I don’t know about you, but I’m suddenly filled with brotherly love and good tidings to all. I’m usually reluctant to jump right into the whole Christmas thing so quickly after Thanksgiving and I’d subconsciously blocked the fact that last night would be the last Bones for the year, but still I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy thanks to the surprising abundance of wish fulfillment in an episode that centered on a dead Santa. Booth got to spend Christmas day with his son, Parker, Brennan gave her father the "family" Christmas that he really wanted, and, oh yeah, did I mention that Booth and Brennan finally kissed?
Okay, so they didn’t have their tongues down each others throats or anything, but that was far more than an obligatory blackmailed kiss. He had her gum in his mouth when they were done! She grasped his lapels with both hands! He seemed unsteady on his feet when it ended and she looked very, very pleased with herself. Sure, she said it was like kissing her brother, who she must like very, very much. They both practically ran from the room, but that little kiss will likely stay with them both for a while.
Even if they could pretend they weren’t moved, theoh-so-puckish attorney Caroline seemed to be rocked to her core by whatshe’d just witnessed. You know she’s not just being mischievous, she’strying to matchmake (and maybe live vicariously through Brennan). She’sbeen watching those two like a hawk and intuits what’s going on beneaththe surface. She just used Brennan’s request for help (in getting useof a prison trailer to have Christmas with her convict dad and brother,and his girlfriend and stepkids) as an excuse to watch these two makeout. It’s a little pervy, but I’m not complaining.
Oh yeah, somewhere in there a pickpocketing Santa killed another,more saintly, St. Nick…I think. The killer was pretty apparent at thetop of that big reveal scene but it was worth it just to watch Boothand Brennan sniffing the butts of a row of Santas. I don’t really feelbad about making short shrift of the murder mystery this week (onemight say the writers did too) because we all know the episode wasreally about the kiss relationships.
It was moving to watch Brennan forgo her disillusionment to notonly orchestrate the Brennan family Christmas but also skip her trip toPeru to examine 1,500 year old skeletons in order to be a part of thecelebration. The whole idea seemed to click into place once Sweets (atleast no longer sporting elf ears) explained the importance ofChristmas spirit in an analytical way she could appreciate. She tookthat ball and ran with it.
Which was quite unlike Zack, whose skepticism about the existence ofSanta (if only as a child’s myth) was par for the course with him, aswas his wonky need to disprove the possibility. But how much must hehave been thinking about it to be able to calculate that Santa’d haveto make 822.6 visits every second to reach every child? Then again, heis a genius, so maybe he didn’t have to think about it for that long.
I’ve got no problem with neatly wrapped-up endings so I was thrilledthat Parker (safely) ran away to be with Booth for Christmas, insteadof going to Vermont with his mom and her new boyfriend, CaptainFantastic. (Yeah, it’s reminiscent of Chuck’s Captain Awesome,but that’s okay.) But they really cued the waterworks when Booth solvedBrennan’s dilemma (it’s shank material, you know) byshowing up outside the trailer on Christmas eve, with a lit tree powered by his truck’s battery. Was I the only one who heardBrenna say, "I love you, Booth" instead of "I love my gift, Booth"? Ohwell.
So, how did none of the squints see the big kiss? What’s your dream scenario for the ramifications of this kiss? With this Bones dry spell coming up, I think I’m going to re-watch season 2. How will you guys cope?
Comments (1-30) of 43 Add your comment
That episode was freakin awesome!
It was obvious to me who the killer was from the moment the mugging victim said he’d punched the guy. Santa was sporting one heck of a shiner the whole episode, not just at the end. I was surprised Booth didn’t ask him about it.
Yes, I’m not ashamed to admit, I cried at the end when Booth brought Brennan a Christmas tree. He’s finally seeing a human side in her, which I think is wonderful.
I actually don’t think that Caroline was match-making when she put Brennan and Booth together under the mistletoe. I think she honestly thought it would be funny. The look on her face was very much “what have I done?” after the kiss. I almost think she felt bad for pushing the issue.
I’m totally rewatching season 1’s christmas episode and both seasons while I’m at it…..I’m going to miss Bones
So many fun things in this episode! Loved the kiss, the gum and the Christmas tree. I *really* loved Booth in that awesome trench coat and the cool glasses when they were outside the toy shop. How hot is he??? I had to stop Tivo and just stare for a while . This show is becoming “must watch” TV for me. There’s enough humor to keep it light(ish), enough drama to keep you glued to the TV and that hint of romance is just perfect. Hope the writers’ strike ends soon so that we can get more-more-more!
