Bosch: Legacy – season 3

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The 10th season was one of the best.

Harry Bosch investigates the disappearance of the Gallagher family while Honey Chandler campaigns for District Attorney and Maddie Bosch deals with a series of follow-home robberies. 

Bosch’s investigation into the Gallagher case intertwines with a murder investigation, and Chandler’s political ambitions lead to challenges and alliances. Maddie faces personal and professional setbacks, and the season explores the complex relationship between Bosch and Chandler

The “Bosch” franchise, which consists of the original “Bosch” series and its sequel “Bosch: Legacy,” is the longest-running franchise on Prime Video. “Bosch” itself ran for seven seasons, and its sequel, “Bosch: Legacy,” spanned three seasons. 

Amazon Prime decided to end Bosch: Legacy here. There will be no season 4.

Stephen Chang as Maurice “Mo” Bassi, Harry’s hacker is excellent. Maybe my favourite character.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I am excited to watch another Bosch spinoff ➙ Maggie Q as Renee Ballard, following the (female Bosch) detective as she runs the LAPD’s Cold Case Unit.

She and Bosch meet in the last episode of season 3.

Dead in the Water by Stuart Woods

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Dead in the Water (1997) is #3 in the Stone Barrington series. Unlike the first two books, this one is mainly a courtroom drama.

It’s just as good — perhaps better.

While on vacation on the tropical island of St. Marks, Barrington unexpectedly has to defend an American woman, Allison Manning, accused of murder.

She claims her husband died of a heart attack while they sailed across the Atlantic.

Racing to prove the young widow innocent of any wrongdoing pits Stone against a determined protector standing on the verge of becoming the next Prime Minister of St. Marks.

While hoping he doesn’t lose the new love of his life to his own newfound ambition, Stone uses every skill in his possession to protect his client.

Like the other books, there is plenty of gratuitous sex — if you like that kind of thing. 😀

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

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Do you know Shonda Rhimes?

American television producer and screenwriter, and founder of the production company Shondaland. In 2007, 2013, and 2021, Rhimes was named by Time to the Time 100, their annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Oddly, I didn’t really know anything about Shonda Rhimes before reading her memoir, Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person (2015).

I knew the name. But hadn’t watched any of her hits: Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Bridgerton, or a half dozen others.

In fact, I was inspired to download the audio book after watching The Residence (2025). A brilliant Shondaland production.

____

The Year of Yes is funny. Brave. Entertaining. Informative.

Shonda describes how some criticism from her sister inspired her to say YES to everything for a year. Not easy as she was an obese, insecure workaholic at the time. She’s hired a publicist to avoid public appearances. 😀

With three children at home and three hit television shows, it was easy for Shonda to say she was simply too busy. But in truth, she was also afraid. …

This poignant, intimate, and hilarious memoir explores Shonda’s life before her Year of Yes—from her nerdy, book-loving childhood to her devotion to creating television characters who reflected the world she saw around her. The book chronicles her life after her Year of Yes had begun—when Shonda forced herself out of the house and onto the stage; when she learned to explore, empower, applaud, and love her truest self. …

“Honest, raw, and revelatory” (The Washington Post) …

Hey. Shonda lost over 100 pounds through the process. Respect.

In the last chapter she defends her decision NOT to marry. A successful career woman, Shonda has adopted 2 daughters. Had a third by gestational surrogacy.

She’s too busy to properly spend enough time with a husband.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. Shonda reflects back on the book 10-years-later.

The Residence – season 1

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Funny. Original. Interesting.

A unique twist on the Agatha Christie murder mystery genre.

Film students will study this.

The Residence is an American mystery comedy drama …

the series revolves around a fictional murder scandal involving the staff of the White House. Produced by Shondaland …

Cordelia Cupp, an eccentric detective, arrives on the premises in order to solve a murder that occurred during a state dinner. During the investigation, interpersonal conflicts between 157 personnel of the residence start to unfold.

For me — the most amazing part of the series is the set. They literally rebuilt the White House as a set.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The cast is excellent, especially Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp. The other actors are somewhat in awe at how she handled the central role.

It took someone of her gravitas to pull off the absurdity.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Larry Dokes, the Chief of Police is great.

Al Franken as Aaron Filkins, Senator from Washington, is perfect.

Kylie Minogue as herself.

