When CBS decided to cancel Blue Bloods after 14 seasons, one of the most vocal critics of this decision was the show’s patriarchal star, Tom Selleck, who expressed a strong desire to reprise the role of New York City Police Commissioner Frank Reagan for a 15th season. When it was revealed that the network had ostensibly ended Blue Bloods to make room for the spin-off series Boston Blue, featuring Donnie Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan, speculation immediately turned to how and when other Blue Bloods cast members might appear on the new show, especially Frank.
With the announcement that Bridget Moynahan will reprise her role as Danny’s sister, Erin Reagan, in the series premiere of Boston Blue, it seems inevitable that Frank will also make an appearance. Wahlberg has even indicated a willingness to reunite with Selleck on the series. However, while Frank’s appearance on Boston Blue would certainly be a welcome sight to Blue Bloods viewers, this also highlights the major challenge for the spin-off series, which must, in order to be successful, establish its own identity by distancing itself from the past. Indeed, the more Boston Blue incorporates Danny’s Blue Bloods family members, the more viewers are left to wonder as to why Blue Bloods was canceled in the first place.
‘Boston Blue’ Is Becoming ‘Boston Blue Bloods’
Donnie Wahlberg has teased the possibility of having Tom Selleck appear as Frank Reagan on Boston Blue by coyly noting the relatively short distance between Boston and New York, while also stressing the importance of respecting the legacy of Blue Bloods. Whether Frank appears on Boston Blue in a guest-starring or recurring capacity, he almost certainly won’t appear in the premiere episode. Instead of beginning with a tearful goodbye between Danny and Frank in New York prior to his move to Boston, it starts with Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan being firmly settled in his new home city, Boston, where he serves as a police detective alongside new partner Lena Silver.
Since family is the core theme of Blue Bloods, and since the lives of the Reagan family members, especially Danny, are inextricably tied to New York, it initially seemed inconceivable that any spin-off series would depart from this formula. While there’s a clear nexus between Boston native Wahlberg and the premise of Boston Blue, it’s of paramount importance that the premiere episode provides a compelling explanation for how and why Danny decided to make such a momentous decision to leave New York for Boston, where he’s joined by his youngest son, Sean, who also serves as a Boston police officer.
Indeed, Danny’s decision to move to Boston seems directly related to his relationship with Sean, who has chosen to continue his family’s police legacy by relocating to Boston, precisely to escape the powerful specter of the Reagan law enforcement dynasty in New York. The decision to recast the role of Sean, with Mika Amonsen taking over the role that was played on Blue Bloods by Andrew Terraciano throughout the show’s 14-season run, indicates that Sean will be a much more prominent character on Boston Blue than he was on Blue Bloods. This also signals that Boston Blue is intent on establishing its own legacy, without becoming overly steeped in Reagan family drama.
While Frank’s appearance in Boston Blue seems to be a foregone conclusion, it’s worth noting that Selleck previously declined to make a cameo appearance in the Magnum P.I. reboot. He wanted to avoid giving his tacit approval to the remake by making a cameo appearance and instead protect the legacy of the original series.
Frank Reagan Should Be Retired
When Tom Selleck protested the cancellation of Blue Bloods alongside millions of viewers, the most compelling reasons for continuing the series, one of the longest-running scripted shows in history, were primarily related to emotion and nostalgia, rather than any bold creative vision for the show’s future. While Blue Bloods was undeniably still a compelling and entertaining series at the time of its cancellation, the show had run its course, creatively speaking, just as the now 80-year-old Selleck’s Frank Reagan had long passed his expiry date as New York City police commissioner.
While Frank continued to perform his duties as police commissioner ably and with the utmost integrity and wisdom, his consecutive 14-season-long or 14-year-long tenure as police commissioner, which is longer than the consecutive tenure of any real-life New York police commissioner in history, is simply too long a period for any one man to have such power. Indeed, Frank’s enduring authority, which outlasted that of several fictional mayors on Blue Bloods, increasingly gave him the appearance and aura of being a king, instead of New York’s top cop.
While Frank retained his humility and kindness throughout the run of the series, the growing impression was of a man who was clinging to power, perhaps out of a fear of the unknown, in terms of retirement. One of the most interesting aspects of a potential appearance by Frank on Boston Blue will be to see how Frank would have adjusted to his long-overdue retirement, which is something that Frank seems to be particularly ill-equipped to deal with. Of course, there’s also plenty of drama to be gleaned from the very real possibility that Frank will stubbornly remain police commissioner until he’s either forced out of the position or he dies.
‘Boston Blue’ Already Has Its Own Frank Reagan Character
In Boston Blue, Danny Reagan finds himself immersed within another powerful family dynasty, led by Reverend Peters, a renowned Boston pastor, played by beloved veteran actor Ernie Hudson, who previously appeared, as a different character, in a 2018 episode of Blue Bloods. Peters is the father of Boston district attorney Mae Silver, and he’s the grandfather of Danny’s new partner, Detective Lena Silver, as well as police superintendent Ashley Silver and rookie patrol cop Isaac Silver.
Like Frank Reagan, Peters is known for being an open-minded and welcoming leader who is seemingly comfortable in all situations and traditions. Given how often the devoutly Irish Catholic Frank seeks out spiritual advice on Blue Bloods, primarily through Stacy Keach’s Archbishop Kearns, and with Hudson being less than a year younger than Selleck, a relationship between Frank and Peters has the potential to be very interesting, if Frank appears in Boston Blue long enough for him to get to know all the new people in Danny’s life. Boston Blue will premiere on October 17 on CBS.
