Boston Blue Recap: Donnie Wahlberg Opens Up About Son Following Recast

Boston Blue’s latest episode had a profound impact on Donnie Wahlberg‘s character, Danny, who experienced a wave of emotions regarding his relationship with his son Sean.

In the episode that aired on Friday, December 12, Danny (Wahlberg) and Lena (Sonequa Martin-Green) were involved in a case concerning a young boy who witnessed his father’s murder. Danny was visibly distressed and found himself deeply affected by the personal ties to the event.

By the end of the episode, he solved the case, which boosted Danny’s desire to reach out to his son Sean (Mika Amonsen) — as well as to his father Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) — even more. Throughout Boston Blue, the series has explored Danny’s efforts to repair his previously strained relationship with Sean.

Danny’s storyline in New York was a key part of CBS’ Blue Bloods, which aired from 2010 to 2024. The spinoff, which debuted in October, started with Danny traveling to Boston after Sean fell into a coma. This iteration of Sean appeared slightly different, having originally been portrayed by Andrew Terraciano.

“There’s been some negativity, for sure,” Amonsen revealed exclusively to Us Weekly last month regarding stepping into the role. “However, beneath those negative comments, I see plenty of fans supporting Sean and expressing appreciation for the character I’m creating — or my interpretation of him.”

Amonsen emphasized his commitment to making Blue Bloods fans happy with his portrayal, saying, “They seem to be enjoying the show and appreciate the direction we’re taking with Sean, which makes me happy.”

The actor admitted to feeling “a ton of pressure” regarding his new role.

“I felt the obligation to honor the previous actor because I genuinely wanted to respect Andrew as best as I could. There were specific visual choices I made, like hair styling and mannerisms, that I wanted to retain for Sean,” he noted. “My aim is to preserve the essence of Sean as much as possible out of respect for this beloved character — and for Andrew’s portrayal.”

He continued: “When I got the role, everything moved really fast. Within about a week, I was plunged into it. I binge-watched as much as I could; focusing on the later seasons helped me understand Sean’s character better as he matured and explored his relationship with Danny.”

Terraciano also spoke to Us about the role transition.

“I received a call — on the day of my graduation, no less — after my mom had spoken to someone, and she called me in tears. They said, ‘They might be looking for a different Sean,’” Terraciano recalled. “Soon after, Donnie reached out to me. It was a touching moment to hear from an old friend and someone I hold in high regard.”

He expressed gratitude for his time on Blue Bloods.

“It’s special because you’ll always cherish every line and every day you had the chance to portray that character,” he reflected. “This doesn’t mean someone else can’t create something wonderful with the role.”

Terraciano added: “I had the joy of playing Sean, and I was able to pass him on into the world. Now, someone else gets that joy. We both get to share our interpretations and take Sean into new experiences.”

Boston Blue airs on CBS Fridays at 10 p.m. ET.