Blue Bloods has had many examples of outstanding drama over the fourteen years it has been on the air. Many episodes of the Tom Selleck-led cop and family drama appeal to large audiences because of its emphasis on the Reagan family. Its focus on a family of cops explains why this series’ popularity has endured for years, leading to a massive fan movement to save Blue Bloods after CBS announced its cancelation in early 2024.
Unfortunately, CBS upheld its original decision to cancel the series. There are only a few episodes left of Blue Bloods before it leaves the airwaves for good. The final episodes will undoubtedly offer more high-quality, memorable drama, making it even more difficult to determine which episodes of Blue Bloods are the best in the entire series. While it is upsetting that Blue Bloods was canceled after season 14, at least there are almost 300 episodes to rewatch, many of which are as enjoyable after several viewings as they were when they originally aired.
15.“Risk and Reward”
Season 3, Episode 5
This fairly popular episode (IMDB users give it an average rating of 7.9) is mostly remembered for the heartwarming family scene at the end. It’s Henry’s 60th work anniversary, and Linda surprises him with a cake during the family dinner, which also includes Sean making the surprising announcement that he wants to be a fireman rather than a policeman when he grows up. The family’s love for Henry shines through these scenes.
The heartwarming family scenes are made sweeter by the other part of the episode. Blue Bloods never shies away from hot-button issues, but this is one of the few stories that deals with Middle Eastern terrorists. It’s a tense hour that illustrates how much pressure Frank is under as the head of the NYPD, as he must negotiate the release of a deocrated detective who has been taken hostage my extremists who want a member of their terrorist group released from prison. Hostage situations often lead to phenomenal drama, and Blue Bloods tackles this one without resorting to the heroic cop or evil terrorist tropes that are too often part of these types of stories.
14.“Bad Company”
Season 5, Episode 18
This is one of the best Eddie-centered episodes, featuring an early indication of why she is the woman that Jamie will eventually fall hard for and marry. Throughout the hour, Eddie’s determination and fire are on display, especially when she refuses to listen to Jamie about how dangerous it is for her to join a hastily thrown-together undercover operation to rescue a Serbian woman who was kidnapped by human traffickers.
The tension between Eddie and Jamie, the importance of the case, and the danger Eddie faces on the job have contributed to the episode’s solid 8.2. rating on IMDB, but it’s the juxtaposition of this story with a subplot in which Frank accompanies a young woman to the prison, where she meets the man who killed her father, that makes this episode so strong. The man’s attempt to apologize and explain his behavior sparked discussions about whether it’s possible or desirable to forgive people who commit heinous acts without pushing an agenda or giving the audience answers.
13.“Blues”
Season 9, Episode 15
Blue Bloods has dealt with officer-involved shootings several times, but this is the best such episode because of Danny’s reaction to having to fatally shoot someone. Up until this point, Danny was a hothead who reached for his gun far more often or quickly than was necessary. The number of times he fired his weapon was one of the few aspects of Blue Bloods that didn’t ring true to real-life cops, especially because Danny rarely faced any consequences for it.
Danny’s storyline makes this episode an often-overlooked gem that has earned its 8.2 user rating on IMDB and then some.
Donnie Wahlberg does some of his best work as Danny during this episode. Danny struggles with guilt over having shot to kill. The episode’s power also comes from the recent loss of Linda. One of the reasons Danny and Linda’s marriage worked so well was that she knew how to support Danny and help him restrain his worst impulses, but this incident happened a year after her death, underscoring how much he lost when she passed away. Danny’s storyline makes this episode an often-overlooked gem that has earned its 8.2 user rating on IMDB and then some.
12.“Risk Management”
Season 8, Episode 19
Every season of Blue Bloods had its share of disturbing cases, but this one stands out because of its meaning for the Reagan family. Danny and Baez were emotionally affected by their search for a seriously ill little girl who had been kidnapped by loan sharks her parents had turned to when they couldn’t afford lifesaving heart surgery for her. The stakes couldn’t be higher during this investigation, and the sad irony behind this abduction leaves an impression long after the final credits roll, earning it an IMDB average score of 8.3.
The entire episode is worth watching, but it would have lost a lot if it hadn’t had one of the iconic Reagan family dinners. The family discusses the case openly, with Danny answering Sean’s questions about loan sharks honestly before getting to the emotional part of the scene. The family’s discussion of parenthood requires tissues, and it’s hard not to wonder whether Jamie’s questions about what it’s like to be a parent are early foreshadowing of where his relationship with Eddie is headed during the wrap-up.
11.“Unbearable Loss”
Season 7, Episode 10
This episode featured Jamie’s turn on the hotseat. When a perp lunges at Jamie and gets ahold of his gun, it leaves the youngest Reagan questioning himself. Blue Bloods always strives to show these types of situations realistically, and there are many such episodes in its long history. However, this one stands out because of the way Jamie doubts his own judgment and memory of what happened during the incident. Jamie is eventually vindicated after sticking to his story despite his doubt, which is a choice many cop dramas would not have made.
