Like any police procedural worth its salt, “Blue Bloods” isn’t afraid to get on the grittier side with its subject matter. Whether it’s shocking character deaths at the hands of criminals or corruption within the police force itself, the series has rarely been one to shy away from portraying the darker elements of police work. For essentially every major character on the show, there’s an inherent grief that comes with their devotion to their jobs of keeping the peace, and that conflict serves as the overall backbone for some of the saddest “Blue Bloods” moments.

For Bridget Moynahan, however, one of the more underappreciated elements of “Blue Bloods” is how the show transcends typical police drama conflicts and offers something much more unique in the process. Per the words of the longtime cast member, she finds a certain appeal in the way the series delves into other types of grief that people in various real-life circumstances face.

Moynahan enjoys the show’s realism in depicting grief

It’s safe to say that a lot has changed in Erin Reagan’s life over the course of “Blue Bloods.” One major element of that shift is her daughter Nicki Reagan-Boyle (Sami Gayle). A young teenager when the show begins, Nicki quite literally grows up before the audience’s eyes, and her dynamic with her mother changes accordingly.

For Bridget Moynahan, “Blue Bloods’” bittersweet depiction of Erin dealing with Nicki’s growth is just one way that the show touches on niche yet realistic forms of grief. “As much as I miss Sami and those relationships, it’s very realistic because you have that loss, which is a very relatable life situation and a strange reality,” the actress told Glamour. “There’s a grief to [when kids go off to college or to live on their own] that isn’t often addressed. We get to touch upon it.”

It’s true that “Blue Bloods” gives its character plenty of hardships, and these personal conflicts run across a spectrum of experiences. For Erin, it’s grappling with her daughter’s growth. For Danny (Donnie Wahlberg), it’s dealing with the death of his wife Linda, who was killed off-screen after her actress Amy Carlson left “Blue Bloods.” For Jamie (Will Estes), it’s the difficult realization that he can’t save everyone through his job. According to star Tom Selleck, these conflicts are what keep the audience watching after over a decade’s worth of seasons. “They want the Reagans happy,” the actor told TV Insider. “That’s the key.”