30 Best Blue Bloods Episodes Ranked

"Blue Bloods" delivers the police procedural goods. Focusing on the Reagan family — the members of which are each connected to police work in some way — the show follows along as they solve murders, get into shootouts, and have Sunday family dinners that are never short on drama. Spearheaded by Frank Reagan (played by Tom Selleck), this dysfunctional unit is only ever a whisker away from something that stops viewers' hearts.

The show's crime drama standards have remained high since the first season, which can make it difficult to determine the best episodes — or even separate the best from the worst. From unexpected engagements to dramatic shootings, this is a show that truly has it all for fans of procedural series. Looking for the best place to start your "Blue Bloods" binge? We've got you covered — here's a look at the 30 best-rated episodes of "Blue Bloods," according to IMDb users. Spoilers ahead.

The call is coming from inside the house ... or at least that's how the action feels in this episode thanks to a planned acid attack. Season 2's "The Life We Chose" follows Frank running into old acquaintance — and possible friend with benefits — Melanie Mane. A reporter by trade, she becomes the victim of a targeted acid attack during an evening out with Frank. The mystery of figuring out the identity of her attacker immediately has us hooked, and a satisfying payoff is delivered in its reveal.

Meanwhile, Jamie receives a call from Bianca to say that Johnny Tesla is dead — only for Bianca to disappear shortly after. Deep into an undercover operation, Jamie has to roll with some considerable punches to try and get the answers he's looking for. In a particularly tense moment, we see him fake his own arrest to ensure his cover isn't blown. Being a "Blue Bloods" fan isn't for the faint-hearted.

Sex sells — and the same can certainly be said for an episode of "Blue Bloods." With a healthy 8.3 on IMDb, Season 5's "Bad Company" kicks off with a spur-of-the-moment undercover operation that leads to a secret brothel. A young girl called Anna has just arrived in New York, only to be lured to a youth hostel that doesn't exist. Pulled into the operation at the last minute, Eddie takes it upon herself to close in on the captor. It's a great moment for fans to see her character step up, taking the opportunity to prove herself.

In stark contrast, Frank is having a more wholesome outing, with his story in the episode centering around Sarah Grant's wedding. Asking Frank to walk her down the aisle, the two blend hard-hitting drama with pure emotion by revisiting Sarah's past ties to the killing of her family. Murderer Donald is now a senile old man, but Sarah refuses to show him any compassion. If there's ever the right man to see you through the good and bad times, it's got to be Frank.

It might not have an overly inventive title, but Season 9's "Blues" puts its money where its mouth is. Danny is thrown into the moral deep end after shooting a suspect, and the episode is able to put a fresh, creative spin on a familiar theme. Though his reputation is far from stellar, it's a moment in the show when Danny shows a real sense of maturity. There's nothing he can do or say to ease the pain of the victim's family, and the struggle with his personal guilt fuels the episode.

"Blues" also shows an interesting new side to Frank, proving himself more willing to take risks than he was in earlier seasons. After finding out a colleague is about to lose his job because of childhood criminal activity, Frank allows Inspector Clifford to sort out his own wrongdoings. Once a felon, always a felon? Maybe not, thanks to Frank Reagan.

Normally when Frank is at the heart of an episode, the action turns ugly. This time, he's blindsided in an entirely new way. Season 5's "Shoot the Messenger" kicks off with Frank being interviewed on CBS News, only to be taken off guard by a potential policy change. It's a moment that acts as a spark for the drama to build up, culminating in Frank learning that Erin and McCoy are dating. It's refreshing to see Frank get so bogged down by the small stuff, flying into fits of rage that prove his character is still flawed. McCoy openly apologizes, yet Frank seems unwilling to do the same.

At the same time, Danny's head is wrapped up in transferring to another precinct. And if you're looking for a dose of hardcore crime in this episode, you're guaranteed to get it as Jamie and Eddie investigate a delicate suicide that ends up being staged by the victim's boss.

Guess who's back, back again ... it's the drug cartel member who set fire to Danny's house. Season 9's "By Hook or by Crook" opens with some pretty chaotic drama, as two officers — one of them Abigail's husband — are shot while watching a witness from their car. Once again, Danny is hellbent on taking the leader of the cartel down, even while others try to convince him he's not fit to lead the case. By the end of the episode, we learn that they're picking off people close to Danny, leaving fans in suspense about who could be the next victim.

