Key Takeaways
- Harry Bosch’s dog, Coltrane, plays a crucial role as a mirror of his owner’s internal struggle, becoming a fan favorite in Bosch: Legacy.
- Coltrane, (real name Brody), starred in a fake spin-off trailer titled ‘Detective Coltrane’ to promote Bosch season 6.
- Despite Coltrane likely not appearing in Ballard, fans can sign a petition to save Bosch: Legacy, where the beloved dog has made a significant impact.
The end of Bosch: Legacy after the third season in March 2025 isn’t just the end of Harry Bosch’s main story, it’s also possibly the last time fans will see the Bosch family dog, Coltrane. Ever since Harry Bosch decided a pet dog would be a therapeutic distraction from grisly crime scenes, Coltrane has become a firm favorite with fans.
Coltrane is not just in Bosch and Bosch Legacy for the sake of it. The whole point of Harry Bosch’s cattle dog is to act as a mirror image of his own internal struggle. Coltrane’s real name is Brody, and he has become a major part of the Bosch-verse. Bosch: Legacy season 3 will be Coltrane’s sixth season, and the show wouldn’t be the same without him. But where did he actually come from, and why is he so popular with fans?
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Coltrane Made His First Appearance in Bosch Season 5 And Continues To Be A Fan Favorite In Bosch: Legacy
A man and his dog is a story as old and timeless as any, and one that continues to be popular in television and movies. Harry Bosch might be a hardened LAPD detective turned private investigator, but when it comes to animals, he definitely shows his softer side. During an undercover mission at an opiod drug compound in the Salton Sea in Bosch season 5, Harry Bosch first comes into contact with a stray cattle dog, who he instantly bonds with. In fact, when one of the villains raises a gun to shoot him, Bosch jumps in the way and insists it is bad luck to kill a dog, and saves his new four-legged friend’s life. In return, the dog saves him when three of the bad guys come to kill him. After his undercover mission is over, Bosch adopts him and names him Coltrane, (after the Jazz musician John Coltrane, of course) and the rest is history. Turns out, it was Titus Welliver who came up with the idea for Harry Bosch’s furry friend. Welliver elaborated on the origins of Coltrane in an interview on YouTube channel, Death Wish Coffee Company:
Harry’s dog, Coltrane. I chose that breed of dog because I love
The Road Warrior
. It’s one of my favorite flicks. When I approached the writers about having a dog, I said, ‘It needs to be an animal that can survive in a hostile environment, not unlike a coyote. Mad Max’s dog is an Australian cattle dog. It’s post-apocalyptic. So, good enough for Mad Max has gotta be good enough for Harry Bosch. I just thought it would be an interesting metaphor. And I really wanted it to be a cattle dog because they kind of look feral to begin with.
Bosch: Legacy Key Facts
- A petition to Save Bosch: Legacy can be signed HERE
- 100% Critics Score on Rotten Tomatoes
- Bosch: Legacy helped to launch Amazon’s streaming service
The fact that Coltrane starred in his own fake spin-off trailer to promote the sixth season of Bosch in 2020, is testament to his popularity with the fans. It’s hard not to love Harry Bosch’s pet dog, and the creative team clearly saw an opportunity to have a bit of fun while also promoting the upcoming season. It’s a fun little trailer for a Bosch spin-off show that was never going to happen, but it has become a consistently entertaining watch over on YouTube. Coltrane will be back in Bosch: Legacy season 3 and fans can’t wait to see him again. Interesting fact: Titus Welliver’s daughter, Cora, plays Coltrane’s dog walker, Sam in Bosch and Bosch: Legacy.
Unfortunately, Bosch: Legacy season 3 will likely be Coltrane’s last appearance, as Renee Ballard’s cold case unit doesn’t offer positions to dogs, despite Harry Bosch’s furry friend’s starring role in the Detective Coltrane spin-off fake trailer. However, surely there could be a role for Coltrane as a sniffer dog as Ballard and Bosch chase down leads. Ok, not likely, but fans can dream. If Amazon knew how much dog food they could sell during their barrage of adverts on the platform, they’d probably give a full series order to a Detective Coltrane spin off. Let’s hope some of the promotional material for Bosch: Legacy season 3 features Harry Bosch’s loyal cattle dog.
Sign The Petition To Save Coltrane and Bosch: Legacy HERE
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