Aahana Swrup
Renée Ballard finds an incredible footing for herself in her ‘Bosch’ spin-off show ‘Ballard.’ The Detective is leading LAPD’s cold case unit, an underfunded and understaffed department made up of reserves and volunteers. Still, with her ragtag band of investigators, she manages to wrangle up a few cases that have been closed for decades. Moreover, their efforts even result in the uncovering of an interdepartmental corruption conspiracy. Yet, even with the various wins under her belt, Ballard faces a bleak reality.
Robert Olivas, a Homicide Detective with a shady past and personal vendetta against Ballard, manages to cut a deal with the prosecution. Worse yet, while he gets to walk free, the latter herself somehow ends up in handcuffs. Therefore, season 1 evidently sets up a harsh playing field for any potential continuations. Even though the show hasn’t yet been officially renewed for another season, past trends suggest a possible season 2 to hit the screens around early to late 2027.
Ballard Season 2 Will Pick Up After Renée’s Unexpected Arrest
After the explosive ending of ‘Ballard’ season 1, it’s hard to imagine a future continuation where the narrative doesn’t revolve around the consequences of the protagonist’s unpredictable arrest. The Detective spends the season’s entire 10-episode run handcuffing bad guys and putting them behind bars. Therefore, the fact that the ending finds her in the same exact position remains more than a little surprising. Eventually, it is revealed that Olivas, her rival, has been killed, making her the prime suspect in the crime. Nonetheless, no further information follows about why the authorities are connecting her to the murder. Is it a result of her heated confrontation with Olivas at his house? Does it have anything to do with the secret information the ex-cop traded with the prosecution to earn his freedom?
Likewise, since Ballard is likely framed for the murder, the questions about the killer’s real identity remain intriguing. As season 1 ends, the narrative provides no clear answer to these pressing questions. For the same reason, there are a number of avenues that a possible season 2 could take regarding Ballard’s future. Depending on how things play out, fans may get a pique into different facets of the Detective’s past, particularly her time on the Homicide department. Furthermore, the narrative might also delve deeper into the corruption conspiracy plotline that the cold case unit investigates. Ultimately, whatever the reason the authorities have for going after Ballard is bound to find a central spotlight in the future installment.
Ballard Season 2 May Explore Renne’s Backstory in Depth
Like its predecessor, ‘Ballard’ is also an adaptation of a popular crime novel series. It’s based on Michael Connelly’s Renée Ballard series that began with the 2017 book ‘The Late Show.’ Over the years the author has written multiple stories for the protagonist, pitching her in the same universe has Harry Bosch, his other beloved detective character. Although the TV adaptations diverge in some ways from their literary source, they retain this idea of a shared universe, exploring ‘Ballard’ as a spin-off tale that picks up after the critically acclaimed 2014 show.
As such, given the show’s connection to Connelly’s original work, we can expect a potential season 2 to continue mining the novels for inspiration about the central character and her backstory. For instance, we can learn more about Ballard’s past, such as her journey to becoming a detective and her relationship with her mother, in a future continuation. It’s also highly likely that the protagonist will continue her rivalry with Olivas, which can compel the narrative to shed some additional light on that plotline as well. Furthermore, depending on how the Detective’s arrest unravels, we can also look forward to a possible reunion with the cold case unit and a return to weekly solves for the team.
The Cold Case Unit Might Welcome New Faces in Season 2
As a police procedural show, ‘Ballard’ thrives during moments where the Detective is poring over a particularly complicated case with her band of helpers. This includes cops Samira Parker and Thomas Laffont, who have returned to police work because of the protagonist. Additionally, the team also has Martina Castro, the intern looking for college credits, and Colleen Hatteras, a soccer mom with a knack for research work. However, unfortunately, season 1 sees the departure of Ted Rawls, a reserve law enforcement officer, who dies in the line of duty. Therefore, while we can expect actors like Courtney Taylor, John Carroll Lynch, Victoria Moroles, and Rebecca Field to return to the show alongside lead Maggie Q, the same cannot be said for Michael Mosley.
Alternatively, there’s a high chance for many of the other supporting cast to return for a potential season 2, especially if their characters have close relationships with the central crew. As such, Tutu (Amy Hill), Aaron the lifeguard (Michael Cassidy), and Leo (Jim Rash) have a strong likelihood of reprising their roles in the event of a renewal. It’s also safe to assume Titus Welliver, who plays the iconic Harry Bosch, will also make his return as a recurring role. Other than these predictable inclusions, fans can also keep an eye out for newer cast members to join the show, especially ones with a major presence in the story. After all, Rawls’ death has left a sizeable hole in the team’s dynamic that will need to be patched up in the future. Thus, if season 2 gets renewed, there’s plenty of room for growth and expansion within the storyline.
