Hold Back the Night

My overall rating of "Bosch"'s Season 5: 3/10

So, I'll admit that this episode has some very strong acting (Bosch, the DA's team, Honey Chandler, Borders, Maddie's boyfriend and even Maddie herself (!) shine) concludes some storyarcs rather well and there is payoff in the courtroom scene (as cheesy as it is to a large degree) and its aftermath. However there is also so much nonsense...

J. Edgar's sideplot enters a deathspiral (awful dialogue, another overflow of the series' endless supply of dirty cops, and of course, J. Edgar's personal connection - after all, what sense does it make to have a story where a police detective investigates a case where a death of his relative _isn't_ connected somehow?!). And then, the dog is shoehorned right back in (and apparently has no behavioural problems at all after a lifetime at drugdealers' camp), its waste being an apt description of the season finale, and most of the season, for that matter.

Corny dialogue Predictable. Plastic acting. The writers keep throwing stuff out there hoping something will stick. Too many conspiracy angles.

Bosch finally gets to confront his accusers. It turns out that his attorney is as manipulative as the people confronting him. Sometimes it's not what is said but, rather, what is not said. Maddie pays a price for her actions. Meanwhile, the remaining drug guys are still out there. They know that Bosch is a potential pain in the butt and haven't forgotten him. J. Edgar is doing some freelancing.

Harry has his day in court.

This is an enjoyable episode with some memorable scenes.

The main reason to enjoy this one is that a season's worth of investigation into Bosch's past conduct finally reaches the confrontation we have been waiting for. These scenes work well and feel typically Bosch in how they unfold. Mimi Rogers is excellent and likewise Bess Armstrong, who could both easily pass for a criminal lawyer and judge respectively.

The character Maddie Bosch also contributes well to the main plot and character drama. As always the father and daughter dynamic between Titus Welliver and Madison Lintz works well.

J. Edgar's subplot starts to get more interesting and makes me want to find out what will happen. It feels somewhat of a replacement for Bosch's previous ongoing investigation into his mother's murder, but nonetheless I am fairly intrigued.

It's a 7.5/10 for me but I round upwards.

Maddie the daughter weakens the story, plus the acting is stiff and amateurish. So many "as ifs" around her - as if the offices would be completely empty, as if files just left.

The combination of silly wifey behaviour storylines plus the actor's tedious clipped monotones herald the writing downward spiral.

From this series, it appears the writers lost their way wading through the books and storylines and failed to provide simple layers and clear signposts for the viewer. It lost the scintillating narratives of the first series. And strong characters without whimpering, simpering or being warm and fuzzy. Sponged out.