12×09 Firewall

Frank enlists the help of an old friend, Sloane Thompson (Alex Kingston), to investigate a cyber-attack on the NYPD that forces Danny and Baez to release an evasive suspect. Also, Baez questions her place within the NYPD; Eddie is torn over a workplace dilemma; and Jamie wrestles with a family secret, on the CBS Original series BLUE BLOODS

CBS Press Release

Initial Thoughts

These are my thoughts on the ninth 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 achieves so much and demonstrates again that Jamie and Eddie’s relationship can be explored without it being the sole focus of their storyline. Being able to do so much with their relationship while also giving them separate stories is something I’d love to see more of in the future. It isn’t a festive episode to end the year, but with Jamie appearing at the bottom of chimneys and bestowing gifts, he makes a good substitute for Santa.

Scene by Scene Breakdown

Forgotten Wallets & Food (Jamie)

Funny how Henry assumes Jamie is just there for leftovers when he’s actually there doing his husbandly duty and retrieving Eddie’s wallet. Jamie creeping past his sleeping grandpa is sweet and fun, with a moment of gentle teasing to show their normal relationship before things get complicated.

The fire is quickly dealt with, but Jamie is panicked by the imagined worst-case outcome, and Henry is determined to maintain his pride. Of course, Jamie reacts like this; we’ve previously seen how he responded when Henry was in harm’s way in Secrets and Lies.

Coffee & Bullets (Eddie)

There’s an acknowledgement of last week’s story with a quick mention of Badillo, explaining why he isn’t in this episode. Eddie’s partner of the week provides a humorous conversation and quickly reveals enough about herself that it’s easy to guess she’s pregnant. This ensures that what happens next is even more dramatic.

Shoutout to the convenient cyclist who ensured that Eddie wasn’t shot for a second time (I’m still thankful for the cyclist Jamie collided with in Friendship, Love and Loyalty). Eddie deals with the shooting quickly and capably, no time to dwell on this being the first time we’ve seen Eddie’s partner shot.

Cora’s Status (Eddie)

No time is wasted in stating what we’ve already guessed. Cora’s situation is effectively described, so Eddie’s sympathy is believably earned. But it doesn’t reflect well on the NYPD that pregnancy apparently negates what Cora has achieved for a merit-based promotion.

Sharing Without Details

There’s no suggestion that this is a special occasion. Instead, it feels like this could be something Jamie and Eddie try to do every time their schedules allow it, making the most of the time they have together. It’s one of many positives in this scene, a key one being that Jamie and Eddie are sharing their problems, even if it’s in a limited manner. This was a form of communication that I felt was missing last season, especially after The End, and is a sign that they’re trying to find a way that works for them. There’s no sense of annoyance; instead, the tone remains light as they ruefully acknowledge they’ve barely shared anything and address each other as husband and wife.

Asking for advice while avoiding details feels similar to some of the conversations that have taken place at family dinners. As well as past episodes like Scorched Earth, where Jamie has asked Frank and Henry for advice.

Legal Advice (Eddie)

Erin is a terrible tease, pretending to assume that Eddie’s looking for help in getting a divorce. Although that’s quickly replaced with a hint of hopeful excitement when she questions whether it’s just a friend of Eddie’s who is pregnant. With her final statement, Erin encourages Eddie, reassuring her that she can help her friend and saying that Eddie can achieve the same as a dozen men.
What’s nice about this scene is that it shows Eddie can happily go to other family members when she has a problem. It’s useful as it avoids placing Jamie in a difficult position; it wouldn’t matter even if they worked in different precincts as it would still be his duty as a boss to act.

Although Erin is frequently portrayed as having dealt with everything on her own, she takes the time to acknowledge she’s continuously received support. Erin’s situation was very different to Cora’s, Nicky was a teenager by the time Erin’s divorce was finalised, so not quite as challenging. No one will be surprised that she had the support of her mother and the rest of the family.

