Blue Bloods is getting a spinoff, after all! But is it the one we want?
Blue Bloods fans are still mourning the end of the long-running CBS series. After 14 seasons, it signed off in December 2024 with a good finale that wrapped up things for the Reagans while still leaving the door open for more plotlines.
There has been buzz for a while about a spinoff, and many ideas have been suggested. Most focused on Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg), the veteran detective. Well, it looks like it’s happening after all!
Deadline has reported CBS is ordering to series Boston Blue, a new spinoff that will transplant Danny from New York to Boston. Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis will serve as showrunners and executive-produce alongside Wahlberg, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Kristie Anne Reed.
What’s interesting is that the show wasn’t intended as a Blue Bloods spinoff. An original concept would have been Danny heading to Texas, likely to reunite with Texas Ranger friend Waylon Gates (Lyle Lovett). That would have likely played on the culture clash of the brash New Yorker in Texas.
This series was originally conceived as much like Blue Bloods, focusing on a family of cops. That would have included lead character Lena Peters, who partners with a cop transferred from New York. Danny looks to be that cop.
While it’s great to know the Blue Bloods saga continues in some way, this may not be the spinoff some would want.
Why this may not be the best Blue Bloods spinoff idea
On paper, having Danny leading a spinoff makes sense. He was always a great character, and the show ended with the idea that Danny and longtime partner Baez might be open to dating at last. So having him lead his own show has potential.
The issue first is moving him out of New York. Danny loves that city and his family, so the idea of moving to another city seems off. One can’t help but wonder if this is influenced by Wahlberg being a proud Boston native and wanting to film in his hometown.
There may be some potential in Danny adjusting to the city (just imagine him confronted by Red Sox fans), yet it’s jarring to see him move out of his hometown and his family like this. Not to mention New York is as much a character in Blue Bloods as the Reagans so some fans may not be happy with a new locale.
The bigger problem is that this wasn’t intended to be a true spinoff. It sounds more like a carbon copy of a family of cops with Danny just thrown in a the last minute. It may even be that Danny is more the side character to Peters and brought on just to add in viewers. If Blue Bloods were to have a spinoff, it should center on a regular character front and center.
There are plenty of ideas from someone like Erin as a D.A. to even a “Blue Bloods: Origins” about a young Frank as a rookie cop. A Danny spinoff with him may be promoted and handling a relationship with Diaz would be better than him playing the supporting role to another cop.
Yes, it’s great to imagine Blue Bloods continuing in some form and seeing more of Danny on the screens. But it also seems like a weak attempt at linking this show to a former hit, which is not the best way to start it off. Hopefully, Boston Blue is successful yet has a big challenge winning over classic Blue Bloods fans.
Blue Bloods is available to stream on Paramount+.