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'Bones': Booth, Brennan and Booth-Light
Now this is why I watch Bones -- funny lines, great interactions between all the players, and some simply stellar Booth and Brennan moments. All this and another studly Booth to keep things interesting. If the case had been a little bit stronger, it would have been a perfect episode.
This spoiler will not be distracted by the shiny.
Let's get the case out of the way quickly, because it's a sideshow to the real attraction of the episode. The state police blow up a former meth lab as a training exercise, and body parts rain down. The corpse was carrying a sketchbook full of engineering drawings -- was he an inventor? No, but he seems to have been the long-lost father of a struggling inventor type. He had reappeared in small-time inventor Paul Stegman's life after an article about him had appeared in a magazine. But the bones don't bear out what they know about the man -- and it turns out he's not Jim Stegman at all. He's Anthony Pongetti, a con artist who'd served time for fraud. He'd also been methodically executed -- possibly tortured. Did the real Jim Stegman do it?
Nope, because he's dead, too -- and he'd been shot in the same brutal fashion. Booth and Brennan investigate his house with the help of a friendly local sheriff. They discover that Stegman and Pongetti had worked together in the past. Booth and Brennan do a little more poking around the Stegmans' house and discover a paper bag full of money, which leads them to a safe-deposit box full of more money, some of which still had evidence bands from the state police. It had been seized in a drug bust, then stolen by a fake driver who claimed he was supposed to take it into headquarters. That fake driver was obviously Pongetti.
But Pongetti couldn't have been working alone -- he had inside help. That came in the form of he friendly sheriff who helped Booth and Bones investigate Jim Stegman's place. He's at Paul and Lily's house, looking for the rest of the money. Booth and Brennan interrupt him, and the sheriff takes Lily hostage. He makes a break for it and wings Brennan’s shoulder. When he throws Lily out of the car, Booth shoots him twice.
Booth and Brennan and Booth
The case was ok -- I didn't peg the sheriff as the culprit immediately, but perhaps I'm a bit slow -- but the real fun came from meeting Booth's younger brother, Jared. Jared seems to be everything Booth is not -- he's gleefully charismatic, obviously successful (he's just been assigned a plum post at the Pentagon), very open, and willing to take emotional risks. He's also willing to talk about himself -- and his brother. Seeley is afraid of success and stays in his comfort zone. Jared strays into Brennan's comfort zone by kissing her. "I bet you Seeley never took that risk," he says, post-smooch. Brennan looks a bit smitten.
Later, Brennan brings up the "afraid of success" theory to Booth after the RICO case he'd been crowing about goes away. What did you do wrong? she asks. That doesn't go over well -- Booth is furious, demanding to know whether Brennan thinks he's a loser. Brennan doesn't answer. That's answer enough.
But all is not well with Jared. He sends Booth an urgent text -- I'm in trouble! Booth drops everything and comes running. It seems Jared smashed up his car when he "fell asleep at the wheel," which translates into "was over the legal blood alcohol limit." Booth tries to talk to the cop who pulled Jared over, but there's a snag -- he's greeted by the State Police Colonel who had earlier asked Booth to keep the little detail about Pongetti's corpse being blown up during that training exercise. Booth had turned him down, saying it's better to tell the truth and take the consequences. Ah, but if Jared faces his consequences, he'll lose his career. Isn't there something Booth can do?
Cut to the state police taking credit for that massive RICO case that Booth had headed up. He traded that glory to help his brother out. Cam knows something's up, but Booth won't talk about it. Sweets runs into Jared, who makes a few offhand remarks that let Sweets figure out that the Booths were raised by an abusive, alcoholic dad. Booth has been protecting Jared ever since.
Brennan confronts Jared -- did you make Booth lose his RICO case? Jared confirms it, and Brennan goes ballistic: You're taking advantage of your brother! "You made me think he's a loser. And what really makes me angry is that I believed you!" She’s near tears.
Later, at Booth's birthday party, Brennan makes up for it all in her toast to Original Recipe Booth. "I know who he is, but I forget sometimes because he never shines a light on himself He shines it on other people." Anthropologists, she says, talk about the alpha male as being the one with the shiniest trophies, the most obvious toys, the outward trapping that let you know he's a big deal. After working with Booth, she thinks they're wrong: "I've come to realize that the quiet man, the invisible man, the man who is always there for friends and family, that's the real alpha male. And I promise that my eyes will never be caught by those shiny baubles again."
