Critic’s Score: 4.8 / 5.0
4.8
Blue Bloods ended its fourteen-year run tonight, and it’s arduous to consider that it’s not coming again subsequent week or subsequent yr.
Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 was an intense episode that someway felt like each different story on this lovely collection.
If it needed to finish, this was the best way to do it, and the ultimate scene got here near my dream ending. However it additionally made the purpose that there COULD have been many extra tales to inform if solely CBS had discovered a solution to maintain it on the air.
Dropping Badillo Was Anticipated, But Unhappy
Rumors swirled for months about Badillo’s demise in Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18, and by final week, it was clear it needed to be Badillo.
Nobody else made any sense as soon as the pictures of the funeral sequence have been launched. All of the Reagans have been in attendance and so was Mayor Chase.
If we needed to lose somebody, I’d fairly it’s a secondary character like Badillo. It could have been a horrible ending if any of the Reagans had died or been severely injured.
This story additionally gave Eddie one final probability to shine. She was fierce each in attempting to save lots of Badillo and her response after studying he was gone.
Eddie: Are you able to do one thing for me?
Danny: Something.
Eddie: Then you definately don’t child me and also you don’t sideline me and also you don’t inform me it’s too arduous or that it’s too private and also you let me assist.
Danny: Why would I child one of many hardest cops I’ve ever recognized?
The opening scene began like every other episode, however as quickly as Eddie and Badillo received that decision, my coronary heart jumped into my throat, and I KNEW, and not using a shadow of a doubt, that Badillo’s destiny was sealed.
That just about made these scenes worse as a result of I used to be ready for the precise second of his demise, and when Eddie known as for him, and he didn’t reply, it broke my coronary heart much more than if it had been a shock.
Regardless of The Hazard, The Reagans Have been Principally Unafraid On Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18
Erin was afraid she would lose one other brother, and Frank talked about Joe’s demise, however for probably the most half, it was enterprise as common for the Reagans.
I wasn’t positive whether or not to admire their bravery or whether or not it cheapened the risk to all cops that Danny, Jamie, and Joe didn’t appear to have a lot concern about their very own security, even after visiting Eddie within the hospital.
In some methods, although, it added to the suspense of this ultimate hour.
Though I knew it wasn’t going to finish with a horrible tragedy for the Reagans, I saved anticipating somebody to come back round a nook with a gun, particularly when Jamie and Joe have been strolling out to their vehicles after interrogating Emilio’s girlfriend.
I didn’t like how Emilio checked out Frank as he was being led away close to the tip of the episode.
That was one of many issues that made this really feel extra like a season finale than a collection finale. That scene appeared like a set-up for a future episode that may by no means come.
Frank’s Confrontation Of An Aged Gangster Was The Most Chilling Half Of The Hour
After Mayor Chase gave Frank the keys to the town, Frank used his newfound energy to attempt to persuade a lifer to surrender the placement of his son, who was the gangster responsible of taking pictures the mayor, resulting in some scenes that made a shiver go up my backbone.
These scenes included simply Frank and the prisoner (particular visitor Edward James Olmo) in a room. They have been harking back to Frank’s confrontation with Sonny Malevsky after studying he was answerable for Joe Reagan’s demise on Blue Bloods Season 1 Episode 22.
This confrontation was quieter however no much less intense.
At first, it appeared like a waste of Frank’s time. The prisoner wasn’t going to budge and was satisfied that he was the true hero, defending his son from the evil cops who wished him to destroy the connection by ratting him out.
However boy, did Frank have an ace up his sleeve. The way in which he used his emotions about his personal son’s demise to get Lorenzo to budge was nothing wanting masterful.
Frank: I had a son who was killed, by the police truly. And if earlier than it occurred, somebody stated to me, right here’s your selection: we kill him now or he spends the remainder of his life in jail. You already know what? I wouldn’t blink. I’d be at that jail each probability I received with hamburgers for us and a deck of playing cards so we might spend a while collectively. And I’d be thrilled to be there. Trigger I do know the chilly darkish of the opposite selection. I dwell with it each single day.
