Critic’s Ranking: 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 in some way felt like each different story on this lovely collection.
If it needed to finish, this was the way to do it, and the ultimate scene got here near my dream ending. Nevertheless it additionally made the purpose that there COULD have been many extra tales to inform if solely CBS had discovered a method to preserve it on the air.
Shedding 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 photographs of the funeral sequence had been launched. All of the Reagans had been in attendance and so was Mayor Chase.
If we needed to lose somebody, I’d moderately 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 definitely 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 another episode, however as quickly as Eddie and Badillo obtained that decision, my coronary heart jumped into my throat, and I KNEW, with out 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 referred to 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 typical for the Reagans.
I wasn’t positive whether or not to admire their bravery or whether or not it cheapened the menace 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 remaining hour.
Though I knew it wasn’t going to finish with a horrible tragedy for the Reagans, I stored anticipating somebody to return round a nook with a gun, particularly when Jamie and Joe had been strolling out to their automobiles after interrogating Emilio’s girlfriend.
I didn’t like how Emilio checked out Frank as he was being led away close to the top 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 can 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 situation 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 had been paying homage to Frank’s confrontation with Sonny Malevsky after studying he was liable 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 spoil 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 in need of masterful.
Frank: I had a son who was killed, by the police really. And if earlier than it occurred, somebody mentioned to me, right here’s your selection: we kill him now or he spends the remainder of his life in jail. You recognize what? I wouldn’t blink. I might be at that jail each probability I obtained with hamburgers for us and a deck of playing cards so we may spend a while collectively. And I’d be thrilled to be there. Trigger I do know the chilly darkish of the opposite selection. I stay with it each single day.
What a wonderful tribute to the 14 years of lacking Joe that we’ve all lived via with Frank and the remainder of the Reagan household.
That was the right method to wrap up that tragic storyline.
All through your entire collection, the household has by no means misplaced their sense of grief that Joe can not be a part of them at any extra Reagan household dinners, and assembly Joe Hill made it worse in some methods.
They are going to by no means totally recuperate from that demise. As Frank’s lovely speech on Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 factors out, he’ll at all times 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 definitely 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 remaining episode and that CBS gave Blue Bloods this remaining half-season to wrap issues up that I don’t wish to admit it was lower than excellent.
Nonetheless, the Amelia story confused me.
Amelia was terrified when she referred to as Eddie, however by the point Danny lastly tracked her down, she didn’t appear afraid of anyone however the cops.
I assume she may 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 communicate 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 rapidly.
A couple 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 all around the metropolis, that answer appeared all too simple.
This is the 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 might get to the ultimate wrap-up.
Blue Bloods’ Pleased Ending Was Good, But It Didn’t Really feel Totally different Than Any Different Episode
After all of the instances had been resolved, Badillo’s funeral and the ultimate household dinner had been the one remaining occasions.
These scenes may 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 may 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 had been returning, Season 15 may start after Eddie’s child was born in order that she has to regulate to a brand new associate 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 another household dinner, both. Danny is at all times 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 remaining, the household all collectively — together with a returning Jack Reagan and Nicky — was absolutely the excellent method to finish this collection.
The household dinners had been the center of this collection, so an enormous one was the fitting word to finish on.
I had hoped the ultimate strains could be a toast to your entire Reagan household, and whereas that didn’t occur, Frank’s expression of gratitude and delight in his household got here fairly rattling shut.
After the credit rolled, I didn’t cry due to the episode’s occasions (though 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).
Possibly sometime we are going to 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 at present accessible to stream on Paramount+
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