Boston Blue Season 1 Episode 1 Keeps Blue Bloods' Heart While Doing Its Own Thing

Critic’s Rating: 4.8 / 5.0

4.8

I had my doubts about Boston Blue, but now that the premiere has aired, I’m excited.

Boston Blue is not Blue Bloods 2.0, and that’s a good thing.

If CBS had greenlit a carbon copy of the original show with different characters, that would have been insulting. Instead, Boston Blue Season 1 Episode 1 was unique enough to pull its own weight while also continuing some of the most essential parts of Blue Bloods‘ legacy.

Danny’s Reason For Being In Boston Is A Double-Edged Sword

Danny’s decision to go to Boston to be there for Sean makes more sense now that we know that Sean was seriously injured while rescuing people from a fire.

I had imagined Danny moving to be with Sean, while Sean wanted his independence. That would have been silly and made Danny look too needy.

Sean’s injuries give Danny a real reason to be in Boston and to work with the Silver family, and they also open the door for guest appearances by various Reagans.

If Erin can go to Boston to visit Sean, why can’t anyone else? However, I’m curious how Boston Blue will address the idea that Danny’s time in Boston is time-limited.

At some point, Sean will heal enough that he no longer needs his father in the same city, and then Danny will need to go home… unless Boston grows on him and he decides to transfer officially.

That seems to be the direction Boston Blue is heading.

The Silver family has already unofficially adopted Danny, and if he’s there for long enough, he may not want to come home.

What’s Going To Happen With Danny and Baez’s Relationship?

I loved Marisa Ramirez’s cameo at the beginning of Boston Blue.

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That one was hard to sit on while fan sites debated whether Danny would be with Baez, and some people were angry because they thought Baez would be forgotten about.

I’m glad that’s not the case and that, in fact, Danny and Baez have moved forward enough to spend the night at each other’s apartments.

However, a long-distance relationship might be hard to maintain, especially since Danny is already getting so obsessed with work that he doesn’t bother to call Baez to update her on what’s going on.

I don’t want an episode down the road where Baez visits, only to decide that it’s time for her and Danny to part ways.

I’ve waited years for those two to get together, and they need to stay that way! Danny cannot fall for Lena, either. I’m not a fan of the work partner-to-lover trope, though I made an exception for Danny and Baez because it felt right.

If Danny and Lena were to get together down the line, it would feel contrived and annoying, so hopefully that’s not where the writers are taking us.

The Reagan Family Dinner Was The Best Part of Blue Bloods — Thank Goodness For a Similar Vibe

I trusted that family togetherness would be part of Boston Blue because Donnie Wahlberg had said a long time ago that he would only do a sequel series if it kept the family aspect of Blue Bloods alive.

I wasn’t prepared for how emotional I was going to get over the Silver family having a Friday night dinner similar to the Reagans’ Sunday night one.

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Many characters on TV are culturally Jewish, but in most cases, the only characters who practice the religion are Orthodox or Hasidic Jews (and whatever type of Judaism the protagonist practices on Nobody Wants This, which is a hodgepodge of practices).

So for a Blue Bloods-like show to represent my religion correctly, in a family that is mostly secular but still observes Shabbat, is something very special.

The family dinner was perfect, too, because it was so similar to the ones we’re used to while still allowing everyone to express their own personality.

The discussion about whether facial-recognition tech was acceptable to use, and family members disagreeing and getting annoyed with each other, felt comfortable and familiar. Yet, the same conversation would have played out differently on Blue Bloods because the Reagans have different personalities, experiences, and backgrounds than the Silvers.

That wasn’t the only familiar aspect of the episode.

The opening scene, though it introduced Sean and Jonah, was like several scenes at the beginning of Blue Bloods, where two uniformed officers walk down the street joking and having a lighthearted conversation until something happens.

The case also had familiar aspects: chases, solid police work, and Danny being Danny — hotheaded and impulsive, but always trying to do the right thing.

Lena: I’m not like you. I don’t have a dad watching my back. I have to cross every T and dot every I.

Danny: You know, my old man loved nothing better than to make an example out of me for the rank-and-file. But he also understood that sometimes doing the right thing was more important than following all the rules.

Lena and Danny worked well together because she’s more rule-bound and he’s more free-spirited. Lena also reminded me of Law & Order: Organized Crime‘s Ayana Bell, making me wish, once again, that both shows existed in the same universe so Danny and Stabler could work together.

Like All New Shows, Boston Blue Has a Few Things To Work Out

I wasn’t overly fond of the more lighthearted tone, though it did make the necessary exposition more tolerable.

Blue Bloods was more somber, while Boston Blue has a more playful vibe that feels designed to attract a younger audience.

That was off-putting at first, though I’m not opposed to having fun while doing police work.

I also hope we get some news soon about Jamie and Eddie. The Blue Bloods series finale said their baby was due in June, and I don’t want to be left hanging about how my favorite couple is doing as new parents.

Boston Blue is a definite yes for me. What about you?
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