Season 7 Discussion

[yeswedo]

In the season 7 opener, Evidence against Danny surfaces when the attorney general's office reviews his shooting of a serial killer. Meanwhile, Jamie and Eddie deal with a high-profile drunken driver; and a slain cop's widow asks Frank for a favor.

[DrScottie]

I guess the daughter hit by the car bleeding from the head lived (despite looking really bad), otherwise that's vehicular homicide instead of assault. I'm glad they put that sleazeball Congressman away. 

[spunky]

I understand why Danny was not charged, but I find it hard to have any sympathy for a man that is constantly knocking innocent people over and threatening people. Eddie needs to read "He's just not that into you", then maybe she would stop trying to figure out if Jamie's five minute crush is still ongoing. 

[Jlina]

Danny aged tremendously since last season!  Or maybe since his real life marriage.  The guy was an idiot to let him stand up if he indeed thought he had a chance at crucifying him.  I recognize him (new guy) but from gangster types, wonder if he's a new recurring character?  Linda being oblivious to the nightmare seemed odd.

The niece looked amazingly like the mom on the stand; she looks a lot different this year.  Wonder if they made her up to resemble the mother?

I enjoyed it, even Frank and Pops always being right/eous....and it looks like they'll be very on trend with cops being under fire/disliked/even more hostility.

No way the Congressman wouldn't have already gotten to Frank about Jaimie, though. Regardless Jaimie would've done what he did, I hope he gets a love interest/major arch or at least a dang promotion this year??? Finally, show?

[wknt3]

This show really has become your annoying conservative relative on Facebook. There's the obnoxious message about how everything is going to hell and cops are persecuted if we dare to ever question their actions. Said rant is poorly written and illogically constructed. And I still kind of like the show anyway I just wish it would shut up about current events before I lose all respect.

Edited September 24, 2016 by wknt3

[wknt3]

Welcome to Screenwriting 101. Today we're going to be reviewing one of the submissions from last week's assignment to write an episode for a procedural. I must say I found it very disappointing.

Let's start with the basics. We know the Tom Selleck character is never going to agree to force out the cadet. But you can still make it interesting to the viewer. Make it feel like a real possibility. Perhaps the son technically lied on his application or somebody waived a requirement because his dad was killed in the line. Or during the conversation in his office the son admits part of his decision to join the force is a sense of obligation and he would drop out if he got the Commissioner's permission to. Combine that with an explicit promise to the mother in the past to do anything she asks of him and you could sell it as a genuine moral dilemma with some doubts about the outcome.

Next there's this whole plot with the detective being questioned by the sniveling bureaucrat lawyer and the mob investigation It's an interesting stab at how a CBS procedural would handle the issue of police accountability, but it's very clunky and illogical. His wife is supposed to be a nurse with a history of trauma and doesn't notice anything is wrong? Why not go all the way with this serial killer villain and make him an evil mastermind who made sure the shooting was caught on video so there's grounds for an investigation? And why do we even need him to be working a case? It's time away from the more interesting plots that would be better spent having conversations with his underused relatives who are set up as uniquely well positioned to know something about these issues.

Then there's the C plot. It's pretty standard white knight fantasy. The romantic tension thing is half assed and needs a rewrite. And you have some plausibility issues. Why are beat cops doing investigations? And arresting a congressman at a public event is really over the top. Not to mention that there's no way this doesn't get to the brass. If you didn't waste so much time with the useless Albanian mob plot you might have the time to do this right.

Those are the major points. I know that CBS procedurals aren't the most prestigious artistic achievement but they expect basic competence when it comes to plot and character. You have to make an effort and good basic storytelling is actually more important on this kind of show. This is an unprofessional mess that would get you fired ... A transcript you say? This was actually aired on network television? Are you sure? Really? This isn't one of those edgy "comedies" is it? I could almost see it working as a deadpan parody ... They really meant it? Someone got paid for this?

Edited September 25, 2016 by wknt3
shouldn't post when dealing with insomnia...

[mtlchick]

Quote

Danny aged tremendously since last season!  Or maybe since his real life marriage. 

Oddly enough this is the first summer hiatus that Donnie did NOT tour with New Kids and only did some filming for Wahlburgers.  But yeah he did look...more tired than usual.  Side note: they finally decided to grow out Sami's hair.  I liked it on her. 

