CBS spinoffs ‘Boston Blue’ and ‘Sheriff Country’ will please fans of the originals

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CBS is launching its new and returning shows in a traditional fall TV season format, just like the networks of the past. For many, especially those who grew up in Southern California, this felt like a clear sign that autumn had arrived. The network seems to believe that successful formulas still work – we see this with the numerous iterations of shows like “NCIS” and “CSI,” and the frequent reboots of older programs. While the future of CBS News is uncertain with its new leadership, the network’s prime-time programming is generally inoffensive, appealing to a broad audience except for those with prejudiced views or extremely conservative sensibilities. Once known as the Tiffany Network for its quality shows like “M*A*S*H” and “All in the Family,” CBS now focuses on franchises, spin-offs, and revivals.

This Friday, two new shows premiere: “Sheriff Country,” a spin-off of the popular “Fire Country” (which also returns for its fourth season), and “Boston Blue,” taking the place of the long-running “Blue Bloods.” Both shows center around the personal lives of law enforcement families, prioritizing those relationships alongside the police work. While each series features mysteries, the focus remains on the enduring bonds of family—even when those relationships are difficult. Both shows have a heartwarming quality, something any police drama (or police force!) could benefit from. And importantly, they closely follow the successful formulas of the shows they spun off from, which should satisfy viewers. I, for one, enjoyed them.

Television

The CBS show ‘Boston Blue’ draws inspiration from the life of its co-creator, Brandon Sonnier. He converted to Judaism following a severe on-set accident that resulted in the loss of part of his leg.

Spinning off from a popular episode in season two of “Fire Country,” and getting a reminder in season three, “Sheriff Country” introduces Morena Baccarin as Mickey Fox, the temporary sheriff of Edgewater and the surrounding county. In the world of these shows, Mickey is the aunt of Bode Leone, a firefighter and former convict who is a main character on “Fire Country” – Max Thieriot will make a guest appearance as Bode, as will Diane Farr, playing his mother and Mickey’s stepsister, a Cal Fire division chief.

The show starts off feeling cheerful and quaint, similar to a small-town comedy about police officers—it even includes a chili cook-off! Despite a tense opening scene with four guns drawn by Mickey, her partner Boone (Matt Lauria), and a pair of minor characters, Mickey manages to de-escalate the situation by talking everyone down. However, the lighthearted tone doesn’t last, and darker events are foreshadowed.

Okay, so on “Fire Country,” we’ve heard about Mickey’s daughter, Skye, and her struggles with rehab. We finally *meet* her this season, and she seems to be doing well – four months sober, playing guitar with a new guy. But trust me, this boyfriend is trouble. And it gets even more complicated! Skye’s dad, Travis – Mickey’s ex, who happens to be a lawyer – is dating one of Mickey’s deputies, Cassidy. Knowing Mickey – she can be a bit quick to judge and really avoids tough conversations – I can already tell she’s *not* going to be thrilled about this, and definitely won’t be offering her blessing anytime soon!

Mickey’s father, Wes (W. Earl Brown), a legendary troublemaker in Edgewater and a beekeeper who grows weeds, doesn’t trust anyone in authority. He previously appeared in “Fire Country.” Concerned that Skye might struggle again, Mickey surprisingly asks Wes to move in with them, hoping he can keep Skye on the right track. We also see a brief appearance by Caroline Rhea (known from the original “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”) as Gina, Wes’s former love interest, a subject Mickey clearly doesn’t want to talk about.

Beyond the usual family drama and investigations – including a season-long mystery – the show features a sheriff’s election. Boone, a candidate who favors a tougher style of policing than Mickey, is running for the position, which creates conflict between the two men despite their generally positive relationship.

“Boston Blue” introduces Sean Reagan, the son of Danny Reagan from “Blue Bloods,” and a member of a long line of NYPD officers including his grandfather, Commissioner Frank Reagan, and great-grandfather, former Commissioner Henry Reagan. Due to a hiring freeze in New York, Sean starts his career as a rookie cop in Boston. The series begins with Sean and his partner, Jonah Silver, hospitalized after rescuing people from a burning building. This brings Danny rushing to Boston to be with his unconscious son and involves him in a murder investigation – someone was already shot inside the building. He ends up staying in Boston and becoming a main character in this action-packed show.

Similar to the show “Blue Bloods,” this series focuses on a large family, but with the mother as the central figure instead of the father. Jonah’s mother, Mae Silver, is a District Attorney, and she also has two daughters: Detective Lena Silver and police superintendent Sarah Silver. Like the Reagans, the Silvers come together for family dinners every Friday night, but instead of being Catholic, they celebrate Shabbat – they are Jewish and Black, with Sarah being the exception as she’s from a previous marriage. Their grandfather is a Baptist preacher, which adds an interesting dynamic, though it’s not entirely clear how that fits in. Ultimately, it’s a show about family – and a big one at that!

In the first two episodes, detectives Danny and Lena go from rivals to something more as they team up. Danny is headstrong and quick to act, while Lena is more adaptable and careful. He believes doing what’s right is more important than following every rule (“Sometimes dotting I’s and crossing T’s has to come second to right and wrong.”), and he’s annoyed that she’s faster than him. They playfully nickname each other – he calls her Beantown, she calls him Brooklyn – though actor Mark Wahlberg’s strong Boston accent clearly marks him as the most Bostonian of the group.

Boston comes to life in the show through shots of its streets, the swan boats in the Public Garden, and landmarks like the Old North Church and Faneuil Hall. Fenway Park is featured more prominently when the main characters attend a baseball game at the end of Episode 2. This scene solidifies Danny’s move to Boston, with locals playfully covering his Mets shirt with a Red Sox jersey – and he surprisingly takes it well, showing a sense of family!

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2025-10-17 13:36