An exploding meth lab with a dead body inside. An appearance from King of the Interns, Clark Edison. A tense standoff-shootout with very human stakes. And some sexual tension bolstered by painful emotional history. Now that, my friends, was a great episode of Bones.
After spending much of the last couple seasons plumbing the wacko depths of Brennan’s crime-riddled family, last night finally gave us that long-awaited glimpse into Booth and how he got that way. (So nice to see Boreanaz playing something deeper than "goofball" for a change.) It doesn’t take Sweets to see the connection between Seeley’s choice to become a sniper and the way he keeps his metaphorical head down with his family, letting his Navy commander brother, Jared, do all the shiny strutting. Given Seeley’s demonstrated commitment to being the best father he can be to his own son, the revelation that Daddy Booth was an abusive alcoholic rang true; so, too, did Seeley’s decision to give up the glory of the RICO case to keep Jared’s reputation intact. My goodness, he was even willing to (briefly) give up Brennan so his baby brother could be happy– and that is some crazy, fascinating martyrdom.
What did you think, Jeffersonian fans? Did you buy Booth’s back story? Do you agree that "we do whatever we can for family"? Was Brennan (as Angela put it) just looking for "a creepy way to have sex with a Booth without having sex with the real Booth"? Who else wants a garbage sorter? And how many times have you wanted to finish an argument by clocking someone off a bar stool?
Comments (1-30) of 36 Add your comment
I frackin’ loved this episode of Bones. Especially when Bones shoved Jared off his stool at the bar. Best Bones episode in a long time.
I loved this episode, I’ve never seen Seeley so upset with Bones. I thought they would ‘break up’. Glad Bones saw the light.
We need more of Seeley’s history and I buy it.
Please keep Clark as a squint he’s perfect, loved how he was totally speachless when Bones came into the lab all dressed up. If Clark’s not the new squint, maybe that other guy, forget his name, but the one who thought Bones was hitting on him.
Will Jarhead be back, I really like Brendan Fehr.
This episode was so good, I immediately wanted to rewatch it when it was over. It was so great to get all of this back story. Best epi ever!
Angela was right on with her comment about Jared being a proxy for Booth. And this episode was right on with everything else. I really, really hope that Clark Edison becomes the permanent intern–he’s got the best and funniest way of dealing with the other loveable crazies on Brennan’s team.
One caveat: I really wish Bones had done something more awesome to Jared than just shoving him off the barstool–though that was cool. I just thought she could have been more creative, knowing judo and all…
YAY for a recap of Bones!!! I’ve missed these sooooooooo much.
)
This was a fantastic episode. I loved it when Brennan pushed Jared off the stool. I will def try that someday.
I loved it when Bones shoved ‘Booth-Lite’ off his barstool. What a loser and he’s NOWHERE near as attractive as Booth *sigh*. Good eppy.
While I liked the Booth backstory and thought it rang true, Bones’ willingness to believe that our Booth was a ‘loser’ felt completely false and forced. Her standing up for Seely against his brother should have happened at the cocktail party. He could have easily been pushed off that stone bench. But, it was obvious that TPTB were trying very hard to force some tension, other than sexual, into the Booth/Bones relationship. I was also uncomfortable with Bones’ public confirmation, as only she can do, of her feelings for Booth. But, I suppose it’s true to her character’s inability to see view anything except through a logical lens. I’ll be frank: I’m weary of the cat and mouse with these two. I see no logical reason why they are apart, besides working together. Given the fact that Cam and Booth, and Angela and Hodgins have all been in relationships, the ‘he/she is my partner’ excuse is shallow and lame. They need to put them together and deal with the fallout or move on.
David Boreanaz just blew me away he played Booth with so much emotion, he made me so sad to watch him. Jared was the worst brother ever, he was the king of all jerks, he deserved to go to jail. He did a DUI, and he didn’t care. He did nothing but put Booth down. The guy also looked nothing like Booth. I really hated him.
