Procedural storytelling can start to feel predictable after a while, which is why the writers of “Blue Bloods” have continually pushed the envelope. However, there are moments when a TV show can push the envelope so far that it crosses unspoken lines and renders audiences speechless.

Season 9, Episode 21, titled “Identity,” reveals that a pair of identical twins are involved in a murder. When the twins realize they’re caught, they exchange a secret code that leads to one brother shooting the other before subsequently killing himself.

The brutal twist naturally shocked fans of the show, and they made their opinions known via Twitter. However, many responded negatively to the bloody ending, suggesting that the show was relying a bit too much on shock value.