Re: The Inkslingers - The Season 5 Showdown!

by DBCrazy Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:29 pm

Thnx4theGum wrote:Hand-holding, looks, Booth on twins, girl fight, save the world vs friend happiness, tie, brown sugar, GAH....SO MUCH TONIGHT!!!!! (seen it twice so far)
guess they're rewatching since the links didn't come down from the North last night

Haha! I imagine they've watched it a couple times, plus Fringe, plus having to deal with getting back in the swing of things after a couple weeks off. I just got finished watching it again myself!

by dawnsfire Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:32 pm

Tough Man in the Tender Chicken

Yay! We’re back! And all I can say is “Holy Mother of Fangirls!”*
**fans self over B&B scenes**

I enjoyed the whole comic book/sci fi references in the beginning--that would have been so much fun to pursue that further. Too X-Files-ish, I suppose. When I saw the promos, I was thinking comic books--Captain America, for example. It was supposedly LSD in the original comic, I’ve been reliably informed, so based on the discussion, they might not have moved on from chemical alterations. But I digress.
Great episode!

*quote from the web comic The Devil’s Panties

Case
Dead man found in the river by a bunch of Girl Scout wanna-bees. All evidence properly collected, detailed, labeled, etc. Pretty impressive for a bunch of, what, 10 year olds? Should we expect to see one or two of them applying for a position at the Jeffersonian in about 8-10 years as another of the freakishly intelligent interns?
Proper red herrings, too--military experiment, mob angle (though that never went anywhere), different people at the plant.
I get so caught up in some aspects I miss others--did they ever explain why the guard cut off the fingers and toes? Or threw them in with the nuggets?

Characters
Brennan--typical from the beginning. Total commitment to the truth and precision, regardless of others’ feelings or motives. She'll feel sorry she hurt them, but still doesn't quite get it. Take the way she praises the Woodchucks for thoroughness, but then flattens them by stating the fact that they shouldn’t have interfered. It’s a little like when she corrected (for example) Russ about Burma/Myanmar or Booth about Addis Ababa back in Santa in the Slush. Truth above all. Always. Like Sweets said, she tries to overlay a web of rationality over everything. Not a new concept, to be sure, but what is new is that she begins to truly understand, even embrace, the value of irrationality, spontaneity.
I found it interesting that Angela says she’s vegetarian out of health reasons, when her initial statement about considering it came after seeing how pigs were slaughtered (if not in a factory farm). Maybe that’s why Angela picked a pig--she knows of Brennan’s affinity. Which was severely played down--have they forgotten about Jasper?
And just because I have been harping on it, I will mention her wardrobe was not so off tonight. I’ll lay off on that subject for a while unless there’s something worthy of mention.
She has been spending a lot of time with Booth--and if you need further proof, please note what she did in Sweets’ office. She picked up one of those toys and began playing with it. Just like Booth. (I think it was a chicken, too… Rolling Eyes

)

Booth--He certainly seemed to be on the ball, but at the end, his gut was wrong and it bothers him. Which I can understand. That’s so much a part of who he is and how he does his job. He may have been just as bothered by Brennan calling him on it, though. I was thinking, though--is it possible that on some level, Booth was connecting with the guard too much, even though they were very different people? I mean, the guy had a valid reason for anger. The most disturbing part of it is, of course, that it was the actual perpetrator he misread. On the other hand, he was the second person to catch Wendell and Angela, so he hasn’t lost all of it.
Which leads into the first reference to his recovery in at least three episodes. I’ve been pleased that they haven’t bludgeoned us with it, and his concerns also provide a jumping point for some of the other spoilers for upcoming epis. That doesn’t happen too often, bridging between episodes like that…hmmm. (all right, locking down here before I say something I shouldn’t)
Anyway, he’s still got memory gaps, some of them at pretty fundamental levels (brown sugar). Has he told anyone else besides Brennan? Has he even mentioned it to her before this?
Another thing--Booth’s rage/anger issues. Have we seen him get really angry so far this season? I mean, they dumped corn syrup and paper feathers on the two of them and he just smiles. Not like he’s really amused, of course, but there should have been more. Brennan was certainly expecting more reaction--couple times during that scene, she looked the way she did when he shot the clown’s head.

