12×03 Protective Instincts

Frank must decide between remaining police commissioner and pursuing a new professional chapter when his old friend Lenny Ross (Treat Williams) presents him with an exciting job offer. Also, Sean puts Jamie and Eddie in a tough position when he tries his hand at the family business behind his father Danny’s back, and Danny and Baez investigate the murder of a restaurant delivery man, on the CBS Original series BLUE BLOODS

CBS Press Release

Initial Thoughts

These are my thoughts on the third episode of season twelve. A lot of it is my interpretation of what is not said and may exist purely in my imagination. If you agree or disagree, please let me know, as I’d still love to hear from you regardless. I just ask that you’re polite. It’d be great to debate ideas and see what thought-provoking theories emerge.

An episode that continues to build Sean’s role within the show, it hits similar story notes to Thicker Than Water but does it with greater depth. This is a story that provides fresh insight into three relationships between Sean, Danny and Jamie. It was a much more emotional story for Jamie than we could have imagined, with a bit of light-hearted humour supplied by Eddie and Witten’s responses during the ride-along.

Scene by Scene Breakdown

Nephew’s Request

Jamie doesn’t appear to have learnt anything about the potential pitfalls of these requests. In season 4’s Above and Beyond, Nicky told him she had Erin’s approval which was a lie. Then there were terrible consequences when Nicky accompanied Jamie and Eddie on a ride-along in season 7’s Hard Bargain. However, what matters is that Jamie’s niece and nephew both felt that he was the one they could approach and ask for help with something.

Even if the request puzzles Jamie, he still shows trust and respect by accepting Sean’s answer. Maybe he should have been a little suspicious and wondered why Sean hadn’t asked when he saw them at family dinner. Also, have to wonder if Jamie agreed because he felt Sean clearly needed to be exposed to reality. No one needs the male point of view on the difficulties women face in the workplace, and it’s definitely not a fresh idea.

Ride-along

Eddie and Witten appear to be testing how far they can go before Sean realises they’re joking. Saying they always had salad for lunch should have been a big clue; Sean should know his aunt well enough to realise that would never be true.

It may be slightly mean that Eddie and Witten are teasing Sean with the rules for women in the NYPD, but at least Sean eventually realises. We could assume that Sean’s this unaware because it’s 4 years since he lost his mother, but he’s spent enough time with his aunts and cousin that he shouldn’t be falling for the stereotypes.

Responding to a call

Eddie leaves Sean with clear instructions (which he immediately ignores) but still manages a bit of humour. Should we assume that’s why the windows are open?

It’s a nice touch that Sean has “Aunt Eddie” in his contacts list, and at least he was thinking enough to contact her straight away. Unfortunately for Sean, his first lesson in police work is that you need to be aware of your surroundings. (Definite déjà vu when watching this scene as it takes place in the same courtyard as Jamie and Eddie’s chase with Jamko, the dog, in The First 100 Days)

Hospital Visit

For the third episode running, the Reagans are at the hospital… Would love to know the sequence of events. Did Eddie return to the RMP, discover Sean was missing and then have to find him? We hear that Eddie was the one to call Danny; did Jamie meet her at the hospital to provide back-up when Danny arrived?

The situation must have been alarming, but the framing of this scene is a little strange as Jamie and Eddie don’t appear to have been in a conversation when Danny arrived. Would they really have had so little to talk about? It could be that it’s supposed to be due to the tension of waiting for Danny’s arrival, but it could’ve felt more like they were preparing to face him together.

Apology and Explanation

Jamie is annoyed with Sean, but he doesn’t talk down to him; instead, it’s the same way he’d talk to an officer who put themselves in danger. However, it’s difficult to stay annoyed when part of Sean’s reason is that Jamie would listen to him when his only parent won’t. Especially as Sean felt the ride-along would provide a better understanding of what the family’s work involves. In The End, Jamie told Danny he felt like he owed the family something as the only one who wasn’t in the NYPD, so he knows what it’s like to feel like the odd one out in the family. 

