Blue Bloods S05E19 Recap: Through The Looking Glass

Blue Bloods: Time To Let It Go?

Story by David Clark

Blue Bloods season five has been a series of one-and-done episodes. With the season finale looming only a short four weeks away, it might be time to throw in the towel for any chance of a season building story arch. That said, season five has not been all bad. This season has seen hostage situations in a police precinct, wild gunfights, dangerous stakeouts, and high speed chases. It has definitely been enough to keep fans of the series coming back. The season opened with over 10 million viewers. Mid-season the show peaked at a little over 12 million and the most recent episode dipped back down into the 10 million viewer range. The dip in ratings might be more from the shows recent sporadic breaks than from a lack of interest. Whether the show will receive a sixth season remains to be seen but regardless, fans of the series should tune-in for the last couple episodes of season five.

This week Blue Bloods focused on three main storylines each of which followed a different Reagan. Setting the mood for the episode, the opening scene was that of a few gang member initiates setting a homeless man on fire. Normally this would lead the boys (and girls) in blue to embark on a swift police investigation, but this homicide took place in an area where police are not trusted. When police tried to investigate they were met with resistance and the homicide investigation stalled.

A reporter, with an unexplained vendetta against the police commissioners office, took it upon herself to publicize the lack of police presence in the poorer parts of the city. She slandered the New York Police Department claiming it to be more concerned with the affluent portions of the city than the poor communities. Understandably Frank Reagan took issue with his department being attacked in such a manner.

Abandoning his usual cool demeanor Frank dawned a sarcastic and angry attitude towards the reporter when he finally met her. Undeterred the reporter investigated the murder and found the assailant that committed the crime. The reporter interviewed the murderer and released the story but refused to give up the name of the criminal. Hiding behind her rights of free-speech the reporter declined to give up her source. Her convictions landed her in prison for impeding a police investigation that would prevent other lives from being taken in the ongoing gang initiations.

After a visit from Frank Reagan in prison the reporter was released and an anonymous tip was called into the department regarding the name of the assailant. It was never directly said, but it was implied that the reporter finally caved to Frank’s requests for cooperation and called in the tip. Somehow, despite the bad blood between the two, the last scene with Frank shows him and the reporter smiling as they talked and shared drinks at a local restaurant. Even when Frank was potentially in the wrong he managed to come out of this one shining like a rose.

While Frank was mingling with local reporters his son Danny was dealing with his own problems. In a New York style program similar in concept to Scared Straight, Danny is tasked with taking a local 16 year old juvenile girl under his wing in the hopes of turning her into an upstanding citizen. Fans know that Danny is not exactly the mentor type and this episode reiterated that time and again. Danny’s partner Maria sat back and watched the train wreck as Danny and this young girl constantly butted heads.

During Danny’s time mentoring the girl a sting operation was planned with the intention of catching some local criminals impersonating police. Out of spite and because she was a curious girl, Danny’s mentee showed up at the sting operation and ended up with a gun pointed at her head. Of course being a Reagan Danny saved the day, but he was none-too-pleased with the girls actions.

After a long tirade in which he bit the girls head off verbally it appeared like Danny finally snapped. He handcuffed the girl and had her thrown in a jail cell with other inmates. It is not until the very end of the episode when his captain asks him about his decision that Danny confesses he was only bluffing. Danny really cared about what happened to the girl he was tasked with helping. He relayed a story that made it clear he had nothing but the best intentions toward the girl, and that he was only trying to communicate with the girl on a level she would understand.

While Danny learned to communicate with his mentee, Erin was having difficulty communicating with Alex McBride, a detective and friend that operates out of the District Attorney’s office. She opened an old cold case into the unsolved homicide of her friends mother. She had the best of intentions but she never stopped to consider how it might impact her friend Alex. Understandably upset as old wounds were opened Alex chastised Erin for not speaking with him first.

Unfortunately the problems did not end there. Despite her friend’s reaction Erin proceeded with the investigation. It was not until she learned who the murderer was that it started to become clear the emotional baggage she might be stirring up for her friend. The person that murdered Alex’s mother was his father. Long since dead there was nothing that Erin or Alex could do about his murderous father. For once Erin did not look pleased when she solved the case because the revelation of the truth caused Alex extensive pain.

Eventually the two reconciled their differences but it encapsulates why caution is wise when dealing with matters of family. Erin meant well but ended up turning her friend’s world upside down. Alex would probably have been happy going to his grave never knowing that his father was the one who killed his mother.

As is the case with season five, every storyline opened in this episode was closed by the end. There was nothing in episode 19 that gives any hint towards what fans might expect in the upcoming season finale. My personal opinion is that Blue Bloods may be out of fresh ideas. Clearly 10 million people still like the premise of the show enough to tune in from week-to-week, but it may be time to let the series wrap up.

For Recaps of previous episodes please check out the following links: Season 5 Episode 18: Bad Company
Season 5 Episode 17: Occupational Hazards

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