Fans of “Blue Bloods” should find comfort in “Boston Blue” as it carves out its unique path, weaving in familiar elements from its predecessor. The premiere episode is peppered with nods to the original series, creating a sense of continuity. Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) makes an appearance, supporting her brother amidst a significant family dilemma. Meanwhile, Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) and Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez) are confirmed as a couple, and the Silver family gathers for a meal rich with faith, case discussions, and cherished memories. Even the opening credits mirror those of “Blue Bloods,” ensuring fans feel right at home.

For those rooting for Danny and Maria, the show delivers right away. Our introduction to Danny finds him in a cozy moment with Maria in his bedroom, their relationship status made clear. However, the romance is soon interrupted as Danny receives news of Sean’s (Mika Amonsen) injury in a fire, prompting his swift departure to Boston.

Maria isn’t the only “Blue Bloods” character to make an appearance or be mentioned in this new venture. Danny reaches out to his father, Frank (Tom Selleck), updating him on Sean’s situation. Although Frank remains off-screen, Danny doesn’t shy away from leveraging his father’s esteemed reputation, mentioning to Lena (Sonequa Martin-Green) and her fellow officers how well-known the Reagans are in New York. He also refers to his badge as a “shield,” a symbol of the danger he’s faced and the family’s protective legacy. These elements serve as a loving tribute to “Blue Bloods.”

The parallels between the Silver and Reagan families extend beyond their shared mealtime traditions. As “Faith and Family” concludes, the Silvers are seen attending a Sunday service at Reverend Edwin Peters’ (Ernie Hudson) Baptist church. Lena, along with her siblings and mother, are revealed to be regular congregants. Their interfaith prayers over dinner, shared with Danny and Erin, illustrate that the Silvers are as devout as the Reagans, though they embrace a blend of faiths. This interfaith dynamic suggests that “Boston Blue” will remain closely tied to its parent show, a connection Donnie Wahlberg hopes to maintain.

The Silver clan’s resemblance to the Reagans doesn’t end with their unifying family dinners — at the conclusion of “Faith and Family,” the Silvers attend Sunday service at the Baptist church of their family patriarch, Reverend Edwin Peters (Ernie Hudson). Lena, her siblings, and her mother are apparently regular attendees. This, plus the Jewish prayer the family recites over their shared meal with Danny and Erin, tells us that the Silvers are just as religious as the churchgoing Reagans were on “Blue Bloods,” but they’re a proud interfaith clan that celebrates multiple belief systems. In short: the many similarities which lie between the Silvers and the Reagans hint that the spin-off and its mothership show will be intermarried — and Donnie Wahlberg has admitted that he hopes to keep the two shows connected.

During a phone call he made to the “Billy & Lisa in the Morning” show, Wahlberg noted that it was important for him to keep a strong link between “Blue Bloods” and “Boston Blue” as the two shows strive to create their own individual but interlinked experiences. “The family and Tom Selleck and the entire cast were you know, my friends, and we’re very close and so this is a new world,” the actor said, adding that the new show is “going to stay connected with the old characters, and they’ll be popping up from time to time.” Who else will appear to make friends with the Silvers and get a taste of life in Boston? Watch “Boston Blue” to find out.