Image Credit: Greg Gayne/FoxBefore we get into the heart of the episode, I need to ask a question: How many of you believe that Brennan has never heard of the Rat Pack? I can buy that she wouldn’t be able to name everyone in it, but how has a woman who’s probably attended her fair share of black tie events and been in a lot of airport lounges never heard of the Rat Pack? I mean, yeah, it was a funny joke to have her tell Booth how excited Andrew was to introduce her to them — “They must be extraordinary rodents” — but come on now. We know she has a CD collection. With that out of the way…
This episode was about Booth and Brennan each moving on. Brennan has suddenly rekindled her flirting with Booth’s boss, Andrew (Diedrich Bader); Booth got all clumsy around a marine biologist, Dr. Catherine Bryar (Rena Sofer), who found an undigested human leg in the belly of a dead tiger shark her aquarium had just released. After his experience trying to coax Brennan into a relationship, you can understand why Booth would be taken with a woman who’s in it to win it enough that she stopped by his office to ask him out. Because she was a suspect, he couldn’t date her until the investigation was closed. But that didn’t keep him from telling Brennan he would be seeing her every time Bones brought up her upcoming coffee date with Andrew. (For the record, I also don’t believe Brennan — or any woman — would think a man telling her he had tickets to a play was code for sex. And if it was, why wouldn’t Brennan go for it? She’s always wanted sex before. If she wanted a relationship, she’d be with Booth. Or, are we supposed to think that because she doesn’t want to sleep with Andrew immediately, there’s a part of her that’s committed to Booth?)
Are you buying Booth and Brennan’s budding new relationships? I am, actually. Andrew likes to play dumb but he’s got a title, deputy director, that commands some respect. He clearly likes her, but he’s aloof enough that she can fool herself into thinking he wouldn’t be hurt by anything she does. He’s extraordinarily patient and finds her occasional cluelessness and verbal explanations for why his jokes are funny endearing as opposed to frustrating. He’s none of the drama she just experienced with Booth. He makes her a giddy teenager. She actually asked Angela what she should wear on the date. As for Catherine, we’ve established that she’s confident, forward, and interested. All attractive to Booth now. Plus, she doesn’t make him feel stupid for going with his intuition — she has one, too, that he could use some company — and they can make each other laugh in half the time since no one needs to explain the punchline. I think she’s a good Ms. Right Now, and I look forward to Brennan and Booth trying not to act jealous while sharing surprisingly open conversations like the one they had in front of the elevator.
Brennan: She’s easily as pretty as I am. I mean, using me as a standard.
Booth: Bones, you are the standard.
Brennan: Andrew is not as handsome as you. Using you as a standard. He is, however, taller.
As for the case, I knew immediately there was something fishy with that fourth grade teacher. After finding that a self-help guru’s “Sea of Life” program was a load of bull, she shoved the man’s face into a lion fish tank, the venomous fish stabbed him in the eye, and the neurotoxins knocked him out long enough for the woman to drag him into the massive tank where he was devoured by the tiger shark, a hammerhead, a red snapper, and, apparently, a grouper. How convenient that it decided to cough up the skull as Booth and Brennan visited the aquarium to question the woman who worked in the animal husbandry department. Shockingly, Brennan’s “Was someone eaten here this weekend?” wasn’t the highlight of that conversation. That would be Booth’s “Since when do fish have husbands?” Hodgins and Brennan got to go scuba diving in the tank, which gave him a chance to make a Jaws joke and Brennan an opportunity to prove that she’s never seen that movie. I like to think Brennan and I could be friends if she were, you know, real. But when crap like that — and that she’s never heard of Shark Week — come out, I seriously doubt it. A conversation about Shark Week got me my first job in New York (with magazines that covered cable TV). I take it very seriously. (Which is why I know Booth is right — for a week that’s all about sending the message that sharks don’t want to eat us, so many of the specials end up being about attacks.)
Other developments: We still have no idea if Brennan told Angela about Booth asking her to give their relationship a real go. I’m guessing not by the way Angela calmly told Brennan she knows who Angela thinks she belongs with. Angela and Hodgins had a moment when they realized they both like scary, beautiful virtual fish tanks. Clark broke his cardinal role and got involved in his coworkers’ personal lives — he basically told Hodgins to get back with Angela. And yet, we’ve still not see him make a move. What are they waiting for? Sweeps?