In addition to drug cartel action, this episode is packed with dramatic twists and turns. Jamie and Eddie have a tough time talking to her mother Lena, with Eddie convinced Lena will scare off yet another boyfriend. It's a stark contrast to the grisly murders happening in front of Danny's eyes, but the focus on family is a welcome diversion. Frank isn't let off the hook either, with Erin outright asking for parental protection during her first press conference. The two need to decide which relationship comes first — father and daughter, or chief and officer?

When it all goes wrong in "Blue Bloods," it all goes wrong spectacularly. In Season 10's "The Fog of War," Eddie accidentally shoots an undercover cop after getting mixed up in a chase with her partner. Her day gets even worse when it's revealed that the officer died on the operating room table, meaning Frank has to deal with the fallout. It hasn't been long since Eddie started to step up and take on bigger challenges, so watching her take a dramatically big hit in her career is tough to watch. Her relationship with Frank is also taken in a brand new direction, putting her connection to him as a boss and father-in-law at risk.

In an episode that puts its women first, Erin also has an interesting journey during "The Fog of War." Where she has previously been at odds with fan and character opinion in her decision-making, standing up to Mayor Chase feels bang on the money. There's nobody better than the "Blue Bloods" gang for giving good advice about not mixing the personal with the professional.

We think we've seen this show before, and we didn't like the ending ... Taylor Swift might have said it first, but Season 4's "Exiles" is all about dead ends. After the unexpected suicide of a high-end madam, Danny is pulled into the case, which quickly leads him and Frank nowhere. When Danny is suddenly taken off of the case, suspicions arise as to why. The answer? One of Frank's chiefs has been with a high-end sex worker, with the DA using video evidence to keep him under their thumb. Sometimes there really is nothing worse than a crooked cop.

Erin has another intriguing dilemma on her hands. This time, she's choosing to stand up to her boss Amanda over her handling of the sting operation for Danny's case. Erin is never better than when she vocally challenges the system, and it's incredibly satisfying to see her hold her own against Amanda. It works — Amanda has to resign, publicly implicating herself for withholding the video.

If there's one thing a serious police investigation doesn't need, it's a seed of doubt. After Jamie runs into a mugger who goes for his gun in Season 7's "Unbearable Loss," he starts to doubt if he really saw what he thought he did. It's not the first time we've seen Jamie doubt — but it's usually aimed at other people rather than himself. By sticking to what he believes and following through with a course of action, Jamie's trust in himself pays off. Toward the end of the episode, the suspect's father finds him to apologize, explaining the complicated backstory that led to him lunging for the gun.

Things are tough for the rest of the team, with a key witness of Erin's escaping following a prison vehicle crash with fatal consequences. However, the center of grief lies with Frank, who's dealing with the murder of his toughest critic's son. It's a horrid situation, but it does open some amazing emotional doors — the pair are able to share the pain of Frank's past, leading him to be invited to the son's funeral.

Gun culture is sadly a topic never too far from our national discourse. But what happens when a gun isn't what it seems? In "This Way Out," a brand new face is on the scene — a young Hector Santiago. Not only is it exciting to see a fresh face inducted into the Reagans' world, but he quickly brings a new dose of drama. After a heated town hall meeting, Hector shoots at Mayor Poole. It's immediately complicated, as Officer Vinny Cruz used to babysit him. Even worse — Hector passes the gun off as a toy when confronted, causing even more confusion.

Elsewhere, Danny is in the middle of something explosive. After he arrests Santana's girlfriend when she's caught carrying drugs, Santana orders a hit on her from prison. Still, at least better times are on Danny's horizon, thanks to Linda demanding a family vacation.

For a police officer, we'd imagine life gets easier when your suspects are playing ball. Yet in true Reagan family style, nothing you love doing comes easy — and "Excessive Force" kicks off with a badly broken leg. Danny's suspect jumps out of a window in order to avoid confrontation, though he's quick to tell everyone a well-spun lie. Believing that Danny has in fact thrown the suspect instead, his sergeant gives him a dressing down. It's not a difficult conclusion to jump to given his history, but seeing Danny unfairly treated when he's acted by the book is a tough pill for fans to swallow.

Before any surprise engagements or appearances at the Reagan Sunday dinners, Jamie and Eddie spend a lot of time chasing each other. In this episode, Eddie finds Jamie dating a hot young doctor hard to watch, with their undefinable relationship called into question. It's a will-they-or-won't-they situation that keeps delivering drama, with a relationship so close to fruition that viewers can almost taste it.