 

I tuned out for most of it.  I did like that they finally did a call back to both last season with Wilder and Danny's annual "(sigh) IA.  Here's my badge and gun, I know the drill."  But the literal grand standing in front of the grand jury? Eh.  We could have done without. 

I am surprised that they did nail the guy on DNA on the air bag.  Was there really NO witnesses standing around at that intersection who didn't see the switch? 

 

Finally, every time I see Henry I'm like "You're still here?"

[Brattinella]

I still like this show.  I AM your annoying conservative relative on Facebook.

[wknt3]

14 hours ago, Jlina said:

Danny aged tremendously since last season!  Or maybe since his real life marriage.  The guy was an idiot to let him stand up if he indeed thought he had a chance at crucifying him.  I recognize him (new guy) but from gangster types, wonder if he's a new recurring character?  Linda being oblivious to the nightmare seemed odd.

Michael Imperioli is probably best known for the Sopranos, but has been on the right side of the law plenty of times including Law & Order and starring in the short lived Detroit 1-8-7. It seems to me he's been in just about everything that films in NYC. I don't think he'll be recurring since he just got a regular role on Lucifer. I actually think he would have been better as the victim in Danny's case since he has the natural likeability to make you feel for him as the guy on the edge of some shady activity who got in over his head.

[Jlina]

Quote

9 hours ago, wknt3 said:

I don't think he'll be recurring since he just got a regular role on Lucifer.

 

OMG squee.   My favorite show gets a new cute guy?  Thanks for the update :)

[Rambler]

Such a touching scene between Frank and Danny at the graveyard. I don’t remember the exact words, but I think it went something like this:

Danny: “It’s not just me on trial now it’s the whole department”

Frank: “At least the grand jury did the right thing.”

Danny “This time… Now excuse me while I go back and punch my handcuffed suspect in the face a few more times.”

[MissLucas]

Too many too predictable plot-lines. Episode's MVP was Nicky's make-up (especially the lipstick) during the grand-jury scene. She looked amazing.

[betsyboo]

On 9/24/2016 at 10:20 AM, tvaddict44 said:

On the shallow side:  Tom Selleck looks really good for nearly 72, and Len Cariou was looking a little thin to me - hope it was intentional.....

Well since they are only 5 years apart IRL - they have to do something to make him look older! lol

[Sake614]

seriously? They're only 5 years apart??

[wknt3]

41 minutes ago, Sake614 said:

seriously? They're only 5 years apart??

It's true. Blue Bloods has always been superb on all the technical and craft aspects of the show and makeup is no exception. Len Cariou is made to appear older with a prosthetic and a few other tricks. Plus he is a very talented actor. And they use all the usual methods to make Selleck look 10-15 years younger (although that black shoe polish in his hair isn't fooling anyone and seems to be his own choice and not the stylists'.)

Edited September 27, 2016 by wknt3

[Sake614]

1 minute ago, wknt3 said:

although that black shoe polish in his hair isn't fooling anyone and seems to be his own choice and not the stylists'.)

(sigh) yeah I'd like him to lose that. If he insists on dying it, he should go with a lighter brown that looks more natural.  But at least he seems to have lost a bit of weight this summer. He looks much better. Now if he could just smile a little bit lol!

[CooperTV]

Quote

 

Danny and Baez investigate an elderly woman's death after she was shot in her home by a stray bullet. Frank faces ridicule from his department when he disciplines a disrespectful cop. Erin steps in to help Anthony who is determined to take a personal matter into his own hands.

 

[webruce]

  I figured Frank would not kick Louis Edwards out of the academy. Also I was glad Jamie did some CSI work to take down smug Congressman Russ Anderson and his associate Donald Stiller. Danny did a good job explaining his side of the Thomas Wilder shooting. Poor Niki had to testify. I liked lawyer Robert Lewis(he was on Detroit 1-8-7 and H50). He didn't act to pompous. Danny saving Charlie Salamone from the barrel made me smile. Robert Sava went down to easy. Nice punch Danny! I did think we would see more of the Davis family. With the perpetrator maybe getting away with the hit and run.

Franks eyebrows are what throw me off, so thick and black.

