'Blue Bloods' Fans Shocked by Amy Carlson Departure: 'I Loved Playing Linda'

"Blue Bloods" fans reacted with shock, confusion, and anger to that major twist in the Season 8 premiere.

Spoilers ahead.

ER nurse Linda Reagan, played by Amy Carlson since Season 1, survived the Season 7 finale fire at her home with husband Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) only to be revealed in the Season 8 premiere as having died in a helicopter crash while transporting a patient.

According to Deadline:

"I hear Carlson had fulfilled her contract, which was up at the end of Season 7, and felt it was time to move on. Still, this was a rather abrupt exit, with her character not getting a proper sendoff, a move that has been met with disapproval by some fans."

Seriously.

Carlson reached out on Instagram to say goodbye to her loyal fans:

My heart is full of gratitude to each of you for your generous support of me and my character for the last seven years of Blue Bloods – Linda Reagan. I have been touched by your compassion and enthusiasm. I loved playing Linda: wife to Danny, mother to Jack and Sean, nurse and working mom. I'm proud of my contribution to building this series. 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. Peace, blessings and many 'love you mores' to all of you. Warmly, Amy Carlson @bluebloods__cbs @cbstv . . . Phot by @ReneeBevan

A post shared by Amy Carlson (@theamycarlson1) on Sep 29, 2017 at 7:58pm PDT

Fans were not happy with Linda's departure or how it was handled:

Is Linda really gone?!?!?!? But I thought that she and the boys are okay in last season finale?!?!?! #BlueBloodspic.twitter.com/HjqniAyXrV

— Stephanie (@brown_eyed_1007) September 30, 2017

HOLD UP!!!! WHAT???? #BlueBloodspic.twitter.com/e1UtnJGERU

— Matthew David Oliver (@Matthew_26) September 30, 2017

Seriously??? You cannot kill off Linda and just casually metion it in a therapy session! WE DEMAND DETAILS, TEARS, A FUNERAL! #BlueBloods

— ????????Deb ???????? K???????? (@my2gr8girls) September 30, 2017

Karen Hill comes out of witness protection becomes mayor, Frank gets fired, Linda dies, & Jamie & Eddie still aren't together #BlueBloodspic.twitter.com/NoqpRpi1ib

— Jessie Lynn ★ (@MissJ_Lynn) September 30, 2017

#BlueBloods has done explaining to do - why why why?? Killing off Linda was a big mistake!!! ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

— FrizMeAllNightLong (@DesiresoftheArt) September 30, 2017

Why does #BlueBloods have it in for all the Reagan women?Bring back Linda!! You owed the fans a better storyline than this unrealistic exit!

— Robin Pemberton (@RobinPemberton) September 30, 2017

Donnie Wahlberg also reacted to Amy Carlson's departure -- and so did his real-life wife Jenny McCarthy:

That wasn't Danny Reagan crying for losing Linda. That was @donniewahlberg crying in honor of his friend, the great @TheAmyCarlson#RIPLinda

— Donnie Wahlberg (@DonnieWahlberg) September 30, 2017

I know many #BlueBloods fans will miss Linda Reagan. None more than me. @TheAmyCarlson is a gift, a light and a true friend on & off screen.

— Donnie Wahlberg (@DonnieWahlberg) September 30, 2017

That moment your real life wife cries because her husband lost his TV wife! ????????????❤️????????@JennyMcCarthy@TheAmyCarlson@BlueBloods_CBSpic.twitter.com/HnOsuIlgda

— Donnie Wahlberg (@DonnieWahlberg) October 2, 2017

"Blue Bloods" will follow the fallout from Linda's death in the next episode, "Ghosts of the Past," airing Friday, Oct. 6 at 10 p.m. on CBS.

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