Boston Blue spoilers and updates reveal Donnie Wahlberg, who plays Detective Danny Reagan, recently teased some clues about what will happen in the pilot episode.
The Blue Bloods spinoff’s pilot episode will premiere Friday, October 17, 10/9c, on CBS and Paramount+.
A Family Dinner Will Be Included In The Spinoff
On a set in late September, Donnie Wahlberg is enjoying a meal as his Blue Bloods character, Det. Danny Reagan, takes part in another family dinner filled with lively conversation and jokes.
This time, the set is in Toronto instead of New York, and the show is the first spinoff of the popular police family drama, called Boston Blue.
At the heart of Boston Blue is the Silvers family, and their meal is a Friday night Shabbat celebration with candle lighting, Hebrew blessings, and challah bread on the table.
A Baptist minister is offering a non-denominational prayer. So although there will be a family dinner, there will be members from more than one family present.
The Blue Bloods Team Fought Hard To Save The Iconic Show From Cancellation
As we know, Wahlberg and the Blue Bloods team fought hard to keep CBS from canceling the much-loved show after its 14th season. When their efforts failed, Wahlberg says, “I was eager to continue the Blue Bloods universe in the context of a spinoff.”
So when the opportunity came to continue with Danny Reagan, he was all in. “It was my chance to carry on Blue Blood’s legacy, but I also understand the responsibility of it and the weight of expectations.”
Boston Blue cocreators Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis’ original show idea, about a Los Angeles cop transferring to Boston, was not planned as a Blue Bloods spinoff.
Sonnier And Margolis Decided To Change Some Things
Since Wahlberg was looking for a new home for his character, however, they couldn’t resist the suggestion to change the protagonist to the already well-known NYC detective, Danny Reagan. Sonnier calls himself a huge Blue Bloods fan and was especially happy about the idea.
He really got into the show in 2019, while recovering from an accident on the set of L.A.’s Finest that cost him his lower right leg.
He explains, ‘I started thinking, I love this family; they remind me of my own, but they don’t look like us. I’m African-American, my wife is Jewish, and our kids are a perfect mix-we’re a Jewish family, even though I grew up Catholic.’
Another Moral And Truth-Seeking Family, With Some Differences
This inspired the producers to team up with CBS Studios and Jerry Bruckheimer Television to create a spinoff. This features a family with values similar to the Reagans, but reflecting a diverse, multicultural background.
‘I got to put my family on television, surrounded by the same morals, truth-seeking, and justice-driven world of Blue Bloods,’ he said.
Wahlberg was especially excited that the new show would take place in his hometown. ‘It almost knocked me off my feet and made the pitch so enticing and exciting,’ he said.
This Show Is Shot In Toronto, But Films In Boston Too
Most of the show is filmed in Toronto, which might disappoint some Red Sox fans, but Wahlberg assures viewers that filming is happening in Boston as well.
In the second episode, there is a memorable visit to Fenway Park when Danny takes his son Sean Reagan (Mika Amonsen), now a rookie cop in Boston, to a Mets-Red Sox game. The production team was allowed to film during practice and even while the game was in progress.
This experience was a highlight for both Wahlberg and Margolis, who is a Mets fan. Boston Blue shares many similarities with Blue Bloods, so fans of the original series will likely enjoy it.
Both Shows Are Family Friendly And Centered On Law Enforcement Families
Both shows are family-friendly police dramas that focus on optimistic families who often solve problems while sharing meals; just like the earlier series, the dinner table is a central part of the story.
As Maggie Lawson, who plays Sarah Silver, the Boston Police Department’s Superintendent, explains, the dinner table is where family and friends argue, debate, challenge each other, and then share a laugh and reconnect.
“The Silvers are a family that believes in faith, tradition, loyalty, and service. Their diversity in religion and race gives viewers many ways to connect,” says Gloria Reuben.
As DA Mae Silver, she sometimes finds herself at odds with her three adult children, all Boston police officers, much like Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynihan) did before her.
Boston Blue Features Shabbat (Sabbath) Dinners
Boston Blue’s Shabbat dinners are more inviting than the Reagan family’s Sunday night meals, which usually didn’t have guests-Mae always welcomes friends to join them on Friday evenings.
