My foremost query concerning "Boston Blue" revolves around the inevitable twists that will lead to the show's inevitable unraveling. I'm not referring to its well-constructed framework, which is as smooth as a well-oiled machine, but rather the genuine conflicts, characters' clashes, cases gone awry, and irreconcilable differences that drive the drama. Episode 2, "Teammates," embodies its title with such pride and enthusiasm that it left me feeling a bit queasy.
This episode presents two concerns: the usual weekly case, which is the murder of a whistleblower in a Ponzi scheme, and the evolving dynamic between Sean and Jonah now that Sean has recovered and the two are officially partners. There's also a surprising third angle: the murder was committed by a patrol cop, whose job was to protect the witness, who abandoned her post early. This patrol cop, Sylvia, happens to be Sarah's former partner, who now faces the responsibility of holding her accountable despite only leaving early to tend to her daughter, whom she's raising alone after her husband's death.
Let's delve into the murder. It's executed well in broad strokes; Danny, still technically on loan to the BPD, and Lena work the clues, interrogate suspects, and eventually uncover that the ex-wife did it. She hired her brother as a triggerman, who also paid off a struggling patrol cop to abandon his post. This is the same cop who was late to relieve Sylvia, which doesn't exactly exonerate her but certainly provides a plausible explanation.
Despite all this, Danny and Lena's relationship feels so obvious that it's difficult to buy into. She's famously incompatible with partners yet has accepted Danny, a newcomer from a completely different city, without any friction. She mentions his imminent departure for New York on multiple occasions, setting up the big decision at the end of "Teammates" when he decides to stay. While I understand this development, I can't help but feel underwhelmed given we're only two episodes into "Boston Blue."
I thought this decision had been made in the premiere, but I assumed Sean's recovery would take longer. As it turns out, we don't see his recovery at all. At the start of this episode, a month has passed since Sean completed rehab and is officially back in the field. The only real concern is whether he's ready for that—and he is—and whether he can adapt to being Jonah's partner instead of his best friend. Both Danny and Lena give their respective relatives remarkably similar advice, leading to an early clash but quickly finding their own rhythm despite it.
I understand the premise. Danny and Lena were attempting to exert undue influence based on their own experiences, preventing Sean and Jonah from finding their own paths. However, I believe we could have stretched this development over a few episodes rather than resolving it so quickly. Everything feels too effortless. This is particularly evident in the subplot involving Sylvia.
On the surface, this subplot is arguably the most intriguing aspect of Boston Blue's second episode. Sarah is caught between adhering to the rules and doing her friends a favor, as she attempts to adapt her mindset from being in the field to her new role as a supervisor. She also serves as a lens through which we gain insight into how the personal lives of an overworked and underfunded department inevitably spill over into policing. I appreciate how Sarah turns to her grandfather for help, only to be refused, as he understands that it would hurt her career in the long run. That's a valuable lesson, in my opinion. But then, the fact that Sarah is Mae's daughter effortlessly allows her to fire Sylvia from patrol and then immediately rehire her as an investigator for the D.A.'s office.
This resolution feels too neat and tidy for my liking. The familial connections within Boston PD are manifesting almost exclusively through cosy family dinners – where everyone politely listens to one another and offers sage wisdom – and no one is forced to make a difficult decision. It creates a likeable demeanor, but with so little meaningful conflict, I fear that Boston Blue might pass completely unnoticed.
