The Top Three Least-Loved Episodes of ‘Blue Bloods’

“Blue Bloods” has been a mainstay on CBS’s Friday night lineup for over a decade, consistently delivering strong performances in its timeslot. The police procedural has established itself as a fixture on network TV, with a loyal fanbase and solid viewership numbers. While it no longer reaches the peak of 14.07 million viewers it enjoyed in Season 7, the series still reliably attracts around 6 million viewers midway through Season 12, according to TV Series Finale.

Like any long-running series, “Blue Bloods,” which has aired nearly 250 episodes, has its highs and lows. Similar to how “Lost” had “Exposé” and “Stranger Things” featured “The Lost Sister,” “Blue Bloods” also has episodes that have not resonated as well with fans. Here, we explore the three lowest-rated episodes according to IMDb ratings.

The episode titled “Burning Bridges” from Season 5, Episode 3, holds the dubious distinction of being the series’ lowest-rated episode, scoring just 6.7 out of 10 stars on IMDb, below the show’s average rating of 7.6. The episode, which deals with themes of homosexuality and religious views within the NYPD, has been criticized for its handling of these sensitive topics. One IMDb reviewer described it as a “missed opportunity” to explore meaningful growth and reflection among the characters.

Following “Burning Bridges,” the next lowest-rated episode is “Legacy” from Season 8, Episode 15, with a rating of 6.8 out of 10. The episode focuses on Police Commissioner Frank Reagan’s controversial decision to dismiss an officer accused of racial profiling—a choice that sparked debate among viewers. Some reviews criticized the episode for portraying Frank as compromising his values, a departure from his usual character that some fans found hard to believe.

The third lowest-rated episode is “Triumph Over Trauma” from Season 11, Episode 1, which received a rating of 6.9 out of 10. This episode, which featured guest star Whoopi Goldberg, was particularly polarizing. Critics cited Goldberg’s performance and the storyline involving her character as reasons for their displeasure, with one reviewer explicitly stating their dissatisfaction with her return to the series.

Despite these criticisms, “Blue Bloods” remains a beloved part of CBS’s lineup, demonstrating the complex relationship between a show’s creative risks and its audience’s expectations.