Netflix Has Found Its Bosch Replacement In New Top 10 Crime Show

A crime show that is new to the Netflix Top 10 list is the perfect replacement for Prime Video’s Bosch and its spinoffs. Based on Michael Connelly’s eponymous book series, Bosch is one of the best crime shows of all time, leading to the spinoff series Bosch: Legacy and Ballard. Other streaming services have tried to find their own competitors with little success.

However, Netflix recently acquired and added an NBC crime show called Found, which is a perfect replacement for Bosch. The show follows Gabrielle “Gabi” Mosley, a former kidnapping victim and a PR specialist who works with independent investigators to solve the missing persons cases that the police overlook.

The streaming site added it less than a week ago, but it immediately jumped to the Top 10 list. It started at number 7, and it’s now at number 3. It’s so popular that new and old fans alike are begging Netflix to revive the cancelled show. Even at just two seasons, it’s a perfect choice for fans of Bosch and Ballard.

Found Features A Morally Gray Protagonist Like Harry Bosch

One of the most exciting aspects of Found is that it provides a well-developed, morally gray female main character, which is pretty rare for network TV. Her approach to morality and concept of justice are the first things on the TV show that reminded me of Harry Bosch.

If Gabi Mosely and Harry Bosch existed within the same universe, I could easily see them working together because, in many ways, they are similar. They both have a childhood trauma that drives them.

Gabi was kidnapped, while Harry’s mother was murdered. Neither was properly handled by the police, leaving Gabi and Harry to solve them. They want to make sure that never happens to anyone else. Ultimately, the personal reasons behind their careers give the cases in both shows heavier stakes. It also explains Gabi and Harry’s undying need for justice, even if it requires them to break the rules.

They have disdain for the system, preferring to take action rather than deal with the red tape of bureaucracy. Yes, Harry’s hatred of the system is a little ironic since he’s a cop. What’s more, Gabi and Harry constantly make the audience question the line between right and wrong.

Found Has Similar Themes & Pacing As Ballard

Found’s main character feels like she’s cut from the same cloth as Harry Bosch, but the themes and pacing make the show feel similar to Ballard, the Bosch spinoff. Unlike the noir-esque Bosch, Found and Ballard move at a brisk pace, with lots of plot happening in a short span of time. All three shows share a similar format, blending cases of the week with overarching mysteries.

Additionally, the theme of found family is extremely prevalent in both Found and Ballard. Neither Renee nor Gabi has a strong external support system. Renee Ballard’s forced to pull together a team, and they’re an unlikely bunch. However, the cold case team becomes like her family, providing support and love for one another. Gabi’s team feels just as bonded to one another.

On top of that, both shows delve into the theme of ignored victims. The victims that Gabi helps are the missing people who get overlooked by the police. The missing persons are obviously a much more immediate threat than Renee Ballard’s cold cases, since missing persons can be saved. Still, Renee’s team also focuses on the cases that have been shoved to the side.

Found Showcases Systemic Failures In The Justice System Like Bosch & Ballard

Bosch, Ballard, and Found also feel like they share the same DNA because they unflinchingly explore failures in the justice system. They don’t follow the traditional “police are all heroes and the system is perfect” script that many procedural TV shows reuse. Bosch and its spinoffs have never shied away from calling out the police system. Found does the same.

Most of the victims in all three shows are members of vulnerable communities, rather than being the “perfect victim.” All three show that politics and bias exist within police departments, affecting cases. Some cases obviously get preferential treatment.

The crime dramas have all explored sexism and racism, both systemic and personal, within the police systems, though Ballard and Found do it more thoroughly. They all display police neglect and corruption. They encourage conversations about the need for reform and for institutional change.

A Unique Storyline Sets Found Apart From Bosch & Ballard

While Found feels extremely similar to both Bosch and Ballard, it has one unique storyline that sets it apart from almost every detective show. As mentioned, Gabi was kidnapped by a man called “Sir” when she was a child. She had to solve her own kidnapping case. However, she crosses a line that almost feels Dexter-like.

Rather than turning her kidnapper in to the police, she takes justice completely into her own hands. Gabi kidnaps “Sir,” her kidnapper, and keeps him chained up in her basement. She isn’t necessarily hypocritical because she’s trying to keep others safe from the evil person who kept her captive. However, she does seem to take joy in the fact that Sir is suffering in Found.