I wonder which came first to the writers: The idea to have a frat-themed crime or Booth’s theory that people have to be bad to become good? I suppose the theory makes sense: The only way you develop problem-solving skills is if you actually face problems. It holds true for Jared, who’s never had to stand alone because he always had big brother Booth or the U.S. Navy behind him. Anyone else find themselves sighing "Booooooth," out loud, when he gave Jared (now dishonorably discharged and sober) that pendant of the patron saint of travelers to keep him safe on his solo motorcyle trip through India? "You’re not alone." [Booooooth.] I love it when he’s protective.
We all love it when Booth takes care of Brennan. That end scene (embedded above) was one of my all-time favorites. For two reasons, probably: (1) I’ve never related to Brennan more than at that moment. I, too, have never done anything bad on purpose. Well, not since high school when I was a passive party to a senior prank that involved setting two mice loose in the school cafeteria. (They didn’t move from under our table, so my friends started fake-screaming while I sat there with my head in my hands pretending that I was somewhere far, far away. If I’m remembering correctly, my mother just laughed at me when I told her about it.) Just hearing Booth talk about dining and dashing made me tense up. I would have had to have been so drunk to go along with that. Or maybe just tipsy. Who am I kidding? I would’ve followed perfectly-lit Booth and his black leather jacket anywhere. (2) Emily Deschanel was perfect in that scene. It really felt like she was processing what Booth was proposing. That was exactly how someone who’s never been bad before would’ve behaved: "No, I can’t. Really? No. Are you serious? No. Ohmygod!," followed by screaming, laughing, and the repeated shouting of "Whoooooo!" Booth, of course, tossed money down on the bar, as any good boyfriend would have done. He found a way to give her what she needed — one less reason to feel socially stunted — but watched out for her and made sure she was safe. He really does care about her. And he always gets a great parking space, doesn’t he?
As for the rest of the episode:
• When will we learn not to try to eat dinner during the first 10 minutes of Bones? The body (a.k.a. Beaver) inside the mascot burning over the bonfire at the poorly-attended college pep rally? Not pretty. Bones clearly not wanting to pop for a large number of extras? Hilarious. Not the first time I’ve noticed.
• Also funny: That dude sleeping on the couch when Booth and Sweets questioned Beaver’s fraternity brothers.
• Do we think Brennan will finally stop dissing Sweets now that he’s impressed her by picking Molly (Kyle XY’s Jamie Alexander) out of the crowd as Beaver’s killer? (Though what was so impressive about that? Couldn’t we all tell it was her from her nervous body language?) Good for Sweets for refusing to share how he did it with Brennan. "You’re not gonna believe me anyway. You’re just gonna say I guessed, so have it your way. I guessed." Leave her frustrated and belittled for once.
• Anyone else surprised by how offended Brennan was that the frat boys kept a board counting their number of sexual conquests? I mean, it’s disgusting. But Miss "Man Isn’t Meant to Be Monogamous" shouldn’t have been surprised that men in their sexual prime, living in a pack, would be keeping score. I also found her logic off when she told Booth that all women are technically cougars because they all prefer younger men. Most young women (and I’m including women in their 30s here, thank you) prefer older men, no? At least when there’s not a Harry Potter, Twilight, or Michael Cera movie in theaters.
• Sweets said real grief comes in waves — interesting. So is that why the family of murder victims are able to hold it together when they’re answering police questions on TV shows? Detectives caught them in between waves of tears, expletives, and physical collapse?
• I don’t get it: What’s wrong with a chemistry professor who knows that her tests have been stolen online putting a fake test on the server? Totally would have been my plan.
• What’s up with the writers pretending that Brennan "staring at the bones until they speak to her" happens all the time? Seeing as how I’ve we’ve been complaining that she’s never in her lab anymore, I we should just appreciate that they made an effort to show that she’s still brilliant and accept that either Cam or Angela often babysits her before she heads out to booze it up with Booth.
• Sheets? Gross.
• Enjoyed Hodgins’ reference to the Turkey Incident of 2009, but Arastoo Vaziri is probably my least favorite of Brennan’s assistants. This exchange with Booth was funny though: "Dr. Brennan said to be especially polite to you when the science was difficult." "How stupid do you people think I am?"
• I wonder what Molly got for shooting Beaver with a nail gun. Does "I told him not to remove it" carry any weight with a judge come sentencing?
