Ballardstar Courtney Taylor shares her excited response to the series being well-received by critics and audiences. Based on the novels by Michael Connolly,Ballardis a spinoff ofBosch: Legacy, the Titus Welliver-led series that came to a close earlier in 2025. Being introduced in theBosch: Legacyfinale, Maggie Q’s Renée Ballard spearheads a new cold case division for the LAPD.
InBallardseason 1, Taylor plays Samira Parker, a former police officer, who, after 5 years away, is convinced by Ballard to return to the LAPD. At the time of writing,Ballardhas a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoesand a 78% Popcornmeter. The season is also a hit on streaming, currently the top show on Prime Video. All episodes ofBallardare available to stream on Prime Video.
In an interview withScreenRant’s Grant Hermanns,Taylor shares her reaction to the series' critical praise and its success with viewership. She details the overwhelmingly positive response coming from new and old fans. Taylor also recalls both Connolly and Welliver both sharing their approval of the show, and how she’s grateful viewers reacted the same way. Check out her quote below:
I’m literally on cloud nine. I could not have imagined a better reaction from all of the Bosch fans, all of the Michael Connolly fans, and even the new fans that are coming out. I’m like, “Oh my gosh.” Talking about watching it in a day, or watching it over the weekend, and I could not have expected a better reaction. I’m still on cloud nine.
I think I worry about criticism all the time. I think we all do. I do know that once Titus had given us like the [praise], “This is very good.” It’s so nice to be able to have this show following Bosch, because it’s something so good, and it feels very like passing the baton, almost in a completely new and exciting way.
So honestly, once Titus gave us the green light, I was like, “Okay, if Titus loves it, I’m assuming his fans will, because he understands this world.” So him liking it, Michael loving it, I was like, “Listen, I think we got something good here.” So I was just wishing and praying. Everybody felt the same as them.
What This Means For Ballard
The Series Is A Strong Continuation
Ballardhad the difficult task of immediately having to make a strong impression on viewers. The show is following in the footsteps ofBosch: Legacy, which has a rare 100% Rotten Tomatoes score across its three seasons. As seen with the critical reception and being the top show for Prime Video on streaming right now,Ballardhas become an instant hit.
Having both Connolly and Welliver involved with the series, and sharing their praise, only helpsBallard. It creates a sense of continuity between the two shows and makes it feel likeBallardis truly part of theBoschuniverse.
Our Take On Taylor’s Comments
The Show Could Have A Long Future
As Taylor points out, the series has garnered near-universal positivity, and the reaction to the show is likely setting it up for future seasons. Whilethe show has not been renewed yet, it seems likely at this point thatBallardwill have a second outing.Ballardseason 1 has already set an incredibly high bar, so any new installment will have to match that quality.
Boschoriginally debuted in 2014, and was able to tell stories for a decade over the course of two shows before coming to a close. WhileBoschand its sequel had an incredibly long run,Ballardhaving such a strong start bodes well for the future.
Ballard
Cast
Ballard follows Detective Renée Ballard as she navigates a tangled web of murder and corruption, confronting a ruthless serial killer and uncovering a sinister police conspiracy. Driven by personal demons, she must outsmart both criminals and colleagues to achieve justice for victims and their families. Released in 2025.
