Blue Bloods Season 13 - What We Know So Far

Fans of the enduring CBS police procedural "Blue Bloods" got some great news when the program was renewed for Season 13 back in April. It shouldn't have come as too much of a surprise, as the trials and tribulations of the closely-knit Reagan family continue to pack in audiences (per Deadline), with professional and personal complications lying around every bend. But though things have changed quite a bit for the characters across the show's first 12 seasons, fans can still always count on two things — each episode will include a Sunday evening family dinner scene, and each episode will feature a thrilling case for a member of the family to solve.

The conclusion of the show's 12th season included a number of big changes for the "Blue Bloods" crew. For instance, one character becomes a parent and another announces they're about to experience a major career challenge. So, what should you expect from Season 13? Here's what we know about the 13th season of "Blue Bloods," which premiered on October 7.

Season 13 of "Blue Bloods" follows up on the biggest lingering thread from the conclusion of the previous season. During the ending of "Blue Bloods" Season 12, Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) announces that she's going to run for the position of District Attorney. Per a Deadline interview with showrunner and executive producer Kevin Wade, the show will balance Erin's DA run with her life on the job. "Season 13 would have two tracks for Erin," he said. "Doing the job she has, and challenging herself and being challenged about her fitness for the job she wants. And what she's willing, and not willing, to do in order to get it." 

Elsewhere, other members of the main cast are also dealing with their own personal challenges. The end of Season 12 shows Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez), partner of Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg), deciding to adopt the orphaned daughter of a witness in a murder case that the twosome had been running, and Season 13 will explore her experience as a parent. Jamie Reagan (Will Estes) and Eddie Janko-Reagan (Vanessa Ray), as fan-beloved as their relationship is, also face some pushback for working so close together in the same precinct. "They have a new commanding officer this season (Stephanie Kurtzuba's Sgt. McNichols), who as soon as she sees them says, 'One of you is going to transfer by the end of the day,'" Wade told TV Line.

Fans can rest assured that every main member of the Reagan family featured in "Blue Bloods" Season 12 returns in Season 13. That list includes the previously-mentioned Bridget Moynahan as Erin Reagan, Marisa Ramirez as Maria Baez, Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan, Will Estes as Jamie Reagan, Vanessa Ray as Eddie Janko-Reagan, as well as other major players like Len Cariou's Henry Reagan, Tom Selleck's Frank Reagan, and Steve Schirripa's Anthony Abetemarco.

Interestingly enough, "Blue Bloods" Season 13 also features some familiar faces who haven't appeared on the show for several years. Stacy Keach guest stars as Frank's friend Archbishop Kevin Kearns, a character who hasn't appeared since Season 8 (via The Futon Critic). Additionally, as Moynahan spoke about with TV Insider, Peter Hermann is back as Erin's ex-husband Jack Boyle, and the DA hopeful has several encounters with him over the course of her campaign. "He offers to introduce her to somebody with political and financial support," Moynahan said in the interview. "That opens the door to conversations that bring them closer, but now that's she's running for office, I think she's waiting. Your private life is exposed no matter what it is." However things turn out, hopefully the season addresses the concerns of "Blue Bloods" fans who are fed up with the treatment of Jack.

"Blue Bloods" may have an impressive length, what with its whopping total of 12 released seasons, but it's never too late for potential new viewers or lapsed fans to catch up on what they've missed. As it happens, there are several accessible ways to watch previous seasons of the beloved procedural and see some of the best "Blue Bloods" episodes out there. 

For those that want to watch all of the first 12 seasons of the show, a Paramount+ account is the best option. The service features every single one of the series' first 254 episodes, all available to stream with a basic subscription. Those with a Hulu subscription can enjoy about 75 percent of that content, as that service houses the first nine "Blue Bloods" seasons. Finally, for people that would prefer to purchase individual episodes or seasons of their choosing, the first 12 seasons are all available to buy on Amazon Prime Video, the iTunes store, and Vudu.