Although many Blue Bloods fans hoped Detective Maria Baez would join Danny Reagan at the Reagan family dinner in the series finale, showrunner Kevin Wade explained that the moment felt too rushed after 14 seasons of gradual character development. Instead, the finale hinted at their future by having Danny invite Baez out for pizza, suggesting their relationship was finally becoming romantic without officially introducing them to the family.
Wade noted that earlier couples, such as Jamie and Eddie, had more time to build toward a family dinner reveal, while Danny and Baez’s romance needed a quieter ending. Donnie Wahlberg also pushed the writers to give the pair a meaningful conclusion, believing fans deserved confirmation that their bond had grown. Although Baez had attended a Reagan family dinner once before, the finale left their future open, and later events in Boston Blue suggest their relationship still faces uncertainty.