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'Bones': Season finale smackdown
The regular TV season has
come to a close and while some finales have got us talking more than
others (like that heartbreaking and awesome "House" ep), we still have a lot to say, so this week, we've selected a
few series and will compare their 2010 season ender to their 2009
season ender. We'll tell you which hour we feel was better, but we'll also have you vote on which one you think was tops.
So, without further ado, "Bones"...
"The End in the Beginning" (2009): The majority of the episode took place in Brennan's book/Booth's coma dream, which made for a unique hour, to say the least.
The case: A man with possible mob ties was found in the bathroom of The Lab, a club which Mr. B (Booth) and Bren (Bones) owned in the "alternate reality" of the ep.
The characters: Quick role call of the other players and their "alternate universe" identities: Angela=hostess. Hodgins=writer. Sweets=bartender/musician. Zack=Bren's assistant. Wendell=doorman. Fisher=chef. Mr. Nigel-Murray=DJ. Daisy=band groupie. Clark=rapper/MC. Arastoo=real estate bigshot who wants to buy the club. Cam and Jared= detectives/partners. Caroline=club's lawyer. Max=corrupt politician. Gravedigger=mobster who controls the city.
In the AU, everyone at the club thinks Mr. B was responsible for the dead guy in the bathroom -- he would do anything to protect Bren, who was in the club working late on the night of the murder -- and they try to protect him by destroying evidence, etc.
The real murderer is Jared, who did kill the man to protect Bren -- even in the AU, Jared still has the hots for his brother's girl -- but due to the lack of evidence, it appeared he'd get off.
When the mayhem calmed, Bren revealed to Mr. B that she was pregnant.
However, in the real-life "Bones" reality, the episode ended with Booth waking up from his coma, seemingly unaware of who the heck Bones is.
"The Beginning in the End" (2010): The case: A hoarder was found buried under his possessions, starved to death.
The characters: The newly married Angela and Hodgins had to deal with the return of her disapproving father, Billy Gibbons. As a test to prove that he is good enough for Angela, Billy asked Hodgins to steal his car back from some bikers. Hodgins enlisted Sweets to help and they managed to get the job done (though Sweets was left behind).
Daisy and Brennan were both offered spots at a one year dig in Indonesia. Daisy took it immediately, crushing poor Sweets, who told her he wouldn't be waiting for her when she came back.
Brennan considered her options a little more carefully, but the exhaustion of dealing with victims and murder cases -- not to mention her growing unease over her lack of perspective, especially regarding Booth -- ultimately convinced her to accept the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Army requested that Booth return to them, so he could train snipers. After some prodding from Parker, Booth agreed to go for a year.
Hodgins and Angela didn't want to stick around the Jeffersonian with Booth and Brennan gone, so they decided to take a year long honeymoon in Paris. Sweets and Cam were left holding down the fort in D.C.
Our pick: "The Beginning in the End." Yes, we realize that's probably not the most popular choice, but before you yell at us in the comments section, hear us out, okay?
"The End in the Beginning" had a purpose. We get that. Not only did fans get to see most of their favorites together in one place, but the writers and actors got to play with their characters in a way that would otherwise be impossible. The AU personalities all bared similarities to their real life counterparts, but they were different enough to be convincing as new characters. And we did get to see some of those AU traits/factors cross over to "Bones"' "real" world this season.
However, in terms of actual consequences, the only ones who really felt the impact of the 2009 season finale were Booth and Brennan. They were the ones who shared the experience of the dream/book. But things like the quip about Zack being stupid enough to go to prison for a murder he didn't commit or Jared's feelings for Brennan were never brought up again. Even the AU pregnancy revelation was just barely touched upon in the season premiere and then dropped. (Yes, Brennan's desire for a baby will be revisited next season, but after that much time, odds are, it won't have anything to do with the AU.)
With "The Beginning in the End," everyone was impacted. Everyone. Hodgins and Angela are leaving their jobs for a year. Daisy and Sweets split up. Booth is going to a war zone. He and Brennan are leaving each other! Cam has been abandoned by her team. Every single character will come back different. It's scary, but it's true. Might not be huge shifts, but they'll have a year of independence, so there are bound to be changes.
While "TEitB" had its fun moments, we're still not sure if it was "finale" worthy. With the extreme changes in "TBitE," it is definitively a finale. No doubt.
And, just for the record, regardless of said finale element, we still prefer "TBitE" to "TEitB."
Agreed? Or no?
