Ballardmay be exploring a new corner of the LAPD, but its characters are still getting the dark, emotional arcs previously showcased to acclaim inBosch. The upcoming series, developed by Michael Alaimo and Kendall Sherwood, serves as a spinoff of the Prime Video adaptation ofMichael Connelly’s Harry Bosch novels, this time shifting the focus to Maggie Q’s Renée Ballard, a former LAPD detective who, after a bureaucratic incident, has been shifted from Robbery-Homicide to the Cold Case Unit.
Ballardpicks up a yearafter the events ofBosch: Legacy’s ending, which introduced Q’s version of the titular detective, as she continues leading her team, which is composed of long-time partner Thomas Laffont, reserve officers Samira Parker and Ted Rawls, and volunteers Colleen Hatteras and Martina Castro. As Ballard continues to adjust to her new position and being in a team, they find themselves tasked with investigating the decades-old disappearance of a local politician’s sister. As they become increasingly invested in the investigation, the group also find themselves forced to confront the demons of their pasts.
In anticipation of the show’s premiere,ScreenRantinterviewed Maggie Q, Courtney Taylor and John Carroll Lynch to discussBallard. The trio opened up about the rewarding experience of working with one another and building a trusting relationship with the crew, while also diving into how the show will expand on Renée’s dark side, how Parker’s backstory mirrors that of Renée’s, and why Laffont’s personal arc is a great example of the show’s focus on character development.
“…There’s Not A Lot Of People She Trusts.”
VIDEO
Where much ofBoschandLegacysaw Titus Welliver’s titular detectivemaintain an emotional wall as he waded through the dark criminal underbelly of LA,Ballardoffers a mix of vulnerability and a similar caution for its eponymous character. As Maggie Q shares, finding this balance is “not easy” when it comes to acting as the character,particularly as she feels that “being vulnerable is the bane of [Renée’s] existence”, and therefore she’s less willing to show that side of herself.
However, the star went on to point out how Ballard’s relationships with John Carroll Lynch’s Laffont and Courtney Taylor’s Parker are key to breaking her free from the darkest parts of herself, as there become “certain vulnerabilities that she grows to show” the two. She goes on to acknowledge that there “are few people to turn to in that world” and “not a lot of people that she trusts”,which makes her dynamics with Laffont, Parker and a returning Bosch, whom she trusts “because of his seniority and their background”, all the more special.
One of the biggest keys Q kept in mind when finding this balance is that “if you are overly vulnerable, it’s not believable”, given those with a similar job to her “have this very hard exterior”,but also knowing that “if you don’t give enough, you’re not human”. “So, you really have to find that balance, so that people feel that she’s a real person,” Q detailed. “I know that sounds so stupid, but really it’s very easy to go off track and be this very one-note, tough detective. That was really not the experience I wanted people to have, especially as a woman, because that’s not who we are at all.”
Parker’s Arc Mirroring Renée’s Also Led To A Deep Trust Between Her & Q
“It Was Both Difficult And Rewarding…”
When first introduced in the show, Samira Parker, played byAbbott Elementaryvet Courtney Taylor, is someone who left the LAPD five years prior after feeling her goal to try and aid her community, much like her grandfather did, was hindered by the infamous systemic problems within the organization. However, as the show progresses,it’s revealed that there was an even more traumatic incident that sparked her decision to leave, with Ballard’s own dark past mirroring that of her own, as shared in a powerful conversation between the two characters.
Reflecting on tapping into the darkness of Parker’s arc, Taylor describes it as being “both difficult and rewarding having such a very up-and-down arc” for the character,particularly finding it a “hard one for me to read” knowing she had to “be vulnerable in those ways”. “I think that’s such a hard thing to portray on film, and it’s easy to get super vulnerable, and have those conversations with a friend,” Taylor expressed. “But getting in front of a camera and making sure that you provide that real and very upsetting and vulnerable moment, it was extremely difficult for me.”
I’m praying that it was looking as good as it felt for me, because it was so difficult to do, but it was so rewarding being able to access that vulnerability with such great people.
Despite her initial nerves, Taylor found an immediate comfort in getting to perform said scenes with Q and “being able to bounce ideas off of Maggie”. Taylor also recalled how her co-stars would remind her “Don’t you dare hold back” when going into her more emotional moments,which subsequently gave Taylor the mindset “this feels so safe”, while also recognizing the rest of the crew “know what it’s like to deal with intense scenes” and further helped her feel safe.
Laffont & His Partner’s Relationship “Felt So Earned In The Writing”
Lynch Also Feels The Show’s Exploration Of Its Characters' Personal Lives Helps Set It Apart
While often bringing a sense of levity to the screen, John Carroll Lynch’s Laffont isn’t exempt from getting the same kind of vulnerable storytelling as the rest ofBallard’s cast, as the show sees the emotional support he receives from his husband, played byCommunityalum Jim Rash, as he grapples with the darkness of his job after being retired for some time. For Lynch,he recalled having “loved the opportunity” to work with Rash, calling him a “terrific actor” and being “very excited” when he heard the Oscar winner had been cast for the show.
Lynch went on to praise their relationship as feeling “so earned in the writing”, particularly as it captured a “beautiful sense” that Laffont, “for maybe the first time”, feels he can be “fully himself with someone”, while also describing that as being “an extremely vulnerable thing”. The star also pointed out how the exploration oftheir relationship is a highlight ofBallard’s storytelling, in which it gives viewers “private moments of each of the characters in different circumstances”, thus offering “different points of view” as they see said characters in the midst of the investigation.
“I want to go back to something about the other question too, which was the quality of the crew’s understanding of what it takes to do vulnerable scenes,” Lynch denoted. “I can’t tell you how important a crew’s energy is. It’s hard to express, because for the viewer, they’re not really thinking about the 60 people in the room with you. But our crew was so vital in creating an atmosphere of support, of quiet, of intense presence that made those scenes even easier to play.”
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.
