The Reagan family in CBS’s “Blue Bloods” is royalty in the New York City Police Department. With two police commissioners, multiple detectives, and even a police officer married into the family, they have a legacy that spans generations. That legacy was started by the eldest Reagan – the patriarch, Henry (Len Cariou).
Henry is a former police commissioner who has difficulty letting go of his former life. He is often involved with cases or conversations surrounding them, even though the world has changed to look completely different from when he served. He started multiple family traditions, such as military service, law enforcement, and a focus on family. He is also a Marine veteran of the Korean War, and his son Frank (Tom Selleck) and grandson Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) are also Marine vets (Vietnam and Iraq, respectively).
The other traits he’s handed down to his heirs are his socially conservative views, which are shared most obviously by Danny, and his hot-tempered nature, which everyone shares. But his hard-edged character doesn’t keep him from having sweet moments when he shares wisdom with the family’s younger members. Out of all these moments, one stands out above the rest. Here is Henry Reagan’s most heartwarming moment on “Blue Bloods.”
He performed his patriarchal duty
Grandfathers are some of the best resources for those who need a little guidance here and there. It is even more valuable when said grandfather has done the same job as you, and has a wealth of knowledge on all aspects of your life. This is the value that Henry Reagan brings to his family — his cop family, especially.
In Season 9, Episode 15, “Blues,” Danny Reagan finds himself in the wrong place at the right time when off duty. He drives up to a gas station that he soon discovers is being robbed. The thief ultimately tries to attack him with a screwdriver, forcing Danny to shoot him and kill him. While this isn’t new for Danny, Henry sees this particular shooting as very different than the rest. This is his first shooting without his wife Linda (Amy Carlson) by his side to help him get through it.
Henry grabs a bottle of whiskey, drops by Danny’s apartment, and, in a very Reagan-esque way, pulls his feelings out of him. While Danny insists he is ok, Henry remarks that his apartment is empty. He encourages him to move on, to fill his apartment with what has been missing since the death of his wife — family. Of course, Danny doesn’t miss the opportunity to point out that both Frank and Henry have lived together since their respective wives passed. You can feel from the conversation that Henry is urging Danny to break the cycle of male loneliness in the family, setting a better example for his lineage on how to move beyond pain and loss.