Jamie-centered episodes are always strong. His empathy and desire to do the right thing often shine through, making him an ideal cop, while this story shows a more vulnerable and human side to his character. Additionally, Frank spends the episode supporting his toughest critic after the man’s son is killed. This subplot is an unforgettable example of how empathy and shared pain can build bridges, which is a message that a deeply divided nation needs more than ever. This strong message makes its IMDB user rating of 8.4 seem low despite being a solid score.
10.“Exiles”
Season 4, Episode 22
“Exiles” is a pivotal episode in Blue Bloods history. Although it is often remembered for having one of the best Reagan family dinner sequences, that comes at the end of a layered, carefully built-up episode involving Frank’s need to address police corruption even, or perhaps especially, when it’s coming from 1PP. This episode marks the end of an era, as Frank learns that Danny has been pulled off a case by a compromised member of Frank’s team, Dino Arbogast. Arbogast’s resignation at the end of the episode ends his career and makes way for Sid Gormley to join the Dream Team, which he does at the beginning of season 5.
Blue Bloods seeks to depict the NYPD in a realistic and positive light, and it accomplishes this well in this episode when Frank and his family attend dinner in dress uniform before Frank makes a speech to the newest group of recruits at the Police Academy graduation. This sequence demonstrates that Frank’s commitment to the NYPD isn’t swayed by the discovery of a trusted ally turning out to be corrupt, and its juxtaposition with Arbogast packing his things drives the message home that bad apples will not be tolerated. No wonder it got an 8.4 rating on IMDB.
9.“The Bitter End”
Season 3, Episode 22
The opening image of this episode is impossible to forget twelve years later: a woman holding her infant in her arms and jumping to her death while Jamie and his partner stand frozen with shock and horror. Although the story is equal parts tragic and disturbing, Blue Bloods was careful not to sensationalize or glamorize the woman’s suicide, instead treating the subject with the sensitivity it deserves.
The way Danny is brought into this case is especially powerful and emotional. he knew this woman when she was younger and is fueled by his guilt over not having been able to protect her sufficiently from the gangs that rule her neighborhood. A major subplot relates, as it involves Frank and Erin butting heads over the DA’s office failing to prosecute suspects from the same gang-torn neighborhood because witnesses are too scared to come forward. It all comes together brilliantly, making this a must-watch episode that deserves more than the 8.4 average rating it has on IMDB.
8.“Loose Lips”
Season 5, Episode 5
This is another strong episode for Jamie. In this one, he makes a nearly fatal error when he turns his back on a domestic abuse survivor in order to get help from another cop, which leads to consequences both for him and the victim he is trying to protect. The subplot about the woman’s violent ex targeting Jamie could have easily been handled in a stereotypical manner, but instead was written realistically, and that makes it all the more shocking when the man beats Jamie badly enough to put him in the hospital near the end of the episode.
Most of Jamie’s stories are strong, but this one stands out because it’s one of the few times his empathy isn’t enough to protect others. Additionally, the episode is one of a handful to feature Henry. Henry has been mostly wasted in Blue Bloods season 14, but that’s not the case in this season 5 episode, where his insensitive comments come back to bite him after someone releases a video of him without his permission. The hit Henry takes to his reputation helps elevate this episode far above standard cop drama fare, earning it an 8.4 average rating on IMDB.
7.“Family Secrets”
Season 10, Episode 19
Joe Hill’s introduction to the Reagan family is undoubtedly another pivotal moment on Blue Bloods. In the final four seasons, Joe is an occasional part of the series, often butting heads with the other Reagans while struggling to decide whether he wants to be part of the Reagan family and where he belongs in it, but none of that would have been possible without his first episode.
Joe’s appearance at the Sunday family dinner is a perfect mixture of excitement and caution, on all sides, which makes perfect sense for the situation
It’s difficult to pull off a long-lost family member without descending into soap opera-like silliness, but Blue Bloods does it superbly, which is why it has gotten a 9.0 rating on IMDB. The episode builds to his introduction, with Frank talking with Joe’s mother after Sean learns about Joe’s existence. Joe’s appearance at the Sunday family dinner is a perfect mixture of excitement and caution, on all sides, which makes perfect sense for the situation. Best of all, his presence underscores the sense of loss the family has because of his father’s death rather than erasing it.
6.“New Rules”
Season 5, Episode 21
Frank is not often political, nor does he get personally involved in many cases. He breaks both of these rules when Deputy Chief Donald Kent and his wife are gunned down, ordering the NYPD to make finding the Kents’ killer a top priority and assigning Danny to the case. The tension between Danny and Frank make this episode twice as compelling as it otherwise would be, as they continually butt heads and Danny would love nothing more than to get taken off this case.
