Frank Reagan's 7 Best And 7 Worst Moments From Blue Bloods

Self-disciplined, perceptive, and the self-proclaimed captain of the ship, family patriarch Frank Reagan is exactly what a New York City police commissioner should be. As the main protagonist of "Blue Bloods" since its premiere in 2010, Frank has overseen plenty of drama — all the way from high-profile murders to arguments around the family dinner table. The character is played by the iconic Tom Selleck, who is just as well-known for his filmography as he is for his epic mustache. Previously starring in hits such as "Magnum P.I." and the "Jesse Stone" series, his action pedigree speaks for itself. It's no surprise then that the straight-talking top dog makes for such a standout role.

Even though fans have watched him in almost every episode across the show's 13 seasons, there's more that fans still don't understand about Frank. A complicated figure, his complex family history and full-on line of work mean he has amassed a lifetime of emotional trauma, making him equally as brilliant as he is difficult. As Selleck himself said in a 2022 interview with Country Living, "When I saw this script, it was character-driven in an age where there [are] just so many procedurals on... I'm sure not bored with it."Neither are we, Tom. Here are Frank Reagan's 7 best and worst moments that provide pretty good evidence.

When Frank pays a visit to the CBS studio during the Season 5 episode, "Shoot The Messenger," fans are already seeing him at his worst. Robert McCoy (Holt McCallany) immediately blindsides Frank with a policy change mid-interview, informing him that the DA will no longer prosecute minor crimes, including any involving marijuana. Instead of taking the new information in his stride, Frank flies into a fit of rage which is largely taken out later on Garrett Moore (Gregory Jbara). With such an esteemed history of being a high-ranking police officer, we'd expect Frank to know how to present himself on a public stage. But it gets even worse when he learns that Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) and McCoy are dating.

Knowing he's done wrong, it doesn't take McCoy long to offer up an apology to Frank. It's here we learn of Frank's inability to apologize, either too set in his ways or too prideful to make meaningful steps forward. He's also quick to remind Erin that he has never liked anyone she has ever dated, which isn't an ideal vote of confidence from a family member you should love and respect. If Erin wanted Frank's approval, she'd be hard-pressed to find it.

It's not unusual for fans to see Frank and Erin argue, but Season 10's "Naughty or Nice" takes the conflict to an entirely new level. When Frank learns that the DA keeps a list of police officers who are deemed unfit to testify, he sees red. Considering the decision to be a "blacklist," he goes in to fight it with all the right intentions — but handles it horribly. Fans immediately struggle to get on board with how he chooses to direct this anger, which mostly lands in Erin's lap. Frank's inability to calm down puts Erin in the middle of two huge opposing forces — her father and her boss.

Tension is the name of the game in this episode, and Frank remains brutish until the very end. He ultimately gets his own way, forcing the DA to reject their list by threatening to make his own that would name and shame. It's easy to see where Frank is coming from as no set protocol was in place for being able to determine a "bad" witness. But Frank's sour anger is a difficult aftertaste to shake off, leaving his family and team feeling the effects.

A couple's age gap is always a hot topic, but in the case of Frank and Whitney Robshaw (Sarah Wynter), there's nothing to smile about. In the Season 3 episode, "Protest Too Much," we find Frank weighing up whether he should pursue an acquaintance of Erin's. As a long-term widower, it's natural that Frank wants to find happiness in his life, along with a spark of romance. But chasing down someone that is his daughter's age probably isn't the best way to go. When the two meet, Frank has full knowledge of this, regardless of their instant chemistry. After the pair are photographed together, Frank is truly stuck in it.

It's the photos that cause Erin to speak out, both in disgust and concern. She unleashes on Frank, leading him to decide that the romance isn't the best idea after all. The situation can easily be framed as a creepy one, though the blame for who makes the ordeal worse could go either way. Even so, Frank is in a professional and personal position to know better, and both the encounter and following family arguments leave fans feeling uncomfortable.

When Frank gets involved in a case, you know it's going to be explosive. Typically at the heart of grisly murders and epic high-speed changes, Frank's journey in the Season 6 episode, "The Road to Hell," feels a little off-color. The drama starts off with pretty low stakes, as Frank discovers his local church donation box has been robbed. In talking to  Father Quinn (Jack McGee), Frank learns that the pastor is eager to bail out those in trouble and is likely withholding more information than he already knows. It seems mundane on the surface, but that might be because it's supposed to be. Throughout the episode, it becomes clear that Frank has lost passion for what he does — something that has always defined his character.

Frank's time spent at the family dinner table is normally amusing, informative, or heartwarming. This time, it's a clear insight into where his head is at and he is openly struggling with his work-life balance. He wants to spend more time with his family, yet fails to make this happen. It's a particularly low moment in Frank's journey in "Blue Bloods," even if it isn't overly exciting.

At the best of times, dating is a tough nut to crack. It's always exciting when old flames return to the world of TV, but in the Season 2 episode, "Women with Guns," that doesn't end well for Frank. He runs into reporter Melanie Maines (Margaret Colin), who it's inferred Frank has had previous dalliances with. Hitting the town once more, an unidentified man attacks Melanie with acid, leaving her in a touch-and-go state. It proves Frank can never fully let his guard down, even when his own decisions don't benefit him. There's no issue in his friends-with-benefits arrangement, even though it feels odd to watch — like seeing your own father go on a date.

Though nothing is directly his fault, it calls Frank's judgment into question. It is later revealed that Melanie herself was behind the attack and pulled the stunt after learning her employer was about to fire her. If these are the kinds of people Frank willingly surrounds himself with, what does that say about his perceptions on a personal and professional level?

For Frank, his worst moment arguably takes place before "Blue Bloods" even begins. In the very first episode of the show, we learn about the dynamics that make the Reagans the hard-wired and dysfunctional family they are. Frank is primarily dealing with life as a widow and the death of his beloved son, Joe. A former police officer himself, Joe was killed in the line of duty while undercover one year before the show kicks off. It's here that we establish a link to the notorious gang known as The Blue Templar — the backbone of Frank's Season 1 arc. Every decision he makes is a move toward taking them down and Frank is clearly driven by grief.

Though we only see Joe via a photograph, his death and ongoing presence are felt in future episodes of "Blue Bloods." While Frank is a man that always puts his work and family first, Joe's death is something he is never able to fully move on from. As something that weighs him down, it's not surprising that Frank can be viewed as a man with a chip on his shoulder. Even so, it's safe to say that if Joe hadn't passed, there would be no "Blue Bloods."

You only need to turn on a news channel or go online to see how annoying some people can be. Yet while Frank usually takes minor difficulties in his stride, there is the odd occasion where he takes things too far. In the Season 9 episode, "Handcuffs," Jamie and Eddie choose not to arrest a group of agitators who are disturbing the peace at a local housing complex. While they both believe the best course of action is to ignore them, Frank immediately disagrees. Using brute force, he orders a raid on the complex, bringing in big guns such as armored units and helicopter air support. It all seems too much for something so minor and the surrounding Reagan family is only too quick to point it out.

This episode is proof that if Frank doesn't like something, he'll stop at nothing to try and right the wrongs. His ability to make quick, concise decisions normally works to great effect, yet on this occasion, it's more likely to create harm. While fans have already seen him lean into his more compassionate side and try to learn when he is in the wrong, this moment feels like a step back in his character development.