As Blue Bloods came to an end after 14 seasons, fans were eager to see whether Danny Reagan and Detective Maria Baez would finally make their relationship official. While the finale strongly hinted at romance between the longtime partners, showrunner Kevin Wade explained why Baez was not included at the Reagan family dinner.
According to Wade, the writers felt it would have been too sudden to introduce Danny and Baez as a couple during the final minutes of the series. Although Danny invites Baez out for pizza in a scene that suggests their relationship is becoming romantic, the show stopped short of having them reveal it to the Reagan family.
Wade noted that previous relationships on the show, like Jamie and Eddie’s, had more time to develop onscreen before reaching a major family moment. In Danny and Baez’s case, he believed the transition would have felt rushed after so many years of slow-building tension.
Interestingly, Donnie Wahlberg personally pushed for Danny and Baez to share a meaningful ending. He said he wanted the finale to show that their relationship had evolved and that there could be a future together, even without a wedding or dramatic declaration.
Baez had actually attended a Reagan family dinner once before during Season 11, making her absence in the finale even more noticeable to longtime viewers.
However, despite years of fan support for the pairing, the first season of Boston Blue hints that Danny and Baez may not have found lasting happiness after all, leaving the future of their relationship uncertain once again.