‘Collateral Damage’ Ends With a Heartstopping Cliffhanger

 Image via Michael Gibson/CBS

During the series premiere, “Faith and Family,” it was revealed that Mae Silver’s (Gloria Reuben) beloved husband, Ben Silver, a city judge, was murdered about a year before the events of the show. Later in the season, Boston Police Department Superintendent Sarah Silver (Maggie Lawson), Ben’s daughter and Mae’s stepdaughter, discloses that the corrupt ADA she sought to expose had prosecuted the conviction of Ben’s murderer, Ronan Flaherty (Jack Murray). Arresting the ADA on corruption charges allowed his prior convictions to be subject to legal review and possibly get overturned, resulting in Flaherty’s release in “Collateral Damage.”

That was obviously a heart-stopping and crushing way to end the episode. Lena appears in utter shock and heartbroken, fearing that her brother may have just taken the law into his own hands and killed Flaherty. It was a powerful scene and an emotionally devastating way to leave viewers for the winter finale. However, the ending offers some interesting narrative clues. Although it appears Jonah might have executed Flaherty, the character’s death conveniently happens off-screen. Also, even though it appears Flaherty’s blood is all over Jonah’s clothes, that could be the result of Jonah discovering and checking Ronan’s body. The ending to “Collateral Damage” was intense, but something tells us that the final scene does not paint the full picture of what happened with Flaherty. The cliffhanger scene leaves enough ambiguity to potentially exonerate Jonah when the show returns from its midseason break.

‘Boston Blue’ May Have Just Set Up a Huge Overarching Storyline

The reveal appears highly reminiscent of the classic first-season mystery in Blue Bloods surrounding the murder of the Reagan family’s son, Joseph Reagan. In the first season finale, it was discovered that Joseph’s death was the result of his investigation into a group of corrupt NYPD officers called the Blue Templar, and Joseph’s execution was carried out by the officer Sonny Malevsky (Michael T. Weiss). The new revelation Sarah stumbled onto could signify the start of a major conspiracy and multi-episode story arc for the mystery behind Ben Silver’s death. Boston Blue setting up its own multi-episode ongoing storyline brings a ton of intrigue and excitement for the rest of the season, and “Collateral Damage” plays like a major narrative turning point in the storyline’s progression.

Danny Reagan Makes a Huge Decision

Danny accepting his BPD detective’s shield is a huge, earth-shattering move since he will no longer have one foot out the door. Unfortunately, it will probably push him further away from his girlfriend, Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez), who still lives in New York City and works as a detective for the NYPD. It was clear in the sixth episode, “Code of Ethics,” that Maria wanted Danny back in New York, but something is keeping Danny in Boston, other than his desire to stay close to his son Sean. Danny’s decision is far-reaching because he’s now fully committing to his life in Boston, and he will not return to the NYPD.