With the seemingly contentious nature of the current relationship between law enforcement and the public, it can be difficult to focus on or discuss anything positive associated with the subject.
However, the show “Blue Bloods”, on CBS, in my opinion, is one of the premier cop shows on television.
The cast is highlighted by Tom Selleck, who plays New York police commissioner, Frank Reagan. The show revolves around a family of cops and Reagan’s oldest daughter, Erin Reagan, played by Bridget Moynahan, is an assistant district attorney.
Reagan’s oldest son, Danny Reagan, is played by Donnie Wahlberg. Danny is a seasoned detective who, on occasion, resorts to questionable tactics in order to put perpetrators behind bars. Reagan’s youngest son, Jamie Reagan, a Harvard Law graduate, gave up a potentially lucrative career in law to pursue the family business.
Frank’s father, Henry Reagan, was a former police commissioner, and he dispenses nuggets of wisdom whenever Frank is unsure on how to proceed. The family dynamic, in my opinion, is what makes the show so entertaining. It’s a multigenerational family of cops; therefore, the personalities and attitudes of the family come into conflict from time to time.
This is best illustrated in the family dinner scenes. Every Sunday, the family gets together for dinner and they discuss various topics such as ethics, current cases and/or miscellaneous issues. This is intriguing because of the diverse opinions presented by each family member. The generational differences make for compelling television.
The dynamic between Danny and Erin is always intriguing. Danny often wants to bend the rules in order to keep perpetrators off the street; however, Erin, in her role as an assistant district attorney, often has to make the tough call to let them go due to insufficient evidence.
Selleck’s stellar portrayal of Frank Reagan is the best part of the show. In that capacity, he juggles various issues plaguing the department. He also serves as a mediator, of sorts, between his kids in both a professional capacity and a personal one. Furthermore, Selleck’s mustache seems to have a mind of its own and wields a lot of power.
"Blue Bloods" is not always the most realistic, in some aspects, when it comes to police procedurals; however, it is one of the better cop shows on television. The cast does an exemplary job of portraying a family and that adds an extra layer to the drama. It is also a lot more realistic in comparison to some of the other cop shows out there.
