Ep 4. Scorched Earth

The episode "Scorched Earth" marks the fourth episode of the third season of Blue Bloods. The show is a police procedural drama that revolves around the Reagan family, who have a rich legacy in law enforcement, with members serving as cops, lawyers, and even the police commissioner of New York City.

In this episode, we see Detective Danny Reagan (played by Donnie Wahlberg) investigating the murder of a wealthy woman who was shot in her own home. Her husband is initially suspected, but the evidence suggests that he couldn't have been the killer. With few leads, Danny and his partner Detective Maria Baez (played by Marisa Ramirez) follow the trail to the victim's business partner, who had a motive for the murder. But as they dig deeper, they uncover a tangled web of business deals and personal relationships that lead them in unexpected directions.

Meanwhile, Danny's sister Erin Reagan (played by Bridget Moynahan) has her own case to deal with. She is prosecuting a man who is accused of starting a fire that killed four people, including two children. The defense lawyer is arguing that his client didn't intend to kill anyone, and instead was only trying to scare off a drug addict who had broken into his building. Erin is determined to get justice for the victims, but she finds herself facing unexpected challenges in the courtroom.

The third storyline in this episode involves Jamie Reagan (played by Will Estes), who is still dealing with the aftermath of being shot while on duty. His physical recovery is going well, but he is struggling emotionally with what happened to him. When he witnesses a hit-and-run accident while off-duty, he decides to investigate the case on his own, hoping to find a sense of purpose and regain his confidence as a cop.

As always, the Reagan family dynamics are an important aspect of the show. We see the various siblings supporting each other through their personal and professional challenges, and we get glimpses into their personal lives and relationships. We also see the family patriarch, police commissioner Frank Reagan (played by Tom Selleck), dealing with political challenges as he tries to balance the needs of the police department with the needs of the city.

Overall, "Scorched Earth" is a tense and engaging episode that highlights the strengths of the Blue Bloods formula: a mix of procedural crime drama, family dynamics, and political intrigue. The central mysteries are engrossing, and the characters are all well-drawn and engaging. There's enough action and suspense to keep viewers engaged, but also enough heart and human drama to make the show feel grounded and relatable. This is a solid episode of a consistently strong show.