Spin-offs

Bosch Legacy

You guys know I love Bosch, the Amazon original series based on Michael Connelly’s detective novels and crime books. They’re well-written, and the television show does a great job adapting Connelly’s books.

If you’re not familiar, Bosch is named after LAPD Detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch. After seven seasons, the show runners decided to end Bosch in 2021. Not to spoil anything, but Bosch decided to quit the LAPD. It’s a good ending… but that’s not the end of his story.

The show re-launched in a spin-off called Bosch Legacy in 2022, which still takes place in the Connelly’s detective universe – but its focus is on Harry’s daughter, Maddie Bosch, and Honey Chandler.

At first, I did not like the fact that Harry Bosch took a backseat to other characters, but since the plot is still very good, you can forgive the show’s spotlight on other characters. Bosch still overshadows everyone, as most of the stories somehow involves Bosch, so at least he’s not gone away. At the end of Season 1 of Bosch Legacy, I was still not convinced about the change.

Now in Season 2, which Amazon premiered on October 20, 2023, with four episodes (the remaining episodes will be released two at a time per week) … and I’m a believer again! The first two episode wraps up the story of Maddie’s kidnapping, and, wow it was gripping. I was on the edge of my seat as Harry raced against time to save his daughter. I felt like the first two episodes of Season 2 would have benefitted by being the season finale of Season 1, because it’s that good as a bookend.

Episode 3 and 4 seemed to be starting a brand-new storyline, which is, as of this writing, very intriguing. I’m very interested in seeing where all this setup is going. The focus seems to be on Honey’s case and the B-plot is on Maddie as rookie cop.

So, yeah, I’m on board, patiently waiting for Amazon to drop the next two episodes.

Bosch Legacy is available to watch for free (with advertisements) on Amazon’s Freevee. New episodes will land on Friday.

Frasier

It’s 2023, and there is a new Frasier. This 2023 is the sequel to the acclaimed 90s sitcom, based on the character Frasier Crane (who was a spin-off of the popular Cheers television show).

If you’re not familiar, Frasier was introduced in Cheers Season 3, and became a main cast in Season 5. Kelsey Grammer, who plays Frasier, stars in his own series when he returns to his hometown, Seattle, as a radio show host.

While I didn’t follow Frasier religiously, whenever it was on television, I would watch it. It’s not an exciting show, and the show’s humor isn’t really for everyone.

Frasier ran for 11 seasons, from 1993 to 2004… and for the 30th anniversary, Paramount launched the 2023 series… I believe only Kelsey Grammer is the only person from the original cast.

In this new series, Frasier is back in Boston (where Cheers takes place), and he’s trying to re-connect with his son, Frederick, a Boston firefighter. It’s clear that his son wants nothing to do with his father. In an effort to build a better relationship, Frasier decides to buy the apartment building where his son is living and had him become roommate. Who knew Frasier was a millionaire?

Maybe it’s just me, but I just don’t like the new (younger) cast. The old guys, like Harvard professor Alan Cornwall, I like and I felt fits well in the Frasier universe. The new generations, David Crane, Freddy Crane, and Eve (no last name given) are just annoying to me.

I guess, if you enjoyed the 90s Frasier show, you might like this new 2023 series. I’m still on the fence about the show.

Castlevania: Nocturne

Based on the popular video game that inspired a whole genre (called Metrovania), Castlevania the animation series, written by Warren Ellis, first debut on Netflix in 2017. I liked the anime so much, that I did buy the Bluray.

The series for four seasons, ending in 2021, with an approval rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was a bittersweet ending to the series.

Now, in 2023, we have a new spin-off series called Castlevania: Nocturne with a new Belmont. The star of this new series is a young
Richter Belmont, the previous Castlevania series starred Trevor Belmont. In this series, Belmont is battling a vampire from ancient Egypt, and he could use all the help he could find.

Castlevania: Nocturne is loosely based on the video games Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (1993) and its sequel Symphony of the Night (1997). Many fans considered Symphony as the game series’ finest moment.

While I did enjoy Castlevania: Nocturne, it really felt unfinished. The story will wrap up in Season 2, which was renewed and pending a release in 2024. We have to wait a year to get some resolve.

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