Seven episodes left, and Blue Bloods throws us a curveball with a guest partner episode. Sigh. This time, it’s Danny Reagan paired with a snooty British investigator, Granger, who seemingly exists solely to irritate Danny (and the audience) with tired British stereotypes.
The case itself, involving a gunrunner, is serviceable enough, but Granger’s constant needling and condescending remarks quickly wear thin. It’s a tired trope, and even Granger’s last-minute heroics, saving Danny’s life, can’t salvage the character from the depths of annoyance. I mean, we get it, British people think Americans are uncouth. Can we move on now?
Meanwhile, Jamie gets saddled with the weakest case of the season, involving a group of clueless dads and their gambling-addicted kids. It’s a storyline so lightweight it practically evaporates on contact. Even Will Estes’s considerable charm can’t elevate this one above the level of filler.
Thankfully, Frank and Erin provide the episode’s saving grace. Erin finds herself once again at odds with DA Crawford, whose insistence on indicting a cop for doing his job smacks of political maneuvering rather than a genuine pursuit of justice. Erin, ever the principled one, refuses to be swayed, presenting her own case to the grand jury and ultimately securing a no-bill. The subsequent exchange between Erin and Crawford is sharp and satisfying.
Frank, meanwhile, had a similar power struggle with Mayor Chase, who wants to drop charges against an ex-cop involved in a bar fight. Frank, demonstrating his trademark integrity, refuses to play favorites. The situation escalates when the ex-cop is later involved in a road rage incident, leaving him seriously injured. Chase, predictably, blames himself, but Frank, in a surprising display of empathy, offers comfort and understanding. It’s a quiet moment of grace amidst the usual Reagan family drama, and a reminder that Frank, despite his gruff exterior, possesses a surprising capacity for compassion.
Finally, we have the ongoing Henry saga. His talk of wanting a “living wake” is unsettling, to say the least. Is this foreshadowing or just the writers making us think that? I’m hoping for the latter, but I’m bracing myself for the inevitable.
Blue Bloods airs Friday nights on CBS.
