Donnie Wahlberg leaves New York behind for Boston in this interfaith Blue Bloods spinoff yet even a promising Jewish storyline can’t rescue the show from its uneven execution.
“Boston Blue,” the latest entry in the Blue Bloods universe, has no ties to the Afflecks or Whitey Bulger, but it does bring Wahlberg back as Detective Danny Reagan. This time, the story unfolds in Boston, and it introduces a notable Jewish subplot that initially piqued my interest. Unfortunately, the premiere ended up feeling more like a chore than compelling television.
Here’s the setup: Danny relocates to Boston after his son, Sean now a rookie officer is severely injured in a fire while working alongside his partner, Jonah Silver. Sean lands in a coma, and Danny is teamed up with Jonah’s half-sister, Lena Silver, a member of a prominent Jewish law enforcement family. Danny’s pulled even deeper into their world when he meets Sarah Silver, Lena’s step-sister, a 22 year old Boston police superintendent. The family matriarch, Mae Silver, is the district attorney and widow of Judge Ben Silver, who was recently murdered. Rounding out the clan is Mae’s father, Rev. Edwin Peters, pastor of Roxbury Baptist Church.
If this tangled web of Black Jewish family connections sounds improbable, that’s because it is and the show’s credibility issues don’t stop there.
Beyond the eyebrow-raising nepotism, Boston Blue falters on nearly every procedural front. It lacks the grit and tension that define classics like Law & Order. The production design leans hazy and sepia-toned; the music borders on elevator muzak; and the dialogue often veers into sugary earnestness. The show has none of the darkness or emotional weight that fueled iconic series like Homicide. Instead, it plays like a Hallmark crime drama.
Perhaps the most unintentionally comedic moments are the chase scenes through downtown Boston, where background actors seemingly generated by AI 
barely react as cops sprint past. For the record, Bostonians are unfazed by many things, but not that unfazed.