‘Blue Bloods’ Fans Were Way Too Harsh on This Underrated Character

One of the most epic police procedurals of all time, Blue Bloods captivated audiences for 14 seasons and will continue its now iconic legacy once Boston Blue officially kicks off. We’ve recently been given a poignant glimpse into what that show will be like, and it’s already divided fans. That part isn’t surprising, though, as fans of the original have always been prone to arguing over every aspect of the show, from the characters to plot decisions and even how realistic it is compared to actual life in the NYPD. However, when it comes to character disagreements, not many can claim to be more divisive than Erin Reagan.

Often seen as the cornerstone of the show’s moral legal framework, she’s been well-regarded by many fans — or at least grudgingly respected for being principled, even if her decisions aren’t what fans want. However, over the seasons, many of those positive sentiments have begun to sour among fans. The problem is that it’s hard to justify why. Perhaps it’s a symptom of being a true fan of a fictional TV series that we often become so enamored with the characters we love that we’re willing to forgo our ethics for them.

In doing so, many fans often express feelings that would ordinarily amount to moral viewpoints we’d never cling to in reality, or perhaps shows like Blue Bloods and characters like Erin (Bridget Moynahan) are so brilliantly layered because they can speak to our darker sides. Either way, Erin has been picking up a ton of hate online for her meanderings from what fans wanted for her — to choose loyalty to her family over what she ultimately thought was right.

The Reagan Family Dynamic Always Cast Erin as the Odd One Out

Erin began her run on Blue Bloods as an idealistic Assistant District Attorney with a strong moral compass. She was also a single mom capable of being as iron-willed as she was compassionate. As time went on, she often became the metaphorical conscience of the Regan clan. For a time, this made her a straight-laced character who was often commended for these traits. However, shows as popular as Blue Bloods have a way of polarizing fans, and Erin became the character at the center of its great divide.

As a show that deals with the inner workings of a police precinct, it slowly becomes easier for fans to form attachments to members of that precinct — especially those tied to the Reagan family. Unfortunately, the closer the bond many fans forged with the Reagans who carried badges, the more likely they were to begin turning away from Erin. This dynamic came to the fore a little more each time her job conflicted with her family’s interests, as prominent episodes like Season 2’s “Reagan V. Reagan” proved.

Erin’s Progression Through the Show Was in Keeping With Her Talent

As Erin’s career continued to reach new heights in the show, what could never be denied is that she earned her success. As her cases became more complex and her list of successful, high-profile convictions grew, so did her stature as a skilled and determined prosecutor. However, this also saw her hardening even further. By the middle seasons, her son had already grown and left home. Events like these often left Erin feeling even more isolated than her job had already made her, especially compared to the rest of the brood.

The fact that she began focusing even more on work afterward didn’t help. Between being considered for the DA position herself and ending up on extreme ends of cases that impacted her family’s police work, Erin became a far more rigid character as time went on. However, according to Jack Ori of TV Fanatic, this is only seen as a bad quality when it’s Erin who possesses it.

“The easiest explanation for why Frank is seen as a man of integrity while Erin is seen as a nuisance is old-fashioned misogyny. It’s not a secret that qualities that are praised in men are often disparaged in women. From that perspective, it makes sense that people see Frank as standing up for integrity when he refuses to be coerced into doing something he believes is immoral, while Erin is seen as too rigid when she does it. That’s not necessarily the whole story, but it’s important to ask ourselves why we see Erin the way that we do.”

Why Erin Was Always Unfairly Treated by ‘Blue Bloods’ Fans

The simple fact about Erin Reagan is that she was a principled woman who always felt a higher calling and a duty to her principles above all else. The fact that she was willing to stick to this even when it was against her family members is commendable. In the world we live in today where morals are so easily bent and truth and justice are far too often sacrificed at the altar of money, blood, or power, Erin’s refusal to compromise is a truly rare trait.

Beyond this, it’s not just that she will always have the moral high ground, but also that the anger shown on fan sites and Reddit threads often grows far too toxic to be considered anything close to logical. With excitement building for the new spinoff show, it’s clear that old dynamics have to shift. While her stern personality drew the ire of her detractors, attacks against her soon devolved into nastiness directed at everything from her demeanor (which many deemed cold and robotic) to the obvious double standard that she was held to. In the end, Erin was far from perfect. However, no Reagan in the show was, but only she was singled out by fans as the so-called bad character and the villain of the Reagan family. Ultimately, it wasn’t deserved. Blue Bloods is streaming on Paramount+ and Fubo TV.