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'Blue Bloods' review: Arresting family drama

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September 24, 2010 3:23 PM ET

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blue-bloods2-320.jpgCBS' new drama "Blue Bloods" could go one of two ways: It could become a cop show whose main characters all happen to be related, or it could become a show about a family whose members all happen to work in law enforcement.

Either one would still boast a strong cast led by Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan and Donnie Wahlberg, and either one would be watchable. But based on what we saw in Friday's (Sept. 24) series premiere, we're pulling for the family element to be at least on equal footing with the crime stories.

The show was created by former "Sopranos" writers and producers Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, who know their way around a family dynamic. But it's also on CBS, which knows its way around a crime procedural. What we're hoping can happen is a melding of those two things similar to what has happened on "The Good Wife," where the two co-exist and often complement one another.

Enough about what might be there, though. What is there in the premiere of "Blue Bloods" is the aforementioned cast, which also includes Will Estes ("Reunion," "American Dreams") and Len Cariou ("Damages"), and some sharply written and acted scenes between the family members. Those more than make up for a pretty standard-issue case in the premiere.

Selleck plays New York Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, a former rank-and-file cop who now runs the department. Elder son Danny (Wahlberg) is a detective, and younger son Jamie (Estes) has just graduated from the academy -- after giving up Harvard Law School to wear a badge. Their sister, Erin (Moynahan) is an assistant district attorney in Manhattan. The premiere puts Erin and Danny at odds when he gets a little overzealous in questioning the lead suspect in a young girl's abduction -- both on the job and at Sunday dinner.

The family's dinner conversation is one of the better moments of the pilot, with competing agendas all around and Grandpa Henry (Cariou) tossing in a verbal grenade that sends everybody running from the table. The competing interests of cops and prosecutors could be a source of great material for the show, and Moynahan and Wahlberg play well off one another as equally hard-headed siblings.

Jamie also quickly gets involved in what feels like the setup for an ongoing story involving corruption in the department, which given his family ties could be a source of conflict. And as Frank, Selleck is as commanding a presence as you'd expect; he's an extremely economical actor, and he's able to say a lot without talking very much.

The premiere's weak point, frankly, is the case Danny and his partner (Flex Alexander) are investigating. It's nothing you haven't seen a dozen times previously on "Law & Order: SVU," and when the focus is solely on the investigation, the dialogue feels a little clunkier than in the rest of the show. That may be simply because it's a series pilot and things will smooth out once the show gets rolling; whatever the reason, it needs to even out.

With two veteran crime dramas in front of it -- "Medium" at 8 p.m. ET and "CSI: NY" at 9 -- "Blue Bloods" will probably do just fine in the ratings. We hope it can live up to its creative potential too.

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 |  Comments (12)

I hate to disagree with you Rick, but I failed to see all that potential in Blue Bloods.

All I saw was a poorly written, very poorly directed drama with Bridget Moynihan and Will Estes sticking like non-acting sore thumbs.

From the preview at the end of the show it appears that the producers have rectified the aim with the photography and either fired their DP or asked him to go in a new direction (away from ugly maybe ;) ), but will they have good scripts and is there anything that can be done to change Moynihan's and Estes' lack of acting talent?

Also, CBS marketed this as a Tome Selleck show, but Selleck is sadly a supporting player, leaving screen time to much less interesting actors.

I hope this show gets better in a hurry as CBS deserves success on Friday, but I'm not holding my breath.

Rena Moretti | September 25, 2010 6:00 PM

Rita, I'm sad to say I agree with you 100%. The writing was bad, the story didn't hold together, and it didn't hold my interest. I really tried to like it, because I wanted Selleck to succeed, but he isn't enough to fix the problems. Perhaps the writers and directors fix it in the futre, but I won't know because I won't record it again.

Louis P | September 25, 2010 7:48 PM

Rita, I'm sad to say I agree with you 100%. The writing was bad, the story didn't hold together, and it didn't hold my interest. I really tried to like it, because I wanted Selleck to succeed, but he isn't enough to fix the problems. Perhaps the writers and directors fix it in the futre, but I won't know because I won't record it again.

Louis P | September 26, 2010 6:51 AM

I thought it was marvelous.

Agree with you Rick on the abduction story - a little weak and too trite, but I have a feeling they'll get away from that.

It's a Tom Selleck show but it's an ensemble, so you're going to see each one shine at a different time.

I think Will Estes' acting is great - have loved him since American Dreams.

There was nothing about this show to dislike.

Jan | September 26, 2010 1:18 PM

Loved the show. Great pilot. What an excellent cast. I was really interested in the investigation into Joe's death. Looking forward to see this show grow and how nice to have some excellent programming on Friday night again.

taylor | September 27, 2010 10:47 AM

Think Selleck is a great performer; have always been a fan of his and there is never enough of him around. Loved him on Vegas and the strike killed that. Think this series should portray more of him. Good Show though.

Dan Mast | September 27, 2010 11:03 AM


think Selleck is the most unused great talent around. Loved him in Vegas unitl the strike killed the show. Need to insert him in mor of the scenes. I think the show will come around to being a hit. Great cast surrouding Selleck.

D. Mast | September 27, 2010 11:21 AM

The show hasn't decided if Selleck should be the focus ( he shouldn't) or Monyahan and Wallberg ( probably), but the nepotism angle for the drama just doesn't play well (really). Selleck, has one mode, (somber and anti-establishment), just can't be believable as "the Chief". This isn't Mayberry it's NEW YORK.
I see 4 episodes at most, before punting.

Turly | September 28, 2010 10:22 AM

I'm sad to say that I didn't care for the show at all. I think that it's badly written and Tom Selleck just isn't there enough to make the show any better. Some of the actors can't act and it's just plain confusing. Do his kids not have a home of their own? And the templar thing...really???

Danielle | October 2, 2010 8:30 AM

Teeth too white, bad simplistic dialog, what is with the Eddie Munster hair looks?? Clothes too clean, somebody should wake up the writers from Hill Street Blues. Show is DOA!

David R | October 18, 2010 7:01 PM
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