Blue Bloods Series Finale: How Donnie Wahlberg Fought For 1 Danny Storyline To Happen Explained

The Blue Bloods series finale features an important storyline for Danny, and Donnie Wahlberg fought for it. After 14 years, CBS’ long-running family cop drama officially wrapped up with a send-off to the Raegan family. Admittedly, there is still backlash over the network’s decision to pull the plug on the successful series, but at the very least, it is able to deliver a rather emotional swan song for the beloved project. A part of that is where Danny ends up in the Blue Bloods finale, which Wahlberg was involved in crafting.

In a new interview with Variety, the actor confirms that he talked to the higher-ups in the show to ensure that there’s some progression in Danny and Baez’s relationship. While he wasn’t exactly asking for their partnership to be romantic, Wahlberg wanted to leave the characters with the idea that there’s a possible future with them together, and that’s exactly what he got in the Blue Bloods finale. He also reveals that his scene with Len Cariou’s Henry crystallizes the need for Danny and Baez’s breakthrough. Read his full quote below:

“It was important to [producer] Kevin Wade to not have every partnership turn into a relationship. And I respected that, and I agreed with it. I think it was just probably important for me personally that Danny grows. As the audience started sort of clamoring for a relationship with Danny and Baez, I thought, it’s more important for them to grow and for her to start making an impact on him, and him to really respect her in a way that he hasn’t always respected certain people in the show.”

“I think that was a lot of me really pushing. I pushed a lot for some closure with that. I went to [writer] Siobhan O’Connor, and I was like, ‘Listen, you’ve got to do something. They don’t need to go get married, but something would be nice, just to show that there may be a future for them, or that their relationship has really evolved.’

“I did the scene with Len, and it was just gold. You understand he’s taking Grandpa’s advice. And I thought it was done magically. I thought it was done with respect to the show. It wasn’t ‘Let’s tie this up with a nice bow.’ It’s just a little nod to what could happen in the future for them.”

Why It Took So Long For Danny & Baez To Be Together

Linda Was Difficult To Replace

For the first few seasons of Blue Bloods, Danny was married to Linda. Together, they had a beautiful family. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when she was killed, leaving her husband and their kids devastated. That said, while the rest of the clan moved on with their grief, Danny, somehow, remained single, and focused on his work, leaving no time for any personal arcs beyond being a member of the Raegans. So, it’s nice that he gets an epiphany about potentially starting a relationship with Baez from his grandfather after years of being alone.

In any case, it’s no secret that the pair’s relationship had long been suspected to eventually become romantic. Admittedly, the prospect of them getting together can be a divisive subject among those who have followed Blue Bloods from the get-go, but only because Linda and Danny’s relationship was a gold standard in the series. That said, between all the time that they have spent together and how they complement each other, there’s no denying that Baez is the best romantic partner that Danny could have hoped for after losing his first wife.

Our Take On Danny & Baez’s Relationship In Blue Bloods

It’s Danny’s Best Ending

Ultimately, the Blue Bloods finale wraps up all core members of the Raegan family in a satisfying way. For Danny, the idea of him starting a romance with Baez after years of working together sets up a great path for them moving forward. While it would have been great to see their relationship flourish, it’s the best that Blue Bloods could do, considering the limited time it had left. Perhaps the Blue Bloods‘ spinoff can offer the public an update on how they are, once the new endeavor finally pushes through.