Home‘Bones’: Oh, Happy Day
May 6, 2008, 11:35 AM | by Abby West
Categories: 'Bones', Mini TV Watch, Television
Okay, let's just get this out of the way: I cried during this episode. I know, I know. We're all aware this show is all about the chemistry between Booth and Brennan (pictured; just see Mandi's post on the subject for a refresher) but it was all dialed up to 11 last night during the trial of Brennan's father, Max Keenan (Ryan O'Neal), for killing the FBI director who was stalking his children. The case, with it's own ups and downs that kept you unsure of whether Max would go free, ended up spotlighting Booth and Brennan's special connection in unique and touching ways. By the time her father was released, it was fitting that Booth was hugging her other man outside while waiting to hear the verdict.
What made the show so much better was that they weren't limited to the really heavy emotions but were able to be playful and light with one another and show how in sync they are, like Booth telling Special Prosecutor Caroline Julian that he didn't mind Brennan laughing herself to tears at his hypothesis for the oddly positioned skeleton in the beginning of the episode, or their teasing of Sweets when he asked to continue meeting with them. (The two of them singing "He really liiiikes us" in unison was genius.)
Brennan had such a difficult time reconciling her emotional desire to see her father go free with her rational belief that what she does is put bad guys away, no matter who they are. "This is very confusing for me," she said. No kidding. Booth had to explain that sometimes, you have to put the brain away and pop the heart into overdrive. Of course he then proceeded to vroom, vroom the rest of his analogy, prompting an even more confused look from Brennan, followed by a loving stare when she said, "Sometimes, I think you're very nice." Those long looks they share are a thing of beauty. From the simple (his look when she said he's the person she talks to "about things like this" while formulating her reasonable doubt scenario) to the intense (again, his look while explaining under oath that Brennan is not capable of murder), they convey so much about their feelings for one another without becoming too heavy-handed. And that hug at the end... No hesitation on her part. And he knew to go looking for her when the verdict was coming in.
I can't always decide if Angela's "insight" is really Brennan as she is or a more emotional, Angela-like version, but the artist's decision not to testify and help send her best friend's father to the electric chair (it's actually lethal injection) made complete sense to me. But I would think there would be some long-term ramification for Angela, and she wouldn't be standing outside of the courthouse with everyone else at the conclusion of the trial. Aw, I've watched way too many Law & Orders. But it was a great callback to have Dr. Clark Edison (Eugene Byrd), who was kicked to the curb when Zack returned from Iraq, be the defense forensic anthropologist. And having him catch Zack, his nemesis, in a mistake was even better. And it goes without saying that it was a treat to see Ernie Hudson as the defense attorney.
O'Neal more than lived up to my hopes for him on the show with his portrayal of a man who did what he thought was right, with no room for remorse. That included his staying to stand trial so as not to further abandon his daughter. When he told her that he'd do it all again just to spend that time with each other, my heart broke for Brennan.
Were the rest of the crew wrong to testify? Do you think that Sweets was way off base to think that Brennan's hyperrationalization meant she could be capable of such a murder? Who do you think is getting shot next week? And does anyone know the title of the song that played at the end of the episode this week?
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