Blue Bloods spawned 293 episodes throughout its 14 seasons. While the vast majority of these episodes make for compelling viewing, a select few episodes left an indelible impression on the memories of long-time viewers. One of these special episodes is the Season 5 finale, “The Art of War,” in which the Reagan family is plunged into crisis while dealing with the real possibility that one of them might die. Each of the remaining family members, led by Danny and Frank, must ask themselves how far they’re willing to go to achieve justice.

Now that Donnie Wahlberg has reprised the role of Danny Reagan in the upcoming Blue Bloods spin-off series Boston Blue, there is renewed focus on Danny’s past, especially in terms of why Danny decided to relocate from New York to Boston for the new series. For this purpose, “The Art of War” is especially valuable, as this episode shows Danny struggling to balance his raw emotions with a sense of justice while attempting to resolve one of the most personal cases in his career. Moreover, “The Art of War” episode, which first aired on CBS on May 1, 2015, powerfully demonstrates the Reagan family’s indomitable ability to close ranks and strengthen under the most difficult of circumstances.

A Reagan Family Member Is Shot in “The Art of War”

David Barrett, Ralph Hemecker, Alex Zakrzewski, Robert Harmon, John Behring, Alex Chapple, Jackeline Tejada, Douglas Aarniokoski, Eric Laneuville, Michael Pressman, John Polson, Heather Cappiello, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jennifer Opresnick, Peter Werner, Donald E. Thorin Jr., Frederick King Keller, Bridget Moynahan, Dean White, Deran Sarafian, James Whitmore Jr., Martha Mitchell, Rachel Feldman, Robert Duncan McNeill

WritersSiobhan Byrne O’Connor, Brian Burns, Kevin Wade, Robin Green, Kevin Riley, Jack Ciapciak, Thomas Kelly, Diana Son, Van B. Nguyen, Dawn DeNoon, Willie Reale, Bryan Goluboff, Julie Hébert, Mark Rosner, Vanessa Rojas, David Black, Ed Zuckerman, Gwendolyn M. Parker, Ken Sanzel, Seth Pearlman, Amanda Green, Ben Cummings, Orson Cummings, James Nuciforo

As seen with the Blue Bloods series finale, the most intense season finales are those in which the lives of the Reagan family members and their friends are imperiled. The Season 5 finale, “The Art of War,” opens directly after the conclusion of the penultimate Season 5 episode, “New Rules.” That episode begins with NYPD Deputy Chief Donald Kent and Kent’s wife, both close friends of Frank Reagan’s, being shot and killed by a vicious gang called the Warrior Kings.

After Frank assigns the case to Danny, with the expectation of Danny following the rules of law, Danny focuses on getting information from Hector, a gang associate who witnessed the hit and has been hospitalized with a bullet wound, at the hospital where Danny’s wife, Linda, played by Amy Carlson, is employed as a nurse. Curtis Turner, a gang recruit who works as an orderly at the hospital, enters Hector’s room with a gun to kill Hector while Linda is tending to him. The episode ends with Linda moving in front of Hector just before several gunshots erupt within a black screen.