood "fixer" who handles illegal activities for a legal firm and his fancy celebrity clients. His dirty work includes everything from pay-offs to cleaning up crime scenes.
Despite Donovan being on the wrong side of the law, the show actually plays out in the style of a crime procedural show, complete with dysfunctional family members showing up and the protagonist dealing with self-control over his personal demons. Such aspects of Ray Donovan make it a perfect watch for fans of Bosch: Legacy.
Monk (2002 - 2009) - Stream On Prime Video
Adrian Monk is a gifted detective who used to formerly work for the San Franciso Police Department. While he continues working on his own as a private investigator and a police consultant, his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder, bringing new challenges to his cases.
Unlike other police procedural shows, Monk also acts as a dramedy TV series in its exploration of Tony Shaloub's lead character. As Bosch: Legacy also finds Harry Bosch leaving the police force and investigating independently, there is a common tonality between Bosch and Monk. Both men have had a glorious past and are now just trying to continue their diligent work, despite the frustration that comes their way.
Luther (2010 - 2019) - Stream On HBO Max
In this British crime series, Idris Elba's John Luther is a detective who is determined to use his intelligence and passion to solve cases. However, his obsessive nature can lead to violent tendencies, which are then balanced by an unlikely ally in Alice Morgan. Played by Ruth Wilson, Alice is a murderer who outwits Luther. With a Sherlock/Moriarty-like relationship, both strike a partnership as the killer helps the detective to solve some of his most perplexing cases.
Even though Harry Bosch relies on his LAPD detective daughter Maddie and civil rights attorney Honey Chandler, Luther is an interesting antithesis to this formula. Instead of collaborating with like-minded law enforcers, Luther goes to extreme lengths such as befriending the enemy herself.
Broadchurch (2013 - 2017) - Stream On PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel
Starring Olivia Colman and David Tenant as detectives in the fictional British town of Broadchurch, the show deals with multiple crimes and how the impact that their intersecting timelines have on their mental state. As the town seethes with mutual suspicion and a media circus, the detectives have a lot of chaos on their hands.
Broadchurch's psychological focus, along with the usual procedural tropes, make it quite an engaging watch. And with just 24 episodes, it is also a binge-able option for viewers of a fast-paced crime thriller like Bosch: Legacy.