This show keeps getting better and better. Having them kiss under some other guise was a good way to give a lot of viewers what they wanted to see without pushing them into a show-killing relationship or fling. And as cheesy as the ending was, there was something about that last look across the yard between B&B that was very sweet, genuine, and touching. Great Christmas episode!
I let out a cry of horror when they said no more Bones till January. I have to say that ending was just beautiful. It’s why this show is so great. I cracked up when Booth took out Bones’ gum and put it right back in his mouth. Pricesless!!
Dammit, I’m hooked, I’ll have to grab Season 1 while I’m Christmas shopping today as a quick gift for myself.
Well played Fox…well played.
Quick question, was this the first week where John Francis Daley (Sweets) was in the opening credits? I didn’t notice it before.
The first kiss was absolute perfection and brilliance! Loved the awkwardness that ensued afterwards, and I can’t wait to see Angela’s reaction when she does find out – we all know that she wants them together as much as we do.
p.s. I’m looking forward to the journey of Bones/Booth to the point that they want to kiss, without the blackmail factor!
Thoroughly satisfying. And I loved the sequence with Bones and Caroline walking back and forth with the coffee – funny! Caroline’s so great. The kiss was great, the seasonal sentiment heartfelt without being treacly and it’ll keep me warm while I wait for the show to return.
Is anyone else sick of of Brennan’s brother. He’s not really that interesting. The two cutsy step-daughters are annoying too!!! Please let him escape and run off again…. Please!!!
This episode gave me the warm, holiday tinglies that I think will last just long enough for the new episodes to start next season.
The Booth/Bones kiss followed up by the christmas tree outside the trailer window got a proper fangirl squee out of me.
And Sweets with the elf hat was greatly amusing.
And I heart Parker. That kid really needs to be in more episodes.
Loved this episode
I am looking forward to hopefully a slow begining to B&B romantic relationship. I for one do not think it would kill the show for them to become more then friends and partners at work. Acting is so great all around on this show but B&B have the best chemistry of any couple on TV next to House and Wilson of course. I am happy to see more of Sweets hope he is added to the cast full time
It is always nice to step away from my life for an hour and fall into B&B’s world
Yay Bones! Laura, I teared up when I saw the tree too. My dear, sweet husband new enough to just hand me a kleenex and not say anything. When Booth returned the money to the security guard that had been mugged it didn’t help slow the waterworks any. And I hate Christmas! (It gets in the way of my birtday) Jason, I think you’re right, this is the first time we’ve seen Sweets in the opening credits.
Why do we need to wait so long for the next episode of this (and House)? Don’t they only have 1 or 2 episodes remaining to air? Putting in a break of a month to air two episodes seems silly.
I saved this one to my TiVo so I can watch it again and again! Yup, it got a fangirl squee out of me too!
I LOVE B&B, I think if the writers did it right it wouldn’t become too weird for them to be together.
I love David B. He’s soooo HOTT!!!
I loved this episode and it will live in my DVR until I have new episodes to replace it.
I was more the halfway to convincing myself that Sweets was possibly the Gormogon cannibal/killer guy but now they went and put him in the credits I guess I’m wrong. Anyway, the kiss was great and at the ending you could truly see their feelings for each other. So I’ll be adding Bones dvds to my Christmas list. . . .
Preface: Bones is my favorite show on TV. I’ve watched both seasons at least twice. It’s the only show I can’t miss and I’ve really enjoyed this season a lot.
Comment: Does anyone else feel like the past two episodes have just been the teensiest bit off? As in-the dialogue wasn’t exactly spot on as it usually is or things were more contrived than they needed to be (a la the child the biker almost drowned last week convienently placed and the whole kiss blackmailing).
Perhaps it’s an effect of the WGA strike, with the writers not having any last second input. Maybe it’s just me. Or maybe the season 1 christmas episode can’t be beat.
I wish Caroline’s motives for blackmailing were explored, too. Not your typical blackmail annnnd she seemed so shocked by the result! Still, the kiss itself was perfection!
Am I crazy thinking the past two eps haven’t been on par with the rest of the season (kiss excluded)? Hit me back-”I’m all ears.” Yes, I laughed out loud at the Sweets’ elf hat
Despite the decaying Santa in the sewer I loved this episode. The kiss was so sweet and man is there a couple on tv with more sexual tension than those two?
