Titus Welliver, his sexy silver hair and unwavering gaze are back as LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) homicide detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch for Season 2 of Amazon’s Bosch.

Season 1 successfully established a solid foundation for the cast as convincing characters in the world of police work and politics, with Welliver’s Bosch in the forefront. Also, it showcased every nook and cranny of Los Angeles as fertile playground for serial killers, corrupt cops and power-hungry morally conflicted personas. LA is to Bosch as New York City was to Sex and the City.

Season 2 of Bosch starts six months after the events of Season 1’s finale. Bosch’s suspension, for throwing a police officer through a glass window, gives him time to reassess his life: he runs more, has more facial hair and quits smoking.

Before Bosch leaves his gravity-defying house for his first day back at work, daughter Maddie (Madison Lintz) Skypes him and says the brutal truth:

Maddie: Dad, lose the sideburn. You look like a hobo.

Bosch: A hobo? Where did you hear that word?

Maddie: It’s retro, from the Great Recession. And the moustache, too.

Bosch: And the moustache? I kinda like it.

Maddie: 70’s porn star. Hello?

Bosch: Yes, okay. Call you back.

A million thanks to her, Bosch looks younger and fitter (cardio exercises help, according to the man himself).

Bosch’s first day turns out better than his pre-shaved face. After a mad dash, he singlehandedly catches a serial rapist-murderer and makes fun of partner Jerry Edgar’s (Jamie Hector) lack of stamina and improper work shoes. So yes, Bosch is officially back!

Like the first season of Bosch, the 10-episode second season has two major cases. One is the murder of a pornographic film producer slash money launderer. This takes Bosch to a gated community where ex-porn star and recent widow, Veronica Allen (Jeri Ryan), mourns by lounging beside the pool of her mansion and flirting with anybody who wears pants. Allen is perfect as the femme fatale. She is attractive, eloquent and carries herself well whether in a nightgown or in an all-white ensemble.

The other is an internal investigation of dirty cops in LAPD, which later necessitates Bosch to work with Deputy Chief Irvin Irving (Lance Reddick) at Irving’s bidding. It obviously shows that Irving respects Bosch’s discretion and abilities as detective regardless of their differences in political agenda.

Irving has an expanded role this season due to his interactions with Bosch and with District Attorney Richard O’Shea (Steven Culp) as political season intensifies. The Bosch-Irving dynamics are understandably different than the Bosch-Edgar tandem, yet both duos are interesting to watch. Admittedly, I like the latter more than the former mainly due to Bosch making fun of Edgar, his clothes and his shoes.

The second case has more feels than the first. The montage that shows the announcement and grieving of LAPD policemen over the loss of one of their own is moving. Even the usually unemotional Bosch shows sadness. It is just regretful that a character that has grown so much this season meets his end.

Bosch’s involvement with the cases forces Maddie and mom Eleanor (Sarah Clarke) to take refuge at Bosch’s house on stilts in Hollywood Hills. This means that Bosch’s abode with picturesque view of LA has more screen time. More importantly, it also means that there are more Bosch-Maddie bonding moments. As Bosch tours Maddie in his turf, they have kimchi and “the best” chocolate drink in LA. While in Vegas, Maddie explains to Bosch the difference between ice cream and gelato. Bosch even makes a face to tease his daughter. Thank goodness for these reprieves from gore and violence because they show a different range of facial expressions for Bosch. It must be tiring to smirk all of the time.

Season 2 of Bosch is less of a slow burn than Season 1 partly due to the great groundwork made by the premier season in thoroughly fleshing out the characters. Listening to police jargon and long conversations seems as natural as watching Bosch stare intensely at evidence. It also helps that Bosch the detective sometimes takes a backseat to Bosch the family man. It effectively slashes police work by a quarter.

Given the detailed police work tackled by the show, working on two to three cases per season works in favor of Bosch because it is not rushed to tell the story. Also, it is able to leave several crumbs of clues to entice the audience to participate in solving the cases. Once it arrives to its conclusion, it is all fireworks and the audience gets the satisfaction of piecing together the clues and “solving” the case with Bosch.