The success of Reacher and other Dad TV shows would not have been possible, had it not been for this show released on Amazon 10 years ago.

Alan-Ritchson-Reacher-2Custom Image by Debanjana Chowdhury

SUMMARY

 The release of Bosch on Amazon in 2014 proved to be the inspiration for other successful Dad TV shows, including Reacher .
 Bosch was the first original series released by Amazon and proved to be a success, lasting 7 seasons and releasing 2 spin-offs.
 The success of the series saw a rise in the popularity of Dad TV shows, and Amazon has since released other series, including Reacher , to similar praise.

The success of the thriller series Bosch, which debuted on Amazon a decade ago, is the reason why viewers can enjoy series such as Reacher and other Dad TV shows.

Starring Titus Welliver, Bosch focuses on the life and career of LAPD officer Harry Bosch and his work to bring justice to Los Angeles; while carrying out his duties, he endures different challenges in his job, and must also find peace in his personal life. The series was inspired by the Harry Bosch detective novels written by Michael Connelly and ran for seven seasons from 2014 to 2021.

Bosch was released to critical acclaim, receiving a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2015 and three Saturn nominations between 2015 and 2016. It is ranked as one of Amazon’s best original shows and currently has a score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The show’s popularity allowed the creation of other similar series that have since been launched on Amazon and have proven the network’s success in producing Dad TV shows.

How Bosch’s Success Led To Reacher & Amazon’s Other “Dad TV” Shows

Bosch Was Amazon’s First Original TV Series

Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch wearing sunglasses talking on the phone next to Bosch walking down the street in scenes from Bosch Gregory Scott Cummins as Crate and Troy Evans as Barrel in Bosch. Jamie Hector as Jerry Edgar and Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in Bosch. Mimi Rodgers as Honey Chandler in Bosch. Preston Borders berates his lawyers in court in Bosch

The critical success of Bosch proved that Amazon was capable of creating its own content, and also showed that there was an audience who was interested in watching “Dad TV”, shows that contain relatable characters and understandable plots.

The first season of Bosch premiered on Amazon on February 6, 2014; it was one of 14 pilots commissioned by Amazon, where viewers were allowed to watch and express their opinions on which they wanted to watch further (via BBC).

The first season, adapted from Connelly’s books, City of Bones, The Concrete Blonde, and Echo Park, depicted Bosch’s investigation into a cold murder case while dealing with problems in his career and his difficult past; the first season was praised as a gritty, detective series, with strong acting and interesting plot twists (via Rotten Tomatoes).

Bosch was the first original show created by Amazon and proved a surprise hit with viewers; the popularity of the first season allowed the show to continue for another six years.

The critical success of Bosch proved that Amazon was capable of creating its own content, and also showed that there was an audience who was interested in watching “Dad TV”, shows that contain relatable characters and understandable plots.

It allowed Amazon to capitalize on Bosch’s success and create further “dad” shows in the years following the series premiere; they also further continued Bosch’s legacy by releasing a follow-up series, Bosch: Legacy. A second Bosch spinoff was announced in 2024, focusing on Renée Ballard, another character in the series.

Amazon Is Now Leading The Way When It Comes To Dad TV

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In the years following the release of Bosch, there has been a surge in the release of critically successful Dad TV shows. Shows such as Yellowstone, Ray Donovan, and Billions have been released to high praise and have helped increase the popularity of the political action-thriller genre.

Amazon released further Dad TV shows, including Jack Ryan, The Terminal List, and Reacher, all of which have been praised for their stories, characters and dry humor.

The success of these shows proves that Amazon is the true catalyst for Dad TV; demographics have shown that Reacher has seen an increase in viewership on Amazon, with its second season outperforming its first in terms of results (via Yahoo).

This indicates that Amazon has recognized that Dad TV is their biggest hit in terms of viewership and critical success. The release of Bosch in 2014 marked the beginning of this and proved to be the inspiration for other successful shows in this genre.