God, I love David/Booth – even more after this episode! Love to see more on Booth’s background, no more Jared though, hated him, the ass. Introduce, his dad, mom, grandfather, old army pals. Thanks David and Hart.
And…the… Emmy…goes…to… David Boreanaz!
Yes he was that good! Kudos to David Boreanaz!
Loved Booth confronting Brennan, if she thought he was a loser, he was mad at her and she deserved it. Fantastic acting David. And yes, more episodes revolving around our beloved Seeley Booth, we do adore him.
I missed the shoving! Now I’m all sad. But I’ve been a fan of Davids ever since BtVS, and if you saw him on his spin-off you know he can do the serious stuff well. It was so nice to see that again last night. I’d really missed that. All in all it was a very good episode. Oh! And I also hope Clark becomes the permanent intern. He’s a perfect contrast to the others.
Great episode! Though instead of knocking him off his barstool, Bones should have given Jarhead a Vulcan neck pinch.
The one bit I didn’t buy, though, was Bones’s big alpha-male speech at the end. And the two reasons I don’t buy it:
(a) Bones uses words, particularly scientific words, very precisely — so she would know perfectly well that the alpha male is the male that the other males follow. She wouldn’t suddenly redefine it as “the guy who’s the better man in the long run” or whatever. So instead of saying “alpha male,” she would have said something like “strongest man” or something that’s non incorrect. (And she would never have, at the beginning, said that the dead man was “obviously” an inventor or whatever — our Bones doesn’t jump to conclusions!)
(b) Even Bones isn’t clueless enough to try to boost a man’s ego by telling him he’s invisible.
I like Booth/DB but this epi not so much. OK have any of us EVER been in doubt Booth is an Alpha Male? He is one he just isn’t a peacock. The true Alpha can command with quiet authority and leave the showboating to other morons. Hated little brother jarhead. A real man takes responsibility for his own actions and doesn’t put his brother down. Brennan should know that Booth doesn’t need strangers to admire him but he did need someone he respects to respect him back. I still miss Zach can he come back for the X-mas epi. ?
No, no, no — no hook-up between Booth and Bones. I like their friendship, and if they do hook up, that’s the end of the show. It will quickly dissolve into wedding plans or not-wedding plans, and before you know it, we’re watching a pregnant Bones waddling around with another li’l Booth in the oven. No!
Good episode, and Boreanaz deserves all of his kudos for hitting the perfect emotional note in Booth’s conflict with his ego-swollen sib.
As for Deschanel, instead of shoving Jared off the barstool, I would have liked to have seen her trim that third eye off of his face with the bartender’s zester. The actor who plays Jared really needs to have a dermatologist look at that tumor. More disturbing than the exploded corpse from the beginning of the episode. Tumor.
Great episode, but can we please talk about how unattractive Jarod was? Please! That thing growing out of his head. Come on. In response to an earlier poster stating their distaste for the obvious Bones/Booth getting together storyline, I’m with you…to a point. They should get together, but not until like the last four or five episodes in the series run. We all want it to happen, but it’d be better kept for the very end when it’s the only thing left at stake.
I agree with Ragna I like Clark and enjoy him in the lab! How great was “Is the stool out?” and Booth’s reaction to that line? We also love bones recaps at http://www.milehighhorror.com
Great episode especially the Booth scene where he gets mad at Bones (because he is awfully patient with her sometimes!) and the scene with his brother outside the party. I also did not like the speech that Bones gave at the party, but the barstool push earlier was excellent. (Bone’s bar speech did not seem written quite right for her character.) I always like to see Boreanaz do good emotional scenes. The backstory seems real for the character. (Much more believable then when Seely said he “restored vintage cars” in free time? That did not fit at all!!) I liked the intern in this show. Thumbs-up episode.
Arguably the best episode of the season so far. I agree that Brendan’s mole (or “tumor” – LOL) was incredibly distracting. It reminded me of that commercial where the guy is on a job interview and the stain in his shirt is talking.
