‘Blue Bloods’ Wouldn’t Work Without Tom Selleck
Blue Bloods is one of the most enduring and beloved police procedurals on television. The series is the second-longest running show on CBS today, next only to NCIS, and is in production for its 14th and final season. As the series comes closer to its finale, credit must be given to the reasons why the show became, and remained, as successful as it is. Unlike other prominent cop shows, the series doesn’t follow a specific precinct or squad. Instead, the show is centered around the Reagans, a prominent family with legacy and importance in New York City law enforcement. Its members have roles that range from detective to district attorney — even all the way up to the commissioner of the NYPD! Even among the most popular law procedurals on television, Blue Bloods has such a distinct vibe and lasting power that makes it feel more timeless than other series. Of course, much of that credit goes to the fantastic ensemble cast and memorable writing of the show, but there’s one foundational character that cements Blue Bloods as television royalty: Tom Selleck and his portrayal of Commissioner Frank Reagan.
The crux of Blue Bloods is that it follows a family of people working in law enforcement. Not a found family or friends-turned-family — an actual blood-related family that grew up together and are still tightly connected. That’s what separates the series from other prominent procedurals. The Reagans are the titular “blue bloods” of New York Law enforcement, who are known throughout their fields as people that excel in their careers. Selleck’s character, Frank, is the literal and spiritual patriarch of this prestigious and recognizable family. He sits at the head of the table for both the NYPD, as commissioner, and of his family, at their weekly dinners. In this unique role, Frank serves as the foundation for the family dynamics that separate the show from other series. In addition to the classic police drama that ensues in the show, there are also intimate family dynamics at play, and it often falls to Frank to be the leader, mediator, and role model for the rest of his family.
Three of the main characters are Frank’s children, all working in different but connected fields. Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) is a detective, Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) is an assistant district attorney, and their younger brother Jamie (Will Estes) starts off as a beat cop before later becoming a sergeant. They are well-known in the NYPD and though they aren’t necessarily given preferential treatment, their family name brings legacy and expectation, as their relatives have done incredible things for the force. Even the grandfather of the family, Henry Reagan (Len Cariou), was the former police commissioner. And though he may be older than Frank, Henry has retired both from his police work and from being the active head of the family, mostly stepping in to give his son timely words of wisdom about leadership and family.
One of the ways that the show emphasizes the importance of its family dynamics is through the weekly dinner scenes that appear in every episode. Affirming how tight-knit the Reagan’s are, they meet once a week on Sunday for dinner in a scene that allows every character to interact with one another, serving as the setting for some of the show’s most emotionally intimate and important scenes. Frank, as the head of the family and table, is an irreplaceable part of these dinners and dynamic. It’s him who steps in to quell conflict between the siblings. It’s him who gives the most advice to the other characters about their personal and professional struggles. It’s him who leads the family by example and is the reason they are so renowned in New York. Because of his importance to every other character, and his constant role as the backbone of the family, Frank is established as the most integral character of the series.
