Blue Bloods’ Biggest Secret? An Underrated Character Was the Key to Its 14-Year Run

From the very beginning of Blue Bloods, Tom Selleck’s Frank Reagan was the face of the show. With Donnie Wahlberg (Danny), Bridget Moynahan (Erin), Will Estes (Jamie), and Len Cariou (Henry) at his side, Selleck helped to build an incredibly successful police procedural. The show’s success came as a surprise, but it proved to be an enduring piece of media that secured millions of loyal viewers. Even as networks became increasingly dependent on streaming platforms, due to declining ratings across the board, Blue Bloods proved to be fully capable of enduring. Unfortunately, no show is meant to last forever, and Blue Bloods was no exception, as the show came to an end in 2025.

There were many reasons for the series’ success, but many of them are often overlooked. The strong connection to New York City, different aspects of the law, and a large ensemble cast all managed to contribute to the long-term survival of the series, up until its disappointing ending. Tom Selleck even reportedly believes that the commitment to family dinner scenes was the key reason for the show’s success. The loyalty of the cast also cannot be discounted, given that they took pay cuts simply to see the show through its final seasons. Yet, despite all those compelling reasons for the success, there was one character who was crucial to Blue Bloods‘ story, and she is often overlooked.

Blue Bloods Was an Immensely Successful Show

It Thrived Because of the Reagan Family

There is no denying that Blue Bloods was a successful show, given both its ratings and its ability to survive in a competitive market. Having run from 2011 to 2025, it endured for 14 years, which is a rare accomplishment in its own right, and peaked with nearly 15 million viewers across its most popular seasons. The show has even earned a semi-controversial spin-off in the form of the upcoming Donnie Wahlberg-led show, Boston Blue. Though Wahlberg will be involved in the series, he is leaving the Reagan family behind. Though they will likely appear in some cameo roles, the show will instead focus on a new law enforcement family, led by Ghostbusters’ Ernie Hudson.

Unfortunately, after over a decade with the Reagan family, viewers have been forced to say goodbye too soon, as the show was cancelled and ended with season 14. After 14 years with the Reagans, they enjoyed one last dinner before the Blue Bloods franchise offered one final goodbye to New York City. While the new spin-off will undoubtedly have its own charm, the Reagans were the most significant draw for the series, given that the show was famous for its family dinner scenes. There was nothing more rewarding than seeing Selleck and the rest of the cast navigating both family drama and outside expectations, all while ensuring that the family retained its close ties. Even as new stars came and went throughout its run, the Reagan family was always the central focus of the show. Yet, despite the show’s focus on that specific family, they were not the only reason that it succeeded.

Abigail Baker Was an Underrated Star

The Reagan Family Was Not the Only Draw

Played by Abigail Hawk, Abigail Baker was the underappreciated hero of Blue Bloods. Introduced in Blue Bloods season 1, episode 2, “Samaritan”, Detective Baker was involved in the show from the very beginning. She did not have an important role in her debut episode, and the credits even mistakenly referred to her as Detective Melissa. Future seasons, however, would offer Baker the opportunity to thrive. She would eventually claim her place as Frank Reagan’s personal aide, which was an impressive posting, given that he was the New York City Police Commissioner. It was Frank’s responsibility to keep the city safe and to maintain the strength of the police department, and it was Baker’s responsibility to keep Frank organized and to execute his orders. That did not, of course, prevent her from speaking up as needed.

Baker was best defined by her unyielding dedication to those around her. Though she was not a member of the Reagan family, which was the centerpiece of the show, she was the sole agent responsible for determining exactly who would speak to Commissioner Reagan and when they would. Every crisis that landed on Frank’s desk, every hasty meeting, and every funeral appearance was handled by Baker first, before Frank addressed them. She rarely took the spotlight in the series, but it was largely because she never needed to, as she mattered despite it all. Frank depended on Baker’s consistency, loyalty, and diligence. He would never have been able to trust an unknown and potentially less competent aide, and he would have been forced to, had she not been involved in the show.

Baker was so important to Frank that he even refused to allow her to leave her position. When she attempted to reclaim an old position, Frank scrambled for reasons to decline her request, partly because of his unshaken faith in her skills. No matter how much she wished to return to detective work, the Commissioner would always keep her by his side, because her instincts and competency were beyond reproach. It was proof of her skills, even if it meant that she could never achieve her dream of returning to hands-on work in the field.

Blue Bloods Never Could Have Succeeded Without Abigail

She Allowed Others To Shine

If the family drama was truly the biggest draw that Blue Bloods could offer, then Baker’s competence was the reason that it could shine at all. Without her, Frank could easily have struggled to balance his responsibilities, which were something he already found difficult even with a loyal and skilled aide at his side. She was an unsung hero who rarely had the opportunity to shine, but always gave her all to serving Frank and protecting the city. All the family drama in the show might have been cast aside so that Frank could handle those issues himself. Everything that made Blue Bloods great would have been left to the imagination, while Frank tackled every crisis by himself.

Thanks to Hawk’s cool and collected demeanor, Abigail Baker quickly proved that she was a truly effective detective. Given the amount of pressure that Baker and Frank were under, anyone else might have crumbled under the pressure. Instead, she maintained her composure and always managed to help Frank get to the bottom of every crisis. If Boston Blue is to see the success that Blue Bloods enjoyed, Ernie Hudson’s Reverend Peters will need to find someone as loyal as Abigail to maintain both his security and his sanity. The show cannot solely focus on fighting crime if it hopes to maintain its audience. It needs to make time for character development, personal relationships, and family. Baker’s quiet competence allowed Frank to spend time focusing on his family, and it is why she was the reason for the show’s success.