Blue Bloods has kept audiences captivated year after year since the CBS drama's premiere in 2010. After it was announced that the hit crime show would be coming back this fall, the anticipation for the return quickly rose. However, some fans are still reeling from a dramatic change that took place last season: the departure of actress Amy Carlson.
Her character's death was revealed in the season eight premiere, and it was a gut-punch to more than just the audience. Actor Will Estes, who plays the youngest Reagan sibling, Jamie, recently opened up about his costar's "shocking" exit.
"From what I understand, it did feel like it was Amy's decision. It would've felt horrible, obviously, if she had been fired or something like that—but that wasn't what happened," Estes exclusively tells CountryLiving.com. "It was kind of a mutual separation."
For seven years, Carlson starred as Linda Reagan, the beloved wife of Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg). Her sudden death in a helicopter accident was not shown on camera and had never been hinted at prior to the episode, which left fans even more thrown.
But they weren't the only ones who were surprised. Apparently, Carlson's costars didn't see it coming either.
"It was shocking. In some ways, it felt like a different show," Estes says. "As characters, it was rough, and as selfish cast mates it was hard to lose her. But that was tempered with wanting to support Amy."
Carlson herself addressed her exit with a vague Instagram post that didn't offer an explanation, but instead expressed her appreciation. "I’m so grateful to CBS and the Blue Bloods cast and crew. Mostly, I am grateful to the fans who have supported me and the show," she wrote.
Despite Carlson's seemingly amicable regress, and her costars' continued support, Estes admits the adjustment wasn't easy.
"There's a lot of layers to it. It was a big shift, and we all felt it," he says.
Blue Bloods airs Fridays at 10:00 p.m. EST on CBS.