Angela--She was so asking Hodgins to help her break her celibacy (which should have been over last week, by my calculations). I don’t know if Sweets was right about her rechannelling her passions. I recall Booth saying something about her (unlike the rest of them) liking things like dancing on bars and baby animals…so she’s always been that way a little. And she’s still a creature of impulse. She may have planned to ask Hodgins, but that kiss she laid on Wendell was straight out of the blue, probably intended to be a token of gratitude, but it went further. I have a few theories about her ties to both men, and will be interested to see which one, if any, play out.
As for the animal issue, I see it partly as an offshoot of her impulsive nature. She has the enthusiasm of any recent convert and therefore has a tendency to bulldoze opposition…which in fairness, she already was like that a little.

Hodgins--nice refusal to Angela. While I like H/A, I’m of the opinion that if she wants to get back together with him, she’s going to have to work for it. And should. On other issues, he’s been pretty good with the scientific aspects of his job all season, and tonight was no exception. Excellent interaction with Brennan at the beginning, as well as the little girls. I’d really like to know what happened while Brennan was gone and Booth was still on medical level, because he hasn’t been this continuously good-humored since…ever, actually. And his conspiracy side is always a pleasure to see, even if someone calls him on it--and Wendell seems to be the right person. He knows more about it than anyone else, enough to have the background and properly debate it. Brennan and Zack just listened; Cam and Angela more less laughed then let it slide, and Booth tended to mock him unless it was useful.

Cam--highly observant tonight since she’s the one who caught Angela and Wendell even before they started acting weird. Of course, then they started, so it was easy--unless you’re Dr Brennan She‘s probably wondering if she’s going to have to start with the threats of cold water again. Otherwise, her usual self. In her own way, she’s as much of a teacher as Brennan, if not certified, the way she leads people to the correct conclusion. And a quirky sense of humor.

(for some reason, I tend to be light on Hodgins and Cam; not sure why… Sorry to their fans.)

Wendell--poor guy; he’s taken Zack’s place in the experiments! But we see how he can bond with many people on the team. He’s Brennan’s intern, so there’s that; he plays hockey with Booth and I suspect his background is not all that different (minus the abuse); he’s willing to experiment with Hodgins and apparently knows about conspiracy theories; Angela--well….yeah, we got that. But, he’s also a (dare I say) sweet and generous man. I don’t know how much the internship pays or where he’s getting money to live on exactly, but for him to boldly state he’s a carnivore but still open his wallet because Angela’s upset and give her what he has…well, let’s just say I could never be that generous.
I also think he might have been attracted before that scene--there was a look he gave her over the skull that made me wonder…

Sweets--despite the fact that he’s no longer their shrink, they still turn to him and he can’t help but interfere. Tries to set right Angela and Brennan, even without having all the details; offers Angela advice on the celibacy issue, jokes about with Booth (oh, he must have been dying inside in the diner--scratch that, he was, given the kick Booth gives him). Also not too bad at drawing conclusions from limited data--working out that Booth dated sisters, why Angela and Brennan fought. The baby duck is slowly growing up--so long as he keeps from asking stupid and inappropriate questions at crime scenes as in the last show.

Random Impressions
All right, now we know about Angela and Wendell and the big fight. Frankly, I thought the fight was a little anticlimactic; we, the fans, certainly were expecting more, something like massive cat-fights, whether verbal or physical. Not that it wasn’t painful for them…just not explosive. “How are we friends?…How is it possible?…We have nothing in common.” Ouch. And Brennan finally having give way (qualified as it was to Booth), which she so rarely does. I was wondering if she gave the entire $1500; that was a checkbook in her hand.

And A&W (I promise, no other root beer references); well, that was impulse and not at all forced in my opinion. They’re both rather jumpy about it, more so than Angela and Hodgins were, back in the day. How long before everyone knows? I actually have no problems with it as it went down; we’ll see what is made of it--maybe in a couple episodes, since Mr Nigel-Murray was shown for next week. That kiss was hot, by the by. Much better than the Sweets/Daisy make-up sex in the Egyptian room, to be sure.

