Why Blue Bloods Ending Is a Good Thing (Despite What Tom Selleck Says)

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  • Frank Reagan Needs to Retire
  • Blue Bloods Transformed Tom Selleck’s Legacy

As someone who grew up watching Tom Selleck shine as Thomas Magnum in Magnum, P.I., I must admit that the idea of him starring in another long-running and impactful television series seemed like a distant dream after the show ended in 1988. Magnum, P.I. was not only a favorite among my generation but also a cultural phenomenon that defined Tom Selleck’s acting career. However, as the years passed, I watched with disbelief and awe as Selleck transformed into Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods, a role that has surpassed Magnum, P.I. in both duration and influence.

Tom Selleck’s response to the upcoming finale of “Blue Bloods,” where he’s played New York City Police Commissioner since its debut in 2010, contrasts significantly with his feelings when “Magnum, P.I.” ended in 1988 after eight seasons. Although Selleck, who will turn 80 before the last episode airs on CBS in December 2024, confessed to feeling drained by “Magnum, P.I.,” he openly urged CBS to prolong “Blue Bloods” for another season.

In a similar vein to how Selleck’s beloved character Thomas Magnum from “Magnum, P.I.” evolved at the conclusion of that show, Frank on “Blue Bloods” is now facing a pivotal moment in his life. For Magnum, this change meant leaving behind his easygoing Hawaii existence and assuming the duties of parenthood. Conversely, Frank must come to terms with relinquishing his authority.

After 14 successful seasons, the primary arguments for renewing “Blue Bloods,” which now holds the title of one of the longest-running scripted TV shows, stem from emotional attachment and nostalgia. Fans’ deep affection for the characters and the palpable camaraderie among the cast members create a sense of poignancy. However, this sentiment also indicates that “Blue Bloods” may have surpassed its prime time and could benefit from coming to an end.

Frank Reagan Needs to Retire

The extent to which Blue Bloods has run its course, creatively speaking, is most clearly evident with the show’s lead character, incorruptible New York City Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, who has served as police commissioner for approximately 14 years, longer than any real-life commissioner in New York, if not history. The longest-serving real-life New York police commissioner, Raymond Kelly, held this position for 12 years between 2002 and 2014, after previously holding this position between 1992 and 1994, while most other New York police commissioners over the past 100 years have typically lasted between one and three years.

Frank has consistently excelled in his job with honesty, intelligence, and prudence. Yet, his unwavering influence, which endured longer than many mayors depicted on the series, began to make him seem more like a monarch of New York rather than just the chief of police. Despite his commendable traits such as humility and compassion remaining constant throughout the show’s duration, there is an emerging perception in recent seasons that Frank is reluctantly holding onto power, driven primarily by apprehension regarding his upcoming retirement, a prospect Frank appears ill-prepared for.

A Blue Bloods Spin-Off Series Seems Unnecessary

Although significant twists have emerged on “Blue Bloods” in recent seasons, such as Frank finding out that Joe Hill is his grandson in the season 10 finale, the fundamental structure of the show has mostly stayed the same. With the well-established personas and storylines of the main characters spanning over 14 seasons, it’s hard to imagine any major revelations left unexplored for them. Consequently, the idea of a spin-off series based on these characters appears unnecessary, at least when considering a sequel spin-off.

An intriguing prospect for a spin-off could be a prequel series focusing on either Frank’s oldest son, Danny, who left the police department to serve in the Iraq War as a Marine before the current storyline, or Frank himself, who started his law enforcement career during the Vietnam War as a patrol officer and later advanced to the top position.

Blue Bloods Transformed Tom Selleck’s Legacy

After Magnum, P.I. concluded in 1988, it was hard to imagine Tom Selleck taking on another TV show that would outshine Magnum, P.I. in terms of length and influence. This seemed particularly unlikely since he departed from Magnum, P.I. with a flourishing film career following the success of the 1987 comedy movie Three Men and a Baby.

Although Magnum, P.I. ended on CBS over 35 years ago, Tom Selleck’s role in Blue Bloods has become more prominent in the public consciousness for younger generations. This is largely due to the passage of time and the fact that Magnum, P.I. is no longer widely seen in syndication, while Blue Bloods reruns have been frequently aired on television for several years.

Since Blue Bloods premiered in 2010, Selleck’s involvement in the show has significantly limited his opportunities to appear in other films and TV projects. The only role he has managed to take on outside of Blue Bloods during this period was portraying Jesse Stone in the Jesse Stone television movie series, consisting of nine films as of now but currently on hiatus since 2015 when “Jesse Stone: Lost in Translation” aired on Hallmark Channel.

As “Blue Bloods” draws to a close, actor-producer Selleck will have more time to focus on the “Jesse Stone” series. In an interview in 2022, he shared that he was working on a script for a 10th film. Regardless of how long the “Jesse Stone” series lasts or other accomplishments in Selleck’s career, it is unlikely that his acting roles will change the significant mark “Blue Bloods” has left on his career and legacy.

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2024-07-23 02:01