“Boston Blue” Season 1 Finale: Does One Character Die After Shocking Car Crash Cliffhanger?

Romance, family ties and a high-stakes shooting wrap the CBS procedural's first season

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the season 1 finale of Boston Blue, which aired on CBS Friday, May 22.

NEED TO KNOW

• Boston Blue‘s season 1 finale finds Sonequa Martin-Green’s Lena Silver fighting for her life after an intense shootout
• The star detective’s boyfriend, Brian Rogers, potentially loses his own life in a massive cliffhanger
• Boston Blue is available to stream on Paramount+

Lena Silver's life is on the line in the Boston Blue season finale — and so is her boyfriend's after a shocking turn of events.

On Friday, May 22, CBS aired the finale of the Blue Bloods spinoff's first season, featuring an intense shootout, the return of some original-series favorites, big personal and professional moves for Donnie Wahlberg's Danny Reagan, and a cliffhanger that'll have fans scratching their heads about what went down with one character in particular.

The episode kicks off with Danny suiting up in his new BPD uniform, as he's tasked with going on a ride-along with his son Sean (Mika Amonsen). Meanwhile, Det. Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Green) spends much of the episode investigating a contraband situation in a local prison — all while her boyfriend, Det. Brian Rogers (Ryan Broussard), gets news of a job offer with the DEA in Washington, D.C.

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Throughout the episode, Brian has trouble carving out time to talk about his big decision with Lena. He still hasn't decided whether they'll be doing long distance or if he plans to stay in Boston when Lena spots an envelope in Brian's pocket. She asks him about it and he breaks the news that he got offered the position. "He's leaving me," Lena tells Danny, who asks, "Rogers dumped you, just now? What a jerk. I knew I didn't like that guy."

Lena then clarifies that Brian is only "taking a job in D.C.," as Danny gives her advice about a partner "moving to another city."

"Well, that doesn't make him a bad guy. I'm just saying, long distance isn't so bad if you work at it," Danny says, alluding to himself and former NYPD partner Maria Baez. "I haven't given up on me and Baez."

The discussion between Danny and Lena takes place at the front door of Dax Supply, the place that's apparently been housing the contraband they've been looking for. Within seconds, Lena is shot through the door and goes flying down several steps.

Danny then has a lengthy shootout with the suspects inside, Brian has to apply pressure to Lena's chest wound after she was shot, and Sean springs into action with his dad. "You want to hear some good news? I'm staying here with you," Brian tells Lena as she fights for her life and bleeds through her mouth. "I don't need the DEA. I need you. I mean it."

Luckily for Lena, she survives the shooting and even gets to meet her birth father (Erik King) in the hospital. He vows to stay by her side.

"I love you and I'm sorry. I was wrong to leave, whatever the circumstance," he tells Lena. "I've been wrong your whole life, but I'm willing to spend the rest of mine trying to make it right."

Things don't end as happily for Brian. In the final scenes of the episode, the Silver and Reagan families (including Blue Bloods favorite Joe Hill) rejoice over a meal, while Brian is on the way over.

Lena's boyfriend then makes a pit stop to buy her flowers. When he enters his car to head over to the Silver residence, another vehicle comes flying toward him and slams into his passenger side. Brian's car then flips multiple times and lands in a body of water, with the driver responsible apparently taking off.

It's unclear if Brian survives the ordeal, likely to be addressed in season 2 of Boston Blue, which was renewed for a second run in December.

Elsewhere in the latest episode, thanks to Sean's quick thinking, the BPD and superintendent Sarah Silver (Maggie Lawson) are able to track down those responsible for Lena's shooting and arrest a suspect. Danny also makes strides with Baez (Marisa Ramirez) in the finale, as she makes a surprise appearance of her own to comfort Danny amid Lena's hospitalization.

"Danny, I love you. I don't know exactly when it happened but it happened. Since you came to Boston, nothing's been the same," Baez says, reminding Danny that he "never stopped fighting for us." 

"[Sean] said I've been doing the same thing for as long as he can remember. And now I'm still doing the same thing, only in a different place," Danny says. "Maybe after what happened to Lena and you coming back, it's time that I made some changes."

He adds, "If I'm in a command position, I could be for Sean what my dad was for me. His guiding light. Who knows? Maybe one day, commissioner too. But its a long way from detective to commissioner, so maybe I'll start with the sergeant's exam."

Danny and Baez's hopeful conversation ends with Danny offering to get a "bigger place" so Baez and her family can "come stay" with him. "I think I'm good taking it slow with you," he says.

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