When the family sticks together to serve & to protect

MANILA, Philippines - Their surname sounds political, but their family is into law enforcement. The Reagans is led by New York police commissioner Frank Reagan (played by Tom Selleck) on AXN’s Blue Bloods premiering with a double episode tomorrow night at 9:05 and airing thereafter Tuesday nights at 10.

Blue Bloods’ drama reminds one of the saying “Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga” (the tree determines what its fruit will be).

It’s in the Reagan family to “wear the blue uniform and carry the same shield” of a New York cop as Frank puts it addressing the newly-minted policemen including youngest son Jamie (Will Estes) with dad Henry (Len Cariou) around in the pilot episode.

That sets the pace of the action-family drama televiewers can look forward to as the New York, New York theme plays in the background. The ditty reflects the new cops’ eagerness to be part of New York’s Finest. They are challenged in the words of Frank to use their “unwavering sense of right and wrong” and to keep their “eyes and ears on the street.”

Will in a scene from the TV series.

“The show centers around a family of police officers,” says Tom of the show through the information furnished by AXN. “And one of the key elements of the show almost every week is a family dinner.”

Mealtime for the Reagans is as important as it is for Filipinos because this is when family members gather, catch up on each other, talk and argue on certain issues. Then the next scene sees characters leaving the dining table and walking out with their pride and egos.

“(The Reagans) are Irish and they are Catholic,” adds Tom. “And they don’t always agree and they argue a lot at family dinner. But it seems to be one of the favorite parts of the show.”

Although they are one in the mission to serve the vibrant New York City and protect it from bad guys, the Reagans remain unique as folks of different strokes.

Frank is a fair, diplomatic leader and a father of four (three children are alive and one is dead). Daughter Erin sticks to what is just as assistant district lawyer while detective-son Danny runs after criminals in an unorthodox manner to a point of committing police brutality. Law graduate-turned-police officer Jamie takes part in an investigation which might reveal his family secrets. Bridget Moynahan and Donnie Wahlberg play Erin and Danny, respectively.

“I think my character being a widow — his wife died about five years ago, in movie time, and he lost his son about a year ago — still wears his wedding ring,” Tom says of Frank. “There is a woman… but that’s probably the first woman he’s seen and he’s a bit ambivalent about that. I think people would like Frank to be, if I play him right, to be... I think they should feel he deserves happiness and I wish he’d handle it. He’s a little lonely right now.”

The pilot episode gives everyone a quick rundown of the “who’s who” of Blue Bloods and where each character is coming from. The pace is fast, as it shows the actors get down and dirty with their day jobs being intertwined with their personal affairs. The viewers’ hands are full with drama and action in just one sitting. They will also see how serious the Reagans are in protecting people from goons and guns and bringing bad guys to justice. Example is when a man kidnaps a girl of Hispanic lineage and hides her in a secluded place. Danny uses hit wit and dubious ways to locate the young victim who suffers from type one diabetes. His bold scheme contradicts the beliefs of some family members. Thus, the clash begins.

Donnie as detective Danny Reagan.

Despite contradiction, the Reagans stick together “to serve and protect the most vibrant city in the world.”