“Blue Bloods” is a CBS procedural drama that follows various members of the Reagan family, the majority of whom are involved in law enforcement. For 12 seasons, Tom Selleck has played family patriarch and police commissioner Frank Reagan, while the show also follows his children’s personal and professional lives, including NYPD detective Danny (Donnie Wahlberg), assistant district attorney Erin (Bridget Moynahan), and NYPD sergeant Jamie (Will Estes). Fans have praised the weekly family dinner scenes, in which the characters frequently discuss complex issues.
“Blue Bloods” has been a consistent performer for CBS in the Friday night 10 p.m. ET time slot, and the show will enter its 13th season on October 7, 2022. However, you don’t get to the 13th season without some characters leaving and new ones being introduced. Frank, Danny, Erin, and Jamie have been consistent series regulars, as has Frank’s father, Henry Reagan (Len Cariou).
However, not all characters have been so fortunate, and some fans are missing old favorites from the show. While viewers continue to enjoy the Reagan family’s drama, there is one departed character in particular that fans of the show are still upset about.
Linda Reagan’s d3ath is still being mourned by fans.
Amy Carlson portrayed Linda Reagan for seven seasons. She was a nurse at St. Victor’s Hospital and the mother of Detective Danny Reagan’s two children. After surviving a gunshot wound in Season 5, she tragically d1ed in an off-screen medivac helicopter crash between Seasons 7 and 8. Danny was so shaken by her d3ath that he considered leaving the police force at the start of Season 8.
Linda’s d3ath in-between seasons sh0cked fans, especially because the character was never given a proper send-off. u/Embarrassed_Ad6587 started a discussion on the “Blue Bloods” subreddit among those who miss Linda. As the only family member who isn’t in law enforcement, some Linda fans miss the way she wasn’t afraid to speak up, especially at those memorable Sunday family dinners. “I miss having a non cop opinion on things @ the table…,” u/PAACDA2 wrote, and the original poster agreed.
One user was particularly dissatisfied with how the show handled Linda’s d3ath. “She wasn’t exactly my favorite character,” u/SkyeQuake2020 said here, “but I hate how her character was k1lled off-screen.” In a separate “Blue Bloods” subreddit post, u/90sfemgroups expressed disappointment with Linda’s departure due to the uniqueness of her portrayal. u/navitach mentioned in the same thread that Linda was good for Danny because she balanced his intensity.
Amy Carlson has been moved by the reactions of her fans to her departure.
Amy Carlson left the show when her Season 7 contract expired. She told Deadline how grateful she was for the fan reaction to her character’s d3ath. “I can’t even tell you how many messages a day I get about her and the character,” she told the outlet. They’re all so nice, and they all wish me luck in my future endeavors.”
The outpouring of fan sentiment, in her opinion, is a reaction to the fact that Linda Reagan was one of the few characters who was not directly involved in law enforcement. “I always felt like she was sort of the everyman, everyperson around the table,” Carlson continued. She also mentioned Danny and Linda’s powerful relationship, echoing fan sentiments about Linda being a good balance to Danny.
Carlson said of her character’s d3ath, “I feel bad that she d1es the way she d1es,” and expressed regret that fans were unable to see Linda d1e properly on-screen.