Ballardseason 1 left many burning questions open-ended, setting up multiple plotlines for season 2. Based on theBallard and Boschbooks by Michael Connelly, the show follows LAPD Detective Renee Ballard, who heads the underfunded, volunteer-led cold cases department. Renee and her team tracked down aserial killer in Ballard season 1, with the story getting wrapped up by the end.
However, many aspects of the story weren’t concluded by the time the credits rolled on the finale. The LAPD conspiracy is exposed, and charges are on the way until Olivas’ death throws a wrench in the plan. The show leaves storylines open-ended for Parker, Ballard, and Bosch. As such, I’m begging Prime Video to please makeBallard season 2, and answer these burning questions.
8Who Killed Robert Olivas In Ballard Season 1?
Robert Olivas Has Many Possible Murderers
Ballardseason 1’s ending wrapped up one of the season’s central mysteries by exposingthe LAPD’s conspiracy, but it also set up season 2 in the final moments. The police arrive at Renee Ballard’s house to arrest her for the murder of Robert Olivas.Ballardseason 2 will need to answer the question of who actually murdered Olivas.
Three major possibilities come to mind. The most likely explanation is that someone from the Zacatecas Nuevas Cartel murdered him. They have the means and motive to kill him, plus they have no qualms with murdering people. However, another significant possibility is that someone higher up in the police conspiracy murdered Olivas to make sure he didn’t name anybody else involved.
The final possibility, which seems less likely but could be an interesting twist, is that someone else Olivas sexually assaulted killed him. He tried to assault Renee, and he assaulted Parker. There’s no reason to think these are isolated incidents. It’s possible someone wanted to punish him for what he did.
7Who Framed Renee Ballard?
The Police Are Most Likely Behind Framing Renee
As the audience, we know that Renee Ballard didn’t kill Robert Olivas, but things don’t look good for her, given her very public accusations against him. Additionally, the police have to have some kind of evidence against Renee, whether circumstantial or direct, in order to arrest her, rather than simply questioning her.
Ballardseason 2 needs to answer the burning question of who framed Renee Ballard for Olivas. While this might be the same individual from the last question, that’s not guaranteed. It’s possible that one person killed him, and the police jumped on the opportunity to cover up their misdeeds. Renee Ballard’s arrest would also cast doubt on the evidence she brought forth against the dirty cops.
It’s possible that Chief Hughes, specifically, was involved in the cover-up. She would have the means to set Renee up. She seemed to have a vendetta against the cold cases team, taking cases away from them. Also, in theBallardseason 1 finale, they include a close-up of an officer who looks like Chief Hughes as the cop car drives Renee away.
6Will The Cold Cases Department Continue Without Renee Ballard?
The Police Might Try To Shut Down The Cold Cases Department
Ballardseason 1 reveals that Renee Ballard is the only full-time employee of the cold cases team on the payroll. The others were simply volunteering their time and labor. Although Renee Ballard is bound to get cleared of Olivas’ murder eventually, it’s not clear how quickly that will happen. In the meantime, the question naturally arises: what will happen to the cold cases department?
If there’s no paid employee in charge of the cold cases unit, it seems plausible that the police department would just shut it down. At the same time, the cold cases unit just got immense praise for not only exposing a conspiracy but also identifying the identity of a serial killer who murdered fourteen women and attacked a fifteenth woman.
Based on the success of the team, the Los Angeles Police Department might face heat if it shuts the department down in Ballard season 2. It seems more likely that they will replace Renee Ballard with another detective while she’s getting investigated for the murder of Olivas.
5How Big Is The LAPD Conspiracy?
The LAPD Conspiracy Could Be Bigger Than Expected
As of the end of the Ballard season 1, Renee has provided the DA with the names of seven conspirators, six of whom are police officers or former cops. They arrest all the individuals on the list except for Olivas. However, Bosch pulled fourteen phone numbers from Anthony Driscoll’s phone, meaning not everybody involved in the conspiracy was identified.