Anyway, I do think that Seely and Brennan can get together eventually and it doesn’t have to be the end of the show. Those of us who are old enough to remember Hart to Hart know that it is possible for a tv couple to be married and have chemistry. It all depends on the writers.
Kudos to Boreanaz, who is underrated as an actor. He was amazing!
Awesome episode!!!!! I loved that Bones and Booth finally got into a more serious fight – sometimes I feel like they’re too patient with each other. Nothing leads to passionate sexy time like a passionate fight.
And I’m done.
that’s right, this episode was worth 3 exclamation points:) great episode one of the best in the whole series. loved the cake scene at the end and the barstool scene made me lol. thanks ew for the review, and lets get even more fans to read it by making it easier to find!!!
The shove was spectacular! It was totally unexpected, but expected at the same time. Kinda fun to watch Brennan’s brain wig out and not know how to methodically handle a situation.
David Boreanaz was just amazing. I can’t say how much he just captured my heart and attention. Broke my heart that he came from a drunk and abusive past. How he had to be protector to a jerky ungrateful, Booth should of kicked that losers butt. Brennan really annoyed the crap out of me the way she treated Booth. When she went outside to find Booth, the first thing she should of said was ‘I am sorry Booth’ forget that speech.
Highbob, I disagree with your assessment of what will happen when Booth and Bones get together. And, it is a matter of when not if. They have been telegraphing the attraction between these two since the very beginning. To not hook them up, or to wait as suggested until the very end of the series, not only shortchanges the fans who are drawn to the chemistry of these two but it also reflects poorly on TPTB confidence in their own ability to write a believable relationship. I love the reference someone made to Hart to Hart (a couple based on Nick and Nora Charles of The Thin Man fame, I believe). It can be done and, despite the bungling of the Zach storyline and Angela/Hodgins relationship, I think this group of writers can do it. But, to keep these two apart for no apparent reason is beginning to stretch believability.
Great take on the episode. It was one of my favorites for the reasons you specifically mentioned. While I love DB’s charming and goofy Booth persona it was nice to see he can really pull off the drama too. The last scene was simple and yet very touching with his quiet yet huge revelation that his dad was an alcoholic.
You know, I find it really interesting that the comparisons are always drawn to Moonlighting as a reason why B/B shouldn’t get together too soon but I wholly disagree. My Mom adored Bruce and Cybil on MLing and does no one truly remember what happened after they finally consummated their banter? Cybil went off to have a baby and they not only separated the characters on the show, they actually had Maddie marry another man. It’s like the writers panicked after having them do the deed.
I don’t think Hart would even come close to sabotaging B/B after they consummate their relationship. I would ADORE seeing them navigate a wedding, a marriage, a Baby. Hilarious!
I too hope that Clark Edison becomes the permanent intern he is awesome and would be a perfect fit. Loved the look on his face when Bones walked in all done up and he realized she was not just intelligent but very attractive too. Loved her pushing Jared off the stool. I don’t think the writing was quiet right though, I don’t think she would have so easily believed Jared when he made Booth out to be the loser she has and alwasy doen stand up for Booth so I’d have liked to see the bar scene happen during the party she attened with Jared. I do not think Booth and Bones getting together would be bad for the the show I agree I’d love to see them navigate through planning a wedding and having a family at some point.
Finally, a good Booth episode! I love how he totally opened up to Tempe at the end of the episode. Thanks for moving Booth out of the goofball routine.
David Boreanaz just outshone everyone, he was simply amazing!!
How excited am I to see next week’s episode when Booth references the naughty librarian fantasy?! More and more sexual tension! Love it.
Jumping on with the David love. Boy that man can act. We know he can act, we have watched and admire him over the years but he was just in a different league in this epi. Booth just stole my heart. Brennan, I just wanted to give a good slap. She betrayed Booth and just devasted him. And she knew it. Any other man mightn’t have forgiven her but Booth is an exceptional, kind and forgiving man. Jared just was a jerk who needed a good slap too. The actor BF, was average and didn’t look like DB, poor casting.