Season 1 of the Ballard TV Series consists of 10 episodes and aired on July 9, 2025. The first season is primarily based on Michael Connelly’s novels The Late Show (2017), The Dark Hours (2021), and Desert Star (2022)[1].
Development[]
The series was conceived as a Bosch spin‑off, blending episodic cold‑case mysteries with a serialized LAPD corruption arc. Showrunners Michael Alaimo and Kendall Sherwood worked closely with Michael Connelly to adapt Ballard’s novels (The Late Show, The Dark Hours, Desert Star) into a cohesive season.
Casting[]
In March of 2021, Maggie Q was announced as the star of the new Bosch spinoff series Ballard.[2]. Further casting announcements were made throughout the year to round out the main cast, including, the announcement that Titus Welliver and Jamie Hector would be making special appearances.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Maggie Q as Detective Renée Ballard
- Courtney Taylor as Samira Parker
- Michael Mosley as Ted Rawls
- Rebecca Field as Colleen Hatteras
- Victoria Moroles as Martina Castro
- Amy Hill as Tutu
- John Carroll Lynch as Thomas Laffont
Guest Starring[]
- Noah Bean as Jake Pearlman
- Michael Cassidy as Aaron
- Ricardo Chavira as Robert Olivas
- Hector Hugo as Captain Berchem
- Alain Uy as Nelson Hastings
- Colin McCalla as Manny Santos
- Sharif Atkins as Damani
- Kevin Dunn as Gary Pearlman
Co-starring[]
- Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch
- Brendan Sexton III as Anthony Driscoll
- Jim Rash as Leo
- Brian Letscher as Ken Chastain
- Gabriela Bonet as Abril Cortes
- Alexandra Barreto as Janet Olivas
- Isidoro Perez as Officer R.J. Urzua
- Cat Novella as Claudia
- Jamie Hector as Jerry Edgar
- Nicki Micheaux as Mrs. Parker
- Romi Dias as Dr. Sandoval
- Danielle Perez as Darcy
- B. Todd Johnston as Brian Richmond
- Alina Cherednychenko as Yulia Kravetz
- John Lee Ames as Sean “Frosty” Wright
- Richard Cabral as Javier Fuentes
- Alexandra Fragoso as EMT
- Michole Briana White as Naomi Bennett
- Joseph Schwartz as Spencer
- Andrew Hawtrey as Firearms Freddie
- Eddie Alfano as Chuck Tolli
- Betty Ann Ortega as Dolorés
- Alfredo Antillon as Jorgé Ochoa
- James Babson as Pintero
- Erik Lunseth as Detective
- Emily Czajowski as Sarah Pearlman
- James MacDonald as Naylin
- Sandra Thigpen as Vivian Wilson
- Frankie Faison
- Lindsey Haun as Meredith Haines
- Randy Crowder as Charlie Grant
- Kara Luiz as Raquel Thatcher
- Craig Lee Thomas as Kyle Barnett
- William Mark McCullough as Zander Coleman
- Helen Eigenberg as Jenny Garrison
- Tiago Roberts as DEA Agent Trejano
- Stephen A. Chang as Maurice “Mo” Bassi
- M.J. Kang as Lilian Lee
- Ethan Holder as Jun Lee
- Abraham Lim as Mr. Kim
- Phinehas Yoon as Marcus
- Cliff Weissman as James Duff
- Pauline Yasuda as Cindi Bundshu
- Nancy Daly as Helen Robbins
- Alyssa Brayboy as Young Naomi Bennett
- James Austin Kerr as Cowboy
- Adam Huel Potter as Casey Robbins
- Mimi Rogers as Honey Chandler
- Leonard Roberts as Gerard Willis
- Ken Kirby as Joey Lucas
- Shannon Cochran as Paula Hopkinson
Crew[]
Directors[]
- Sarah Boyd — 2 episodes
- Patrick Cady — 2 episodes
- Jet Wilkinson — 2 episodes
- Tori Garrett — 1 episode
- Jon Huertas — 1 episode
- Logan Kibens — 1 episode
- Nefertite Nguvu — 1 episode
Writers[]
- Michael Alaimo — Developed for television (10 episodes); Written for television (3 episodes)
- Kendall Sherwood — Developed for television (10 episodes); Written for television (3 episodes)
- Julissa Castillo — Staff writer (10 episodes); Written for television (1 episode)
- Brandi Nicole — Staff writer (10 episodes); Written for television (1 episode)
- Michael Connelly — Based on the Renée Ballard novels (10 episodes)
- Thania St. John — Written for television (2 episodes)
- Liz Hsiao Lan Alper — Written for television (1 episode)
- John Coveny — Written for television (1 episode)
- Ralph Gifford — Written for television (1 episode)
