Blue Bloods S05E16 Recap: In The Box

Someone Faces A Life Threatening Situation. Find Out Who!

Story By David Clark

Police stations are usually considered one of the safest places a person can be, but Blue Bloods turns that concept upside down on this week's episode titled In The Box. In an episode that could have been inspired by the movie Phone Booth; the majority of the episode follows a life threatening hostage situation involving Danny and Baez. Meanwhile Frank and Jamie face issues of their own as Jamie combats a poor communities fear of police and Frank tries to find a line between being a friend, mentor, and commissioner. This episode guest stars Dominic Fumusa as Anthony Drake and Jessica Blank as Heather Drake.

Recap: Danny and Baez open the episode serving a soon-to-be divorced man (Anthony Drake) with a restraining order. Desperate to retain custody of his daughter Anthony pulls a gun on Baez inside of the police precinct. This is no John Q. situation; this man is a troubled alcoholic and potentially abusive man with a thin grasp on reality. Given this scene is playing out in the middle of a police station Danny and his fellow officers quickly realized a potentially deadly situation was developing right in front of their eyes.

Danny, concerned about his partner, took charge of negotiations with the estranged husband in an attempt to free Baez. Wanting to see his wife and daughter Anthony Drake demanded Danny bring them to the police station to see him or Baez would die. Understandably Anthony Drake's family was not eager to enter such a dangerous situation even though their absence could further endanger Baez.

The situation becomes even more complicated when Heather Drake and her daughter flee to avoid facing her unstable ex-husband. Knowing that his partners life is literally on the clock Danny utilizes law enforcement resources to hunt down Heather Drake. Once found Danny asked his sister Erin for aid in convincing Heather to help with the situation. Despite all of Danny's efforts to help de-escalate the situation Baez grows impatient and decides to take matters into her own hands. In a desperate and reckless attempt to save herself Baez attacks Anthony Drake. In an attempt to backup Baez's actions Danny engages the suspect, frees Baez, and finds himself staring down the barrel of Anthony's gun. However, Danny being the competent and confident cop that he is engaged Anthony Drake and disarmed him. The deadly hostage situation was finally resolved without the loss of a single life.

Frank Reagan is apprized of the situation at the police precinct while dealing with a moral dilemma regarding his offices power when Garrett requests a favor for his step-son Sam. When considering whether assisting Garrett is the right decision Frank learns Garrett frequently utilized his position in the department to help Sam avoid serious charges in the past. Commissioner Reagan is well known for taking a 'no favors' approach to his own sons in the department and tries to explain that concept to Garrett. Despite tension between the two Garrett finally comes to realize that he is doing is step-son no favors by continually helping him avoid the consequences of his actions.

Meanwhile, Jenko volunteers herself and her partner Jamie to assist with a funeral for an elderly man killed in a street shooting. While Jenko's desire to help is admirable the poor communities in the city have generations of distrust built up against law enforcement. She finds the community less than interested in helping any cop despite whether the cop is trying to help someone in their own community. While canvassing the neighborhood for donations Jamie and Jenko find a young man that knows something about the shooting that is hesitant to help law enforcement.

When all attempts to raise money in the community for the funeral fail Jenko and Jamie turn to their brothers and sisters in law enforcement. A wonderful moment happens when Jenko returns to the widow and presents her with over $2000 in cash donated by a bunch of cops. The community that refused to help her earlier starts to donate money to the cause. The gesture performed by Jenko and Jamie started breaking down the bad blood the community felt towards law enforcement. Seeing the effort put forth by two cops in his community to help a widow they did not know, the young man with information about the shooting felt compelled to come forward and assist Jamie and Jenko in the investigation.

Sadly, this week's episode did not expand upon the budding relationship between Jenko and Jamie. In fact, the storyline involving Jenko and Jamie did not even hint at the emotionally traumatic shooting that Jenko was involved with in the previous episode. Blue Bloods makes for a great twist on the crime procedural shows but the oddly disjointed episodes presented in season 15 are starting to become concerning.