[wknt3]

Random Thoughts:

Interesting that the insubordinate cop is from the 27.
It's always nice to see Steve Schirripa, but I do think he works better in the Danny light episodes. It's a bit too much blue collar detective taking things personally and fighting the system that won't let him get justice with a well deserved beating. It was nice to see Erin and to see Henry doing something other than talking about back in the day. They even remembered that he's a well connected former commissioner and not a retired precinct sergeant!
I do wish they had dialed bit on his mom though. If she wasn't full blown Alzheimer's, but the early stages of dementia it would have been more believable that Tony hadn't stepped in long ago to help with finances. And that the bank let it happen. Of course it does make it more believable that the bank CEO would write a check to keep the regulators and the media from looking at their elder abuse program.
And this would have been an especially good week to cut back on Danny since this week's story was about as by the numbers as you can get. I did like the actress who played the gang leader though.
Not sure what to make of the Frank plot. It seems pretty clear that the officer was waaaaay out of line and Frank's summons was petty and a bit over the top. Yet this was some huge debate and Frank even came as close to admitting he made a mistake as he ever does? WTF?

[EtheltoTillie]

Felicia Pearson (gang leader) played a similar role on The Wire. She comes from a real life past as a drug dealer. 

[mojito]

Well, now I feel like an old fogey, because for once, I was 100% in agreement with Frank. That beat cop 1) was smoking, 2) was texting, 3) wouldn't even look up when he was addressed, and 4) littered and scoffed at the directive to pick up the cigarette butt. I would have suspended the guy without pay, though, which is even more depressing.

Nice to see Pops on the case and see Baker smile (I don't recall seeing her do that before). I know that kids grow up; it's still startling to see Danny's sons get older. Nice touch, too, the angle about everything being recorded on cell phones these days.

[preeya]

WOW.  Len Cariou and one of the sons finally got some screen time other than the dinner table.

[preeya]

7 hours ago, GussieK said:

Felicia Pearson (gang leader) played a similar role on The Wire. She comes from a real life past as a drug dealer. 

Yes, I recognized her from The Wire where she appeared in 27 episodes as Felicia "Snoop" Pearson (her real name).

[mtlchick]

I met the writer of this one way back when.  Nice guy.  But I tend to cringe watching his episodes as they seem way too by the book and cloying.  This one wasn't as bad.  

Baker, Moore and Gormley trying not laugh over the caricature of Frank then all 3 having the "uh oh,  dad caught us" is something a moment I need to see more often here. It's like they're his work children. 

Speaking of Frank, he was letting the cop off WAY too easy.  Aside from doing things that could lead to at least a stern warning at any job, he was doing this to the guy at the top of the food chain.  That should have gotten him a few days suspension. 

Quote

 

I enjoy Anthony so much - he just never catches on when Erin is subtly correcting his grammar.  He has such a good heart, and I've sorta suspected that he has a little crush on Erin, but I doubt if they would work as anything other than friends. 

 

 

As much as I miss James Lesure,  I am perfectly happy with Steven being here.  I don't know if he's crushing on Erin, but they do work well together.  I do agree though that he's better used when there are 2 storylines played out instead of 3. I felt they rushed the parts with his mom. 

[CooperTV]

The bratty cop was way too bratty for me to sympathize with his plyte. I don't know why Frank even bothered with him. So the dude from the family of cops, and heard it all but I don't think it's all that great to go into paramilitary organization and start to lip your superior because you're too cool for school. I know they were trying to draw parallels with Danny and his son there but the difference is that the Brat Cop is a, well, cop and he doesn't' act like one at all.

Anthony and Erin subplot wasn't bad, exactly, and it was really heartwarming but, eh. Glad Pops had things to do and went undercover for a bit.

I liked the Danny stuff, it was generic but I like me some action.

[CooperTV]

Quote

A woman who was held hostage resists pressing charges, but Danny and Baez want justice for her. Meanwhile, a high-profile NYPD fund-raiser uses a phony police vehicle to avoid traffic; and Jamie has the opportunity to be a technical adviser on a TV show.

[wknt3]

22 hours ago, GussieK said:

Felicia Pearson (gang leader) played a similar role on The Wire. She comes from a real life past as a drug dealer. 

Thanks! I really need to re-watch The Wire. I thought it looked like her, but she wasn't listed on the IMDB page and she looked a little different so I thought it was someone else inspired by her performance.

