User Reviews

Another outstanding episode this time dealing with homosexuality within the police department. While witnessing a bias attack, a NYC police officer has to admit that he is gay as well. He is immediately shun by members of the department and his own partner punches him out and refuses to ride with him. Frank condemns the church on this issue and it puts him at odds with a church official, a long-time friend, who may decide the fate of a particular Catholic school as well as other issues.

It's difficult to view the anti-gay attitudes among important officials of our police department. Wait to you see who one of the guilty guys responsible for the fatal beating is related to? Wait to you see the previous bigotry shown by the relative.

The episode seems to show the gender gap in views towards homosexuality with the older generation vehemently opposed versus toleration by younger people.

This episode attempts to deal with homosexual prejudice in the police force and brings in Catholicism only to insult both institutions.

The plot is initially interesting after an off duty officer is exposed as being homosexual after witnessing a brawl. Initially the officer receives the cold shoulder from his partner in a way that is believable, however the numerous jokes from other officers who receive no recourse is difficult to believe in a modern setting.

The plot seems to indicate that a large part of the police force is aggressively anti-gay. This, along with the wide spread aggression towards cops "ratting" each other out in recent episodes is hard to believe in the time setting.

On the other hand, most of the Reagan family is portrayed as being pro-homosexual in spite of their religion. The script provides minimal support for viewers to understand their reasoning on this stance. In a press briefing Catholicism is depicted as being behind the times using misunderstood theology and stereotypes further weakening the plot.

Overall the episode is a missed opportunity to show growth between the officers and convey how the Reagan's draw strength and clarity from their religion as they have in previous episodes.

The writers surely knew what they were doing with this episode, and that was burning bridges. Another reviewer here demonstrated that by noting that she/he was done with this show after this episode.

Blue Bloods was one of - maybe the only - network television show which made any effort to portray the faith lives of families in any positive light. It is fairly obvious that the VAST majority of the folks in Hollywood and the networks are atheists, but there are literally a couple of hundred million Americans out here in flyover country who believe in God, and tens of millions who practice their faith in their lives, attend weekly church or synagogue services, etc. Everywhere but in the movies and on TV. Except Blue Bloods, where we see the family praying at dinner, where we have seen them in church, where they discuss their Catholic faith, and more. I am sure that was not a small part of the show's appeal to many in its loyal audience.

This episode takes on the issue of homosexuality. And it takes a decided position: if you believe that homosexuality is a sin, you are to be condemned. Even the whole Church is to be condemned. Even if the Church teaches its adherents to hate the sin but love the sinner, embraces homosexuals but not their homosexual behavior, does not support hate or government punishment or discrimination against homosexuals, etc. You must fully embrace homosexuality as perfectly acceptable to your God, or you must be condemned. As the lead character in this character condemns the Church here.

Yep, they burned bridges - and with more than the one viewer whose review here I noted above.

See ya.