Blue Bloods season 9 episode 16 video: Who is Doug Lynch?
In this sneak peek, Baker introduces Frank, Gormley, and Garrett to Doug Lynch, a detective who seems to have gotten involved in an off-duty shooting. Reports are that Lynch was giving the victim a hard time and soon after that, bullets were fired. This is not a reflection of the off-duty shooting that we discussed previously through the lens of Danny Reagan. The big, distinguishable difference is that Danny’s incident was a matter of self-defense, and that is not a picture that can be properly seen here. The objective for Frank is finding a way to piece together what actually happened — it’s about good ol’-fashioned police-work, the sort of thing that this show is really known for (plus also family dinners, occasional one-liners, and an enormous viewership).
There is one other component to this crisis that has to be factored in here, and it’s one that doesn’t surface until about midway through this preview: Gormley and Lynch apparently know each other and have for the better part of 20 years. That’s both good and not good at all. Knowing someone for that long, if you let the bias get to you, means that you won’t see someone for who they really are. Maybe if you’re thinking as a cop rather than a friend, it’s a benefit … there’s just no guarantee that Sid is going to be thinking like a cop. This is where the episode’s title becomes relevant: “Past Tense.” Gormely knew Lynch. That doesn’t mean he knows the man now. Many of his memories and his testimony of his character, are all things that may be left behind in the rear-view mirror.
Nonetheless, the moment Gormley learns that Lynch is involved, he decides to head out to the scene himself.
Frank says it best at the end of the sneak peek: Did he just see what he thought he did? If what he thinks he saw is one of his trusted advisers scramble out of his office after hearing the detective involved in the shooting is a guy he knew, than he did. In all seriousness, this is going to be tough for Frank. He has to figure out the truth, even if it breaks the blue line of cops supporting other cops. Every now and then you have to knock down some of the foundation, but then build it back up, block by block, to make it stronger than ever before. Sometimes, people wear the badge for so long that it begins to lose a little bit of its luster and they need that kick in the you-know-what to get back that shine for the job.
So what else lies ahead in this episode?
As we’ve already explained in another sneak-peek preview, Jamie and Eddie are going to be none-too-pleased with Erin Reagan over her deciding to hand off a case to an ADA … one that means a lot to them since they are now being sabotaged and tampered with. Their careers are in danger! Whether or not it’s actually Erin’s fault, it really doesn’t matter. They are just angry and looking for someone to blame and for now, Erin is that person.
What are you hoping to see on Blue Bloods season 9 episode 16?
If you’re Frank, how exactly do you handle this situation? Be sure to share right now in the comments.
(Photo: CBS.)