15 hours ago, mojito said:

Well, now I feel like an old fogey, because for once, I was 100% in agreement with Frank. That beat cop 1) was smoking, 2) was texting, 3) wouldn't even look up when he was addressed, and 4) littered and scoffed at the directive to pick up the cigarette butt. I would have suspended the guy without pay, though, which is even more depressing.

You are not an old fogey. Frank was just right for a change. :-) Up until writing him a summons at least. I could see that being seen as over the top, but as far as the rest is concerned? The cop was completely out of line and I had no sympathy for him. It's another case of bad writing - they either should have toned the beat cop's behavior way down, added another cop with him who also got the book thrown at them by Frank for something minor who could be seen as merely guilty by association, or changed the resolution. I mean when you have just about all the posters here saying that Frank Reagan was not as much of a pompous ass as the other characters would have us believe you clearly have done something wrong...

[Sake614]

I watched this today and wondered what all of you would have to say about it. ICAM that the beat cop was way out of line. And I don't give a rats ass how good s cop he is. Frank all but apologizing to him and the whole family singing his praises like he's the second coming was ridiculous. If I spoke to my boss the way that kid spoke to Frank, I'd have a note in my personnel file about insubordination and unprofessionalism. The kid is lucky all he got was a summons and modified duty for a few days. Even in the precinct he was still mouthing off to the POLICE COMMISSIONER!

i hope they follow up on Jack cutting school and drinking. It could be an interesting side story. 

[MissLucas]

Dear Lord, I feel queasy - for once I'm siding with Frank and that's when the show decides it's time to let him admit (well almost) that he's in the wrong! WTH??? Must lie down for a moment.

*back* Not sure what to think of Anthony's subplot. I enjoy the character but as someone in law enforcement he should have recognize how vulnerable his mom was due to her dementia and stepped in some time ago. Sure admitting that things are that bad isn't easy and maybe Anthony did not want to go there and when he realized what had happened he overstepped not just out of rightful anger with the scumbag (con-folk cheating the elderly deserve a special place in hell) but also with himself. I wish they had thrown in a scene to at least talk about those issues.

[auntiemel]

I think this is a first for me - out of three storylines, I didn't find even *one* compelling. In the least! Usually, I'm interested to see where at least one is headed. Tonight? Nope!

[spunky]

I am so happy that not only did Maria push for justice, she actually told Danny off. Now if only he'd apologize for second guessing her. Poor Jamie is just stuck with Eddie. They have no chemistry at all, yet the writers insist on having Jamie be filler. At least give him a girlfriend.

[Artsda]

The  actress playing Emily is the lead on TLC's first scripted series Too Close to Home.  I kept thinking of her as that character since I saw her on that this week too.

Jamie needs freeing from Eddie.

[buckboard]

What Jamie needs is a promotion.

[CooperTV]

Quote

 

Lt. Gormley is beaten by a mob outside of his home and the Reagans want justice for this crime, so they go to Anthony for assistance. Meanwhile, Eddie and Jamie observe a bad arrest; and Danny seeks a witness who will testify against a mob leader.

 

[wknt3]

So last week we had a meta moment with the asshole cop being from the 27 and this week the trend continues with the cop drama. I'm pretty sure it was supposed to be about other shows, but I think they might have accidentally been a bit more self referential than intended with Eddie's comment about how the acting was great, but the writing was a joke and the star being a diva. It was a good week for the female partners - Eddie's line was the best of the season so far no matter what was intended and I found her less annoying than usual and I really loved Danny's partner being right and not taking any crap from him.

[wknt3]

11 hours ago, buckboard said:

What Jamie needs is a promotion.

From your lips to the producers' ears. It's been obvious for a year or so now that they should make him a sergeant. You keep him in uniform so you still show the whole NYPD and get to tell different stories from all sorts of perspectives. There are all sorts of new stories you can tell about how the evil liberal cop hating media accuses Frank of favoritism even though Jamie has the second highest score ever on the exam, about how he has to enforce Frank's policies on the street, and him interacting with Erin and Danny on cases more often.

Edited October 8, 2016 by wknt3
fix grammar

[CooperTV]

I actually thought the episode was better than the previous two. Well, the Frank stuff was kind of weak but it was there mostly for the hilarious awkwardness and comic relief (tiny ball Saul Rubinek and giant rock Tom Selleck are the sight, indeed).

