Blue Bloods is one of those shows that can leave audiences hanging on the edge of their seats, but some of the show’s seasons rank higher than others. The show premiered in 2010 to rave reviews and has won 4 awards, including several Prism Awards. The show follows a multi-generational family of cops and lawyers as they solve cases and go through family drama. With Frank Reagan heading the family as a commissioner in New York City, he oversees his family’s welfare as well as the welfare of the hundreds of police officers under his wing.
Blue Bloods is ending after 14 seasons, so audiences can expect more drama from the Reagan family before the show ends officially. With more Reagan family dinners to come, audiences have a lot to look forward to. There hopefully will be plenty of room for finishing up story arcs and giving well-loved characters the ending they deserve. Here are the Blue Bloods seasons ranked worst to best.
After many years of “will-they-won’t-they”, Eddie and Jamie finally tie the knot in season 9 of Blue Bloods. While it pleased fans of the couple, the season as a whole was a bit of a letdown, other than the plot of Danny investigating his wife’s death. Without any form of balance in individual storylines that occur throughout the show, season 9 feels rushed and impatient to skip straight ahead to the wedding. Season 9 also focuses on family pressure as Eddie learns the hard way what it is like to be a Reagan before her wedding, something that has been done before in previous seasons.
The latest season of Blue Bloods focused primarily on politics and Erin’s run for District Attorney, which left the stuff that audiences liked in the earlier seasons in the dust. While the season was made post-COVID, politics have made an impact on the show this season and the creative decisions behind the plotlines. Erin’s run for District Attorney eventually ends with her deciding not to run anymore, which makes the storyline pointless and completely disregards everything that Erin has worked for.
Season 11 of Blue Bloods came out with only 16 episodes, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020. Once again, Frank’s job is on the line when a new mayor takes over, leaving nothing new to be shared with fans and leaving a stale impression to the season. Frank’s job has been at risk before whenever a mayor takes over, but this becomes a repetitive storyline and doesn’t give anything new to the show. While the COVID lockdown left new challenges in terms of filming for many television shows, the only saving grace for season 11 is that it did incorporate some elements of that year into the show.
As the Reagan family aged during the show, season 10 put that into perspective. Nicky Reagan was a child when the show began in 2010 and seeing her take on an adult role showed how much she had grown up in season 10. The season also introduces new challenges for old-school Frank as he adjusts to being a commissioner in the 21st century, with issues ranging from police brutality to sexual assault. While the season focuses heavily on issues that current cops deal with, it gives it a realness that can be relatable to the audience.
While Jamie and Eddie finally get engaged in season 8, it also saw Danny lose the love of his life in a helicopter crash before season 8 comes out. Linda Reagan was the voice of reason in her marriage with Danny and the mother of their two sons. After she dies in a helicopter crash between seasons 7 and 8, Danny learns how to be a single parent and a grieving spouse while coping with a dangerous job that nearly kills him. Season 8 offered a perspective on how hard it can be to be a police officer and a single parent, making it one of its best seasons.
Season 4 has plenty of excitement under its belt with lots of new cases, murders, and family drama to even things out. From Jamie being assigned a new partner in season 4, episode 1, “Unwritten Rules” to Frank going up against a judge’s ruling, there is no rest for the Reagans as they continue to solve crime and deal with family issues. Season 4 is one of the best seasons and brings to light the idea of separating work life and family life, making it one of the stronger seasons of the show.