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Photo credit: FOX
The characters: Quick role call of the other players and their "alternate universe" identities: Angela=hostess. Hodgins=writer. Sweets=bartender/musician. Zack=Bren's assistant. Wendell=doorman. Fisher=chef. Mr. Nigel-Murray=DJ. Daisy=band groupie. Clark=rapper/MC. Arastoo=real estate bigshot who wants to buy the club. Cam and Jared= detectives/partners. Caroline=club's lawyer. Max=corrupt politician. Gravedigger=mobster who controls the city.
In the AU, everyone at the club thinks Mr. B was responsible for the dead guy in the bathroom -- he would do anything to protect Bren, who was in the club working late on the night of the murder -- and they try to protect him by destroying evidence, etc.
The real murderer is Jared, who did kill the man to protect Bren -- even in the AU, Jared still has the hots for his brother's girl -- but due to the lack of evidence, it appeared he'd get off.
When the mayhem calmed, Bren revealed to Mr. B that she was pregnant.
However, in the real-life "Bones" reality, the episode ended with Booth waking up from his coma, seemingly unaware of who the heck Bones is.
"The Beginning in the End" (2010): The case: A hoarder was found buried under his possessions, starved to death.
The characters: The newly married Angela and Hodgins had to deal with the return of her disapproving father, Billy Gibbons. As a test to prove that he is good enough for Angela, Billy asked Hodgins to steal his car back from some bikers. Hodgins enlisted Sweets to help and they managed to get the job done (though Sweets was left behind).
Daisy and Brennan were both offered spots at a one year dig in Indonesia. Daisy took it immediately, crushing poor Sweets, who told her he wouldn't be waiting for her when she came back.
Brennan considered her options a little more carefully, but the exhaustion of dealing with victims and murder cases -- not to mention her growing unease over her lack of perspective, especially regarding Booth -- ultimately convinced her to accept the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Army requested that Booth return to them, so he could train snipers. After some prodding from Parker, Booth agreed to go for a year.
Hodgins and Angela didn't want to stick around the Jeffersonian with Booth and Brennan gone, so they decided to take a year long honeymoon in Paris. Sweets and Cam were left holding down the fort in D.C.
Our pick: "The Beginning in the End." Yes, we realize that's probably not the most popular choice, but before you yell at us in the comments section, hear us out, okay?
"The End in the Beginning" had a purpose. We get that. Not only did fans get to see most of their favorites together in one place, but the writers and actors got to play with their characters in a way that would otherwise be impossible. The AU personalities all bared similarities to their real life counterparts, but they were different enough to be convincing as new characters. And we did get to see some of those AU traits/factors cross over to "Bones"' "real" world this season.
However, in terms of actual consequences, the only ones who really felt the impact of the 2009 season finale were Booth and Brennan. They were the ones who shared the experience of the dream/book. But things like the quip about Zack being stupid enough to go to prison for a murder he didn't commit or Jared's feelings for Brennan were never brought up again. Even the AU pregnancy revelation was just barely touched upon in the season premiere and then dropped. (Yes, Brennan's desire for a baby will be revisited next season, but after that much time, odds are, it won't have anything to do with the AU.)
With "The Beginning in the End," everyone was impacted. Everyone. Hodgins and Angela are leaving their jobs for a year. Daisy and Sweets split up. Booth is going to a war zone. He and Brennan are leaving each other! Cam has been abandoned by her team. Every single character will come back different. It's scary, but it's true. Might not be huge shifts, but they'll have a year of independence, so there are bound to be changes.
While "TEitB" had its fun moments, we're still not sure if it was "finale" worthy. With the extreme changes in "TBitE," it is definitively a finale. No doubt.
And, just for the record, regardless of said finale element, we still prefer "TBitE" to "TEitB."
Agreed? Or no?
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Photo credit: FOX
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I agree that TBitE was finale worthy. But it will only be show worthy if at the bottom of the rabbit hole into which the show has taken viewers some light begins to appear at the top of season 6 leading to B&B as a couple. ED said she and HH had reached a decision about B&B as a couple in season 6. But you don't have to be Avalon to know that if they aren't a couple by the end of next season, season 7 probably won't happen.
This year's finale may not have been fun the way that last year's was, but the show has taken a bold step that may allow it to grow in new and exciting ways.
The only thing theis season finale did was prove the producers don't know what they are doing. When the season starts it will be like watching the pilot all over again . If you remember in the first season Booth had a girlfriend . Now when the season starts one of them will have somebody . Ben there done that. I don't expect nothing to happen this season it will be just like the 5th season only worse. When they do if the do it will be and end of the shows run . It probaly will be like what they did to Jag.
