
It’s bittersweet to think about the end of Blue Bloods. For years, the show has been a comforting constant — a blend of heartfelt family moments, gripping police work, and that unmistakable Reagan family dynamic. Personally, I’d choose more of the original series over anything else, even the most perfectly crafted spinoff. There’s just something irreplaceable about gathering around the table for those iconic Reagan family dinners, watching Frank lock horns with the mayor, and enjoying the camaraderie of the “Dream Team” as they navigate the challenges of law enforcement and family loyalty.
Still, if the original Blue Bloods must come to a close, the next best thing is a spinoff that captures its essence. After giving it a lot of thought, one idea stands out as the most natural fit: a prequel focusing on the younger years of Frank Reagan.
Frank’s story didn’t begin when we first met him on Blue Bloods. Long before the series opened, he lived a different chapter of his life — one that mirrors the stage Danny was in when the show began. He was a younger man then, married with small children, juggling the demands of fatherhood while serving as a full-time police officer. That period in his life is fertile ground for storytelling, offering a window into the formative years that shaped him into the principled, steadfast commissioner fans have come to admire — a man who refuses to be swayed from what he knows is right.
In my vision, this prequel would not only explore Frank’s career and the cases he worked during that era but also delve deeply into his personal life — his marriage, his role as a young father, and his bond with his own father, Henry. Just as in the original, the family would remain tightly knit, united by shared values and their service in law enforcement.
Of course, such a series would bring changes. Saying goodbye to Tom Selleck and Len Cariou in these roles would be difficult; their portrayals of Frank and Henry are iconic, and both actors have been central to the show’s enduring appeal. Selleck, in particular, has become not only the face of Blue Bloods but also one of its most passionate advocates. Casting younger versions of Frank and Henry would be a delicate task — but if done right, it could breathe new life into the franchise while honoring the legacy that’s already been built.
Still, it would be worth it for a strong premise that keeps almost everything that made Blue Bloods such a beloved show.
A Prequel Would Be The Perfect Blue Bloods Spinoff Because It’s Closest To The Original Premise
Blue Bloods is unique among police procedurals because of the way it blends police and family drama, and any spinoff would have to do something similar.
We’ll never get a carbon copy of the original, sadly.
However, a show that brings us more of the Reagan family, the core values the audience loves, and a unique perspective on the NYPD not found elsewhere has got to be a good thing!
A prequel would make the perfect Blue Bloods spinoff because it would essentially be the same show but with a different generation of Reagans. Frank’s grandchildren wouldn’t exist yet; instead, he’d be the Danny Reagan of his generation who visited a younger, more active Henry. We’d get to meet people who died before the first episode of Blue Bloods aired, such as Frank’s wife and his late son, Joe Reagan. If the series went on for long enough, the kids would grow up, and we might learn about Joe and Paula Hill’s relationship and get foreshadowing of what we already learned in Blue Bloods about Joe Hill’s birth being kept secret from the family.
It would be poignant if Blue Bloods chose a tragic ending in which Henry or another beloved character dies, as we’d get more of him through these stories of his younger years.
A Prequel Would Also Give A Unique Perspective On NYPD History
This Blue Bloods spinoff would be historical fiction since Henry was the Commissioner of Police in a bygone era.One reason Blue Bloods’ cancellation is so disappointing is that it works hard to portray the NYPD in a positive and fair light, which is different from many shows in the current era.It would be interesting to see how it handled Henry’s era.
We know from Blue Bloods that Henry came from a time when police brutality was far more accepted, and sometimes he doesn’t understand why Frank doesn’t condone the type of violence he used to get confessions out of suspects.
It would be interesting to experience Henry and Frank’s reactions in real-time to controversial issues that were approached differently in Henry’s era than in modern times.
A Prequel Could Feature An Earlier Generation Of Reagan Family Dinners
The family dinners on Blue Bloods are iconic.
The series never skipped them in almost 300 episodes and with good reason.
As it was, when the family dinner scenes were shorter than usual or skipped the family saying Grace, angry fans lit up social media, demanding to know whether CBS had forced the show to water them down.
That’s another reason that a prequel would be the perfect Blue Bloods spinoff.Some of the people at the table would be different, but this show would be able to continue the family dinner tradition that the audience loves.
Why Not Just Continue The Original Series Instead of Developing The Perfect Blue Bloods Spinoff?
None of this would be necessary if we could just get more Blue Bloods.
Sadly, that’s not up to me, nor to the millions of fans who signed petitions and threatened to boycott CBS if Blue Bloods wasn’t given a reprieve.
Not even Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg’s wholehearted, enthusiastic pleas to continue working on this show made a difference.
Even though the prequel would be fun, that doesn’t mean I’m happy that Blue Bloods is leaving the airwaves.
I’d prefer Blue Bloods and this proposed prequel both be on the air at once.
If I can’t have that, I hope that the original series ends with a toast in tribute to the Reagan family and this perfect Blue Bloods spinoff gets on the air as soon as possible.