Booth and Brennan--oh my, they are so much more touchy-feely these days. The hands at the diner, her taking off his tie with very little notice, then touching his face. Yes, that was part of her demonstration, but how many times has she actually used Booth in one of those? I can count them on one hand and have fingers left over. And he didn’t want her to leave him at the table at the end when she went to talk to Angela.

I was highly amused that the Jeffersonian sponsors a group much like the Girl Scouts, and that somehow, they all understand the science in that detail. Perhaps they’re connected to those science classes Max is supposed to teach. Although the term Woodchucks seems more male to me…

Excellent use of psychology in the first interview, I thought, and the semi-serious discussion of what animal DNA to combine with human to create a super soldier was funny. Flatworms, indeed!

Some new outdoor shots, plus the garage--that is not the same set as the garage in Aliens. But no one ever said Hodgins and Brennan parked near each other. And anyone else think they were pushing the chants of “Pluck you”? Sounded awfully close at times to “F- you,” in my opinion.

Good
Gorgeous, gorgeous scene in the diner. Grabs her hand automatically when she was upset; “I would do anything for you. I would die for you or kill for you.” *the audience swoons* And the one in the Founding Fathers wasn’t too bad either. I adored the hand to hand touch, the reassurances in the former, the confession, teasing, and reassurances in the latter. “Fastest draw in the west…” How old is that joke? Who cares? She laughed! Definitely trotting down to the public lab and rewatching this one!

Bad
OK, have to question some of the science. Would the sulfur compound really do that to a person? Malform the sinuses that way? Not too mention that he looks like a chicken after working in a chicken plant--seems rather coincidental.
I do feel Brennan should have been a little more agitated about the treatment of the chickens. I appreciate her rational comment about saving an individual animal as being separate, but she still should have been a little more upset at the plant or seeing that footage.

Ugly
I may have to drop the Ugly classification here. I haven’t found anything really drastically terrible beyond the condition of the bodies; and even that wasn’t too drastic tonight.

Hey! Where was the “packing heat” scene from the promos? I will say my rating is based a lot on the personal aspects of the show rather than the case. The case was solid enough, and the main focus, but all the rest? I think we advanced about three steps tonight. Will we be able to keep that? Please, Hart? I’m on my knees here!

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queen

by dawnsfire Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:38 pm

DBCrazy wrote:
Thnx4theGum wrote:Hand-holding, looks, Booth on twins, girl fight, save the world vs friend happiness, tie, brown sugar, GAH....SO MUCH TONIGHT!!!!! (seen it twice so far)
guess they're rewatching since the links didn't come down from the North last night
Haha! I imagine they've watched it a couple times, plus Fringe, plus having to deal with getting back in the swing of things after a couple weeks off. I just got finished watching it again myself!

Not I, I get one go-through on Thursday nights, compliments of one of the absolute last dial-up connections in the States. I can rewatch elsewhere on another day...
The King, on the other hand, is probably on his 5th go-round. Smile

And, yes, I watched Fringe while working on a draft of this. And oh, so many lovely scenes! *sigh* Really going to have to rewatch this one...

queen

by Thnx4theGum Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:48 pm

dawnsfire wrote:
DBCrazy wrote:
Thnx4theGum wrote:Hand-holding, looks, Booth on twins, girl fight, save the world vs friend happiness, tie, brown sugar, GAH....SO MUCH TONIGHT!!!!! (seen it twice so far)
guess they're rewatching since the links didn't come down from the North last night
Haha! I imagine they've watched it a couple times, plus Fringe, plus having to deal with getting back in the swing of things after a couple weeks off. I just got finished watching it again myself!
Not I, I get one go-through on Thursday nights, compliments of one of the absolute last dial-up connections in the States. I can rewatch elsewhere on another day...
The King, on the other hand, is probably on his 5th go-round.

And, yes, I watched Fringe while working on a draft of this. And oh, so many lovely scenes! *sigh* Really going to have to rewatch this one...

