Maggie Q stars as Detective Renée Ballard in the new Bosch spinoff. It’s called Ballard, so there is no mistaking who this new series focuses on, and all episodes of the first season are now available to binge-watch.
Based on the book series following Ballard by Michael Connelly, this series is loosely based on a real detective in the LAPD. We follow her as she tackles the underfunded, newly created cold case division, which is a chance for justice on some of the long-forgotten crimes in Los Angeles. Of course, while the cops have forgotten, the victims’ families have not, and they may finally get answers.
There’s always a personal element to the story, and that’s what we get via our titular character. She isn’t just facing problems in her career thanks to this change of pace, but also because of the truths that she’s uncovering, putting her life in danger. On top of that, she has her own personal trauma to navigate.
Ballard age rating: Explaining the TV-14 age rating
This series is suitable for those who are 13+ based on the official age rating. When you start to break down the reason for that age rating, it is mostly suitable for teenagers. There are just a few small instances of language that may have some concerned.
Sex & nudity: This is relatively mild, as while there are some scenes of characters kissing here and there, nothing is graphically shown when it comes to relationships. This is focused on Renée Ballard’s personal life more than anyone else’s.
Violence & gore: Despite being a crime drama, there isn’t too much in the way of violence and gore shown. Of course, there are gunfights and some hand-to-hand combat scenes. There are also a few chases as Ballard and others are tracking down the bad guys. We get to see some of the aftermath of bruises and scrapes, but nothing over the top that will make your stomach queasy when watching.
Language: There are a couple of F-bombs thrown in now and then. They are used sparingly, with no more than one use per episode. Phrases like “Jesus Christ” and other religious uses are used throughout the first season.
Alcohol & drugs: There are scenes with adults drinking the odd beer or glass of wine, but this is nothing like what you would be used to with Prime Video crime dramas. It’s aimed at getting some teens into the genre, especially those who are fans of the Michael Connelly books.
Overall verdict: Who is Ballard appropriate for?
The series overall will work great for the majority of teenagers. If your teens watched Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, then they will love to jump into Ballard.
If you are concerned, I always recommend watching the first episode just to get a sense of what to expect. The first F-bomb drops at the end of that first episode. However, if you’ve seen Bosch, you get an idea of what to expect since Connelly has been involved with everything in this universe.
Ballard is available to stream on Prime Video.