There are several other shows with similar themes or characters toBlue Bloodsnow that the popular cop and family drama has finished its 14-year run.Blue Bloods' cancelation is disappointingbecause its focus on the Reagan family made it unique among police procedurals. Every episode included a family dinner scene in which the characters tried to put aside their differences to enjoy time together, and this alongside other aspects of the series drew large audiences throughout the series' long run.
This serieswas popular enough that CBS' decision to cancel it led to amassive fan-led movement to saveBlue Bloods. Unfortunately, that failed to move the needle with CBS executives, andthe procedural’s final episode aired onDecember 13, 2024.While CBS has promised there will eventually be a spinoff, there is no such show in development yet, and thus its audience must find other shows to watch in its absence.
10Law & Order: Organized Crime
Streaming on Peacock
AlthoughLaw & Order: Organized Crimeis much grittier thanBlue Bloods, it has the same blend of police and family storylines. Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) works for the Organized Crime Bureau, which takes on complex cases involving mob families or gang leaders. Stabler’s backstory in this series also may seem familiar toBlue Bloods' audience, as Stabler spends the first season searching for answers after his wife is murdered by the mob. This similarity withBlue Bloods’Danny Reagan would have made for a fascinating crossover appearance had both shows appeared on the same network.
Law & Order: Organized Crimehas been renewed for a fifth season on Peacock, but no release date has been announced yet.
Stabler’s family doesn’t appear as consistently asBlue Bloods' Reagan family, but there are often strong subplots involving them. During the first season, Stablers' daughters worry about his mental health, while his teenage son, Eli (Nicky Torchia) becomes rebellious. Starting in season 2, Stabler must care for his aging and ill mother (Ellen Burstyn).Law & Order: Organized Crimeseason 4 has the most in common withBlue Bloods, however, as it introduces two of Stabler’s brothers and the Stablers' attempt to put their fractured family back together.
Matlock
Cast
Matlock (2024) follows the return of Madeline Matlock, a brilliant septuagenarian, to a prestigious law firm. Utilizing her unassuming demeanor and astute strategies, she navigates the legal world to win cases and uncover corruption. The series draws inspiration from the classic television series of the same name.
At first glance,Matlockhas little in common withBlue Bloods, as it is a legal procedural series with an overarching mystery. However, in some ways,Matlockis the perfect replacement forBlue Bloodsbecause it involves ethical and moral dilemmas and has a strong family element. The Kathy Bates-led legal procedural has family issues at its heart. Madeline “Matlock” Kingston has gone undercover at a law firm to expose the people whose lies and manipulations contributed to her daughter’s death from an opioid overdose, and Madeline often must balance her work duties with taking care of her 12-year-old grandson.
Blue Bloods Already Has The Perfect Replacement Show With 100% On Rotten Tomatoes
The Raegans are preparing to say goodbye as Blue Bloods heads to its final episodes. Luckily, network TV already has a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
Thus, whileMatlockhas a very different feel thanBlue Bloods, its themes may resonate with audiences who loveBlue Bloods’dedication to justice. Additionally, the CBS hit procedural stars Kathy Bates, who has comparable star power to Tom Selleckafter a long and varied career.
Chicago P.D.
Chicago P.D.: This police drama, set in Chicago’s District 21, follows the distinct units within the Chicago Police Department—uniformed officers addressing street crimes and an Intelligence Unit tackling major offenses such as organized crime and drug trafficking, capturing the dedication of those who serve and protect their community.
doesn’t approach policing the same wayBlue Bloodsdoes, butit has an ensemble cast full of detectives and officers doing the best they can to keep a big city safe while dealing with issues at home.Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) is the type of cop Frank Reagan would probably have a problem with, as he pushes boundaries and uses any means at his disposal to get criminals off the streets. However, he is motivated in early episodes by the desire to protect his family, something which only intensifies after his son is murdered.
Several storylines involve figuring out how best to be parents while doing the dangerous job they’ve committed to.
In more recent seasons,Chicago PDhas featured a subplot involving officers Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and Adam Ruzek (John Patrick Flueger) getting together and adopting a little girl, Makayla (Ramona Edith Williams). Several storylines involve figuring out how best to be parents while doing the dangerous job they’ve committed to. These stories offer some of the family drama that is missing from the airwaves sinceBlue Bloods' cancelation.
7Judging Amy
Available on DVD
Judging Amyis a hidden gem from the late 1990s and early 2000s that sharesBlue Bloods' emphasis on familyvalues. Itscentral character, Amy Gray (Amy Brenneman) is a family court judge who becomes a single mother when her divorce is finalized. Her divorce leads her to move in with her mother (Tyne Daly), who is a social worker specializing in helping families with children, and the move puts Amy in close contact with her two brothers. Thus, while the family is far smaller than the Reagans, the Grays are central to the show’s premise.
WhileJudging Amyis not currently available to stream, all six seasons are available to buy on DVD.
LikeBlue Bloods, this series was canceled after several years on the air even though it potentially had more stories to tell. However, for six years, it offered complex ethical dilemmas, compelling legal cases, and family issues Amy had to deal with at home while fighting for justice at work.AlthoughJudging Amyended two decades ago, it has enough in common withBlue Bloodsto be worth a second look.
6Homicide: Life On The Street
Streaming On Peacock
Homicide: Life on The Streetis one of the most realistic police procedurals in television history, so it will appeal to that part of theBlue Bloodsaudience who appreciated its respectful and accurate portrayal of NYPD cops. LikeBlue Bloods, it was filmed on location — in its case, on Baltimore streets that were no stranger to real-life crime. This series was based on a book by journalist David Simon, who rode with and interviewed real Baltimore cops, and many of the early episodes were based on cases Simon reported on in the book.