Now you. What do you think of Booth and Brennan moving on? What was your favorite quote of the night? (Mine: Brennan’s “I may or may not get them back to you,” when she wanted to take the angel fish to the lab.) Did watching Booth shut down that Russian mobster make you long for the days when he was intense in the interrogation room? Brennan and that Japanese magazine writer should have seen that…
It’s long been established that Brennan is clueless about pop culture so yes, it’s ompletely in character for her not to know about the Rat Pack, “Jaws,” or Shark Week. [Does she even watch TV?] What she’s picked up seems to come from either Angela or Booth. Although it does make me wonder what she puts in her mysteries about her characters–guess they stick to the crime and sex.
I should have clarified: She rarely knows pop culture — but we do know she has a CD collection.
She also knows Treasure of the Sierra Madre…..
Brennan has a music collection and she said she likes JAZZ. And she doesn’t know the Ratpack? Give me a break! What a stupid moron.
There was a time that Brennan and her lack of pop culture was endearing. Now? It jvst makes her look like a pratt that shouldn’t be allowed to mix with normal people. Grow up woman
Brennan has to be one of the most annoying people on tv. So glad the other characters are better. Least I can still watch
Another epi were Brennan needs a good slap. I hated this epi and that was down to Brennan being callous to Booth. She is down right unlikeable.
@Wendy- just so you know…Brennan is just a CHARACTER on a tv show!! In fact, all the words she says are written by other people!! Wow, what a concept! Don’t take it so personally. It’s just a tv show!
Please, I don’t care how absorbed in work a person is, no one is totally clueless about popculture, it permeates every aspect of life including science. Unless all she reads are bland scientific journals since the age of 5 would she be that ignorant. This is what tv loves to do – a generic ‘smart’ person who is oblivious to the outside world, its lazy writing and behind the times.
You’d be surprised. I’m in my mid 30s and had a friend growing up who made it college knowing nothing about the existence of a little thing called Star Wars (and he was a space nerd!!). Plus, Brennan leads a relatively isolated existence. Her spare time seems to be primarily spent writing. Remember from the pilot she only had a TV in her place because her boyfriend had brought one over. So, no TV, likely spends little time reading websites like EW… and I’m guessing she’s not even really all that up on current events, unless it involves science.
Believe me, there are thousands of pop-culture clueless folks out there just as bad (if not worse!) than Brennan
And I would guess that Brennan is probably familiar with Rat Pack music, and probably has some Sinatra in her eclectic CD collection… but would haev no idea of the history surrounding the rat pack. That totally makes sense!
Maybe it’s people who read EW.com and watch too much TV who are oblivious to the outside world, assumign efveryone has the same interests and knowledge as they do.
I agree, it’s still unrealistic and lazy writing to base so much humor on the immensity of her cultural ignorance. I’ve been friends for almost 20 years with a guy who’s a PhD mathematician, head of a college math dept, doesn’t own a T.V., sends his kid to the best private school, etc., you know, the stereotypical (on paper) egghead. He is not ew.com savvy, that is for sure, because there have been times I mention something semi-recent I’m sure he should have heard about but get no recognition, but pop culture still finds a way to get more hits on him than misses. I accept her character for what it is: a contrived stereotype that survives by good character interaction and not the realism of the forensics nor cultural references.
I think it is very plausible for Brennan to not know about the Rat Pack. As long as I’ve watched the show, pop culture is not one of her strong points. In fact, if she did know who any of them were, I’d be very surprised.
What a weird and awkward epi. Brennan and Hacker were werid and awkward. I hate she acts like an giddy idiot around him. It is just cringworthy to see her like that round a shallow idiot like Hacker what a jerk
Brennan needs to grow up. She was down right cold and mean to Booth. Rubbing his face in her coffee date at every opportunity. WTF. Get a heart Brennan
I agree, Brennan needs to go with the Tinman to visit the Wizard of Oz. Maybe she can then get a heart, cos I am getting nothing from her but being a cold witch in this epi.
Is Hart on purpose making Brennan so unlikeable? I have never hated a tv character as much as I do her. She is more annoying with each passing day
This epi was just painful to watch. I just didn’t get or like Brennan. Her attitude stinks and is more like a unfeeling robot than ever to Booth
Honestly if I didn’t know better I would think by watching this epi, that Brennan didn’t give one crap about Booth or had any feelings for him at all. Callous doesn’t even cover it.
I hated this epi and it was soley down to Brennan acting so out of character. And Brennan flirting with a moron sleazeball like Hacker. Have some self respect.
