'Blue Bloods' 'Protest Too Much': Foiling...

What a treat to have the new Blue Bloods episode to settle into this Friday night, and that wasn't the only pleasure in "Protest Too Much." Very tasty scenes and a satisfying new partner mix made this episode delectable.

A protest is underway as the story opens with Citizens for Police Accountability making full access of their protest rights at the precinct. Enter Whitney Robshaw (Sarah Wynter) into Frank's office, and the Commissioner (Tom Selleck) immediately knows her as Erin's birthday party guest before the new attorney for the ACLU, there to broker a new relationship with the NYPD. The Commish is clearly smitten with the lovely younger lady, inquiring after her use of a cane after a knee injury, and getting looks from Garrett (Gregory Jbara). A bank holdup goes down by a zealous and youthful romantic pair of robbers. An off-duty officer, Haskins (Brian Avers) attempts to step in, but that sets off the young male, who fires his weapon, wounding an innocent customer Mr. Harrington. Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) takes the case with a familiar "new" partner, Detective Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez) of whom he says, "I known you for 10 years," and the play between the two is as comfortable and easy as old favorite pajamas, with unforced rapport and believable exchanges in past history. Just as they start piecing details, FBI agents, Emily Valko and Anthony Cook, who are not so lovingly referred to as "Famous But Incompetent" by Danny, swoop in to take over, played by Enid Graham and James Francis Ginty. Nothing like the feds to blow a case and take the credit from hard-working precinct cops.

Erin (Bridget Moynahan) is doing her best to bolster a sexually abused victim called as a witness, as the two are shopping for a suit, with the young woman still on shaky ground. A prying paparazzi as part of the aforementioned CPA puts his lens through the shop window, intending to show Erin shopping on taxpayer hours, but instead terrorizing the witness. Erin charges after him, but with little affect. Danny and Maria get leads on their "Bonnie and Clyde" couple as Dylan and Sylvie, but a former roommate, Diane (Amelia Pedlow), can't lead them to whereabouts, so Danny plays prospective employer to get Dylan's mom to give up their location at an uncle's (Drew McVety). The pair clearly have plans to party and depart at first glance, but then a poster surfaces that tips off intentions for another quick heist before hitting the road. Danny and Baez get to the venue, but the duo has already done the deed before the smoke clears, taking a hostage, Polly (Kim Rosen) as insurance. Pictures surface on the CPA website of Erin, and Frank, both of which alarm teenager, Nicky, but not so much as seeing the blonde date with granddad! Erin flies into full mother hen mode, prodding her father regarding his "questionable" date choices, but he pushes right back, stating his rights as grown man as well as chief representative for the Department. He also reminds her the pain that he is, the probing photographer broke no laws, so they both have to ride the relentless photog ambush out. Erin storms out of dad's office like a petulant schoolgirl. Polly doesn't detract much from her captors upon release, saying Sylvie was "sorry" over the injured man and defending her Dylan to the end. Danny calls Linda (Amy Carlson) to ask about Harrington's status, and he's going to survive, minus a kidney. Linda also gets accosted by an unknown girl about the patient, and her memory is pricked enough to know to call security. Danny plays her alley in interrogation, and Sylvie wants only to save her lover. Everything was a sliver away from a wrap before Agent Valko tears into the room, and Sylvie lawyers up.

By dinner time, Danny is disgusted over the feds blowing his case, Erin is disgusted because younger brother Jamie won't side with her over Dad's dating choices, (reminding her "Dad doesn't need my approval") and Frank is disgusted that he can't take whoever he wants out for a drink. He reiterates that "having a drink with a woman" is no crime, and although he's no spring chicken, "I'm not dead yet!" As another robbery is called in, Danny puts the pedal to the metal and races to confront Dylan, hoping to keep his promise to Sylvie and close his case. He offers Dylan the choice of surrender, but he refuses, choosing a notorious legacy over life, before his own and the shots of the FBI agents finish him off. Erin bars the spying lens maniac from the courtroom, but doesn't have to say much, because her witness's strong words do the trick.

The final scene has Frank and Whitney meeting at a restaurant again, but this time, there's no date, despite Whitney's request to "see where things lead," praising that Erin is lucky to have a father who "holds her opinion so dearly." Deciding it would be just too delicate, Frank parts company and ideologies with the striking blonde with the accent and the cane. This Blue Bloods episode ends with a wistful touch.