Boston Blue addressed tension between Donnie Wahlberg‘s Danny Reagan and his onscreen son as they struggled to live together.
During the Friday, November 14, episode of the Blue Bloods spinoff, Danny confided in Lena (Sonequa Martin-Green) about his issues with Sean (Mika Amonsen).
“The sandwich was for Sean. We were supposed to have breakfast, and he stood me up to go for a run,” he explained. “I am all for the kid staying in shape, but I am trying to spend time with him.”
Lena pointed out that residing in the same apartment can create problems. Danny, however, disagreed with that assessment, saying, “It is going great, and we are having a great time. So I figured why not stay longer so we can stay close?”
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Later in the episode, Sean admitted to partner Jonah (Marcus Scribner) that there were growing pains — especially after they fought over Danny making his adult son’s bed.
“I can’t [ask him to move out]. He uprooted his whole life for me, and it is nice spending time with him,” Sean said. “But I just wish he would leave at the end of the night.”
Sean ultimately decided to bring up the topic when he apologized to Danny for how “tense” things had been at home.
“I am the one who should be sorry. I am crowding you,” Danny replied. “I think it is time I got my own place.”
The father and son duo were able to come to a compromise, with Sean moving in with Jonah while Danny remained in his apartment. The Reagans have faced ups and downs since Danny moved to Boston from New York.
Danny’s journey in New York was featured on CBS’ Blue Bloods, which ran from 2010 to 2024. The spinoff, which premiered in October, kicked off with Danny visiting Boston after Sean ended up in a coma. This version of Sean looked a little different after the role was previously played by Andrew Terraciano.
Coshowrunner Brandon Margolis later broke down the decision, telling Variety last month, “We love Andrew and the work he did over the years on Blue Bloods. Really, it came down to we’re telling a new chapter in both of their lives.”
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Margolis continued: “It’s not just Sean who has joined the family business as it were and is turning over this new leaf, but it’s also now Danny Reagan is the father [of] a cop, which he’s never been before.”
The screenwriter called the switch “an organic opportunity to bring in a new performance with a new energy, to help dramatize that change.” The writers’ room was looking forward to “new storytelling lanes to explore” with the spinoff series.
“It is the same character, it’s the same relationship, but it’s also completely different,” Margolis added. “We love what Mika has brought to Sean, this vulnerability, yet this desire to prove himself. It’s just been great to watch it come to life.”
In a separate interview with TVLine, Margolis noted that he “loved” watching Terraciano “grow up on TV,” adding, “It creatively made sense to find an actor with a different energy.”
Margolis concluded: “And to your point, yeah, it was a gamble to open the show on a new face — two new faces, actually — but the story required us to love him right away. Opening with that heroic moment that has a tragic end was the right way to pull Danny Reagan into this world.”
Boston Blue airs on CBS Fridays at 10 p.m. ET.