I liked how the didn't drop Danny's progression in his disillusionment in his job and in the system after the Porno Serial Killer case. That was a nice bit of character development, especially with Erin and Maria reminding him how he should know better. We also had some home-based Erin/Danny interactions, even though I thought Donnie Wahlberg did all the heavy lifting in the scene. And also I got everyone's point: that kind of a rape case could be a mess in court, victim could be completely psychologically destroyed and there could be no result, and yet people need to be hold responsible no matter what. I would rather the writing let this plot more open-ended, though. Because it'd look more realistic and hopeless, if the rapist would go scott free and Danny wouldn't stalk him for the great justice. But I guess they needed Danny to start see the point of his job again, not the opposite of that.

Eddie is annoying, as per usual.

[Sake614]

I liked the guest appearance by the actor playing Sy.  He plays opposite Tom Selleck in the Jesse Stone movies, so it was a fun little moment.

the rest? Meh. I do agree it's time to do something different with Jamie. What ever happened to that task force he was supposed to head into how the police handle mentally unstable people? It doesn't have to be a main story, but at least a mention once in a while that the task force has been meeting and is making some progress. Or not. 

[mojito]

Not understanding the constant comments about "chemistry" between Jamie and Eddie. They merely have to work well together, which they do. 

[Sake614]

57 minutes ago, mojito said:

Not understanding the constant comments about "chemistry" between Jamie and Eddie. They merely have to work well together, which they do. 

it's been blatantly implied that there's romantic interest at least on her part, and probably on his. Hence the 'chemistry' comments. 

[mojito]

Wasn't that seasons ago, wasn't it? The two have settled into a working relationship. They don't need any chemistry for that.

[CooperTV]

5 hours ago, mojito said:

Not understanding the constant comments about "chemistry" between Jamie and Eddie. They merely have to work well together, which they do. 

As if they work well together, when Eddie is written as someone who gladly throws Jamie under the bus for her career and feeling better about herself.

[mtlchick]

Quote

I liked how the didn't drop Danny's progression in his disillusionment in his job and in the system after the Porno Serial Killer case. That was a nice bit of character development, especially with Erin and Maria reminding him how he should know better.

I would chalk that up to this episode was supposed to be the second episode of the season but got swapped for last week's.  That said, I do hope that they start entering more into how disillusioned cops can get when they KNOW what happen, but even with solid proof, can't close the case.

 

Quote

As if they work well together, when Eddie is written as someone who gladly throws Jamie under the bus for her career and feeling better about herself.

Seriously.  This is not a "will they or won't they" pairing.  This is a "stop trying to make this happen" pairing.

[MissLucas]

Normally Saul Rubinek makes everything better... but I felt bored with Frank's 'Eww, don't hug me!'-plot. I knew where he was coming from but Selleck really played that like it was about cooties.

And yeah - show seems to think Eddie and Jaimie could be a 'thing' - but no.

[Brian Cronin]

The show's been on the air for so long now that it is really absurd that they don't just let Jamie become a sergeant. They can still come up with a contrived reason for why he would still be walking a beat. We saw them do that early on with his sergeant (the one played by Nick Turturro). So just do that so that this super-cop finally moves beyond being a beat cop (which he obviously, obviously would have been by this point in time). 

[Brian Cronin]

I can't believe that Nikki actually called Frank "Captain Queeg" for punishing the cop. Besides the fact that the reference doesn't fit the situation at all, it was a super harsh thing to say, especially for someone you wouldn't think would be supportive of holding cops to a lower standard. Although, perhaps I'm under-estimating the writers and that was supposed to be a subtle reference to her views changing since she began dating a cop...naaaaah, I'd be giving them way too much credit with that one. 

[Brian Cronin]

I was a bit disappointed when Erin began to give Danny shit about taunting the serial killer, she didn't even mention that said taunting DIRECTLY put her daughter into danger. Danny specifically told him to come at him and then didn't even consider putting protective details on his family members! What a moronic dick!

[Brian Cronin]

By the by, last episode, Nikki thought Frank was being too harsh on the beat cop and now he is being too lenient on the booster. She must be the WORST person to spend time with. 

[morriss]

What has happened to Sid Gormley?  When he was Danny's boss, he was half  assed intelligent  when he spoke. Now all he seems to be able to say  is "Duh.....gee boss.....duh......." to Frank.

[spunky]

Aside from the stereotypes and Frank's grandstanding. That Russian accent has to be the worst I've ever heard.