Then she takes Booth aside and talks to him about Jared. You're not helping him by bailing him out. He could kill someone next time he drives drunk. It sinks in, and Booth tells Jared that he's through covering for him. Jared does not take it well, and Booth sits outside, away from the party. Brennan comes out to join him, just to sit and make sure he's ok. As they indulge in a little birthday cake, Booth finally starts to open up. "My father drank," he says. It's a start.
Highlights, thoughts and odds and ends
- That poor, poor state cop: When the flaming body lands on the hood of his car, he says "We're going to need a fire extinguisher. Then, maybe come sort of trauma counselor." Later, he finds out that he did not kill anyone. "Would you be at all upset if I had a little cry?"
- Booth is so proud of the RICO case and predicts great things: "Indictments any minute, followed by a pay raise, possibly a parade, and most definitely my face on a coin."
- Clark is back, and he's as uncomfortable with oversharing as ever. He picked the wrong week to come back to the lab First he hears about Angela's ex-ex-girlfriend, then he catches sight of Brennan dressed up for her date with Jared. Finally, he's trapped in Brennan's office when Cam and Angela talk to her about why she shouldn't sleep with Jared. I like this guy! He's a NotZack who can stick around!
- Angela's explanation for why a Brennan/Jared hook-up wouldn't be a good idea: "Because it's Booth's little brother, and it would just be a creepy way to have sex with a Booth without having sex with the real Booth." Cam is impressed by Angela' pithy summary.
- Jared runs into Sweets and talks a bit about Booth. "Having a big brother is like having an extra dad -- only a dad who protects you from your real dad, and always thinks of you as a kid... There's nothing worse somebody who always things they're right. And then they're right." Get used to it, Jared!
- The scene where Booth asked Brennan whether she thought he was a loser was fantastically well done. Boreanaz has chops!
- As does Deschanel -- I loved her getting teary when she realized she'd been distracted by the shiny object that was Jared.
- Brennan tells Booth that he really shouldn't be bailing Jared out anymore. "Right -- says the woman who got her father off murder charges. Face it - we do things for family." True -- but I'd say that the bond between Booth and Brennan just as strong as the bond between people who just happen to share some DNA.
Amen, Sarah! THIS is the show I love and adore! You are dead-on about Boreanaz and Deschanel in this episode. They were incredible. I was actually choked up at both the scene when Booth asked if she thought he was a loser and when Brennan blew up at Jared.
Clark was also great, and I was sort of relieved at the more appropriate use of Angela and Hodgins this week - it wasn't distracting like last week's jaws-of-life and ex-lover stories. I also really appreciated Cam's obvious friendship with Booth and concern for him as well as for Brennan and Brennan's actions. She has become an incredible character.
Good recap. :)
Job well done, Bones!
Sarah | Nov 12, 2008 8:54:44 PM | #David Boreanaz just melted my heart tonight. He should get a Golden Globe after his performance. Brennan was such a *itch for even thinking he was a loser how could she? Shallow. Bad Brennan. And Jared is such an asshat that he needs a good thump, total jerk! Hate Jared!
Jane | Nov 13, 2008 2:12:27 AM | #There was a lot to love about the episode tonight. It had the usual good character interaction, between all of them (although there was much less Hodgins). I really like the show a lot ... but
There were some things that bothered me about this episode. Namely, with Bones, and how, Bones, an individual who thinks things through, got taken in by Booth-lite.
In general, I guess that isn't that bad, but while I like the show, something's troubled me, and that issue I had underlines a lot of it. Yes, I understand the motivation of the episode was to start to show a crack in Booth. We've seen cracks before, though.
Here's my thing - I think this show is running scared. I really do, and I say this as a huge fan of the show. I think they took some bold gambles last year, particularly at the end. The Gormogon/Zack storyline didn't play out well, and I think they knew it when preparing for this season (granted, the strike had a lot to do with it).
I feel, though, that this show is afraid of stepping out again. It's gotten itself into a nice little rhythm. That said, Bones and Booth haven't really advanced that far from when we first saw her in the airport. The idea of a close partnership has always been there from day 1.
It might end up failing horribly, but I think they need to take some chances, overall, but also with Booth and Bones. At some point, something's gotta happen. I had some faint hopes that maybe she would be bold and end up kissing Booth tonight. It seemed like the perfect setup, with Booth-lite kissing her earlier. Expected, but it would've advanced the characters without going too far that they need to change the dynamics greatly.
I'm hoping that Max coming back, the Grave Digger storyline, and Jared Booth sticking around will be able to help push something.