• NEXT WEEK IS WHEN BRENNAN ASKS BOOTH TO BE HER SPERM DONOR AND WE START DEALING WITH HIS "MAJOR ILLNESS." Sorry, whenever I think about these two storylines, it’s in all caps in my head. Pasted below, the full press release for the episode. We’re all going to lose our s— (in a good way), right? I can’t believe it’s finally here! (I resisted the urge to put an entire line of exclamation points. I’m so proud of myself.)
In "The Critic in the Cabernet" episode, Brennan (Emily Deschanel) decides she wants to have a baby and surprises Booth (David Boreanaz) with a request to father her child. Brennan’s request dredges up a host of unspoken feelings and unresolved issues between the two, and Booth becomes consumed by the prospect of having a child. The stress of the situation, coupled with Booth’s undiagnosed health issue, paves the way for a surprise visit from [Family Guy's] Stewie. The diabolically clever baby assesses the situation and offers advice in his inimitable style.
After returning from the BONES set, Griffin remarked on the experience of playing his first dramatic role: "Oh, have you seen it? Was I good? Because I heard they said I was amazing and they want me to replace Emily, but that’s just a rumor."
"The guy was good during the actual scenes, which is the important thing," Boreanaz commented. "But between takes he literally vanished — nowhere to be seen. I guess it’s true that Brits and cartoons tend to be standoff-ish. Or maybe it was a method thing, I don’t know."
Comments (1-30) of 38 Add your comment
It was a fun episode and it was nice both Booth and Brennan having some personal growth moments. Booth letting his brother grow up and make his own mistakes. Brennan gaining some needed empathy and connection with typical human nature from the dine and dash stunt. It will help with her relationship with Sweets. I’m feeling that issue is less to do with her disdain for psychology but with a general lack of faith and respect for him. Compare how she treats Sweets with how she treats Gordon. She’s always been more open-minded, responsive and respectful to Gordon than she’s ever been to Sweets.
S. Booooooooth!
Right there with you Mandi! That man is to die for. Love him!
Um, it’s polite to put a “SPOILER!” warning in all caps prior to a spoiler. As opposed to, say, just capitalizing the spoiler itself so as to make absolutely sure everyone is spoiled…
I too, have made the unfortunate mistake of sitting down to eat a meal right before watching Bones. Bones is the new appetite suppressant.
Jen – it’s not a spoiler when it’s in the commercials for next week’s show.
We are most definitely going to lose our s—– in a GOOD WAY!!!!!! Why isn’t it next week and the fourteenth yet!?!?!?
Oh, no. Instead of dealing with Booth’s illness in a genuine, heartfelt way they’re going to ruin it with cross-promotion for their crap cartoon series. They just can’t stop circling the drain this season, can they?
I’ve become desensitized, I guess; I was eating pizza during the first half of the show, no problems. I have also noticed the obvious lack of extras in crowd scenes . . . And did anyone else think it was weird that Brennan jumped to, “Maybe he deals drugs” when they found the money in the briefcase? I thought she never assumes things–and certainly, there had been no earlier evidence of drugs.
This episode made me want to drop off bottles of bleach and washing instructions to every frat house in the nation. Blech! Loved the ending! We all talked about any bad things we did on purpose at work this morning- our site also does recaps if you want to say hello http://www.milehighhorror.com/wp02/?p=915
Dawn
The ending is so adorable its ridiculous.
I want a Booth!!!
My only problem with the episode was the dine and dash at the end. One Tree Hill did pretty much the exact same thing at the end of it’s Monday episode with a waitress chasing their characters out so when watching Bones a couple of nights later it felt as if the ending was a copy cat. Which I know shows copy some story lines, but each show airing that same ending in the same week I just noticed it more than I would if it had aired a couple of weeks apart.
If you’re talking about the lack of extras, wouldn’t that be ‘poorly-ATTENDED’ instead of “intended?” I’m just saying.
I was stoked that this episode of Bones included a song by Maria Taylor! I love her music and love her new album! The song was “Time Lapse Lifeline” and it played while Bones looked at the skeleton and figured out the cause of death! Awesome. Awesome Awesome!
I’m sorry, but did the writers really expect us to believe–even for a second–that Booth was seriously contemplating leaving his job at the FBI, his kid, and his partner to go cruising around India with his man-child younger brother?
Did anyone else catch all of the Animal House references? First, the one guy’s name was Greg Harmalad (the movie had Greg Marmalad), Beaver (Otter), togas, ROTC, and parade floats. All they needed was the Death Mobile and it would have been set! I also really enjoyed the episode!
