Danny’S Spinoff Reclaims 1 Specific Blue Bloods Signature Trait That Cbs Failed To Replicate
Boston Blue Aims to Rekindle the Blue Bloods Magic
CBS is hoping to strike gold again with Boston Blue, a Blue Bloods spinoff centered on Donnie Wahlberg’s fan-favorite character, Danny Reagan. Following the unexpected cancellation of Blue Bloods in early 2025 after 14 successful seasons, fans launched a spirited campaign to save the show.
Though that effort fell short, CBS responded with the development of Boston Blue for the 2025–2026 season.
Set in Boston instead of New York City, the new series sees Danny adjusting to a new environment and a new partner, played by Star Trek: Discovery star Sonequa Martin-Green.
Her character, Lena Peters, comes from a respected Boston police family, raising speculation that the series may echo Blue Bloods’ signature family dinner scenes and multi-generational themes.
While it’s unclear whether Marisa Ramirez’s Baez—Danny’s partner in the original series—will appear, the finale of Blue Bloods hinted at a potential romantic storyline between Danny and Baez, leaving room for future development.
Boston Blue will air Fridays at 10 PM ET—the same time slot that Blue Bloods dominated for over a decade.
This strategic move signals CBS’ intent to retain the original fanbase while establishing continuity between the two shows.
Blue Bloods consistently thrived in a time slot traditionally seen as weak for scripted dramas, proving the loyalty and passion of its audience.
CBS struggled to replicate that success after Blue Bloods ended. The network moved S.W.A.T. into the 10 PM Friday slot, hoping the procedural’s action-heavy format would fill the void. It didn’t.
Ratings dipped, with S.W.A.T. averaging only around 5 million viewers, while Blue Bloods had nearly 8 million in its final season. The S.W.A.T. series finale attracted just 4.5 million viewers compared to Blue Bloods’ 6.5 million.
Behind the scenes, Boston Blue has a fresh creative team: showrunners Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis, known for The Blacklist and Alert: Missing Persons Unit.
This may bring a different tone to the show, but Wahlberg, who also serves as executive producer, has emphasized that the Reagan family values that made Blue Bloods special must remain central.
Whether Boston Blue can truly fill the void depends on several factors. The show must appeal not only to longtime Blue Bloods fans but also to new viewers.
Explaining Danny’s move to Boston—especially if Baez is absent—will be crucial for believability. CBS must avoid the mistake it made with S.W.A.T.: assuming a familiar time slot alone could carry a show.
Still, with Wahlberg leading the way and CBS positioning Boston Blue as a true spiritual successor, the new series could be poised to capture both old loyalties and new attention.