Surprisingly, this episode only has an 8.3 average rating from IMDB despite the strong conflict and the additional dramatic tension coming from the Warrior Kings, the gang who killed Kent, causing trouble and putting everyone’s lives in danger. Nevertheless, the clash between by-the-book Frank and rebel-with-a-cause Danny put this episode closer to the top of the list than its ratings suggest it should be.
5.“Cutting Losses”
Season 8, Episode 1
The first episode after Linda’s death isn’t as popular as some others (It only has a score of 7.8 on IMDB!.). Nevertheless, it’s one of the strongest episodes in the series. While it’s disappointing that Linda didn’t get an on-screen death, the series did the best it could after Amy Carlson’s decision not to renew her contract, and the situation led to some powerful grief scenes.
Danny’s struggle with grief and his lack of interest in his work are relatable, painful aspects of this story. Linda’s death was kept a secret until the episode aired, which made it more confusing when Danny was talking about his loss in therapy. However, this episode is a brilliant tribute to Linda’s life and death that improves with future viewings, as the shock has worn off. Additionally, the family’s decision to help Danny get a new place to live after Linda’s death is easily one of the most emotional family dinner scenes in the show’s history.
4.“To Tell The Truth”
Season 1, Episode 18
Linda faced several scary and violent situations, sometimes because of Danny’s work, but this first season episode was the best of all of them. It reinforces the idea that family is central to the series, with everyone pitching in to take care of Linda and Danny’s boys while Linda is “away at the spa.” Her heartwarming reunion with the Reagans is made even more emotional by the fact that the kids never catch on to the fact that she had been kidnapped and ask her how her time at the spa was.
It also does this without spending the entire episode on the family’s plight. Blue Bloods excels at combining family and police procedural plots, and that’s especially true when there’s a family crisis such as this one. Linda’s triumphant return is made even sweeter by all the work Danny puts into finding her, which the audience gets to share in as he works the case and searches for his wife. This episode deserves more than the 8.0 average rating it got on IMDB, especially considering how well it holds up nearly thirteen years after it first aired.
3.“My Aim Is True”
Season 8, Episode 22
This episode is consistently rated a fan favorite, with a much-coveted IMDB rating of 9.1, because it is the episode where Jamie announces that he is engaged to Eddie. It took a long time for Blue Bloods’ Jamie and Eddie to get together, so the last few minutes of the hour are cause for celebration, but the episode deserves its legendary status for several other reasons.
Season 8 was dedicated to the family’s grief over Linda’s death, and the season finale is no exception, beginning with Danny at her grave, talking to her. Jamie and Eddie’s good news is a relief at the end because of that sadness, but it also underscores. how tragic Linda’s death is, as she loved to organize parties for the family but she was no longer here to celebrate.
“My Aim Is True” provides the best of everything that Blue Bloods has to offer and ends the season on a far more hopeful note than it began with.
The news also comes at the end of one of the most high-stakes episodes in series history, as the cops chased a serial killer and Erin saw someone be gunned down in front of her. “My Aim Is True” provides the best of everything that Blue Bloods has to offer and ends the season on a far more hopeful note than it began with.
2.Art Of War
Season 5, Episode 22
The episode where Linda gets shot stands out even though it wasn’t the first time she got hurt. As with other episodes where family members are in jeopardy, this one has a double focus, with a large portion of the episode being dedicated to Danny and the other cops who are busy trying to bring Linda’s shooter to justice while also dealing with the possibility of losing her.
This one is even more high-stakes than several others, as Linda goes into surgery at the beginning of the episode and it’s not immediately clear whether she will make a full recovery. The end of the episode solidifies its status as one of the best in the series’ run, as the family bands together to get Danny and Linda a nice dinner in the hospital and Danny engages in his usual banter. While most Linda-centered episodes aren’t rated particularly high, this one gets an 8.7 average rating on IMDB because of its emotionality.
1.“Blue Templar”
Season 1 Episode 22
“Blue Templar” is such a popular episode that online fan groups often announce when it’s being rerun in syndication, and with good reason. The mystery behind Joe’s death was a major part of the first season, and this episode finally solves it. Frank helps orchestrate a major operation so that the corrupt cops who were behind Joe’s murder can be made to pay for what they did and interrogates them himself in one of the series’ most powerful scenes, but that doesn’t make him feel much better about his son’s death.
The ending of the episode is a perfect tribute to Joe, with the family heading to his gravestone after Sunday dinner to pay their respects. Joe’s death affects the Reagans throughout Blue Bloods‘ entire run, but their grief is never as powerful as it is during the first season finale. This emotional episode is incredibly well-done and deserves a rating in the high 9s rather than the 8.7 average it has on IMDB.
