With four episodes ofBosch: Legacy’s third and final season released on Prime Video thus far,fans have noticed the series starting to make significant improvements on its most obnoxious character: Maddie Bosch (Maddison Lintz). Following two seasons of online complaints about being annoying, needy, and clingy, Harry Bosch’s daughter is finally putting hertrauma behind herand acting like a heroic LAPD officer instead of a helpless victim.
Following a time jump that allows Maddie to heal from her kidnapping,Bosch: LegacySeason 3 finds Maddie and Vasquez investigating a slew of robberies in which the thieves follow their targets to their home.The storyline sees marked upgrades to Maddie’s resolve, maturing in ways fans had hoped to see since the character was introduced in the originalBoschseries. The real question becomes, with six episodes remaining in the series, will Maddie atone for irritating behavior inBosch: Legacy?
Who Is Maddie Lintz in the ‘Bosch’ Franchise?
Introduced inBoschSeason 1, Episode 4, “Fugazi,“Madeline “Maddie” Bosch is the teenage daughter of Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) and Eleanor Wish (Sarah Clarke). A typical immature teenager who acts impetuously, Maddie shows an interest in police work early on, spending much of her time at the LAPD station where her father works. While fans responded well to the character at the series' start, many noticed how annoying and obnoxious Maddie continued to get with each passing season. Reddit threads have been dedicated to the topic, including one titled “Maddie Annoys Me!” The OP states:
“I started watching Bosch about a month ago. I’m now on season four I didn’t mind Maddy’s character in the beginning but now she is very annoying. She’s involved in every little aspect of everything and she’s at a police station being able to look up any files she wants. The girl is like 17 and has no other interests??”
Beyond her lack of teenage interests, other fans noted Maddie’s constant hanging on to her father’s coattails, reinforcing her clingy nature that many find too overbearing. As anotherReddit thread, “Does Maddie Ever Go Away?” points out:
“Just started season 4. I really like the show but Maddie is so annoying and unnecessary. I preferred him [Bosch] in season 1 when he lived alone. Does she eventually get lost somewhere (hopefully without drama)?”
To be fair to Maddie, her mother, Eleanor, dies later in Season 4, one of several traumatic events in her life that continues inBosch: Legacy. Fairer yet,severalBoschviewers support Lintz’s performance as Maddie, citing herrealistic teenage behavior. As oneRedditorstates:
“She is acting exactly how teenagers act, so she is actually doing a great performance. I think people expect teenagers to be more adult then they really are. For me it was refreshing how realistic it was and showed how good an actress she is. This is one character that does mature over the series.”
While Maddie’s maturation is debatable, fans continue to dislike her character more and more. However,the first four episodes ofBosch: Legacy’s final season begin to erase Maddie’s annoyance and redeem her character.
Why Is Maddie Deemed So Annoying in ‘Bosch: Legacy’?
As the title suggests,Bosch: Legacyfocuses on Harry passing the police torch to Maddie. While Bosch retires from the LAPD and becomes a private investigator, Maddie follows in his footsteps and climbs the ropes of patrol work in the LAPD. One constant complaint inBosch: Legacythat carries over fromBoschis the effusive expressions of love Maddie heaps on her father. As oneRedditornoted aboutBoschSeason 5:
“I cant…
Season 5. Every episode has a random scene of Maddie making stupid faces and Maddie and bosh expressing their love for each other 10 times per conversation. I just want her to disappear and stop f***ing up the show with her uselessness as a character and bad acting.”
Bosch: Legacy Cast and Character Guide
Meet the cast of Bosch: Legacy before Season 2 returns to the air in October 2023.
Cut toBosch: LegacySeason 1 three years later. ReviewerMaureen Gillalso cited Maddy and Harry’s incessant expressions of love as too obnoxious to bear, stating:
“The other thing that annoyed the crap outta me was that Harry and Maddie keep saying “I love you” every other sentence. I mean, I realize that Harry almost dies … in almost every situation he’s ever in. And Maddie almost dies, too. And Maddie’s mother did die. Lots of people died. (Of course, this is LA.) But, like, that’s too much coming from two cops.”
Even those who recommendBosch: Legacyto fans on the fence agree that Maddie is irritating. For example, Redditorrandomvalepoints out:
“Definitely worth it! I quite enjoyed season 1, but it gets better in season 2. Well worth watching if you’re a fan of Bosch, even if it’s not as good as the original.
Bosch himself is as great as always. I agree with others that Maddie is often an annoying and somewhat unbelievable character (the first scene where she rugby tackles and pins a guy three times her weight comes to mind). She’s not bad enough to make it unwatchable though.”
Fortunately, Maddie’s obnoxious behavior has improved fromBosch: LegacySeason 2 to Season 3, as she and Vasquez pursue a gaggle of home-stalking thievesacross Los Angeles. The question is, will the improvement be enough to change viewers' minds?
Season 3 Has Begun to Improve Maddie’s Character
So far,Bosch: LegacySeason 3 has taken measures to make Maddie less annoying. It may be too late for some, asSuitable-Bank-2703decried after Season 2:
“It’s gone downhill. Will not watch season 3. The decision to put so much emphasis on Maddie was a mistake. She is annoying, and I don’t care what happens to her.”
As callous as that may sound for a kidnapped young woman whose mother was murdered in the past,the first four episodes of Season 3 have addressed the widespread complaints about Maddie’s character. By enabling Maddie to showcase what she has learned from her father and two years onthe police force, she clings less to her father and bolsters her professional rapport with Vasquez. There has also been an improvement in Lintz’s performance, maturing drastically since beginning the character as a 15-year-old.
To answer the central query based on fan sentiment, yes,Bosch: Legacycan fix its most annoying character if the measures taken continue. However,with only six episodes left, the repairs must come quickly. If not, Maddie may have to atone for her annoying ways in the upcomingBoschspinoff,Ballard, starring Maggie Q.Bosch: Legacyis streaming onPrime Video.
