Boston Blue, Season 1, Episode 1, was a Friday night treat. It isn’t lost on us that we decide to sit home on a Friday night in order to watch Donnie Wahlberg on our television. Is this writer a blockhead? Yes. Is that what pulled me in to watching Blue Bloods originally? Yes. But I stayed for Will Estes and storylines that I loved. Now, when Blue Bloods ended, and Boston Blue was announced, I was unsure of if I wanted to watch. What pulled me in this time? Again, Donnie Wahlberg.
If you’ve been a NKOTB fan, you know that the members of the group live and breathe their home state – Massachusetts. Boston is in their blood. While I was unsure of how they would ever get Danny Reagan to leave New York, I knew that Boston would be a main character in this show and that somehow it would change Danny Reagan.
Boston Blue isn’t Blue Bloods and that’s why – if it’s anything like the first episode – it will succeed. It’s about family, growing and truth – just like Blue Bloods. However, Boston Blue is a different vibe – one that seems more complex and ready to bring in a new generation of viewers who love procedurals.
What brings Danny to Boston? Sean was hurt in a fire. He isn’t waking up and Danny is by his side.
SEAN & JONAH
There’s a beauty in friendship. In this writer’s opinion a friendship is just as important (if not more) than a romantic relationship. I happen to love that they opened with Sean and Jonah, because it set it up that we’d be looking at these two a lot as they grow in the Boston PD. Just having graduated from the academy, the two set out for a night on the town. But as they are walking they notice a building on fire.
Rather than wait for the Fire Department to arrive, both run into the building to save anyone they can. What happens though is that Sean gets injured and is in a coma.
There is this weirdness with Sean Reagan and let me explain what I mean. If you watched Blue Bloods you were used to Andrew Terraciano as Sean. Knowing he was recast, I set myself up for knowing it will be different. Mika Amonsen as Sean is a good choice. Though we don’t get to see much of him – everyone does get that it was essential to get Danny to Boston.
Jonah, played by Marcus Scribner, is one of the strongest characters that we meet. Gone are the days where I can only think of him as Junior (Grown-ish, Black-ish) and I see that the actor is versatile. Sean and Jonah head into a burning building to save anyone that they can. Are the firemen? No. But what they are – two men who are out to make a difference.
Sean is the one who is injured severely, but Jonah is the also injured getting him out. I do believe the relationship between these two will be one of the driving forces of this show. Mika Amonsen and Marcus Scribner are talented actors and how they bring these characters to life will be something that drive this show forward.
Blue Bloods ending was a hard blow, but what I loved was that they made sure that it didn’t feel like an ending. It felt like this family can move on and move forward. We’re glad to see that they do just that.
DANNY REAGAN
Knowing that Danny and Baez are together – well that makes this Blue Bloods fan happy. They’ve always understood each other and their partnership was always something great to watch. Seeing Marisa Ramirez as a surprise guest made me crack a smile and I am thankful for that.
Danny is with Baez when he gets the call that Sean has been injured. It’s of no shock to anyone that knows this character that Danny went straight to Boston to be with his son.
Danny Reagan – no matter what you can say about him as a cop, you can not say that he’s a bad father. His boys mean everything to him. Seeing Sean in a coma and trying to make sense of it – well that was heartbreaking to see.
It’s also of no shock that when he hears that someone was murdered at the fire – that there was a gunshot wound – that Danny is going to go and see what he can find. You mess with a Reagan, you mess with them all.
But this was a different Danny than we’ve come to know through Blue Bloods. This one is a little softer, a little more worried, and a little less angry. Seeing the side of Danny that is the father is worried and confused is something that I enjoyed.
THE SILVERS
I guess that every town has that family – the one that is in control of most things or the one that has a hand in everything. New York has the Reagans and Boston has The Silvers. It doesn’t matter what city you are in – these families remind you that family is everything. Giving of yourself to your community is everything.
Lena Silver is a detective. She’s got an edge and that is something that makes her an even better detective. Sarah Silver is the Superintendent of Detectives in Boston. District Attorney – you guessed it. Another Silver. Mae Silver is the matriarch of the family – soft spoken, stern, and like Erin Reagan in New York City – puts the law first. Jonah Silver just graduated the academy.
Sarah allows Danny to work on the case with Lena. I can’t tell if that is something that Lena likes or doesn’t. That being said though, I do believe that Danny and Lena can learn from each other and here’s hoping that they do.
Sarah and Lena aren’t getting along because Lena is upset that Sarah passed her over for a promotion. Work and family have to be two separate things or they will go crazy. I always wondered though – how the Reagans did it. They never talked shop. Or at least rarely did.
Mae Silver has been against the use of facial recognition software – which has changed the way that BPD uses it. When it comes to this case, Lena and Danny need to use it.
Danny encourages Lena to color a little outside the lines in order to get them permission to use the software for a suspect that they have. Seeing the dynamic between Sarah and Lena over this – I wish we had seen more.
These sisters – you want to get to know them and some moments you even want a side to take.
DINNER & DASH OUT
Erin Reagan making her way to Boston to be with Danny – that’s a good sister. Where I think eventually we will not need (though always will want) guest stars from Blue Bloods, right now I think that it is important that we have them so we can tie the old to the new.
Danny may have told his family they didn’t need to come, but lets be honest. The Reagans will always show up. It’s actually a good thing, because it means that Danny won’t have to go to dinner at the Silver’s alone. Lets face it – he can be a little intimidating but he’s used to having someone on his side. Erin needs to be that backup to who can understand him.
What has always baffled me about shows like this – it’s families eating together. I don’t even think my family would be able to do that. We’d all be at each others throats. However, the Silvers are sitting down for dinner and they even talk shop. This feels foreign to me, but it also makes it feel like the passing of a baton.
The Silvers are a worthy successor to The Reagans. While Blue Bloods may always be home, it is definitely important the successor. Their family history and future seem like they will be as interesting – if not more interesting – than the Reagans. The first episode of the season set the family up and dropped morsels of complexity, secrecy, and family dynamic drama.
Gotta love that.
SOLVING THE CASE
Working together Danny, Lena, Sarah, and Jonah were able to solve the case. I watched the show and felt exhausted – the cardio that these actors can do. Impressive.
I have to admit – I could never. My legs would give out.
Now, Danny and Lena giving the collar to Jonah – I smiled. It felt like a thank you for Jonah, but also a collar that he deserved. Jonah is going to be a good cop. His sister may outrun him always – but have to love the chase.
Now that Danny knows who hurt his son, he can go back to Sean and be there for him. Him and Erin even have Sunday dinner at the hospital. It’s during that Sunday dinner that Sean awakes and Danny lets him know that he’s there for him.
While some may not appreciate Boston Blue’s lines such as Danny calling Lena “Beantown” and Lena calling Danny, “Brooklyn” – I have to admit I loved that part. I loved knowing that some of the lines were the things that we’ve seen Donnie Wahlberg say over the years. The infusion of actual verbiage, versus poetic lines waxed from a writer that we’ll never see – it felt natural and made the show move forward.
Boston Blue is a worthy successor to Blue Bloods. We’re excited to watch the Silver and Reagans grow.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Danny’s remarks on Sarah and Lena being sisters – we can appreciate that they addressed it from the bat
- The Boston Police station is a lot nicer than NYC
- Sarah and Lena – want to see more of their dynamic
- Erin Reagan is always a hero
- Danny and Baez forever.
Boston Blue airs Friday nights on CBS.