I totally down with Booth and Catherine. They were so adorable together. And did you see how Booth was so happy with her? You go Booth
Yep, loved Booth and Catherine, she is a good match for Booth. And what a beauty, Brennan you have met your match in the looks and brain department.
you guys are crazy. I know plenty of people who don’t own televisions and don’t have a clue about pop culture. Sure they hear things mentioned around them but they have no idea what these things mean. I have a friend who does not own a TV. She is cluesless 90% of the time to most references sooooooooo this isn’t as impossible as you all seem to think it is. Yes there are inteligent people who do not have any connection to pop culure. I KNOW SHOCKING!!!
One of the worst epis. Choppy writing and editing. A detestable cold heartedTemperance Brennan. Does Hart Hanson actually care that many viewers have a problem with the lead of his show?
Since the beginning of Bones fans have complained that they can’t connect with or understand Brennan. Instead of continuing to improve her character Hart Hanson has regressed her so much that she is off putting to watch.
Since the 100th epi I have never seen so many complaints regarding Brennan and her lack of feelings. With this epi she was so heartless towards Booth, flaunting Hacker in his face. Does she even have a working heart? Or just a dried up raisin? I say the latter
I am not surprised that the ratings have dropped by 1 MILLION over the last two weeks. Best way to show your unhappiness to Hart and Fox, is not watch if your rating/household counts as ratings. That is all they care about ratings.
After watching this epi, never again, once was enough, AND reading various fan boards even Brennan fans are not liking her at the moment. Hart you need to fix the damage that having an unappealing female lead is doing to the enjoyment of Bones viewership
Some of her cluelessness is completely plausible. I am 27 and have no idea what the rat pack is, even after the episode. I suppose I could look it up but I’m not interested. I also wouldn’t recognise a Seal song if I fell over it and I don’t care about pop culture. If you are a person who loves reading then the tv is the last thing you use for entertainment.
She mentioned not having a TV (at least since the first episode), or watching television, so how would she know about Shark Week? I really can’t imagine her tuning in to the Discovery Channel at all anyway. It’s believable to me that she would know about what interests her, and shut out the rest–that is how the character has been written since Day 1.
She “had a tv but it got broken” per the season 1 episode where they think mobsters are after her, just before Booth gets blown up in her apartment. (Same episode we learn about her CD collection, which also contains a lot of jazz music.)
As per the 100th episode, Bones doesn’t keep up on current events past the Industrial Revolution.
So, pretty much in character though I suppose some could argue she should have at least heard of the Rat Pack if she follows music of a time period that led up to it in an evolutionary way.
In the first episode, didn’t her ex come sneaking in to retrieve his TV and she smashed it? And apparently never replaced it.
You must have missed an episode…Angela tells her what stuff to add to her books to make them sexier
Not only that, but she thinks the scientific stuff in the books is what sells them. And I’ve come across a few people in my life that are/were totally oblivious to current events or pop culture. To paraphrase the X-Files; they are out there.
Well, I remember little David Archuleta on American Idol saying something like he had never listened to a Beatles song… We’re talking about a kid who’s being pushed into the music industry by his family and they’ve never exposed him to the Beatles?!!!!!!! There are plenty of clueless people out there, and the Rat Pack isn’t exactly current. People know Elvis, how many people have heard of the Memphis Mafia? Yes, if she said she had no idea who Frank Sinatra was, that would be pretty bad. Not knowing that he was part of the Rat Pack, not so bad.
Totally agreed – that was my thought as well. Not knowing what the Rat Pack is doesn’t mean she doesn’t know who the individual members are!
She also didn’t know who Michael Jackson was, but last week knew Seal!! Even more clueless is how she treats Booth since he declared his feelings. She is coming across so heartless, that it is heart crushing! Poor Booth!
There was an episode once where Brennan mentioned she didn’t own a tv!
Booth may flirt with the other lady, but though out the show last night, there were so many little glances and looks that state very clearly that his is not over Bones at all.
Agreed! And Bones is not ready for Booth to move on, which is why they awkwardly kept trying to one-up each other by mentioning their respective dates. But it was so painful to watch…I was literally grimacing through those scenes. Mostly the episode just made me quite sad that two characters with such amazing chemistry are being wasted with this mess.
I think it was supposed to be painful to watch. I also don’t think Brennan is near as clueless about relationships as she lets on. I think she is trying to protect herself from getting hurt. She is trying to show she doesn’t want a more than friend’s relationship with Booth, by taking up with his boss, but she’s going to be surprised how it will bother her seeing Booth trying to move on. I also think she will be surprised how unfulfilling this new relationship with Booth’s boss is.
Loved Booth being appreciated by a women this episode. He’s a catch and she recognized him as such. They were cute together.
Loved that Catherine showed how much she liked our man Booth. He needed that. And I loved how flirty he was with her. It was good to see him happy.
