"Blue Bloods" Offers Intelligent Cop Drama on CBS

"Blue Bloods" premiered on CBS in September 2010 as part of their new fall lineup. The show has received rave reviews and named one of the "5 Best New Shows" by Entertainment Weekly. This police procedural series takes place in New York City and revolves around the Reagan family; a multigenerational family of cops.

The star of "Blue Bloods" is Tom Selleck who portrays NYC Commissioner, Frank Reagan. Selleck has worked his way up the ranks of the NYC police department and demonstrates his loyalty to citizens instead of politicians. Selleck frequently butts heads with the Mayor.

Donnie Walberg, plays the role of Selleck's son, Danny Reagan; a NYC detective who isn't afraid to engage in unorthodox detective work to get the job done. An Iraqi war veteran, Danny doesn't play around when working a case.

Jamie Reagan is the youngest member of this law enforcement family. With a Harvard Law School education, Jamie forgoes a legal career to become a beat cop. He has been recruited into a high-intelligence operation that even his father doesn't know about. It is believed a secret society, called the Blue Templar, exists within NYPD and may be responsible for the death of his brother, Joe.

Jamie's training officer is Nicholas Turturro, best known for his role as detective James Martinez on NYPD Blue. His role as Sgt. Anthony Renzulli bears similar resemblance, as Turturro is a humble, yet dedicated cop who has taken the rookie under his wing.

Selleck's "Blue Bloods" daughter, Erin Reagan is played by Bridget Moynahan, an American model who debuted her acting career as Rachel in the movie, "Coyote Ugly." Although Erin Reagan isn't a police officer, she protects New Yorkers from criminals through her position as a Manhattan district attorney.

Lee Cariou rounds out the "Blue Bloods" cast in the role of Selleck's father, Henry Reagan. Although retired, Henry's career is shrouded in controversy and there has been foreshadowing of his possible involvement with the Blue Templar.

The Reagan family often ends up having debates about the legal system, the right to bear arms, and political viewpoints while sitting around the dinner table. These talks offer viewers insight into the lives of crime fighters and the issues they face, along with plenty of sibling rivalry.

"Blue Bloods" offers a good mix of cop drama and family drama as the family solves crimes together. The storyline began with a focus on police corruption and brutality. Danny is later shown shoving a suspect's head into a toilet and holding him underwater until he reveals information pertaining to the kidnapping of a young girl; leaving viewers to wonder if Danny is a good cop or a bad cop.

Thus far, "Blue Bloods" episodes have encompassed the story of a Good Samaritan who shot a gang member terrorizing people on the subway and later turned himself into a news reporter who just happens to be Selleck's girlfriend. A convicted felon, the Good Samaritan was not supposed to be carrying a gun. In the quest for justice, Erin represents the Good Samaritan to keep him out of jail.

Episode 3 of "Blue Bloods" covered the sensitive-topic of diplomatic immunity when the son of the Deputy Counsel of Argentina is accused of attacking and raping girls on the college campus where he attends school.

"Blue Bloods" Episode 4 involves a diamond heist that results in a police officer being killed by a retired mobster's son. Henry visits the mobster named, Happy Jack, and helps Danny solve the case.

Episode 5 focuses on racial profiling after Selleck is informed of a potential bomb being transported to Manhattan. The mad bomber was an unlikely source; a blonde haired woman who had converted to Islam.

Episode 6 deals with the controversial subject matter of a vice principal having an affair with a student, as well as drug abuse. Danny and his partner, Jackie, use their crime-solving skills to discover the vice principal of a Catholic school was dating a student who was intimately involved with another student. The vice principal poisoned the student's drugs not realizing he would share them with 3 other people.

Episode 7 encompasses money laundering and the deadly violence of the street gang, Latin Kings. Erin offers one gang member's brother immunity if he testifies against his brother, Paco. But, the gang turns against Paco and murders him; leaving his brother's life in jeopardy.

This episode of "Blue Bloods" also reveals further information about the Blue Templars when Jamie receives a key to a safety deposit box from his deceased brother's girlfriend. Upon opening the box, Jamie discovers audio tapes from Joe's undercover investigation.

Tune into CBS on Friday evenings at 10 pm ET to watch all new episodes of "Blue Bloods." The season has turned out to provide gripping entertainment with intelligent dialect and controversial subject matter handled in diplomatic ways.

Source:
"Blue Bloods" on CBS
"Blue Bloods" on Wikipedia