Household Maintenance (Jamie)

This may not be a festive instalment ahead of Christmas, but I can’t help but think that if it’s a choice between Santa and Jamie Reagan in the fireplace, I’m happy with this option… (You have to feel sympathy for Frank and Mary’s time as parents when you hear that Jamie considered inside the chimney a good hiding spot from his brothers)

The way Jamie rattles off the list of repairs he’s done feels a lot like his final scene with Eddie in The New You. Jamie tends to get a little frantic when he’s worried about someone important to him. Probably what bothered Henry is that his request for no one to know would be undermined by the sudden burst of activity and likely to draw Frank’s attention. Henry hides it most of the time, but occasionally it’s clear that he worries about getting older, and Jamie’s concern isn’t helping. So Jamie is faced with the fear that Henry usually keeps locked away. However, Henry’s experience means he can quickly take control of a situation, in this case, reclaiming his home. Firmly dismissing Jamie, using Jameson ensures he knows he’s in trouble, and Henry still gets to keep the pizza.

Reagan Family Dinner

For the first time in the show’s history, we get a passing reference to Jamie’s birthday. There’s a slight meta element to this dinner with Eddie’s comment that Jamie is a Libra: Will Estes celebrated his birthday during the filming of this episode and shares that star sign.

The lunar discussion is an effective way of reflecting on the common theme of the various stories. Everyone is dealing with the challenge of the potential for change in their lives. Jamie and Eddie also pick up hints about each other’s secrets. With their conversation at home, there was no way Eddie would miss the implications of Henry’s comments. Plus, Jamie’s reaction to realising Eddie had spoken to Erin was amusing.

Chevelle Sharing

Eddie provides insight on how Jamie could fix his problem with Henry and realises it might help with her own issue. This demonstrates that talking things through can help both of them, even when they aren’t revealing everything.

It’s a gratifying use of the Chevelle and one we haven’t seen since By Hook or By Crook. We all have assumed that this is what their post-dinner journey home looked like, but it’s so satisfying to see it. What’s particularly sweet is how Eddie reaches across to rest her hand on Jamie’s shoulder in a sign of support and sympathy.

Eddie Asks (Eddie)

Unfortunately for Eddie, the advice she gave Jamie doesn’t work so well for her situation. Again, Eddie gets accused of snitching to her husband. At some point, the other officers at the 2-9 will have to realise that isn’t how Eddie and Jamie work.

Sergeant’s Solution

Another example of Jamie being a great boss. Also helpfully points out to Cora that she wasn’t hiding her condition from anyone (so no reason to blame Eddie). Jamie’s casual statement that he knows someone on the detective interview panel highlights that he is well connected within the NYPD (that doesn’t have to involve the family ties). It’s easy to believe that the hug Cora gives Eddie is meant for Jamie as well; she’s so happy and thankful for the opportunity Jamie has given her. This feels similar to the ending of Be Smart or Be Dead, as Jamie steps in to help Eddie resolve her problem.

This scene manages to provide another sweet couple moment as they exchange “I love you”s and a quick kiss. We get so much in this episode, so it feels greedy, but I wish we could have seen how Eddie finally told Jamie about her problem. Understandably, it wasn’t included as it wasn’t necessary to progress the story, easy to imagine it would’ve been a great mix of teasing and empathy.

Repairing Relationships (Jamie)

It’s another endearing statement from Jamie, this time about how he feels about his grandfather. Including a nice touch as he refers to the lessons he still feels he has to learn about being a cop and a husband. Jamie’s speech feels so natural as we’ve heard Frank speak in a similar way to Henry. Stubbornness is a family trait, even if they don’t always recognise it.

Final Thoughts

Jamie and Eddie’s relationship provided a central thread to connect their individual storylines. It did so much to highlight the best qualities of their marriage; while still providing insights into the minor day to day activities. We even got a reminder of what probably lies in their future with the references to Cora’s pregnancy; however, it’s still to be seen how far away that may be. What seemed particularly impressive is that their stories were so well structured that everything felt necessary: the time at the precinct, the visits to Frank and Henry’s house, the candlelit dinner, a trip to Erin’s office and using the Chevelle. The two storylines showed so much of how their lives and relationships intersect. The logistics may not always allow it, but it would be appreciated if more occasions provided a sense of Jamie and Eddie working as a team while dealing with separate stories.

This episode proved that it’s possible to enjoy learning about Jamie and Eddie’s relationship through their reaction to conflict, but the critical difference was that they were dealing with external conflict. They don’t have to be arguing for their relationship to be highlighted. It could feel frustrating that it’s taken until this season for this to be understood, but I’m just thankful that we have reached this point. There have been a few instances of this approach this season, and hopefully, it will continue.