Character Development, Danny Reagan on Blue Bloods “The Job” 

Every once in a while I get a little frustrated with the amount of time we spend with Danny Reagan and his cases. I like Donnie Wahlberg but I like that this show is an ensemble and I’d love to spend an equal amount of time with all the Reagans – well, all the adult Reagans – every week. And I’m a fan of the procedural element, but I love this show when it’s more focused on the interpersonal relationships within this family. So, yes, Danny was once again at the center of the episode and we did spend a lot of time on the case of the week but we actually learned a lot about him and his family.

On the way home from their weekly family dinner at Frank’s, Danny crashes into a man who ran out into the street. He’s trying to see if the guy’s ok when a masked pursuer tells Danny to step away and get out of there. But Danny’s a cop and he’s not about to leave an injured man where a guy with the gun can get to him. So he draws on the guy, identifies himself, and returns fire when the masked man starts shooting. The problem? Danny’s wife and kids see the whole thing from the car. The bigger problem? One of the masked man’s bullets goes through the windshield and into the back seat of the car.

Danny’s more motivated than ever to find this guy because he put his family in danger, but Linda wants him off the case. She thinks it’s already taken enough of a toll on their family – Jack had to come home from school because he was so upset about what happened. To take some of that fear away Danny chose to show his gun to his son and make sure he knew some basic safety rules. I don’t know if I agree with how Danny handled that situation, but I do think educating your child on the dangers of a firearm is a good choice, a responsible choice. Linda wasn’t happy at all. I can see both sides of this argument and I’m not about to make value judgments.

I thought I knew family is the most important thing to the Reagans, but apparently I needed a reminder of that. As Danny’s finishing getting into his dress blues, Linda reminisces about the first time she saw him looking that way. He doesn’t even need prompting – he remembers exactly where and when – and he was in trouble with her then too. He knows how much he screwed up so he hands her a present. I did not expect her to open the box and find his badge.

“I love being a cop Linda. It’s always been more than a job to me. But nothing on this planet is more important to me then you and those boys.

“I do not want you to stop being a cop.”

“I just need you to know that I would.”

With that exchange I have a new understanding and appreciation for Danny Reagan. I’m sure I always knew this wife and kids were that important, but I guess I needed a reminder. Will I still want to spend a little less time with him and his cases? Probably. But now I can respect him even more for putting his family first.

Blue Bloods airs Fridays at 10/9c on CBS.