The world of televised police drama just got a little bigger—and perhaps a little more heartfelt—with the premiere of CBS’s latest spinoff, Boston Blue. Airing its first episode, “Faith and Family,” on October 17, 2025, the series launches viewers straight back into the complicated, tightly-knit universe that made Blue Bloods a fan favorite for fourteen seasons. But make no mistake: while Boston Blue is steeped in the legacy of its predecessor, it’s carving out its own distinct identity, one Friday night dinner at a time.
For those who watched the final moments of Blue Bloods last year, lingering questions about the fate of Donnie Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan and his longtime partner Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez) were finally answered. According to Variety, the spinoff wastes no time addressing the much-debated “pizza date” cliffhanger—opening with Danny and Baez in bed, their banter now tinged with romance. This fresh dynamic is a significant leap for fans who spent years watching the pair’s chemistry simmer just below the surface. While Ramirez hasn’t signed on for a full run, co-showrunner Brandon Sonnier assures viewers that the relationship will continue, albeit as a long-distance one. “Long-distance relationships are a thing. I think we can expect to play that relationship through and really get a sense of where they are in the progression of this relationship that we’ve been watching for a decade,” he told Variety. The show cleverly weaves in the geographic reality—after all, New York and Boston are a four-hour drive apart—setting the stage for both connection and complication.
But romance isn’t the only thread tying Danny Reagan to Boston. The heart of his move north is his son Sean, who’s starting his own career in law enforcement—and who, as TV Fanatic notes, was seriously injured while rescuing people from a fire. This injury gives Danny a realistic reason to uproot his life and join the Boston Police Department. The character of Sean, played for 292 episodes of Blue Bloods by Andrew Terraciano, is now portrayed by Mika Amonsen. Co-showrunner Brandon Margolis explained to Variety that the recasting brings "a new energy, to help dramatize that change. It is the same character, it’s the same relationship, but it’s also completely different. We love what Mika has brought to Sean, this vulnerability, yet this desire to prove himself."
As Danny settles into Beantown, he’s paired with Detective Lena Silver, played by Sonequa Martin-Green. Lena is the eldest daughter in a prominent Boston law enforcement family, a clan that includes Boston District Attorney Mae Silver (Gloria Reuben), Police Superintendent Sarah Silver (Maggie Lawson), rookie cop Jonah Silver (Marcus Scribner), and the family’s spiritual guide, Reverend Edwin Peters (Ernie Hudson). The Silvers are a formidable presence, and their dynamic offers a fresh counterpoint to the Reagan family’s storied traditions. As The Wrap and TV Fanatic both highlight, Danny’s partnership with Lena is a study in contrasts: he’s impulsive and hotheaded, while she’s methodical and rule-bound. Their differing approaches to police work create sparks, but also genuine moments of mutual respect. Lena herself puts it plainly: “I’m not like you. I don’t have a dad watching my back. I have to cross every T and dot every I.” Danny, never one to shy from a heartfelt retort, replies, “You know, my old man loved nothing better than to make an example out of me for the rank-and-file. But he also understood that sometimes doing the right thing was more important than following all the rules.”
The premiere episode doesn’t just focus on personal relationships—it also dives into a contemporary case involving a deadly fire at a tech company and the ethical quandaries of facial recognition technology. According to The Wrap, as Danny and Lena dig deeper, they uncover a web of secrets and unexpected family ties, giving the procedural elements of the show a distinctly modern flavor. The case itself echoes the kind of grounded, character-driven storytelling that Blue Bloods fans know and love, but with a new city and new stakes.
One of the most beloved traditions from Blue Bloods—the Reagan family’s Sunday dinners—finds new life in Boston Blue as the Silver family’s Shabbat dinner. Every episode, according to co-showrunner Sonnier, will feature this Friday night gathering. “We will have Shabbat dinner every episode. We hope to honor the original show and their Sunday dinners were so much a fabric of what that show was about, what that family was about,” he told Variety. For many viewers, this isn’t just a nod to the past; it’s a meaningful portrayal of Jewish family life, depicted as both traditional and relatable. TV Fanatic praised the show’s depiction of a mostly secular family that still observes Shabbat, calling it “something very special.” The dinner scenes are more than just a set piece—they’re a place for lively debate, family disagreements, and heartfelt moments that feel both familiar and new. The premiere’s discussion about the ethics of facial recognition technology, for instance, played out across the dinner table, echoing the way the Reagan family would tackle hot topics on Sunday nights.
Of course, the show isn’t without its growing pains. Some reviewers, like those at TV Fanatic, noted that Boston Blue has a lighter, more playful tone than its predecessor—perhaps an attempt to attract a younger audience. While this shift was initially off-putting for some, the core elements of strong police work, family loyalty, and moral dilemmas remain intact. And for those wondering about other Reagan family members, the door is wide open. Bridget Moynahan’s Erin Reagan appeared in the premiere, checking in on Danny, and co-showrunner Sonnier hinted that more family visits are likely. “Can we expect some family members? Can we expect some visits and some trips? Yes, we can,” he told Variety. The world of Blue Bloods is expanding, but its heart—family, faith, and justice—beats as strongly as ever.
For fans eager to follow along, new episodes of Boston Blue air Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, with streaming available on Paramount+ for Premium subscribers the same night and for Essential subscribers the next day. The first four episodes are already scheduled: “Faith and Family” (Oct. 17), “Teammates” (Oct. 24), “History” (Oct. 31), and “Rites of Passage” (Nov. 7).
As the series moves forward, questions remain. Will Danny’s time in Boston be temporary, or will he find a permanent home among the Silvers? Can his relationship with Baez survive the distance—and the demands of the job? And will the new family dinners become as iconic as those that came before? For now, Boston Blue offers a fresh start, a familiar comfort, and a promise that, even as the story shifts cities, the bonds of family and duty endure.
