The launch of CBS’s Boston Blue, the highly anticipated spinoff of the long-running procedural Blue Bloods, was always going to be a tightrope walk. On one side, the excitement of seeing Donnie Wahlberg reprise his role as Detective Danny Reagan; on the other, the profound disappointment and frustration from fans over the cancellation of the original series.
The spinoff, which relocates Danny from the NYPD to the Boston PD, has been met with a mix of praise and palpable fan backlash. This criticism centers on three major points: the cancellation of Blue Bloods itself, the recasting of Danny’s son, Sean Reagan, and early complaints about the show’s filming locations.
In recent interviews and direct online replies to fans, Wahlberg, a co-creator and executive producer of the new series, has taken on the role of the franchise’s defender and peacemaker, addressing the controversies head-on.
💔 The Shadow of Cancellation: Why Danny Lives On
The most significant source of fan disappointment is not Boston Blue itself, but the fact that it exists because Blue Bloods was canceled after 14 seasons—despite remaining a strong performer in the ratings. Former co-star Tom Selleck (Frank Reagan) openly voiced his upset with the decision.
Wahlberg admitted that he initially struggled with the concept of a spinoff, feeling the loss of the original show deeply.
In an emotional discussion, Wahlberg shared: “I love Blue Bloods. I fought tooth-and-nail to keep it on the air… When I got to the point of not seeing this show, Boston Blue, as the nail in Blue Bloods’ coffin, but rather seeing it as the opportunity to keep family faith and tradition on TV… and to keep the Reagans alive in this new world with an amazing new cast… how do I not do this?”
Wahlberg’s defense positions Boston Blue not as a replacement, but as a continuation—a way to preserve the core values of the Reagan family legacy in a new setting, ensuring that the characters fans love get to move on rather than simply fade away. He acknowledged the professional impact of the cancellation, noting, “I was still saying goodbye to the crew members and 500 people lost their jobs. And it was a lot.” By committing to the spinoff, he aimed to honor the dedication of the audience and the spirit of the original show.
🔄 Recast Rationale: Seeking ‘A Different Energy’ for Sean
A more specific source of fan friction has been the decision to recast Sean Reagan in Boston Blue. The role, played by Andrew Terraciano for over a decade in Blue Bloods, is now taken on by Mika Amonsen.
For many viewers, seeing a new face at a pivotal moment in the character’s life—Sean has just become a rookie police officer—was jarring. However, the showrunners firmly defended this choice as a creative necessity tied directly to Sean’s new professional arc.
The Showrunners’ Explanation
Co-showrunner Brandon Margolis explained that the story required a new dynamic. Sean is no longer a student or a side character; he is a lead in a police procedural.
- New Chapter, New Energy: Margolis stated, “We’re telling a new chapter in both of [Sean’s and Danny’s] lives. It’s not just Sean who has joined the family business… but it’s also now Danny Reagan is the father to a cop, which he’s never been before.”
- Dramatizing the Change: The need for a new performance with a “different energy” was emphasized, one that could dramatize the character’s transition from a privileged Reagan kid to a vulnerable, yet determined, Boston patrol officer. This creative decision allowed them to open the pilot episode with a heroic scene that immediately establishes the new Sean as a pivotal figure in Danny’s move to Boston.
While Andrew Terraciano has not directly commented on the recasting, Wahlberg has publicly supported his former co-star, congratulating him on his recent college graduation via social media, maintaining the warmth of their off-screen relationship despite the casting change.
🏙️ Addressing the Location: Is Boston Blue Really in Boston?
Early filming reports created a minor furor online when fans spotted that some scenes for Boston Blue were being shot in Toronto, Canada, a common stand-in for American cities due to production logistics. The sight of Danny Reagan being filmed in a Canadian city for a show called Boston Blue prompted immediate fan complaints online.
Wahlberg, a genuine Boston native, personally stepped in to quell the concerns on social media.
- Direct Fan Engagement: When one user commented, “Bring the show to Boston where it belongs!”, Wahlberg directly replied, “On our way next week.”
- Doubling Down: To another user’s frustration about why they weren’t filming in Boston, he responded, “Be there in a week with cameras and crew.”
The back-and-forth confirmed that while some production utilized the expediency of Toronto, the show was committed to filming on location in Boston, a move that honors Wahlberg’s roots and the authenticity of the new setting. Wahlberg, who has an immense personal connection to his hometown, is clearly invested in making the show feel authentic to the city and is playing an active role in reassuring fans that the series will honor its title.
🙏 Looking Ahead: A Call for Faith
Donnie Wahlberg’s defense of Boston Blue distills down to a simple request to the loyal Blue Bloods fanbase: have faith.
The show represents an enormous risk—taking an iconic, beloved character out of his established universe and plopping him down in an entirely new one. However, Wahlberg believes the new cast, which includes Sonequa Martin-Green as Danny’s new partner and Ernie Hudson as the Silver family patriarch, and the new storylines are worthy of the “gift that so many people give me of their time.”
By addressing the controversies around the cancellation, the recasting, and the location, the Blue Bloods alum is striving to bridge the gap between fan nostalgia and the creative demands of a fresh narrative. The ultimate success of Boston Blue will rest on whether fans can accept the changes as necessary evolutions that keep the Reagan legacy alive, rather than see them as betrayals of the original family dynamic.