It's def worth a 2nd, even 3rd go round. What a Face

Loved your opening line. Nice insights! I'm impressed for only seeing it once. I shall comment more later, after sleep...
Ah, dial-up, I think I'm so spoiled w/cable I wouldn't know what to do with myself Razz

*waves*
I'll be back!
Night!
Gum pirat

by DBCrazy Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:57 pm

Thnx4theGum wrote:
dawnsfire wrote:
DBCrazy wrote:
Thnx4theGum wrote:Hand-holding, looks, Booth on twins, girl fight, save the world vs friend happiness, tie, brown sugar, GAH....SO MUCH TONIGHT!!!!! (seen it twice so far)
guess they're rewatching since the links didn't come down from the North last night
Haha! I imagine they've watched it a couple times, plus Fringe, plus having to deal with getting back in the swing of things after a couple weeks off. I just got finished watching it again myself!
Not I, I get one go-through on Thursday nights, compliments of one of the absolute last dial-up connections in the States. I can rewatch elsewhere on another day...
The King, on the other hand, is probably on his 5th go-round.

And, yes, I watched Fringe while working on a draft of this. And oh, so many lovely scenes! *sigh* Really going to have to rewatch this one...

It's def worth a 2nd, even 3rd go round.
Loved your opening line. Nice insights! I'm impressed for only seeing it once. I shall comment more later, after sleep...
Ah, dial-up, I think I'm so spoiled w/cable I wouldn't know what to do with myself
*waves*
I'll be back!
Night!
Gum

G'night, Gum.

Dawn, I thought for sure you would videotape it so you could rewatch it if needed while you were working it all up!

1 down, 1 to go! I don't want to speak until I've read both reviews.

by THX1138 Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:07 pm

InkSlinger 2 - Season 5, Episode 6

Now with 100% fewer Spoilers!

The Tough Man in the Tender Chicken

I'm late, yes, I also have the flu. 103.2 degree fever, chills, the works. So I had to watch the show in 15 minute increments off my DVR since that's how much I could manage before tossing my cookies. Thankfully the meds kicked in an hour ago so I'm not as sick but side effect - I'm wired. Sucks to be me.

The sixth episode of the season and after three weeks being Bones Free I should be a happy camper, and I am...but I'm not. now why would that be? Because my first reaction to this was that it constituted a poorly disguised PETA fund raising commercial, and was only incidentally related to Bones. Okay, too harsh I know but that was my opening thought and it tainted the viewing. The one saving grace was that Emily's Brennan remained rational instead of becoming a bleeding heart activist, that job fell to Michaela's Angela. I should be happy because honestly had they gone the route of making Brennan the activist then the show would have lost all credibility and we'd never again be able to say what are the character's beliefs and what are Emily's beliefs. So at least Brennan remains a rational empiricist. When shows go down this road, pushing a political or social agenda on the show the writers often attempt to use elements of the story to capitalize on the stars' politics or beliefs. Next time don't they get the urge to do that I wish they would just say no.

Now on with the review...

The Case
When the Woodchucks, a science oriented girl scout-style organization sponsored by the Jeffersonian, find the mutilated remains of Nick Rabin, the manager of a factory chicken farm. The suspects include Josh Parsons (The Activist), Roy Meyers (The Baker), and Gina McNamara (The De-Beaker). The victim had his neck wrung, his fingers and toes cut off, his head beaten, and was dumped in the river. It turns out that everyone had a reason to desire the man's demise, but in the end it was...the security guard John Collins. Wait, what? When in the hell did he become a suspect? Well we can blame that on the forensics. Yes the evidence and the science led us there so even though they pulled him into the mix with just ten minutes left in the show he's not another "nameless burglar", he's been hiding in plain sight and it took the Jeffersonian's expertise to find him so we got an interview.

The Characters
There was a lot of character interaction here, a lot to build on and a lot of development that begs dissection so let's get to it.

