The ninthJesse Stonemovie reveals that the title character’s best friend Reggie the Dog has passed away, which is even more tragic thanks to a behind-the-scenes story. Reggie appeared in seven of the nineJesse Stonemovies, with Tom Selleck’s police chief adopting the golden retriever mix after he is found next to the body of his previous owner. The two developed a fascinatingly dysfunctional relationship, where they showed little affection for one another but were closely bonded anyway. This is what makes the reveal of Reggie’s death inLost in Paradiseso moving.
In the opening scenes of the ninth film, Jesse stands by Reggie’s grave and states ”It took so long to acknowledge a connection, admit there was a bond… Life plays tricks on you." While audiences had previously seen major characters likeViola Davis' Molly exit theJesse Stoneseries, the loss of Reggie cut especially deep. As Jesse admits, Reggie was his “conscience,” and his loss leans heavily over the film.
There Are Two Major Jesse Stone Storylines I Really Need The Next Movie In Tom Selleck’s Franchise To Resolve
There is renewed talk of Tom Selleck returning for another Jesse Stone, and there are two major plotlines I need the next movie to resolve.
Reggie’s Actor, Joe The Dog, Died In 2013 At Age 11
Reggie’s performer was set to return for Lost in Paradise
Reggie was played by Joe the Dog, who became so popular he appeared in other projects likeTrailer Park Boys: Don’t Legalize It; he even had his ownIMDb page. Joe died in 2013 as pre-production began onJesse Stone: Lost in Paradise(viaYahoo!).Feeling it would be a cheat on longtime viewers to recast Joe, Selleck decided to integrate the death of Reggie into the storyinstead. In fact, Joe’s owner had already bought another dog, thinking the production would be looking for a replacement; instead, Selleck gave newcomer Ned the Dog (who plays Steve) his own plotline.
That gave us the idea that Jesse is so consumed with the loss of his roommate and conscience that basically when he sees a picture in a cold case of a dog sitting next to his owner’s body, which is how he found Reggie, that’s his reason for picking the case.
Had moreJesse Stonesbeen produced after Lost in Paradise, the series could have explored the new dynamic between Jesse and Steve. Unfortunately, Selleck became too busy withBlue Bloodsto work on a new entry, thoughBlue Bloodsending has led to reports ofJesse Stone 10potentially happening.It was a lovely mark of respect for what Joe brought to Reggie that Selleck refused to simply recast himwhen other productions would have simply saved themselves the headache.
Jesse StoneprequelNight Passagealso revealed that Jesse had to have his beloved previous pet Boomer put down shortly after he arrived in Paradise.
Reggie’s Death In Jesse Stone: Lost In Paradise Is The Franchise’s Most Heartbreaking
Reggie still feels like Jesse Stone’s biggest loss
While Jesse adopts Reggie in the first installmentStone Cold, he didn’t intend to keep him; in fact, he tried to find Reggie a new home with a local teenager. Instead, they became reluctant roommates, with Reggie becoming the only constant in Stone’s life. It felt like the ice between them was starting to thaw in laterJesse Stonemovies, soLost in Paradise’sreveal of Reggie’s tombstone really stings - both for Selleck’s anti-heroandaudiences.
There was an unspoken connection between the two, and one that even Jesse was reluctant to admit to. In trying to keep a little distance between himself and Reggie, he realized too late the dog truly was his best friend. It’s a recurring tragedy for Jesse that he often keeps people he cares about at arm’s length to avoid getting hurt - which typically happens regardless.
Even thoughJesse Stonehas lost people he cared about before, few hit as hard as Reggie’s passing.
This haunts him throughoutLost in Paradise, which sets the mood for the noirish story it tells. Even thoughJesse Stonehas lost people he cared about before - such as Polly Shannon’s Abby - few hit as hard as Reggie’s passing.
Jesse Stone
The Jesse Stone franchise is a series of television films based on the novels by Robert B. Parker. The series follows Jesse Stone, a former LAPD detective who becomes the police chief of the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts. The films are noted for their character-driven plots, focusing on Stone’s battles with alcoholism, his troubled past, and the crime investigations he leads.
