The Reagan family dinner table is about to get a lot quieter. After fourteen years of Sunday roasts, heated debates over police procedure, and the kind of family loyalty that makes you want to call your own parents, the end is actually here. If you’ve been asking when is the last episode of Blue Bloods, you aren’t alone. Fans have been bracing for this since CBS first announced the split-season schedule for Season 14.
It feels weird. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine Friday nights without Frank Reagan’s mustache or Danny’s questionable interrogation tactics. But the network has made it official.
The Exact Date: When is the Last Episode of Blue Bloods?
The long-running procedural is bowing out in December 2025. Specifically, CBS has locked in the series finale for Friday, December 12, 2025.
That’s the big one. The series finale, titled "One Last Ride," is scheduled to air at 10:00 PM ET/PT. Unlike some shows that get a random Tuesday night send-off, CBS is giving the Reagans their traditional Friday night slot to say goodbye. It’s a bit of a bittersweet holiday gift for the millions of viewers who have stuck with the show since it premiered back in 2010.
Why now? CBS brass, including CEO George Cheeks, have been vocal about the "tough calls" required to refresh the network lineup. Despite a massive fan campaign—including a literal "Save Blue Bloods" billboard in Times Square and a relentless social media push—the decision stayed final. Tom Selleck hasn't exactly hidden his frustration. In several interviews, most notably with TV Insider, Selleck made it clear he wasn't ready to retire the Commissioner’s shield, famously stating that the show was still "winning its time slot" and had plenty of stories left to tell.
Why the Final Season Was Split in Two
The path to the finale wasn't a straight line. Because of the 2023 Hollywood strikes, the production schedule got wonky. CBS decided to split Season 14 into two distinct parts.
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Part one kicked off in early 2024, giving us ten episodes that felt like business as usual. Then came the long summer hiatus. The final eight episodes—the ones that actually lead up to the last episode of Blue Bloods—began airing in October 2025. This "long goodbye" was designed to give the writers enough runway to wrap up fourteen years of character arcs without it feeling rushed.
Think about it. We’ve seen Nicky go from a kid to a professional, Jamie go from a Harvard Law grad in a patrol car to a Sergeant, and Erin... well, Erin has been through the ringer in the DA’s office. You can’t just close those books in forty-two minutes.
What to Expect from the Final Reagan Family Dinner
The dinner table scenes are the heartbeat of the show. It’s where the real drama happens. According to showrunner Kevin Wade, the final episode won't necessarily try to "reinvent the wheel." He’s mentioned in interviews that the goal is to honor the routine that fans love.
Expect the finale to focus heavily on legacy. There are rumblings about several returning guest stars. While the show has been tight-lipped, fans are desperate to see if Jackie Curatola (Jennifer Esposito) or even some of the younger Reagan descendants make a final appearance to fill those extra chairs at Frank’s table.
There’s also the question of Frank’s job. Throughout Season 14, the tension between Commissioner Reagan and Mayor Chase (played by Dylan Walsh) reached a fever pitch. A lot of people are betting that Frank might finally step down. But honestly? Frank Reagan retiring feels like a lion deciding to become a vegetarian. It just doesn't fit the character. Most insiders suggest the ending will be more "life goes on" than a definitive "everyone moves away" type of finale.
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The Fight to Save the Show: Was it Ever Close?
It’s rare to see a cast fight this hard to stay at work. Usually, after fourteen years, actors are looking for the exit. Not this crew. Donnie Wahlberg has been a massive cheerleader for the #SaveBlueBloods movement on Instagram.
The fans actually managed to pull off some impressive feats:
- Thousands of physical ribbons sent to CBS offices.
- Consistent Top 10 rankings on Paramount+ streaming charts.
- A petition with over 100,000 signatures.
But the math eventually won out. Blue Bloods is an expensive show to produce. Shooting on location in New York City isn't cheap, and a veteran cast comes with a veteran price tag. Even with the cast and producers reportedly taking a 25% pay cut to get Season 14 greenlit, the "business of television" eventually caught up with the "family business" of the Reagans.
How to Watch the Final Episodes Without Missing a Beat
If you aren't parked in front of a TV with an antenna on Friday nights, you have a few options. CBS episodes drop on Paramount+ the day after they air.
If you’re looking to binge the entire journey before the last episode of Blue Bloods airs in December, the previous thirteen seasons are all housed there as well. Some international viewers on platforms like Sky Witness or Disney+ (in certain regions) might see a slight delay in the broadcast schedule, but for the US audience, December 12 is the date carved in stone.
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Actionable Steps for Blue Bloods Fans
The end of a fourteen-year run is a big deal. Don't let the finale just pass you by.
Mark the Calendar: Set an alert for December 12, 2025. Given the popularity of the show, spoilers will be all over social media within minutes of the East Coast broadcast. If you’re on the West Coast or watching on delay, you might want to mute keywords like "Reagan," "Series Finale," and "Frank Reagan" on X (formerly Twitter) to keep the surprises intact.
Watch the "Essential" Episodes: Before the finale, go back and watch the pilot episode and the Season 10 finale. It provides a massive perspective on how much the characters have aged and evolved. Seeing Jamie as a "rookie" again makes his current position in the NYPD feel much more earned.
Check for Post-Series Specials: CBS often airs "Retrospective" specials for their legacy hits. Keep an eye on the network schedule during the week leading up to the finale. There are often behind-the-scenes interviews and "best of" dinner table compilations that aren't included in the standard episodes.
Host a Final Dinner: Do it like the Reagans. The show has actually inspired a lot of fans to start their own Sunday dinner traditions. Pot roast, mashed potatoes, and a slightly heated debate about the news of the day—it’s the only proper way to send off the NYPD's first family.
The finality of the last episode of Blue Bloods marks the end of an era for broadcast procedurals. It was one of the last "comfort" shows that brought families together across generations. While the show is ending, the Reagans are leaving behind 293 episodes that will live on in syndication forever. The badge stays on the table, but the stories are permanent.