What a lovely tribute to the 14 years of lacking Joe that we’ve all lived by with Frank and the remainder of the Reagan household.
That was the proper solution to wrap up that tragic storyline.
All through the complete collection, the household has by no means misplaced their sense of grief that Joe can’t be a part of them at any extra Reagan household dinners, and assembly Joe Hill made it worse in some methods.
They’ll by no means absolutely get well from that demise. As Frank’s lovely speech on Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 factors out, he’ll all the time miss his son.
However Joe would in all probability be proud that indirectly, he helped save the town from the gang’s violent rampage.
That doesn’t make it any higher that he’s gone, however Frank actually honored his reminiscence throughout this story.
The Amelia Story Was The Weakest Half Of Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18
I’m detest to criticize any a part of the finale. I’m so grateful we had this ultimate episode and that CBS gave Blue Bloods this ultimate half-season to wrap issues up that I don’t wish to admit it was lower than excellent.
Nevertheless, the Amelia story confused me.
Amelia was terrified when she known as Eddie, however by the point Danny lastly tracked her down, she didn’t appear petrified of anyone however the cops.
I suppose she might have had a little bit of Stockholm Syndrome, however it got here off as bizarre.
This was a child who was so traumatized after witnessing her father kill her mom that she didn’t converse for 3 days, and this was the second time her dad had tried to kidnap her.
But after that preliminary cellphone name, she took all of it in stride.
Moreover, it felt like Carlos Ramirez gave up too shortly.
A number of phrases from Danny about how fathers ought to lead by instance did it. Ramirez despatched Amelia upstairs with Baez, made a half-hearted try at suicide, after which surrendered peacefully.
Contemplating he blamed Danny for his not being in Amelia’s life and had kidnapped her whereas his gang was taking pictures public servants everywhere in the metropolis, that answer appeared all too straightforward.
For this reason Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 ought to have been two hours.
There was an excessive amount of to suit into the ultimate hour, so this story was shortchanged in order that they may get to the ultimate wrap-up.
Blue Bloods’ Joyful Ending Was Excellent, But It Didn’t Really feel Completely different Than Any Different Episode
After all of the instances have been resolved, Badillo’s funeral and the ultimate household dinner have been the one remaining occasions.
These scenes might simply as simply have been a part of a season finale as a collection finale.
I’m thrilled that Eddie and Jamie are having a child, however I want we might have the prospect to get to know them. And I LOVE the tacit acknowledgment that Joe Hill is a full-fledged member of the family now.
But when Blue Bloods have been returning, Season 15 might start after Eddie’s child was born in order that she has to regulate to a brand new companion and to being a mom who’s working as a cop, and nothing else would basically change.
The ultimate household dinner wasn’t a lot completely different from every other household dinner, both. Danny is all the time in a rush to get to the meals whereas everybody catches up with one another and expresses gratitude for the time they spend collectively.
Though that doesn’t sound thrilling or ultimate, the household all collectively — together with a returning Jack Reagan and Nicky — was absolutely the excellent solution to finish this collection.
The household dinners have been the center of this collection, so an enormous one was the correct observe to finish on.
I had hoped the ultimate strains can be a toast to the complete Reagan household, and whereas that didn’t occur, Frank’s expression of gratitude and satisfaction in his household got here fairly rattling shut.
After the credit rolled, I didn’t cry due to the episode’s occasions (regardless that Badillo’s demise was unhappy). I cried as a result of that was the final household dinner I’d get to share with the Reagans, not counting reruns streaming on Paramount+.
And now, I flip it over to you in order that I can hear your ideas on a brand new episode of Blue Bloods for the final time, fellow Blue Bloods fanatics.
I’d love your takes on Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18, particularly your ideas on how the collection wrapped up (or didn’t).
Perhaps sometime we’ll all get to debate a reunion film or spinoff, however for now, vote in our ballot to price the episode after which publish your ideas within the feedback.
Each episode of Blue Bloods is presently obtainable to stream on Paramount+
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