The launch of Boston Blue, the highly anticipated continuation of the Blue Bloods franchise, presented a massive, fascinating challenge: how to transplant the emotional, family-centric core of the Reagan dynasty into a brand-new city. With Donnie Wahlberg’s Detective Danny Reagan leading the charge in the Boston Special Task Force, the question on every fan’s mind was: who from the original Blue Bloods cast would make the move or a special appearance?
The early seasons of Boston Blue have masterfully balanced the introduction of new Boston-based characters with the necessary presence of the Reagan family, ensuring the show honors its origins while forging its own identity. While not everyone has relocated, several key figures have made significant appearances—some permanent, some pivotal—to ground Danny’s new life in the familiar embrace of family and the unrelenting demands of the NYPD’s extended reach.
Here is a breakdown of every character from the flagship Blue Bloods series who has appeared in the Boston Blue spin-off so far, and the crucial role they play in shaping Danny Reagan’s new reality.
👨👦 The Permanent Fixture: Sean Reagan
The most important and consistent crossover character is, without a doubt, Danny’s youngest son.
Sean Reagan (Andrew Terraciano)
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Role in Blue Bloods: The quieter, more introspective of Danny and Linda’s two sons; his storyline often focused on academic pursuits and his slow maturation amidst the family’s police world.
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Role in Boston Blue: Sean is a main cast member. After graduating college, Sean moved to Boston with his father, ostensibly to attend a nearby graduate program or begin a new life away from the constant shadow of the NYPD. His presence is crucial:
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The Emotional Anchor: Sean represents the last tangible link Danny has to his life with his deceased wife, Linda. He is the emotional anchor that prevents Danny from fully retreating into his work.
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The Source of Conflict: As recently highlighted in the show, the relationship between father and son is fraught with tension. Sean’s attempts to establish independence in a new city are constantly undermined by Danny’s overprotective, hyper-vigilant parenting style. This father-son conflict provides the core personal drama of Boston Blue, mirroring the family tension that was so vital to the original show.
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👮 The Familial Authority: Frank and Erin Reagan
While they haven’t moved to Boston, the two most powerful figures in the original show’s command structure have made appearances that serve both as family check-ins and professional plot hinges.
Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck)
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Role in Blue Bloods: The Commissioner, patriarch, and moral authority of the franchise.
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Role in Boston Blue: Frank’s appearances are rare but impactful. He appears via video call (or occasional physical visits to Boston), primarily to check on Danny’s well-being and to offer cryptic, grandfatherly advice to Sean.
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The Guidance Counselor: Frank’s role is to ensure Danny is maintaining his integrity and coping with the emotional shift. His scenes are typically brief, offering a philosophical query or a tough truth about the meaning of service, instantly grounding the new spin-off in the familiar Reagan Sunday Dinner wisdom.
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The Crossover Mechanism: The NYPD’s involvement in national or interstate investigations occasionally necessitates a direct, professional consultation between Frank and Danny, establishing the bureaucratic connection between the two cities’ police forces.
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Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan)
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Role in Blue Bloods: Assistant District Attorney, focused on justice and the moral ambiguities of the legal system.
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Role in Boston Blue: Erin’s appearances are tied to legal and jurisdictional issues.
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The Legal Loophole: When Danny’s Special Task Force runs into complex legal hurdles involving cross-state jurisdiction, organized crime, or federal mandates, Erin is often the first person Danny consults. Her expertise is crucial for navigating the legal minefields inherent in the Task Force’s work, proving that Danny still relies heavily on his sister’s legal mind.
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🥃 The Legacy and The Unexpected Check-Ins
The show has cleverly used other Blue Bloods veterans for one-off, emotional, or plot-driven appearances, reinforcing the idea that the Reagan family network is always active.
Jamie Reagan (Will Estes) and Eddie Janko-Reagan (Vanessa Ray)
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Role in Blue Bloods: The patrol officer/sergeant couple who represent the next generation of integrity and professionalism.
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Role in Boston Blue: While they have not officially relocated, Jamie and Eddie have appeared in one major crossover event that was pivotal to Danny’s emotional state.
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The Family Visit: In a special holiday-themed episode, Jamie and Eddie traveled to Boston to spend time with Danny and Sean. This visit was critical for Danny, offering him a chance to reconnect with the policing dynamic he left behind. The episode highlighted Jamie and Danny working together on a small Boston case, showing their contrasting police styles still spark—Jamie with his adherence to regulation, Danny with his relentless instinct.
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Anthony Abetemarco (Steve Schirripa)
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Role in Blue Bloods: Erin Reagan’s chief investigator; known for his street smarts and comedic timing.
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Role in Boston Blue: Anthony’s single appearance was tied to an organized crime case that spanned both New York and Boston.
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The Street Connection: Anthony was dispatched to Boston to share intelligence with Danny regarding a fugitive who fled the state. This not only provided a dose of familiar comedic relief but also established that the NYPD and the Boston Task Force have specific, ongoing protocols for working together, further bridging the two cities’ law enforcement worlds.
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🔑 Conclusion: The Reagan Family Remains the Center
The success of Boston Blue hinges not just on the excitement of its new environment, but on its ability to maintain the cherished family dynamic that made Blue Bloods a phenomenon. The confirmed appearances of original cast members prove that the show is committed to this legacy.
Sean Reagan is the essential, permanent fixture, providing the personal turmoil necessary for Danny’s growth. Frank and Erin Reagan appear as the necessary professional and moral guides, ensuring Danny remains connected to the Reagan code. Meanwhile, the sporadic visits from Jamie, Eddie, and Anthony provide crucial emotional check-ins and reinforce the intricate, interconnected world of law enforcement that the franchise has built.
In the end, Donnie Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan may be in a new city, but his core remains anchored by the family and professional relationships he left behind, proving that you can take the Reagan out of New York, but you can’t take New York out of the Reagan family.
