Before an exciting detective show lands on Prime Video, viewers must check out its incredible parent series that boasts a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 97%.

Prime Video is easily the undisputed king of action and crime thrillers with shows like Reacher, Cross, and Jack Ryan in its catalog. However, even among its long line of dad shows, there is one that seemingly stands above all the others because of how brilliantly it captures its source material and refuses to stumble in its long 7-season runtime.

The Prime Video detective series in question is now being followed up with a prequel/spinoff, making it the perfect time to watch or revisit it.

MGM+’s Bosch Prequel Is A Reminder To Watch The Original Show

A Bosch prequel, titled Bosch: Start of Watch, is officially in the works. Set in 1991, the show will follow a 26-year-old Harry Bosch, walking through his early days as a rookie cop. Cameron Monaghan, of the Shameless and Gotham fame, has been cast to play the younger version of the character.

Given how Bosch‘s television legacy primarily rests on the parent series that stars Titus Welliver, it is necessary to watch it before watching the upcoming prequel.

While only time will tell how the prequel will turn out and whether Cameron Monaghan will do justice to the part, the Bosch franchise is what it is today only because of the 7-season Prime Video series. Many factors contributed to the parent series’ success, but it is Titus Welliver’s ability to embody Bosch’s brooding intensity, deductive brilliance, and moral depth that made the show exceptional.

Owing to this, it would just feel unfair to watch a new iteration of the character without actually knowing about Welliver’s portrayal of him that cemented the franchise’s legacy.

Since Bosch: Start of Watch‘s production has just begun, viewers have enough to watch all seven seasons of Bosch before the new prequel premieres.

How Bosch: Start Of Watch Will Tie Into The Original Bosch Series

Bosch: Start of Watch is roughly set 23 years before its parent series. Since it is a prequel, it will not feature Titus Welliver in any capacity. However, it will tie into the original show by introducing characters like Eli Bridges (Omari Hardwick), who is a Vietnam veteran and young Bosch’s training officer. His role in the show as Bosch’s mentor will reveal where the Titus Welliver character’s strong moral foundation came from.

Harry’s surrogate brother, Cory (JD Pardo), will also be a part of the prequel series and portrayed as a disciplined and brilliant professional thief. His involvement in the series could serve as the perfect narrative bridge for the absence of Mickey Haller in the Prime Video franchise.

The show is also being developed by Michael Connelly and Tom Bernardo (a veteran writer/producer from Bosch and Bosch: Legacy), which ensures that, despite the casting changes, its DNA aligns with the parent series.

Will Bosch: Start Of Watch Live Up To The Original?

Considering how Bosch is a perfect detective drama and hardly has any dull moments in its seven-season runtime, living up to it will not be an easy feat for the upcoming prequel. For the same reason, beating the parent series would almost be impossible. Bosch: Start of Watch will also constantly be compared with the original show, which means every creative choice it makes could be scrutinized.

Owing to this, instead of attempting to match the parent show’s legacy or trying to beat it, Bosch: Start of Watch should focus on etching its own identity.

It marks the inception of a whole new arc for the titular detective character, giving it the opportunity to expand the franchise’s lore instead of merely revisiting familiar territory or relying on nostalgia. If the upcoming Prime Video prequel series achieves this, it will be seen as a worthy extension of the franchise and not an unnecessary cash cow.