- Galeesa Murph — Written for television (1 episode)
Cinematography[]
- Gavin Kelly — Director of Photography (1 episode)
- Patrick Cady — Director of Photography (multiple episodes, also directed)
Music[]
- Jeff Russo — Composer (Season 1 score)
Producers[]
- Michael Connelly — Executive Producer
- Michael Alaimo — Executive Producer and Showrunner
- Kendall Sherwood — Executive Producer and Showrunner
- Henrik Bastin — Executive Producer
- Melissa Aouate — Executive Producer
- Sam Ernst — Co-Executive Producer
- Julissa Castillo — Co-Producer
- Brandi Nicole — Co-Producer
- Tori Garrett — Producer (episode director as well)
Casting[]
- Shana Landsburg — Casting Director
- Shana Landsburg Casting — Casting Department
Art Department[]
- Christopher Brown — Production Designer
- Jennifer Dehghan — Art Director
- Megan Elizabeth Bell — Set Decoration
Costume & Makeup[]
- Kelli Jones — Costume Designer
- Deborah Rutherford — Key Makeup Artist
- Kimberly Greene — Hair Department Head
Editing[]
- Steven Lang — Editor (multiple episodes)
- Tori Garrett — Editor (episode director as well)
Episodes[]
| Image | Title | Writer | Director | Original Airdate | Episode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
"Library of Lost Souls" | Michael Alaimo Kendall Sherwood |
Jet Wilkinson | July 9, 2025 | 1 | 1.01 |
| Ballard reopens a mysterious John Doe case while pursuing justice for a councilman’s murdered sister. As she navigates reluctant witnesses, department politics, and her own demons, Ballard and her team uncover buried secrets that suggest corruption within the police force. | ||||||
|
"Haystacks" | Michael Alaimo Kendall Sherwood |
Jet Wilkinson | July 9, 2025 | 2 | 1.02 |
| Renée Ballard investigates the murder of a motel maid that may be linked to one of her cold cases, while political pressure and internal resistance intensify. | ||||||
|
"BYOB" | Thania St. John | Patrick Cady | July 9, 2025 | 3 | 1.03 |
| Renée Ballard investigates the suspicious death of a college student while her team uncovers deeper corruption within the LAPD. | ||||||
|
"Landmines" | Julissa Castillo | Patrick Cady | July 9, 2025 | 4 | 1.04 |
| Ballard and her team dig deeper into the Laura case, uncover new leads in the John Doe murder, and face emotional fallout from a colleague’s death. | ||||||
|
"What's Done in the Dark" | Brandi Nicole | Tori Garrett | July 9, 2025 | 5 | 1.05 |
| Ballard and her team uncover disturbing links between a missing man, cartel activity, and a corrupt LAPD officer—while personal trauma surfaces and trust within the unit is tested. | ||||||
|
"Beneath the Surface" | Liz Hsiao Lan Alper | Nefertite Nguvu | July 9, 2025 | 6 | 1.06 |
| Ballard’s team races against a 72-hour deadline to connect a series of murders, uncovering new victims and deeper corruption while personal tensions rise. | ||||||
|
"Fork in the Road" | John Coveny | Jon Huertas | July 9, 2025 | 7 | 1.07 |
| Ballard recovers from a violent attack by Driscoll while her team regroups under mounting pressure and takes on a new case involving a missing teen tied to gang activity. | ||||||
|
"Last Call" | Galeesa Murph Thania St. John |
Sarah Boyd | July 9, 2025 | 8 | 1.08 |
| Ballard’s team closes in on the network of corrupt LAPD officers as Martina uncovers damning evidence, and Ballard sets a trap to flip one of their own. | ||||||
|
"Collateral" | Ralph Gifford | Logan Kibens | July 9, 2025 | 9 | 1.09 |
| Ballard’s team identifies Naomi Bennett as the sole survivor of the serial killer they’ve been tracking, prompting a delicate investigation that tests their resolve and political alliances. | ||||||
|
"End of the Line" | Michael Alaimo Kendall Sherwood |
Sarah Boyd | July 9, 2025 | 10 | 1.10 |
| Ballard confirms Gary Pearlman as the serial killer, loses a teammate to violence, and confronts systemic failures as justice slips through the cracks. | ||||||
References[]
Template:Ballard Season 1 Series Navigation