Homicide: Life On The Streetsoriginated the character of John Munch (Richard Belzer), who appeared in several other series and was a regular part ofLaw & Order: SVUduring the first 15 seasons.
WhileHomicide: Life On The Streetlacks the family storylines that madeBlue Bloodsspecial, it offers one of the best portrayals of law enforcement officers in the genre.This critically acclaimed series focuses on a set of homicide detectives in Baltimoreand is famous for its sparse sets, character-based stories, and terse dialogue. It explores the emotional toll of working in a homicide unit in a violent city and is famous for storylines such as Frank Pembleton’s (Andre Braugher) stroke and Tim Bayliss' (Kyle Secor) inability to bring closure to the family of an 11-year-old girl after her death.
The Wire
The Wire, debuting in 2002, is a series that explores the complex world of Baltimore’s narcotics scene, presenting perspectives from both law enforcement and their targets. It delves into how the war on drugs has evolved into a self-perpetuating institution, blurring moral boundaries between right and wrong.
The Wireis another David Simon police drama. LikeHomicide: Life on The Street, it offers a gritty, realistic look at cops who are doing some of the most difficult police-related jobs available — in some ways, these two shows are companion series because they both involve Baltimore cops, thoughThe Wirefocuses on the Narcotics Unit rather than homicide detectives.
However, its focus on realistic police officers is similar to whatBlue Bloodstries to do with the NYPD, and thus it is well worth watching after finishingBlue Bloods.The Wireexplores different aspects of multiple socioeconomic issues and is regarded as one of the best HBO shows of all time, having set the bar high for police dramas that came after it.
The Rookie
The Rookie follows John Nolan, a small-town man who embarks on a new career as an LAPD officer after a life-changing event. As the force’s oldest rookie, Nolan faces skepticism from superiors who view his pursuit as a midlife crisis.
Blue Bloodsis one of thebest shows similar toThe Rookie, and there are many points of overlap between the two series. The focus is somewhat different, asThe Rookierevolves around newer rank-and-file officers rather than established cops and those in charge of the department. However, both shows share a desire to depict law enforcement with enough nuance and attention to detail. Additionally, the two shows both focus on family values in addition to police-centered storylines.
The Rookieis a unique show because the central character, John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), is an older man who decides to become a cop after a life-changing experience. Some plots revolve around others' skepticism of his commitment to police work because of his mid-life career change, Nolan’s family life is also a big part of the series, as he is initially a divorced single father, though later he marries Bailey (Jenna Dewan).
3NYPD Blue
Streams on Hulu
NYPD Bluewas controversial when it first aired in the early 1990s because of its gritty depiction of cops living and working in New York City, often pushing the boundaries of what was allowed to be aired on network television. Thus,it is more explicit thanBlue Bloods.However, despite the controversy, this series aimed to depict NYPD cops more realistically, and thus will appeal to the part of theBlue Bloodsaudience that loved its police procedural aspect.
NYPD Bluefeatures the fictional 15th Precinct, located in Manhattan. UnlikeBlue Bloods, which was filmed on location, this procedural was produced and created in Los Angeles and thus does not depict Manhattan entirely realistically. However, it makes up for that with complex characters and interesting stories featuring various police officers working hard to keep Manhattan safe.
2Madam Secretary
Streaming On Paramount+
Madam Secretaryrevolves around the Secretary of State, Elizabeth McCord (Tea Leoni) and often offers a deep dive into international politics. Thus, at first glance, it seems far removed fromBlue Bloods, which features the working-class Reagan family trying to keep New York City safe. However,Elizabeth is a similar figure to Frank in that she is someone in a position of authority who would prefer to act on her own valuesrather than considering politics.Madam Secretaryalso offers a similar blend of family and workplace stories toBlue Bloods.
Elizabeth’s family is just as important to her as her high-stakes job, and every episode includes family-based storylines.
Although the McCords don’t have anything comparable to theReagan family dinners inBlue Bloods, Elizabeth’s family is just as important to her as her high-stakes job, and every episode includes family-based storylines. Elizabeth often struggles to be there for her family as much as she would like or is called away to deal with a crisis on the world stage while in the middle of handling a problem at home.
This Is Us
This Is Us chronicles the Pearson family across the decades: from Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) as young parents in the 1980s to their 37-year-old kids, Kevin (Justin Hartley), Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) searching for love and fulfillment in the present day. This grounded, life-affirming dramedy reveals how the tiniest events in our lives impact who people become and how the connections people share with each other can transcend time, distance, and even death.
Unlike most other shows similar toBlue Bloods,This Is Usis not a police procedural. However,this show set the standard for family dramas, and its ending in 2022 left TV with onlyBlue Bloodsto fill audiences' need for family-based stories. This unique series revolves around the Pearson family, both before and after thedeath ofThis Is Us' Jack Pearson. It utilizes multiple timelines to tell the story of this family’s love and perseverance in the face of tragedy, often playing with its non-linear storytelling to create plot twists and mysteries.
Many of the same actors play characters as middle-aged adults and senior citizens. Mandy Moore’s performance as Rebecca is especially impressive, as she plays her in stages of life that are far beyond her lived experience. WhileThis Is Usis a very different type of series thanBlue Bloods, its focus on family dynamics and on the bonds that keep a family going despite heartbreaking loss overlap significantly with the Reagan family’s story.
Blue Bloods
Blue Bloods is a television drama series that follows the Reagan family, a family of law enforcement officers in New York City. Led by Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, the series explores familial and professional dynamics as they navigate police work and politics, guided by their patriarch, the former Chief, Henry Reagan.