Rena should come back. I really liked her character. And the sweet chemistry she had with Booth. And loving flirty Booth too. Glad that he is trying to move on. Brennan’s loss. Her big loss
Catherine is a relatively realistic character (for TV). Brennen is realistic in the sense of her inteligence and academic priorties, but the level of social unawareness is borderline unbelieveable
Booth broke my heart with the “you are the standard Bones”. He deserves someone so much better than Brennan, who was so unbearable in this epi.
Once again David showed what an amazing actor he is with just a look and he broke my heart again.
Brennan needs to talk to Sweets. That girl aint right. Mental comes to mind
I would have thought she would know about the Rat Pack but be absolutely clueless about the Brat Pack.
I TOTALLY AGREE! It was funny at first that she wouldn’t get some pop references, but sooo often Bones goes into the realm of “cute” and it all becomes too precious and twee, When I feel embarrassed to watch a show, I don’t like it.
And note to producers: when I feel embarrassed by scenes like these, I don’t recommend the show to friends.
I’m sure Bones and Fox will miss all three of you.
Naughty!
I loved the episode…thought the awkwardness between B&B was
present, but I think that was the point. I am hopeful that this
will just be “the realization” Brennan needs to take a risk
and decide to give it a chance with Booth. I cannot wait until
next week with the return of, as Booth called it “our song”, Hot
Blooded”!! Love this show…and will stick with it until the
very end. And, can honestly say, I have no idea where they are
going to go with this for the finale. 4 more episodes to go!!!
I loved the way Booth was all concerned while Brennan was in the tank. Very sweet. And David’s line reading of “Bones, you are the standard” was swoon-inducing.
Two of my faves from this week!
one of those “rewind the DVR and re-watch it for the faces” moments.
I LOVED that scene.
(as much as I hate to admit this, because I’m starting to resent Rena Sofer as a meddling guest star) I liked her self-assured aggression in asking Booth out… and her joke with Booth.
Still don’t like the Brennan FBI director pairing. he’s WAY too goofy for her – her past boyfriends/sexual conquests have been handsome, funny, “symmetrical” men.
Jess,
I don’t like the Brennan/FBI director pairing either, there is no chemistry between the characters which makes it non believable. Does anyone else find Hacker’s lack of facial symmetry distracting!
“Bones, you are the standard” comment=pretty much the best line ever.
Who could resist that?!?
I agree, that was the best line ever. And the way he said it-he’s just so into her but not overly so where he looks whipped. David Boreanz plays that so well!
It was the best line of the night, but also made my heart break for Booth.
ITA BOOTH MADE IT clear bren is irrplaceable there are meant to be.bren is just scared now but i thinkshe knows deep down booth is the only one that makes her happy!!and booth knows too hes face says it all how it pains him not to be with bren,but i think brern will realize booth is THE ONE!!!!
Brennan doesn’t own a tv…
I liked the episode, and I like to think that Brennan was just a little bit jealous when Booth started talking about having a date. But, yes, Angela and Hodgins need to get back together now – thanks, Mandi, for another great recap.
As a fan I mostly accept the way the characters are portrayed, although I have to admit Angela was starting to annoy me. Brennan is a very specific character-her super-intelligence, lack of social skills and traumatic past ensure that. I like that are dating others and I believe they are
heading in the right direction, and I don’t mind how long it takes to get there. Everything that has happened and will happen will only make their wonderful and unique relationship stronger. I also saw the ‘bad teacher’ immediately.
like that THEY are dating others…
I enjoyed the episode the mystery was fun and I didn’t have it all figured out right away. Knowing a “red snapper” by scrapes on a bone though? Um…whatever. Our site does recaps of Happy Town, Bones and Supernatural if anybody wants to say hello at Mile High Horror.
i do believe that there are a lot of people out there that do not have tvs or follow popculture through blogs and magazine. It’s all a matter of what interests them. And if your circle of friends consist of the same kind of people, which should certain movies or tv programs come up?
Rena Sofer is easily one of the most beautiful women on TV and beyond. I hope this is a recurring role for her.
Ugh, please NO!
MUCH MUCH better than last weeks too over the top grasp at humor. Finally getting back in the BONES swing… I like they are moving on, I find the charactor of Booth’s boss a little too corn ball and way less attractive. But, I’m also used to him from Drew Carey’s show as a doof. I dont, and never have liked Angela’s annoying charactor, but her and Hodgins (SO VERY HOT) need too and should get back together this season. I can wait a bit longer for B&B to finally connect. Anyhow, good episode, some of the fish stuff was far fetched, but- when is it not?