Tony | Nov 13, 2008 3:47:49 AM | #Tony,
My take on the why she was taken in by Booth-lite: Brennan doesn't read people well. She knows that Seeley's honorable, so she's going to assume the same is true of his brother. This is one of the reasons she needs Angela as a friend. Angela is her people-interpreter. I have do wonder if the intervention might not have gone down differently had Angela been a part of it. But, she recognizes this about herself (her weakness with people) -- but in this case she's smitten and it clouds her judgment. I think this is one reason she's so mad at Jared, which resulted in one of my favorite moments of the night: Brennan shoving Jared out of the chair. Hee!
Sarah,
Nice recap. I, too, like Clark, and I wish they'd keep him. He's bright enough to hold his own, and I love the way he's always trying to stay out of the drama, but the drama always finds him.
Good grief. Sorry about the typos and the inarticulate use of pronouns. I really shouldn't respond before I've had coffee.
Tempest | Nov 13, 2008 6:01:29 AM | #I loved last night's episode. It felt like a classic Bones episode with great Booth & Bones moments & some some danger. Also I loved the part where after Bones confronts Jared she comes back & pushes him off the stool. Lastly as you mentioned before in your awesome recap the scene where Booth was asking Bones if she thought he was a loser & David Boreanez was fantastic that was an Emmy worthy performance. I can't wait until next week.
Dory | Nov 13, 2008 6:25:15 AM | #I love when Brennan confronted "The Booth Brother" and she turned around and pushed him off the stool and he fell on the floor. Good for Brennan!! This episode was the best I have seen in the past month.
Great interaction between Booth and Bones.
Can't wait until next week for the sexy librarian Bones!
Doane | Nov 13, 2008 8:20:50 AM | #The "will they/won't they" tension is the main hook of this show, and I hope they keep it until the very last episode of the series (some day ...). Why? Because once they hook up, the dynamics of the show will change so drastically that it is sure to deteriorate and tank very quickly. Think back to every other series that used this device, abandoned it, and ended up badly. One that stands out in my memory is a show from some years ago called Moonlighting, which I believe was Bruce Willis' first major role. The reason the story lines and the comedy worked was that tense wire between the two main characters. Once they hooked up the tension was gone and it became just another silly program with stereotypical characters, and lasted just one more season before tanking. Keep us guessing (and wishing and hoping) but keep the tension! Bones has become one of my favourite shows, but then I've had a crush on "Angel" for a long time. Nice to see him in a role that he can really sink his teeth into this time around ;-).
Luvs2Dance | Nov 13, 2008 8:28:34 AM | #Another great episode and recap. I too like Clark. He fits in nicely. Hope we can keep him.
Brilliant acting all around. You can hate Jarad, but please don't hate the actor playing him. He's terrific.
Kathy | Nov 13, 2008 8:37:28 AM | #Oh, I hope Bones and booth get together. Probably not the way most do, though. I like the tension. I want to see their relationship grow to something lasting in the show not just sex and exceptance, then akwardness. I agree that Brennan doesn't have the people skills to see through Jared at first, but I like that she confronted him right after the intervention. It shows back bone. The speech was over the top. Like she'd cheated on Booth. Hello not dating. But she should have believed in Booth, she knows he's a stand up guy. It seems all the other characters want them together on the show. Cam, sweets, angela. I thought the part where cam told Bones that Booth didn't talk to her after she told booth some hard truths about his brother was telling. He was mad at bones for the same thing but he listened. True connections, that's what I'm talking about. Nice ending, but episodes need to be longer. Just my opinion. I'd love to see a TV movie length special, again just my opinion!!!
rocka | Nov 13, 2008 8:57:26 AM | #After the show ended, I said out loud "good episode!" All was as it should be. I loved when Brennan pushed Jared off the stool as an afterthought. LOL. I applauded when she told him he was the loser.
I agree, Sarah, Boreanaz and Deschanel both have chops. She make Brennan so believable in her incredibly intelligent naivete. (not sure if I spelled that right)
again, good episode
Terry | Nov 13, 2008 9:41:41 AM | #Sorry but Clark doesn't work for me. They REALLY need to find a way back for Zack. It could be interesting given that Sweets knows he didn't kill anyone and they would have to deal with the whole Gormogon influence on him issue justifying a 'not guilty' trial verdict. Come on writers, bring him back!!!