If the *only* requirement for an episode to be finale-worthy is for it to shake things up (and possibly drive off a fair amount of your audience) then, yes, TBitE qualifies.
If an episode is supposed to engage and entertain your audience, too, then...not so much.
I've watched TBitE three times now. I like the scene on the bench, where they tell each other they're leaving. I like the scenes between Brennan and Cam (including the farewell) and very much like the farewell between Brennan and Hodgins. Oh, and I like Sweets' meowing.
But the rest of it feels rushed and poorly written, and the farewell between B/B does nothing for me. I'm still not sure why Booth left, and from what I can tell, I'm not alone in that. A lot of people think he went just b/c she did. (Uh, and left Parker?) Others think it was just b/c Parker told him to, while some think it was a combination of all those things. (And let's not forget the blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot of him staring at the photo of him and Teddy. That was so poorly written and edited that some fans thought it was a photo of him with another woman.)
I get that I'm supposed to cry at the end when they say their goodbyes. And I've certainly cried over eps of this show before -- even for the victims. But I get to the end of this, even having liked the farewell between her and Cam and her and Hodgins, and feel...nothing.
At the end of TEitB, I was excited. Interested. Frustrated. ("what did it mean that he didn't know who she was?")
But my only response to the end of TBitE is to wonder why Hart thinks it's necessary to change everything, and what the chances are that I'll still like the show in the fall after those changes are made.
The title was probably part of the problem. I'm not the only one still wondering exactly what beginning was present in the end of the episode. I'm guessing HH didn't mean for it to be 'the beginning of the end of the series' which is what it mostly feels like.
On the other hand, TEitB had heart, and showed us honest emotion from Brennan, even an AU Brennan. In fact, I think I'm going to go re-watch it as a way of reminding myself she actually does care about Booth, because I'm not convinced the Brennan we saw at the end of the season would much care one way or another if he didn't come back.
The End in the Beginning (2009)
It was a hallucination but it was a fun and creative one. This year's finale, with Booth and Bones going separate ways, was yet another stupid way to stall them getting together.
I am so over the Booth/Bones ship because it's just got ridiculous keeping them apart. I hope Booth finds a nice girl who wants a relationship with him and marries her. Then he can continue the work relationship with Brennan and she can continue hiding out from life.
This year's finale was far superior. Great case. Great stories for all around. Very interesting all around. I loved every second. :)
The EitB was more "fun". I love that episode. but, the BitE ended with things changing for next season. I'm not gonna lie, i was very upset after watching it and learning of the time jump and those spoilers that came out RIGHT AFTER the finale! (Ausellio you suck.)
but, now i am actually excited about what next season will bring. There are so many possibilites. I look forward to seeing where the writers go. Can it please be September already? This hiatus us killing me and i miss the show so much. LOL
What's bizarre is that Hanson knows the "Moonlighting Curse" is hooey, he has said so. So to torture the characters this way, and the viewers, all to keep B & B apart is doubly annoying. Why not have the guts to actually have them as a couple? Anyone who knows a real life married couple knows life doesn't suddenly get boring just because they are together.
If there aren't substantial advances in romance for B & B at the beginning of the season this fall, I will happily change the channel until 9.
Fringe at least knows a couple when they have one!
I much preferred the 2009 AU episode because it focused on Booth and Brennan as lovers and there was a lot of humor and sardonic nods to the reality.
I've watched many times and enjoyed its smartness.
Yes, it shook things up but I knew when it looked like Booth had amnesia, but I knew it couldn't last as Booth and Brennan are the center and they must work together for the show to work.
Yes, the 2010 episode shook things up but I was just not engaged in the story at all.
I was too panicky that they were splitting up Booth and Brennan and couldn't pay attention to what was going on. And there was no love anywhere.
No hug, nothing but a couple of minutes of handholding for a man who could die in Afghanistan.
I know he won't but the idea is that he could. And I have not been able to rewatch this episode even one more time.
I was just left numb and disgusted they want to draw out the UST when it's the love between them that is engaging me much more.
Yes, UST can get old. And I love Bones.
I also liked TEitB so much more... I always thought that with this epi they meant to show us how B&B are going to be sometime in the future. I loved this finale and watched it again and again.
I agree with everything @Poetic_line said, couldn't erxpress it better myself.