Bones has still got it
|Anyone else feeling like a mixed bag of emotions after that Bones episode? On one hand, I’m completely depressed by the case of the week, but on the other, I’m totally stoked about the great state of Bones.
Before we go any further, I owe Bones an apology. I’ll admit, over the past couple of seasons there’s been more than one occasion where I’ve thought it may be time for Bones to just hang things up and call it a day. Sure, it had always been a great show, and I’ve enjoyed many of its episodes, but was there really anywhere left to go? Booth and Brennan are married, the rest of the team seems set personally, and are there really that many more ways to gross me out with a dead body? It’d be fairly easy to close up shop and call it a success all around.
Episodes like the one this week prove how wrong I was, there’s still plenty of gas in the Bones’ tank. Human trafficking has been explored on many shows as of late, but none seemed to affect me the way this Bones episode did. The show found the perfect balance between relaying the seriousness of the problem, and not depressing the hell out of me by mixing in some small, much needed, moments of levity.
From the moment I saw the scary Dharma Initiative guy from Lost, aka Mr. Lee, I knew he was bad news, so it was no surprise when he turned out to be a human trafficker. David Boreanaz’s face said it all, as he listened to the girls’ heartbreaking story about coming to the U.S. in hopes of a brighter future. The visual of each woman holding up a picture of her family back home really drove home the despair and fear involved for each girl. It’s a feeling that only seemed to get worse as each twist and turn of the case was more heart breaking than the last. State Department official Alex Radziwill said it best when he told Aubrey, “Welcome to hell kid.”
Even with the case solved and the bad guys sent away, the victory still felt a bit hollow. There were no winners this time around, and the end scene between Booth and Brennan was exactly what was needed to wrap up this stellar episode. I think we could all relate when Booth told Brennan, “Don’t ever let me take any of this for granted Bones, how lucky we are.” When confronted with the horrors that exist, Brennan was right, look for the silver lining. For her, she’s thankful because, “I could’ve so easily been like her, just missing the opportunity to live my life with you.” By bringing the focus back on Booth and Brennan, Bones reminded us, that yes, there is a silver lining, and it’s a pretty good one at that, even after 10 seasons.
While they may be going strong, there are some other “couples” that needed work, beginning with Agent Aubrey and Booth. I enjoyed the way Booth bounced ideas and theories about the case off of someone that was not a squint. Brennan has always had her team of like-minded individuals, and it’s nice for Booth to now have someone that thinks like him. It was also nice to see the serious side of Aubrey emerge, as he apologized for thinking too much about his career, and recognized that he “was sort of ass-like.” I’ve said from the start that Aubrey presents an opportunity for Booth to serve as a mentor, and it’s lessons such as this one that will make Aubrey a great agent.
Elsewhere, Arastoo returned just in time to have his dissertation idea rejected by Dr. Brennan. While I’ve always enjoyed his relationship with Cam, I respected the way they never used her position as boss for his benefit. When she tried to do just that, it was great to see both Brennan and Arastoo bristle at her actions. They were right, it was his discussion to have with Dr. Brennan, one he did eventually, and things worked out for the best.
The bigger problem seemed to be Cam’s reluctance at moving their relationship to the next level. Arastoo’s right, they’ve been together awhile and marriage seems like the next step. It bothered me that we didn’t get to hear more of what was behind her reticence, and he let her off the hook way too easy for my taste. I wanted to hear why Cam is holding back, and hope these feelings are explored more in the future.
I’m not above admitting it when I’m wrong. I was wrong about Bones. The 10th season has been thoroughly enjoyable, and I’ve never been more invested with these characters. There’s growth in them, especially Brennan, that is very rewarding for viewers. She and Booth continue to challenge and support each other, perfectly balancing the other out. The shake ups on the team, losing Sweets and adding Aubrey, have me as engaged as ever.
Bones I was wrong. I won’t doubt you again. Please accept my apology.
