“Blue Bloods” is a show about law enforcement, the justice system, and politics all rolled into one. However, at its heart, it is a show about family. While Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) and his three children, Danny (Donnie Wahlberg), Erin (Bridget Moynahan), and Jamie (Will Estes) navigate their jobs in New York, some of the more touching scenes show them also navigating their family life.
The majority of the best scenes in each episode involve one or more Reagans working together, whether it’s Frank trying to impress his decades of police experience on his youngest son, Jamie, or Danny and Erin arguing over a cr1minal’s arrest. Their work allows the powerful familial relationships to permeate every scene from episode to episode.
The Reagan family dinners are used effectively to advance the plot of the show.Every episode, the cast gathers for a weekly dinner, prioritizing family and bonding over life and experiences. While these scenes are undoubtedly important to the show’s and its characters’ growth, Tom Selleck revealed in an interview that one aspect of these dinners stands out as the most important.
Family life isn’t pretty.
Nobody needs to tell you that family isn’t always rainbows and flowerbeds, and that disagreements among family members are unavoidable. These debates, according to Tom Selleck, are what make up the most important Reagan dinner scenes, namely those that depict the family’s disagreements.
He spoke with Parade about “Blue Bloods” Season 12, the “Jesse Stone” TV movie franchise, and his upcoming memoir. “The complexities of family are limitless.” “In a family with so many people involved in the business, even Frank’s father has his own opinions,” he explained. “What matters most at a family dinner is not ‘Kumbaya,’ but the disagreements.”
A series like “Blue Bloods” is important because it documents the disagreements. These are not just disagreements between family members; they are social commentary on law enforcement and justice. While Danny bleeds blue and the family is deeply ingrained in the NYPD, debates with Erin, Nicky (Sami Gayle), and Jamie keep the series from becoming a one-sided portrayal of law enforcement. Instead, these dinner scenes maintain a firm footing in bringing to light real-world issues.