What’s the deal with the way the regulars interact with Vaziri? I’m always shocked by their treatment of him. Hodgins making a bomb remark to Vaziri? Really?? I just find the way they interact with him SO weird, insensitive, and out of character
I also was irritated by the ending. I wanted to like it so much, but it just felt like a repeat of the One Tree Hill from Monday, even though obviously they didn’t copy it on purpose. I would take David over Chad any day though, of course!
Everytime I see an episode of any TV series with a college or univ focus I get really annoyed at how DATED it all it is. The writers must be channelling grandparent’s college experiences (from maybe 1954?). The premises that apparently push the story forward are completely out of step with modern university practices subject to federal and state laws. For example, college students are over 18 and PARENTS do not have to be informed about ANYTHING related to a students attendance, performce, grades, etc.,even if they are paying the bills. So this episode was a total fantasy. Oh and don’t get me started on drinking. Every frat and sorority on my campus has to abide by state law and Univ policy and I know any org that doesn’t follow policy runs the risk of lawsuits and their parent org pulling their charter as well as other disciplinary procedures.
Liked the episode, Emily Deschanel David Boreanaz are two of the best actors on TV right now. I really really hope the two have a baby together that would bring a whole new element to their relationship and to the show. I’d love to see Bones interact with a baby that was her own.
Thank you, Mavis. I was starting to think I was the only one to catch the Animal House homages.
i don’t understand why a few people have made comments about the dine & dash scence and comparing it to one tree hill… they are on 2 different networks and i VERY HIGHLY doubt the bones writers even knew one tree hill was doing something like that, never mind the fact i don’t think they would purposely copy something from that show.
Mavis – thank you for pointing out the many Animal House tributes throughout the episode. I was starting to feel reeeaaaalllly old when no one else (even the reviewier) mentioned it!
re: Animal House, don’t forget the Dean was “Dean Werner”.
I feel Fonzie revving up his motorcycle here. From the Bones “chick-song” montage to the “oh now I want to have a baby”, I don’t have a good feeling…
Your reviews make my week! Seriously, Emily Deschanel did another superb job – when are they going to give her an Emmy or GG or SAG? – with Brennan at the end. Totally how I would have reacted. She was like a little girl, squeeing – which we will all be doing, aside from running in the road and playing with traffic from happiness – in the next two weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are the exclamation marks you forgot!!! For added emphasis. Loved the ending. Loving Bones
Booth was simply fantastic in this epi. He was father, brother, friend – all being protective, caring and realizing that he had to let go a little. A start living for himself a little.
Kudos David. Great award winning work!
Hodgins was a jerk to the intern. That guy didn’t deserve it.
Brennan again was rude to Sweets. So glad he called her on it. She has no respect for him but respects Gordon. Interesting.
Booth, what can I say love you, another amazing insight in to my man.
He has stolen my heart.
David keep up the good work, you deserve an Emmy!
In the novels, Bones is old enough to have an adult daughter. On TV, the Bones as portrayed by the actress would be a very poor mother. She is borderline autistic with Asperger’s with her inability to emphathise or even truly feel the sacrificial love necessary to the well being of a child. As a scientist she probably realizes this. That Bones is pushing Booth to donate his sperm is a total clue that this is just to excite us the viewers to keep watching!
A comment by the reviewer wondered why Bones seems to be backsliding in her character. I payed close attention the the last 2-3 eps and I saw that Bones appears to be more infantile and juvenile in her interactions with Booth and others. Her maturity level seems to degraded from other seasons. She needs a “babysitter” in the lab now?
Booth is ecoming more paternalistic and that really throws everything about “partnership” out of balance.
The last scene in the bar with Booth and his brother was great. The interaction with Booth was not. Bones has excellent frontal lobe development. Its her emotional development which seems to have shrunk to raisin size lately.
I have been a fan of David B since his Buffy days. He is a great actor. I love his Booth character. But I’m not happy with the way it seems to be written lately. Someone tell me why an FBI agent who discharges his weapon twice around civilians and has recurring back problems, and drinks far more that he should (his dad and bro were/are alcoholics) is still hanging around the Jeffersonian. It looks like he’s being set up for a major health crisis of the mental variety (PTSD from his military service days?) Maybe that’s why Dr. Gordon will be reappearing…Booth trusts him. I know David B can do tortured hero very well so I do look forward to this story arc (probably next season).