Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) has spent 12 seasons on CBS as the leader of the Regan family in “Blue Bloods.” While technically his father, former police commissioner Henry (Len Cariou), is the patriarch, Frank is the defacto leader. His children, Danny (Donnie Wahlberg), Erin (Bridget Moynahan), and Jamie (Will Estes), come to him regularly for advice and guidance both in life and their professions. The legacy of the Reagan family is one of honor, duty, and the drive to protect their city.
Frank is a dedicated father and a dedicated police commissioner. He tends to stand up for what he knows to be correct, regardless of the optics and the backlash. While his team of close-knit advisors pushes him to certain conclusions or decisions, he is rarely swayed from his morals or duty. If the Reagan family is the main character of the series, Frank is the driver of that character.
At the end of the day, the character of Frank Reagan is about balance. He has to find ways to pinpoint a balance between professional and personal, profession and faith, and diplomacy and steadfastness. There are many reasons to love Frank Reagan, from his love of police dogs, his wise and quotable dialogue, his history of heroism on 9/11, and other cited incidents throughout the series.
There are so many moments where Frank feels like the hero, but what is his best moment?
‘Right up until nice doesn’t work’
Throughout “Blue Bloods,” Frank Reagan finds himself at odds with many people. The first mayor is threatened by his popularity. The second mayor often has ideals that conflict with Frank’s surrounding police. The third attempts to make policy decisions that will negatively impact his officers. He finds himself going up against Reverend Potter (Ato Essandoh) or the Arch Bishop in many cases where he has to balance his job and faith.
In Season 6, Episode 16, “Help Me Help You,” audiences get an insight into Frank Reagan through his dialogue with his team. While it isn’t Frank’s best moment, it gives insight into who he is and how he works.
Before entering a meeting with the City Council Speaker, the team prepares him for conflict over the “Broken Windows” paradigm (allowing minor offenses encourages major offenses). While Garrett (Gregory Jbara) is pleading with him to be nice since the Speaker has the muscle to push the policy out the door, he quotes Frank by saying, “Talk first, fight last.” We see Frank take this tactic over and over in his conflicts, most notably the multiple encounters with Reverend Potter.
The conversation ends when he agrees to the meeting, and Garrett asks Frank if he will “play nice.” Frank responds with one of his best quotes that defines who he is: “Right up until nice doesn’t work.” This again shows how he found balance in his job, between nice and not nice when needed.
He learned balance with his family
Frank Reagan’s best moment was when he again found balance. This time, he was forced to find it with his children. As the police commissioner with two sons on the job and a daughter in the prosecutor’s office, Frank has to step lightly to avoid appearing to be playing favorites regularly.
In Season 5, Episode 13, “Love Stories,” Frank struggles with the decision to award Danny the Medal of Valor. When Sid Gormley (Robert Clohessy) nominates Danny for the award, Frank immediately rejects it out of custom, fearing it would look like nepotism. Gormley asks Frank if an officer or detective with a different name would get the award.
Later, Frank goes to his father for guidance and learns that Henry did the same thing to him. He was nominated for the same award in 1988, which Henry denied for the same reason. His father expressed regret that he didn’t get the award he deserved. Frank ultimately awarded Danny with the medal, to which he turned around and gave it back to him at the family dinner.
At this moment, Frank learned that his children were often punished for carrying his name in his attempt to avoid playing favorites. Frank’s effort to avoid treating his children differently inadvertently caused him to treat two excellent cops differently from the rest. This moment of balance solidified Frank Reagan as the honorable, duty-bound PC his rank and file can count on to have their backs.