Sincerely,
Bridget
Other favourite Bones moments:
- Dr. Brennan’s teaching moment of the week: While goats have been known to eat all kinds of weird items, such as shirts and watches, they will not eat human remains because they are not carnivorous.
- It was impossible to not be charmed by Hodgins this week. Between his awful goat chasing skills, excitement over getting to use the phrase “bat cave,” and his line about “excrement being our friend,” the dude was on fire this week.
- “They need somebody low to the ground to deal with the bottom feeders.” – State Department official (and dwarf) Alex Radziwill for the win!
- While they may be getting closer as partners, Aubrey’s not ready to share his food with Booth just yet. Hands off the man’s tuna melt!
How do you think Bones is doing after 10 seasons? Did you want more of an explanation out of Cam? Let us know in the comments below and take a look at the next all new episode:
Bones airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox and Global.
I still love Bones, but I’m getting increasingly frustrated with the lack of Brennan and Bones working out in the field together. I feel like Aubrey is being forced on us as a replacement and I’m not enjoying that angle.
AGREE…B&B partnership IS BONES…they are suppose to be partners, have been for 9yrs, not Booth & Aubrey aka the most over used & forced new character I have ever seen….I get they want to have Booth as a mentor and they can do that but it should not be at the expense of B&B partnership…..Please let me clear Booth & Brennan personal r/ship is not what fans are missing it is B&B partnership, some of B&B moments are in the car to and fro interviewing suspects or out in the field together…and now that is gone and we only see B&B at the beginning and end of the ep…it is just ridic…i have watched BONES through thick and thin but the way Stephen Hart & Hart Hanson have separated/diminished B&B partnership makes want to stop watching….its not the show I signed up for 10yrs ago *SIGHS* change can be good but it can also be destructive: removing the B&B dynamic from most of the ep for 3 eps in a row is ruining Bones for me and many others too just, I have see literally hundreds of posts/rts all over the web asking where are B&B…fix it FOX
Actually, I am missing both B&B’s partnership and their personal relationship! I want to actually get to see some romance – not just here them talk to each other and their friends about it!! We waited all these years for what – to see them talk to each other across the table while fixing pancakes!! Come on, give us something! Wait – they would actually have to be in a scene together to do that wouldn’t they? I HATE AUBREY!!! WHY DON’T THEY PUT HIM ON THE SAME SHIP AS HANNAH AND GET HIM OUT OF HERE SO WE CAN HAVE B&B BACK!!??
To me bones is always fantastic,. The cast, B & B continue with excellent acting, and as you said, they are right on with the issues we face, Wendell w/cancer, drugs, cildren abused, animals mistreated, the list goes on. What I like about this show, the cast just seem like family , dealing & shearing their issues with each other. Not only does B & B have a chemistry, but whole cast has a chemistry also. I most of all love the show, because, it is a clean & decent show that whole families can watch, well the dead body’s with worms, rats, etc, that takes some getting use to, but that’s ok, just turn your head for a few minutes & it’s back to the Jeffersonian….I believe you are convinced that I am one of their biggest fans, only show I watch on TV & when they are not on prime time (Thursday Night) I am watching re-runs,,,,,,,Love your article, wish Bones would get more recognition & more praise for an awesome job they do & the behind camera people working to make Bones the best,,,,,LOVE MY BONES.
I don’t really like this episode but I do agree that Bones is back and better than ever. Shows as old as Bones are often afforded the liberty of reinventing themselves.
Aubrey is really a bland distraction that interferes with the soul of the show. He’s supposed to be so cool and hip, supposedly identifying with the “young” professionals, while he himself acts and dresses like he’s a “G-man” form the 50’s. Boot him out of this show. He’s bringing it down. Also, I want to like Laura Spencer, but her being on two major shows simultaneously (Big Bang and Bones) is really trying my suspension of disbelief. Also, her intern character is annoying. Bones has lost a lot of the chemistry that made me like it. Also, they need to lose the PSA’s.