Being a part of the Reagan family on CBS' cop drama "Blue Bloods" isn't easy, but it looks like things are going to get even tougher for the TV cop clan after an unexpected death shakes up the family.
On the Feb. 24 episode, "The Life We Chose," a close friend of the Reagan family, an undercover detective, is killed in the line of duty. Linda (Amy Carlson) and the kids begin to worry about Danny (Donnie Wahlberg), whose relentless search for the killer starts to take a toll on his emotional state.
"It's always personal for cops when another cop goes down," Wahlberg told HuffPost TV during a February set visit. "Especially for this family because Henry is a former police commissioner and Frank is the current police commissioner. There's a brotherhood among all police officers. When one goes down, it affects them all. It always hits home with the Reagans, but this one hits even closer to home because it's Danny's friend."
When Danny starts to unravel, he'll have to rely on his family to help him put the pieces back together.
"I think we can come to expect certain things from Danny when he goes on these one-man missions, but those missions are starting to evolve into something more," Wahlberg said. "Ultimately, he has to get help, not just from his partner, but from his family as well. I think that's one of the strengths of the show this season. There were times last year where we could do an episode where Danny goes ballistic, and that's it, but it's not just that anymore. The show has really matured. Everyone is affected by these situations now; it's not just Danny."
In fact, Amy Carlson, who plays Danny's wife Linda, was bumped from a recurring character to a series regular for Season 2. As Carlson said herself, Linda is no longer a "pass the beans" character amidst the Reagan family drama.
"There's a lot of struggle and strife for Danny and Linda this season," Carlson told HuffPost TV on set. "We've really seen their relationship tested, but we haven't really seen Linda come out and show who she really is in a while, so it was nice for me to finally come home to Linda and who she is. She's a woman who's in love with her husband, completely supports him as a cop's wife, and she's a very strong support system for Danny. It was refreshing to return to her roots."
As for Police Commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck), he'll have his hands full in a later episode in March when he's introduced to a new love interest Melanie, played by "Gossip Girl's" Margaret Colin.
Melanie is a high profile investigative reporter for an international cable news network who has been involved with New York’s top cop in a largely long-distance and very discreet romance. The couples' private and professional lives collide when a dangerous assailant targets Melanie and Frank is tasked with hunting him down.
"This isn't Frank's first love interest, but I don't think that we did Andrea [Roth]'s character justice in the first season," Selleck told HuffPost TV of his character's former girlfriend, reporter Kelly Davidson. "It all felt kind of rushed, and while I can't say whether or not Margaret will be recurring, I can say that this relationship says a certain thing about Frank. When I walked on the set for the first time, props gave Frank a wedding ring. He lost his wife five years ago. That's a clue to who he is. He's still wearing his wedding ring. He's got some issues. He's still beat up by that."
For Selleck, however, he'll continue to make Frank as flawed as he can. In an age where bumbling fathers rule the small screen, Selleck sees Frank Reagan as one of the more realistic dads on TV.
"A lot of fathers on TV now are idiots," said Selleck. "Frank is flawed, and I will continue to make him flawed, but he's not an idiot. He tries to be a good dad. I think of my dad a lot while playing Frank. As an adult, it's a unique prospective to have now."
"Blue Bloods" airs Fridays at 10 p.m. EST on CBS. Watch the promo for the Feb. 24 episode, "The Life We Chose," below.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.