I’ve never even seen an episode of Bones, but when we finished watching our recorded Heroes, we stumbled across the blackmail request. My husband tried changing the channel and I was like, “Turn it back!” “Why? You’ve never even seen this show!” “Um, hello? It’s Angel, kissing some hot chick! It’s going to be super cute!” And it was. And like previous poster’s said, my husband too knew to pass me a tissue at the end scene with the Christmas tree and returning the guy’s money. Awww.
Abby, can I just say what an awesome job you do of recapping this show. I enjoy reading it almost as much as watching the episodes. Oh, and best episode ever!
I missed the episode. I really have preferred it when Bones and Booth were teasing us instead of actually getting involved. Those of you old enough to remember Moonlighting will recall that the show went down the tubes once Maddie and Dave kissed. Of course, the fact that Cybil Shepard hated Bruce Willis and Vice-versa had something to do with the decline too. I’ll keep watching….
Bones is my favorite show but I dislike this attempt to turn Temperance into a warm, fuzzy character. I don’t think she needs a romance with Booth and to be true to the character, she would consider it an unwelcome and unnecessary complication. I find it difficult to believe that the Bones we began with, would turn down a trip to Peru, with access to Moche remains, for time with a dysfunctional family in which she has had little interest until the writers decided to turn a really great show into another insipid romantic comedy. Give us back our old sharp tongued, analytical, Temperance and let Hodgins and Angela be the romantic comedy relief if the writers really feel we need one.
I’ve stumbled upon this show in the past and always enjoy it, but it’s only recently that I’ve been making an actual effort to watch it regularly…and now no new episodes until January?! Arg!
Good suggestion about rewatching season 2. Just added it to my Netflix so I can survive the drought. Does anyone know how many episodes they’ll have january since I presume they stopped writing when the strike started. Oh and this has to be one of the most underated shows on television.
i rewatched the kiss 3 times to see if there was any passion, and i guess i saw some. there was definitely a lot of blushing. aside from the kiss, my favorite part was when Booth was telling his ex-wife what Parker did and he gave him a squeeze as he told the truly amusing story of how Parker managed to get his way. And although I loved the christmas tree surprise, I’m even more surprised that they didn’t have a scene where Chris Kringle left Zack–and whoever else questioned his existence–a gift. lol
Yikes, I missed half the show due to an important phone call and didn’t tivo it. Do they re-show it? Who was the santa killer, no where on this recap does it say!
swoon-worthy episode. The “THANKS FOR THE GUM” stutter at the end of the kiss was hysterical, and the way Booth gave Brennan her tree was adorable, and very character-appropriate (I could totally see Booth using his car’s battery to give a meaningful gift). Caroline is the greatest enabler EVER, and her shock after the kiss, and response to “was that enough steamboats” was perfect. I really think the whole WHO KILLED SANTA storyline wasn’t why the fans were watching, so I gladly welcomed a trip from the heavily-layered Gormegon mystery to watch Brennan and Booth sniff some butts, and listen to the Santa’s sing “santa clause is coming to town” in a both humorous and dramatic scene-ender. I’m so glad there’s a “procedural” out there that defy’s the procedural rules, and intertwines relationships and plot so that if one topples the other, it is always the relationships. Wonderful episode, Wonderful show.
ALLY- the Santa Killer was another Santa. But honestly, I think every viewer could have cared less. By that point we were trying to stop smilling from the kiss, and rewinding our tivos mid-episode…
I disagree with the people who think that having Bones and Booth together would ruin the show, a la Moonlighting. They are good together because they appreciate each other’s individuality. They are not trying to change each other. Besides, primetime TV needs a healthy, honest, happy, ADULT couple relationship. The whole circle of hook ups and break ups on TV is getting old. Show me what a real, complicated, loving relationship looks like — to me, that’s when things get interesting!
I agree LisaMama! I’m sick to death of shows like Grey’s Anatomy where everyone just has sex and there’s no REAL relationships. I think B&B would be PERFECT together! If you got some really gifted writers in there, (And Bones definitely has some of those) they should be able to make it enjoyable and still keep the sparkle of the show. Just because you become involved with someone doesn’t change your personality. I’ve been married for almost seven years and I’d like to think I was still the flirty twenty one year old I was when I said “I do”!
I really enjoy the fact that the writers of this show respect the fans enough to know we appreciated the bubbling, slow-moving sexual tension over a conventional thrown together, torn apart approach. The drama is much more poignant and engaging this way! The only thing I could have hoped for in this episode was more Angela and Bones dialogue (and I did almost see my childhood dissolve when there was a dead Santa), but other than that, it was perfect. Abby, since we don’t get another one of your brilliant recaps until January, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!