Blue Bloods: The Best Dinner Scene From Every Season, Ranked

The police procedural, “Blue Bloods,” follows Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) and his family, who have been part of the law enforcement world for generations. The Reagans are police officers and lawyers by trade, but they are a family first and take their bonds and traditions seriously. One of the ways they stay connected is by having Sunday dinner together. These “Blue Bloods” dinner scenes are integral to every episode, and fans probably can’t imagine the show without them. They remind viewers that, even in today’s busy world, it’s essential to make time for those who matter most.

These scenes are some of the only instances where most of the central characters are together in one place, which presents some unique challenges. In an interview with CBS 58, Selleck explained that these family meals are some of the most challenging scenes to get right and often take as long as eight hours to film. However, despite the labor-intensive nature of the dinners, they’re an important part of the show’s legacy and set it apart from other procedurals. Although there have been countless great Sunday dinner scenes across the show’s tenure, each season has one that stands above the rest.

12. Exiles (Season 4, Episode 22)

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Season 4’s “Exiles” sees Frank giving a speech to police academy graduates, an event which he spends much of the episode agonizing over but pulls off well. The end of the episode also treats viewers to a unique sight at the weekly family dinner. Instead of showing up in their usual civilian clothes, the Reagans attend their meal in full uniform. The family has a relatively subdued dinner, which is rare in this household full of strong and passionate personalities. They congratulate Frank on his speech, but the dinner is free of intense arguments or outlandish jokes.

The conversation is definitely less exciting and memorable than many of the other great dinner scenes in the series. Still, the visual impact of seeing the whole family in blue is impressive. For the first time since the beginning of the series, audiences witness the Reagans not only united in their familial bonds but united as police officers. This family dinner highlights just how important the world of law enforcement is to the Reagans’ legacy, especially for the third generation. Clearly, all three siblings have proudly followed in their father and grandfather’s footsteps. Although Erin (Bridget Moynahan) became a lawyer instead of a police officer, she looks right at home among her siblings.

11. Absolute Power (Season 6, Episode 2)

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Some of the Reagan dinners may seem overly idealistic, but the Season 6 episode, “Absolute Power,” gives viewers a more relatable picture of the family. This dinner is one of the few in which most people can genuinely see a reflection of their own families: post-work exhaustion and worries about the future guide the conversation. The meal isn’t as warm and fuzzy as many others and includes awkward moments and a relatively tense final moment for Danny (Donnie Wahlberg). There’s no primary emotional anchor for this scene — it’s a slice of life amid stressful situations for many characters. Although this may not sound like a great meal, it’s a refreshing look at the other side of the family’s connection.

More importantly, this family dinner is a source of updates for major storylines that unfold throughout the season. For example, Erin bemoans the finer point of securing a judgeship, and Frank warns her against being too quick to assume there’s no catch. Meanwhile, Danny refuses to divulge any information about the serial killer case he has been working on recently. Whereas many Sunday dinners merely provide a satisfying conclusion to the episode, Danny’s cagey attitude hints at the difficulties he will face later.

10. Confessions (Season 7, Episode 9)

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In the Season 7 episode, “Confessions,” Jamie (Will Estes) finds himself on the opposite side of the law after spending a night in a holding cell after a fight. At that week’s Sunday dinner, the rest of the Reagans trade stories about their own experiences with spending time in jail. Nicky (Sami Gayle) expresses relief that she isn’t the only family member with a prison stint under her belt, and Danny readily admits to his experience in prison as part of a “Scared Straight” program as a teen. Even Henry (Len Cariou) proudly recalls a weekend spent in jail with friends after a protest.

Of course, not every Reagan is as forthcoming about their prison time. Frank argues that the disciplinary action he faced as a Marine didn’t count as jail time, and Erin boasts that she is the only family member with a clean record. However, Frank shares a surprise: he is well aware of a youthful transgression that landed her in lock-up. Naturally, Erin is horrified by this discovery and demands to know which of her brothers shared this information with her father. This conversation is another hilarious instance of the third generation behaving like typical siblings and reminds audiences that none of the Reagans are perfect.

9. Moonlighting (Season 2, Episode 9)

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No one at Sunday dinner is exempt from occasional jokes at their expense, so surviving in the Reagan family is only possible with a good sense of humor. In Season 2’s “Moonlighting,” the family spends their meal making light of a weird habit from Jamie’s childhood. Unfortunately, he shows up with a badly bruised face, the newest development in a dangerous undercover case. His young nephews are naturally curious about seeing their uncle in this condition, and Frank and Jamie share a joke about not giving his assailants the information they want.

This joke quickly spirals into a story about Jamie swallowing his brother Danny’s quarter collection as a child, which gets the whole table laughing. Unfortunately for Jamie, that’s only the beginning of his family making fun of him with silly tales of his penchant for inedible snacks. Erin reminds everyone of the time Jamie swallowed a special locket of hers, and the Reagans explode into laughter all over again. According to Frank, young Jamie even swallowed the key to the family liquor cabinet. The family’s ability to find humor in even the darkest situations makes them relatable, and this family dinner is an excellent example.

8. Meet The New Boss (Season 9, Episode 2)

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Since their engagement in Season 8, Jamie and Eddie’s relationship has become an enjoyable aspect of the series for many viewers. Of course, they are not a perfect couple, but the buildup to their wedding is a significant highlight of Season 9. Eddie (Vanessa Ray) establishes herself as an excellent addition to the family, especially because she can understand the family’s unique brand of humor. A great example of this comes in the season’s second episode, “Meet The New Boss,” when the Reagans subject Eddie to some good-natured hazing regarding her upcoming wedding.

After Eddie cooks the Sunday dinner, the Reagans call a “code blue” at the table and take turns explaining their visions for Eddie’s wedding. It sounds like the family has every moment of her big day picked out, right down to her wedding dress. Many people would feel intimidated in this situation, but Eddie holds her own. She stands up to the family and insists that she will have the wedding she wants instead of blindly following their wishes. After she gives this impassioned speech, the Reagans reveal that a “code blue” is just a test for new family members and that Eddie passed with flying colors.

7. Happy Endings (Season 11, Episode 12)

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The Reagans are an opinionated group, which often causes hilarious arguments and the trading of sarcastic jabs. Jack Boyle (Peter Hermann) isn’t exactly beloved by the family after his divorce from Erin, which is evident in the Season 12 episode, “Happy Endings.” Erin and Jack surprise the rest of the family by appearing together at Sunday dinner, immediately garnering judgmental looks from most of the table. Erin looks nervous when they enter the room, and her brothers quickly confirm her fears.

It’s obvious that the Reagan men haven’t gotten over Jack’s treatment of their sister, and their passive-aggressive behavior is both on-brand and entertaining. For example, Frank makes a hilarious attempt at sounding excited to see him, but it’s clear that Jack has an uphill battle to win his way back into the family’s good graces. Soon, the sarcasm reaches new heights when Jack accidentally reveals that he and Erin took a trip to Pennsylvania together. The whole scene is cringeworthy for Erin, but it’s hard not to laugh at her discomfort while Jamie and Danny poke fun at Jack. Surprisingly, Frank finds enough of a sense of civility to let Jack say the evening’s grace, an honor that he readily accepts.