Skip to main content

Every show has a character that everyone loves to hate, and on Blue Bloods, it’s Danny Reagan. Once a fan favorite, his continued aggressive behavior, as well as his constant rule-breaking, is beginning to rub fans the wrong way. 

Fans have taken to Reddit to blast Danny’s character under a post called “Danny the Child.” Here’s why some fans are fed up, and why others think it’s all part of Danny’s character arc.

The Reagan family at dinner on Blue Bloods
Tom Selleck Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, Len Cariou, Amy Carlson, Sami Gayle, Tony Terraciano and Andrew Terraciano | John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Images

Danny’s background

According to Fandom, Danny Reagan, played by former New Kids on the Block singer Donnie Wahlberg, is the eldest son of Frank Reagan. He is a veteran and a detective for the NYPD, and is one of many Reagans who is involved in law enforcement. 

As a child, Danny toyed with the idea of becoming a fireman, but his grandfather swore that no Reagan would ever join the New York City Fire Department, and wouldn’t even allow his grandson to wear a fireman costume for Halloween. 

So Danny did what every Reagan does, which is join the NYPD. He worked his way up through the ranks until he joined the Major Crimes department.

Over the years, he has shown a penchant for being overly aggressive towards suspects. He once went so far as to hold a suspect over the edge of a building, and threatened to let him fall if the suspect didn’t ‘come clean.’

While Danny has been suspended several times over the course of the show, he also has one of the highest collar rates of any detective in his precinct. While this may be enough for his superiors to justify keeping him around, fans aren’t quite so forgiving.

Fan reactions to Danny’s behavior

It’s a toss-up as to whether Danny’s aggressive behavior or his whining annoys fans more. 

One fan posted, “Is anyone else tired of Danny getting all bent out of shape any time the law inconveniently gets in the way of shit he wants to do? You’d think that anyone who’d been on the job more than 6 months would know more than he does about getting warrants, arresting for no reason, stuff cops do daily! Allow his role to grow up or he’ll end up more hated than his niece.”

Many fans agreed with this sentiment. Another added that Danny blowing up every time he’s instructed to play by the rules is so common on the show that they could create a meme, and simply replay it every episode.

Fans who love Danny

Related

What is Hilary Swank’s Net Worth?

Not everyone hates Danny getting aggressive with suspects, especially fans who hate Jamie. As one fan pointed out on Reddit, Jamie is a saint who does everything by the book. Danny is the perfect contrast to this, and it adds another layer to the drama that makes Blue Bloods so great.

Pop Culture TV points out one episode in particular that had both the brothers and fans pitted against each other. It involved a hostage crisis where Danny once again decided to disregard the rules and do things his own way. Only this time, Jamie was his superior officer. 

Things got out of hand, and not even their father Frank Reagan could get the boys to fall in line and get along. 

Many fans were delighted with the family drama, and thought that Danny had the right idea. His disregard for the rules ended up saving lives, while Jamie was too busy trying to play nice. The Reagan family who got pulled into the matter felt that both brothers acted correctly in some areas, and wrong in others. 

Many fans seem to feel the same way and can see how Danny’s actions have positive results even if he goes about it in the wrong way. 

So will Danny grow up and learn to get warrants before he thrashes an unruly suspect? Probably not, but fans will still tune in to see what he does next.

Best in Entertainment