There's nothing like a good premiere to start a TV season, and "Partners" delivers exactly that. Keeping things fresh by offering a different perspective on police work, new lieutenant Frank is immediately put in a no-win situation. Dealing with a man exhibiting concerning behavior, Frank needs to think quickly on his feet to minimize risk, and ultimately fails to do so. It's easy to feel for him — his actions to try and protect the man and the public were a genuine error in judgment. Watching the city's PR try and deal with the fallout, it's easy to forget we're watching a fictional TV show — and that's exactly the escapism we want from our "Blue Bloods" binging.

Our emotions are also shaken up when Baez gets hurt while working. A loyal partner to the often erratic Danny, it's rare that we see him at the center of any conflict. Though the circumstances are literally life and death, the outcome is a heartwarming one, with Baez admitting that Danny is the closest thing she has to family.

Don't panic, it's not actually the end of "Blue Bloods" — but Season 11's "The End" is a master class in explosive police drama. It always takes a while for a newbie to settle into the Reagan way of life, and here, Joe is being put through his paces. It's not long before he puts a foot out of place, and is spotted at an illegal gun buy that sets off a dramatic chain reaction. The family learns that Joe is actually working undercover for the ATF in the hopes of bringing down a notorious gun organization. His storyline is the most intense outing of family drama that "Blue Bloods" has ever seen, earning the episode an IMDb rating of 8.6.

The narrative also highlights a softer side to Danny, proving how much he's emotionally matured. In a bid to save Joe from a fate similar to the one suffered by his late father, Danny chooses to withhold critical information that could have triggered even more resentment. We see how the family collectively deals with grief, which ultimately makes their unit stronger than ever.

Back in the action of Season 11, the sight of the Reagan family together is enough to make the top 5 episodes of "Blue Bloods." He might have recently disappeared from the family dinner table, but Joe Hill's story continues with even more intensity in "Justifies the Means." The episode quickly switches from one dramatic tone to another, as the Reagans reflect on what happened to Joe Senior before we discover Joe Hill's fate. The show continues to up the stakes effectively instead of thinning out, reaffirming why it's still a well-loved show after so many seasons.

This episode watches both Danny and Jamie take some emotional accountability. Jamie recognizes his need to make amends after Joe Senior's death, while Danny wrestles with his inner guilt and fear for not spotting Joe's behavior earlier. Instead of leaving such a strong ensemble by the wayside, "Blue Bloods" stays committed to building them up — and it pays off.

What could surpass an episode showing the Reagan family happy? According to IMDb, it's an episode showing a Reagan in jeopardy. "The Art of War" is a season finale with tension in every moment, with Linda in a sorry state from the second the episode opens. We see the family's love for one another as she's wheeled into the operating theater, going above and beyond to make sure her health is put first. While she recovers, Danny is on the ground to try to arrest the gang behind the attack. Thankfully he's successful, able to arrest Mario when he catches him on the back foot.

Though the other family members are at the center of the conflict, this episode is Frank's chance to really shine. Keeping his mind on the case at hand, we see him serve just desserts to those who've gotten too big for their britches, leaving us on the cliffhanger that he would meet Clinton Wallace again — possibly to face the death penalty. His direct bluntness makes us love him even more, setting the stakes for the next installment of "Blue Bloods."

Coming in at 9.1 on the IMDb rating scale, "My Aim Is True" proves itself as the very best of "Blue Bloods." Taking fans from tears to smiles across one episode, we start with an emotional scene showing Danny visiting Linda's grave. Listening to him talk openly proves just how lonely he really is, alongside how much Linda's character has added to his personal growth. Where one light dims, another shines brightly, as Jamie and Eddie reveal the news that they're finally engaged. The Reagan family has had a difficult ride during this season, and Eddie particularly gives them a reason to smile again. Our favorite TV family is once again a proper unit, with the hope on the horizon leaving a smile on our faces.

It goes without saying that the episode still provides stellar criminal drama. After Danny's emotional visit to Linda, deaths begin to mysteriously occur — from teenage disappearances to heart-pounding assassinations. The team believes the deaths are wrongly connected to 6 men who have just been released from prison. Though there's a lot to be done to get to the bottom of whodunnit, no one is more affected than Erin, having watched one of the victims being gunned down right in front of her. It's a scary situation, but one a Reagan can take in stride.