One of today’s best police procedurals, “Blue Bloods” offers a unique blend of cop stories and family drama. Centered on a family of law enforcers in New York City, the show is led by Tom Selleck as Frank Reagan, the NYC Police Commissioner whose entire family fights for justice in one way or another. His sons Jamie (Will Estes) and Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) work for the NYPD while his daughter Erin (Bridget Moynahan) is a city prosecutor.
Since the show launched in 2010, “Blue Bloods” has kept audiences on the edge of their seats, and one of its biggest strengths has been its cast of compelling characters. However, not every one of them is universally loved by fans. Some characters have routinely frustrated viewers, while others are so disliked that fans would love to see them written off the show. From long-time regulars and recurring Reagan adversaries to guests that quickly became unwelcome, these are the “Blue Bloods” characters that fans can’t stand.
Eddie Janko-Reagan
Edit “Eddie” Janko-Reagan joined “Blue Bloods” as a recurring character in the show’s fourth season, introduced as the new partner to Jamie Reagan. Played by Vanessa Ray, she’s known for being something of a hot head, never afraid to speak her mind to the point of rubbing some folks up the wrong way with her strong-willed nature. As Eddie’s role in the show grew — she was bumped up to series regular in Season 5 — so too did her connection to the Reagans. Her and Jamie’s will-they/won’t-they romance eventually culminated in their marriage, and this is where the character started to go downhill for some fans.
It seems that fans who initially liked Eddie grew weary of her — or, at least, how she was written — after her relationship with Jamie got on firmer footing. “Eddie used to be a very loved character but after she married Jamie, she got kind of annoying,” said u/mysticwonders_ on Reddit. And plenty of fellow “Blue Bloods” fans agreed. Some pointed out her habit of running to the Reagans whenever she gets herself in trouble, a far cry from the fiercely independent woman she was originally portrayed to be. Other fans have said that she’s just not very exciting to watch anymore. “The writers need to do something to give her storyline more drama. It’s not currently working,” said u/Se7en_senses, while another viewer put the blame on the insipid dialogue given to the character in more recent seasons.
Reverend Darnell Potter
Reverend Darnell Potter (Ato Essandoh) opposes the NYPD — and Frank Reagan, in particular — because he feels that they don’t do nearly enough to safeguard the lives of minorities in New York City. He sees himself as a crusader for justice and views the Reagans as emblematic of the city’s systemic corruption. Unfortunately, for all of his noble goals, Potter has also been shown to be a more traditional scheming, power-hungry baddie, and that’s made him a target for fans.
The show has gone to great lengths to portray the Reagans as the good apples in the NYPD, which is why some fans have grown weary of Potter’s vendetta against them. “Instead of going after actual corrupt and racist cops he’s going after the ones who have done nothing wrong,” said one Redditor. They were frustrated by Potter’s misguided attempts to take down the Reagans, questioning why they made the character a “stereotypical mustache-twirling villain.”
Some viewers have said that Potter’s characterization is a result of the show having conservative ideals. Redditor u/hannahsflora wrote that the show “does not do nuance or subtlety,” and that anyone who opposes the Reagans will be painted as a villain, regardless of their goals. They added: “This has always frustrated me about the show and has gotten worse in recent years.”