Excluding the known conspirators, the phone numbers in Mexico, and the one in prison, three more conspirators remain unidentified. It’s unclear whether these are members of the cartel or LAPD officers. On top of that, it’s also possible that even more LAPD officers and higher-ups are involved who simply didn’t contact Driscoll through that phone.
Ultimately, Ballard season 2 needs to clarify whether the seven identified individuals are the only ones involved in the LAPD conspiracy. It could be much bigger than Bosch and Ballard know, based on the fact that somebody is taking the time and energy to frame Renee Ballard.
4Will The Officers Face Conspiracy Charges Without Olivas’ Testimony?
Olivas Was The Anchor In The DA’s Conspiracy Case
Although Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard presented District Attorney Honey Chandler with a decent amount of evidence pointing to an LAPD conspiracy, there’s a chance that the case will fall apart inBallardseason 2. The DA tells Renee that she couldn’t charge Olivas because they needed a higher-up conspirator to testify against the others. As such, they gave him immunity.
Unfortunately, Olivas is dead. Manny Santos will most likely be willing to testify against the others, since he agreed to do so in Ballard season 1. However, Honey Chandler didn’t think that was good enough to secure a conviction, which is why she cut the deal to begin with.
Even under the best circumstances, it would have been difficult to prosecute due to the police protecting one another. However, Olivas’ death makes me worried that the conspirators will walk free, especially since the conspiracy paints the police department in a negative light.
3Who Will Replace Ted Rawls On The Cold Cases Team?
The Cold Cases Team Will Need New Members
Ballardseason 1’s finale includes two big blows for the cold cases team. As previously mentioned, Ballard gets arrested for murder. On top of that, Ted Rawls dies after learning that Gary Pearlman is the serial killer responsible for the murder spree they’ve been investigating. His death is completely heartbreaking, and it leaves the cold cases team short-staffed.
Though they’ll never be able to completely fill the gap left by him, I feel that Ballard replacing Ted Rawls is inevitable. The biggest question is who will join the cold cases team. An ideal option would be Maddie Bosch. Even though she didn’t appear in Ballard season 1, she is presumably still a young police officer.
Maddie joining the cold cases team would also give Bosch a bigger connection to the spinoff show. He could even have some scenes with his daughter in future seasons. However, Ted Rawls’ death also opens the door forBallardseason 2 to introduce a new character who could round out the cold cases team.
2Will Parker Go Public About What Olivas Did?
Parker Seems Conflicted About Staying Private Versus Going Public
In Ballard season 1, Detective Parker struggled to decide whether she should come forward with the fact that Olivas sexually assaulted her. Even before she learned the details about what Olivas did to Renee, she knew that the titular detective was shunned for reporting him. As such, Parker likely fears the fallout from going public.
At the same time, it could be the most ideal time for her to expose her sexual assaulter since he was just outed as a dirty cop higher up in the LAPD conspiracy. People might be more willing to believe her now than they would have in the past.
Either way, there should never be any pressure for Parker to share what Olivas did to her. She is in no way obligated to come forward, and nobody is entitled to her traumas.
1Will Harry Bosch Return In Ballard Season 2?
Harry Bosch Needs To Come Back In Ballard Season 2
The final burning question that Ballard season 2 needs to answer is whether Titus Welliver’s Bosch will return. Considering the LAPD conspiracy isn’t completely wrapped up, it seems highly likely that he will at least appear in a few episodes. I’d also assume that Harry Bosch would be subpoenaed in the case since he helped Renee Ballard investigate the conspiracy.
At the same time, though, there are no guarantees.Michael Connelly explained Bosch’s involvement in Ballardas him serving as an “ambassador” to introduce fans to the new show. They may decrease his appearances over time if they are trying to put the focus onBallard’s main characters. Hopefully, they will keep him around, though, as Ballard and Bosch’s dynamic is entertaining.