Bob NYC | Nov 13, 2008 9:45:58 AM | #Wow -- such a fantastic episode! And perfect recap, Sarah. The writing and acting were spot on. This is the show I became addicted to. Brendan Fehr (sp?) was awesome, hope we see him again. You hated what was happening, but the behaviors of Booth, Booth-Lite and Brennan felt true to who the characters really are, and true to life. We can all have blind spots when it comes to family relationships and our upbringing. And I was so glad to see Clark again, I hope they keep him on. Thank you, Bones -- keep it up!
Amy | Nov 13, 2008 9:50:26 AM | #LOVED the part when Brennan pushed Jared off the stool! That got me cracking up! Also loved how Angela was eyeing Jared when she first saw him
LOVE this show!
logan | Nov 13, 2008 11:34:25 AM | #Those of us who were Buffy/Angel fans ALWAYS knew that David Boreanaz had chops. Although Angel at times let Boreanaz mix up the emotions (happy one minute, angry the next) it wasn't very often. That's what I've loved about this show from the beginning. It has allowed Boreanaz to portray soooo many emotions in just one scene sometimes that it makes you look forward to the next one. As I said, I've loved the show from the beginning, but last nights was definitely award worthy in terms of the acting (plot might have been a little "lite" - but was still fun). I know that I'll be following Bones to Friday nights this spring and hope others will also so that the show doesn't end being one of the "bubble" shows at the end of the season.
Sarah, nice recap - loved the first state trooper and LOVE Clark. It would be great if they would bring him on as a regular cast member.
Thanks Bones!
Theresa | Nov 13, 2008 12:12:07 PM | #By far I thought this was the best episode of the season. After a disappointing season 3 (and early season 4) I was so happy to see to the show back that I loved in seasons 1 and 2. The writing for B&B was fantastic and kept true to the characters.
In response to Luvs2dance, I agree that the "will they/won't they" is the hook of the show, but I don't want the writers to wait until the very last episode. I think they can give the viewers what they want and have B&B give into their attraction but then have them have an "oh no what have we done" morning after. The writers could then have B&B rebuild the sexual tension as they work their way back to each other without the "show tanking" as you put it. It could keep us on the edge of our seats waiting for them to get back together. JAG waited until the series finale for Harm and Mac to get together and it was a very disappointing ending to a wonderfully built up relationship throughout the series. I would hate to see the same thing happen to this show.
Great Episode and Great recap.
JL | Nov 13, 2008 2:59:05 PM | #A) I liked the way JAG ended. It worked for me.
B) I like Clark. I think he should stick around.
C) The only thing I found wrong with the episode is that Jared (Fehr) is MUCH too young to be a Commander in the Navy. LCdr maybe, more likely a Lieutenant (who could have had a plum assigment as an aide to a Flag officer in the Pentagon). I wish they had just tried to get a little closer to reality. It was distracting to me.
Tena | Nov 13, 2008 3:13:52 PM | #I haven't had a chance to watch all this ep yet but the recap's confused me....Jim Stegman is dead and then a bit further down Stegman is taking someone hostage and shooting and getting shot at.
Is that the son? Or the Sherrif? Was the sheffif Jim S.? Am I totally thick? Anyone?.....
Sherrif. Sherrif. Can't seem to type that correctly without slowing down & paying close attention!!
Dave | Nov 13, 2008 3:19:37 PM | #Doh! Sheriff, not Stegman. Sorry!
Sarah | Nov 13, 2008 4:50:28 PM | #1. Thanks. I get it now.
2. No sorry req'd. We all make mistakes. See #3:
3. Apparently not only can i not type Sheriff correctly, i can't spell it right either!
It's not monday is it?!.....
i think the squint of the week thing is wearing a bit thin and so far clark has been the best lab replacement by far. hopefully he sticks around...
great episode too.
i would prefer that bones and booth do not get together until the very end. sure, theres a part of me that wants them to hook up already but from experience, most of us will be disappointed by how it plays out because we all have our own ideas how it should progress. that's what i loved about the jag thing, they didn't belabor it, they left it up to our imagination.
joits | Nov 13, 2008 5:32:15 PM | #This episode set up for Jared (Booth-Lite) to return at some point and do something really horrific. Then Booth will immediately jump to go to his rescue and everyone will be holding him back saying he has dug his hole too deep this time. Then David Boreanaz will get his Emmy when Booth totally breaks down to Bones about how hard it is to NOT be able to do anything and having to watch Jared go through the system while talking more about his father and his brother's parallel course.
Great episode, Great recaps, and great comments!
Xyon | Nov 13, 2008 5:38:40 PM | #
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