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Year: 2010, 2011
Genre: TV series, Crime, Drama
Country: United States
Languages: English
Starring: Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, Jennifer Esposito, Len Cariou, Amy Carlson, Nicholas Turturro
Creators: Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess
DVD distributor: Paramount Home Entertainment
The one problem I have with Blue Bloods is how over-the-top American it is. When the family gets together for their weekly dinner, and they discuss the subject matter of the day – which almost always relates to the case they were working on that day – it feels like a crappy episode of Crossfire or The View or one of any number of political pundit shows in the States.
The rest of the show is uber-American too – the tough-guy, ends-justify-the-means attitude, the “rugged individualism”, the hero-cops and the flags in the background. Sure, they try to temper that with their forced, awkward round-table discussions at dinner, but it’s pretty clear at all times just what the “right” answer is to all their debates.
That being said, getting the negative stuff out of the way first, I do like the show. Season One comes out September 13th from Paramount Home Entertainment, and the cast is the best thing about it. Tom Selleck’s moustache oozes authenticity as the police commissioner. Will Estes is excellent as his son, a new recruit to the police department and a beat cop. Bridget Moynahan, as the New York assistant DA (and Selleck’s daughter) is lovely and perfect, and Donnie Wahlberg (the older brother, tough-guy rule-bending cop) is the best part of the show.
Unfortunately, because this is New York City, and the show is so very American, a lot of the episodes have to deal with terrorist plots and terror cells and terrorism. It still crackles along at a terrific pace, with just enough lulls for some Tom Selleck wisdom or some Bridget Moynahan moralizing. And when the cases are more usual – abducted children and so forth – the show is truly excellent.