I enjoyed the romance between Julieth Restrepo as Elsyie Chayle and Mel Rodriguez as Bruce Geller. A great touch.

Hugh Jackman might be there, as well. 😀

Sudden Prey by John Sandford

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In general, I like the newer Prey books better than the more violent older one.

BUT Sudden Prey (1996) is fascinating.

For months, Lucas Davenport’s men have been tracking a vicious woman bank robber named Candy, and when they finally catch up with her, she does not go quietly.

In the ensuing shoot-out, she dies — and Davenport’s nightmare starts.

Her associates are even worse than she was, particularly her husband, a deeply violent man who swears an appropriate revenge: first he will find the names of those responsible; then he will kill those nearest and dearest to them, just the way they did Candy.

So it begins. The husband of one officer is shot and killed. The wife of another is ambushed at work. When a third attack is thwarted, the pattern becomes clear to Davenport, and with an urgency born of rage and terror, he presses the hunt, desperately trying to track down the killers before they can strike again, before they can reach out for Davenport’s own loved ones. But in this effort, he may already be too late.

Inside No. 9 – season 4

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This series would seem to be perfect for me — but somehow it doesn’t quite work.

Inside No. 9 is a British black comedy anthology television programme written and created by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith.

It aired on BBC Two from 5 February 2014 to 12 June 2024, running for 9 series and 55 episodes.

Each 30-minute episode is a self-contained story with new characters and a new setting, almost all starring Pemberton or Shearsmith (usually both).

Aside from the writers, each episode has a new cast, allowing Inside No. 9 to attract a number of well-known actors.

The stories are linked only by a setting related to the number 9 in some way, and a brass hare statue that is hidden in all episodes.

Themes and tone vary from episode to episode, but all have elements of comedy and horror or perverse humour, in addition to a plot twist.

I heard season 4 was best — and there are some good bits of some of the episodes.

I also watched season 1 — not nearly as strong.

That’s it for me. I won’t continue with the series.

Dirt by Stuart Woods

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Dirt (1996) is the 2nd novel in the Stone Barrington series. 

Quite good. As was the first, New York Dead.

When poison-pen columnist Amanda Dart herself becomes the victim of an anonymous gossipmonger, she enlists the help of New York P.I. Stone Barrington to uncover the culprit, someone out to expose the peccadilloes of other influential gossip columnists, as well.

Dirt is the title of a faxed newsletter focused on dishing the dirty secrets of gossip columnists. An interesting premise.

Plenty of sex in this book, as there was in the first.

My Home Made Cream of Celery Soup

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Yep. I’m the very last person you know who would try making soup rather than simply opening another can of Habitant. This was my first soup from scratch.

I went looking for recipes to use up our surplus of celery, onions, and potatoes.

Delicious.

Rick eating soup … in the tropics?

One YouTube vlogger looked the opposite of the TV angry chefs, so I followed his recipe. 😀

Added some corn. And a few other ingredients we happened to have handy.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Republic of Doyle – season 1

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After years of hearing good things about this Canadian TV comedy set in Newfoundland, I finally began watching it FREE on CBC Gem online.

It’s hilarious.

Republic of Doyle stars Allan Hawco as private investigator and former police officer Jake Doyle and Seán McGinley as his father, retired police officer Malachy Doyle. …

The debut show also reveals relationship complications with Jake and his ex-wife Nikki and his new infatuation: Leslie, a constable in the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. …

In fact, Jake is a hopeless womanizer and street brawler. He gets punched out in every episode. And kicked out by some woman twice in every episode. 😀

Laugh out loud.

New York Dead by Stuart Woods.

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Quite good. 1st in a series of 64 books! … Hmm …

Stuart Woods published multiple books every year over his career.

New York Dead (1991) is the first novel in the Stone Barrington series. 

Barrington is a detective forced to retire from the sexist, racist, corrupt N.Y. Police force because of a cover-up. He decides to become a lawyer/private investigator.

An intriguing premise. ➙ Barrington happens to see a woman jump / fall (?) from a 12 story balcony. Shockingly, she’s still alive when put into the ambulance.

BUT the ambulance has an accident a few blocks distant — and the woman disappears.

Kidnapped? Killed?

SOMEBODY doesn’t want Barrington to find out.

There is a lot of sex in this novel.