Two regulars are Danny and Sean; Sean is now played by Canadian actor Mika Amonsen, who took over the role from Andrew Terraciano. Sean has already spent a year in Boston, often joining the Silvers for dinner while attending the city’s police academy after the NYPD stopped hiring.
When Sean’s local plans fell through, Danny suggested he move to Boston. Sean decided to follow his dream of becoming a police officer, just like his father.
Amonsen Talks About Watching Andrew Terraciano On Blue Bloods
Amonsen says, “It’s kind of surreal that I was watching Andrew Terraciano grow up on screen back then, and now I’m stepping into that same world.”
He adds, “I went back to his later episodes to study his dynamic with Danny and his humor. And I’ve tried to carry over that warmth, his dad’s stubborn streak, and a quiet intelligence that really feels like a Reagan.”
“Mika is phenomenal,” Wahlberg gushes; “It is usually an arduous process recasting a role, but we found a very special actor who the audience is going to fall in love with.”
Amonsen feels the same as he talks about his onscreen father. “Donnie is incredible; he’s full of energy, cracking jokes, and the second the cameras roll, he’s laser-focused.
A Controversial Event Happens In The Pilot
The pilot kicks off with a surprising scene in New York, but things take a turn when Danny gets a call. He is told to go to Boston to check on Sean after a dramatic event, as Wahlberg explains.
Erin Reagan also heads to Boston to support Danny and Sean. She’s the first of several fan-favorite Blue Bloods cast members returning this season.
After visiting Sean, Danny unexpectedly meets Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Green), who is investigating a murder linked to a fire.
Danny isn’t officially working in Boston, but he goes to the crime scene for personal reasons-trusting his instincts, he notices a suspicious man at the site.
Danny’s Cop Instincts Kick In
When Danny approaches, the man runs, and Danny chases after him-Lena sees Danny running, draws her gun, and stops him. Their first meeting is tense, but after exchanging some jokes about their backgrounds, things settle down once Lena learns Danny is Sean’s father.
Together, they search the scene and find a clue left behind by the suspect. Danny and Lena go to her police station, which Wahlberg says is much newer and nicer than the one in New York.
There, Danny meets Lena’s stepsister, who is the superintendent, and their mother, Mae Silver (Gloria Reuben), the district attorney.
Tensions soon rise as they debate using facial recognition technology, a topic Blue Bloods fans will remember from earlier family discussions at Frank Reagan’s table.
Sarah Learns Why Danny’s In Boston And Lets Him Help With The Investigation
When Sarah finds out why Danny is in Boston and how much it matters, she lets him help Lena with her investigation; Wahlberg says this is the start of a great partnership.
The two realize they have a lot in common as detectives from police families, and they quickly connect. Danny can be a bit reckless at times, so he will need to adjust to this new situation.
On screen, Danny is sure to get on Lena’s nerves now and then, but off screen, Martin-Green says they are actually great friends.
She adds that playing a law enforcement officer is both exciting and humbling, and she wants to do justice to the character, the story, and the franchise.
The Family Dinner Is A Big Part Of The Show
Danny has made her feel welcome in the franchise, just as he has with everyone else, and she calls him a great leader. Naturally, the pilot wraps up with the family dinner, where both Danny and Erin join the Shabbat meal. Wahlberg recalls his first meal on set with the new team as ‘very emotional and very sweet.’
He says he feels lucky to work with this cast, noting that instead of seeing Tom Selleck across the table, he now sees Gloria Reuben and Ernie Hudson. He’s known them since they worked together on the 1998 film Never 2 Big.
Danny Wasn’t Sure How To Act At A Shabbat Dinner
During Danny’s first dinner, he begins to cross himself but pauses, unsure if that’s appropriate at a Shabbat dinner. Though Rev.
Peters (Eddie Hudson) is Baptist and Danny (and Sean) are Catholic, they are both Christian, and the pastor OKs the gesture. As Hudson puts it, “It doesn’t matter how you pray-what’s important is that you pray.”
The dinner experience helps Danny make a life-changing decision, seeing how important the Silver family has been to Sean and how they gave him a safe space to be. Since he is without his own family, he will stay as long as Sean needs him, a good sign — from Heaven?
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