It could be said that Jamie is very diplomatic in his description of Danny’s ability to listen. However, it suggests that Danny is struggling a little as a single parent. In Risk Management, Danny had said that Linda dealt with the emotional stuff. Danny may be finding this more of a challenge as he tries to act as though everything is OK despite Sean going to college.

Reagan Family Dinner

Danny is still sulking, and it gets worse because he feels that no one is on his side. Sean is Danny’s son, but at eighteen, he’s no longer a child, and he no longer lives under Danny’s roof. His argument is that it’s about protecting his family, which isn’t really the issue. It may have been a surprise to Henry, but Frank must have heard about what happened. There’s no way an incident that involved the family didn’t ping Sid and Garrett’s radar. This could be why Frank’s so quick to make a comment, although he would equally support Nicky in her arguments with Erin.

Understandably, Danny is upset about Sean’s injuries, but it doesn’t excuse how he talks to everyone at the table. Jamie won’t allow Danny to get away with disrespecting Eddie and calls him out on it. However, it shouldn’t matter how betrayed Danny feels; there’s no reason to belittle Sean at the dinner table.

Sisterly Advice

The post-dinner scene has Erin showing Danny respect but pointing out that he can’t treat the family the same as work colleagues. Have to wonder if Jamie had spoken to Erin and mentioned what Sean had said. This conversation provides a visual indication of how much Danny’s life has changed. He no longer drives a Jeep; instead, he’s now in a new Mustang. Danny isn’t a family man anymore – after Jamie driving a Mustang from season 4 to season 8, it’s now Danny’s turn.

Brother’s Perspective

This echoes Jamie and Danny’s conversation about Sean in Thicker Than Water. But even though the previous episode talked about a difficult time in their lives, there’s so much more emotion involved here. The way Jamie’s voice breaks when he talks about the time after Joe died. It shows that no matter what Jamie achieves, he still feels he has to push himself further to live up to his brother’s reputation. That isn’t solely down to Danny, but he doesn’t help because he tends to challenge rather than compliment.

The potted history of their lives follows the same points made by Erin; while probably challenging some of the previously established chronology. How does Jamie know that Danny was “cool in 6th grade”? Considering the age difference, Jamie could’ve been a baby or a toddler at the time; assuming that Jamie completed his education at Harvard as quickly as possible, then he would’ve been 25 when he finished – and that was in 2009 according to what he says here. Of course, Reagan ages are flexible, and it’s never stated what the difference is supposed to be between Jamie and his older siblings.

Drink with Dad

The conclusion doesn’t involve either Jamie or Eddie. Instead, it is between father and son. Danny has paid attention to Jamie’s advice and found a way to find common ground with Sean, treating him more like an equal than a child.

In Hate is Hate, Danny said Sean had gone off to college. Here we have visual confirmation that Sean has moved out of home and lives in student accommodation.

Final Thoughts

Jamie and Eddie. Unfortunately, even though they share two scenes, they barely interact with each other. Eddie’s time in the RMP provides the element of fun for the story, with all other parts having a slightly more emotional or deeper undertone. Though there are still some tense moments when she faces an upset Danny. Of course, this story was more about Jamie’s relationship with Danny and helping Sean.

Danny calls Jamie naïve, but unless you treat young adults with respect, you’re not acknowledging that they’re growing up. Although Jamie’s niece and nephew have taken advantage of his trust, it also shows that they recognise his ability to help them. Whereas Nicky typically turned to her grandpa when she had problems with Erin, Sean is asking Jamie.

Erin and Jamie’s conversations with Danny provided different perspectives on what he’s achieved in his life. While Erin concentrated on how his determination and focus have allowed him to achieve so much, Jamie reflected on how those qualities can make him seem overbearing. Danny is capable of finding the right balance; he just doesn’t always realise he needs to. 

In contrast to one of last week’s main problems: there was a moment of successful continuity with a call back to season 1’s Age of Innocence. But Nicky’s experience doesn’t really compare with Sean’s (although on both occasions, it was because they didn’t stay in the car). However, it proves they can maintain continuity and refer to something that happened in earlier seasons. Which makes it all the more confusing when they fail to do it elsewhere.