Ever since Boston Blue, the new spin-off and continuation of the hit series Blue Bloods, made its CBS debut, something seemed weirdly off about the show and the main cast. The problem became totally apparent in the episode, “Suffer the Children.” The new series introduces a new actor, Mika Amonsen, who now portrays Sean Reagan, the son of longtime Blue Bloods staple, Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg). Amonsen replaced the original actor as Sean Reagan, Andrew Terraciano, who portrayed the character across every season of the original series. Unfortunately, Amonsen’s performance reinforces why the recasting decision simply is not working, and it’s become a detriment to Boston Blue.

Sean and Danny Don’t Have a Believable Father-and-Son Bond

Boston Blue kicked off with Sean getting seriously injured and hospitalized in the series premiere, “Faith and Family,” sparking Danny’s arrival in Boston. Sean had moved to the city to pursue a career in law enforcement because the New York Police Department was dealing with a hiring freeze due to budget cuts, so moving to Boston provided the quickest path for Sean to become a police officer. During the second episode, “Teammates,” Danny boldly decides to relocate to Boston and transfer to the Boston Police Department to give Sean a support system away from home and reconnect with his son. The last two episodes, “Rites of Passage” and “Suffer the Children,” feature more scenes focusing on Danny and Sean’s relationship, and the performances just do not gel together.

The Silver-Peters Family Has a More Genuine Family Dynamic

To give Boston Blue and its cast some credit, the family dynamic does not fail in every area. For comparison, the casting of the Silver-Peters family is spot on, and Sonequa Martin-Green and Maggie Lawson are great in their respective roles as Detective Lena Silver and BPD Superintendent Sarah Silver. Granted, they are stepsisters, but their chemistry is on point, and they present a genuine sisterly bond and familial dynamic onscreen. That is also the case for the other family members, including Gloria Reuben as Boston District Attorney Mae Silver, Marcus Scribner as Jonah Silver, and the legendary Ernie Hudson as Reverend Edwin Peters. The Silvers are a blended family, and the series establishes their relationships well in the first episode, with the actors exceptionally portraying their unique dynamics within the family unit.