Many Blue Bloods fans wondered if season 11 was going to be the end of the family show. The last two episodes certainly felt that way, and there was a reason for that. This is why the ending felt so final, even though the cast will return for season 12.

‘Blue Bloods’ Season 11 finale showed the Reagans working together

Season 10 ended with a big reveal that the dead Joe Reagan has a son named Joe Hill (Will Hochman). It ended with him having his first dinner with the Reagans. Season 11 started with Joe still not being totally comfortable with his newly found family members yet. He left them after receiving backlash for being related to them. But the season ended with his big return.

“The End” showed Joe Hill resurfacing after not appearing for many episodes. He’s been away working undercover with a ring bringing illegal guns into Manhattan. His cover gets blown, and the Reagans try to find him.

“Justifies the Means” shows how far the Reagans will go not to lose one of their own. Some of them even break the law. Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) illegally gets evidence without a warrant. Jamie (Will Estes) and Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) follow Joe out of the state to back him up.

The finale told a cinematic story. It also circled back to the beginning of Blue Bloods, where the Reagans were still trying to heal after Joe Reagan’s death. The risk of losing the dead cop’s son, too, brought up guilt for the family members. This was especially the case for Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck). 

Why that season 11 ending was written like a series finale

The two episodes certainly stand out, given each episode of Blue Bloods focuses on a new case. But all of the Reagans and their friends were brought together to work for the common goal of bringing Joe home. This felt like a series finale, and there’s a reason for that.

“We were told pretty early on, I think before Thanksgiving that our season finale would be the last two episodes and would air back to back which I immediately took as they’re planning to wrap up the series,” Blue Bloods showrunner Kevin Wade told Deadline.

 “Yeah, so I started to think about how do we do something that could serve as a season finale but also if need be as a series finale,” he said. Wade ended up writing the last two episodes of the season.

Luckily, the show will be returning for season 12. It’s too soon to know any details about the new season. But there’s a good chance that the finale’s events will bring the Reagans even closer together than they were before.

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