Angela - Wow, where to begin? Well she's the star of this week's squintory which tells me that it's not just the squinterns that get a shot at a subplot. Also there's the obvious "moment" in the show - Angela calling Brennan 'cold' and wondering aloud how they could be friends? Given the nature of the argument Angela's reaction was beyond overdone. Such callous disregard for Brennan's feelings and her own over emotional state given Brennan's refusal to help save the piglet make me question just how far apart the two have drifted since Angela and Hodgins got together in late S2. S1/S2 Angela would NEVER have said those things to Brennan, she'd have been sad and used guilt, not lash out. Sweets was right, it was past time for Angela to abandon celibacy. She needs to get laid in the worst way possible because she was/is becoming a real bitch. Seriously, she's Brennan's best and oldest friend, and yet she had the gall to attack Brennan's basic humanity? Sadly what we get a glimpse of here is something I've felt from Angela since the end of the second season. Her friendship with Brennan is predicated on the belief that she, Angela, is in charge. Brennan is a genius but Angela is the one who understands emotions and that means that when it counts Angela is the one who calls the shots. Booth coming into Brennan's life means that Brennan is no longer solely dependent on Angela for that support and I think on some level Angela resents that. Brennan's refusal to fall into line and do what Ange wants in this instance provokes an instant and predictable reaction, one you could expect to see from someone who feels as if they're position/prominence in a relationship is slipping - she attacks her friend in the most personal and hurtful way possible. This is NOT a healthy friendship and I wonder if it's ever really been one. Angela asks a valid question, how did they ever become friends? Honestly after that exchange I asked myself the same question.

Hodgins - Conspiracy nuts of the world unite! Okay, once we get past Hodgins' cursory forays into conspiracy theorizing the man was great this episode. His dismissing of Angela when she mentioned she'd been celibate for 5½ months, the way he laughed off her assurance that she wasn't seeking him out to be the one that ended her "Dry Spell", shows that not only is Hodgins understands that it would only be a fling for her, and he wants more than a fling - sorry Hodgela fans but I think Jack has moved on. He'll always love her, she'll always be the one that got away, but I think it's over for them. Can we say...Haroyan? Or how about Jam? yeah, Loves me some Jam Very Happy

Cam - Cam is as sharp as Booth when it comes to reading her people, and her comments with Angela and Wendell, then Wendell and Jack, were just too funny. Ever the consummate professional you can tell Cam is worried about Angela and Wendell becoming a replay of Angela and Jack, even though Wendell is probably more emotionally and sexually mature than his age would indicate my bet is that if anyone gets hurt when Angela and Wendell break up it's Angela.

Sweets - Sweets was the man here, his integration into the team complete, it was interesting to see how he played "Good Cop" to Booth's "Bad Cop" in interrogation, and how effective the two were. Also the scene between Booth and Sweets in the diner was very much a 'bonding moment' between the young psychologist and the older agent. Sweets genuinely sees Booth as a surrogate older brother, and his advice to Brennan was heartfelt and exactly what I'd expect to hear from Booth. Also his understanding of what was driving Angela's emotionalism was spot on and so insightful that Angela's immediate and negative reaction was confirmation of just how right he was. More of this Sweets please.

Wendell Bray - Wendell is my favorite Squintern. He's a regular guy, like Booth. He's a scientist with a sense of both humor and wonder, like Hodgins. He's insightful and emotive like Angela, and he's got that brusque, working-class thing going for him like Cam (she's from Brooklyn you know). Anyway Wendell is so thoroughly integrated into the team now that it's hard to see Brennan pick anyone other than him as her squintern.

Booth - This was interesting, definitely Booth 2.0 but more vulnerable - he still has doubts, he still feels as if he's not 100%. While I liked seeing his part of things, and we're seeing that a lot more lately, Booth doing his cop-side of the investigation - making calls, digging for evidence that's not forensic - there was something about the end scene where he can't tell the guy is lying that just rang hollow to me. Booth's gut is wrong? That's like saying Brennan's forensic evidence was wrong, it just doens't compute. The man reads people, it's what he does, it's his raison d'être, so having him fumble the ball like that? That's huge. I mean the guy was NOT that good a liar, and yet Booth can't read him? It bothers me, this degree of vulnerability in Booth this late in the game. He is supposed to be back at 100% but there are still gaps and that has the feel of an artificial 'road block', a HH maneuver to justify B&B holding off on furthering their relationship. I mean if Booth isn't 100% how can he declare his love for Brennan? Also the end scene between Booth & Brennan at the Founding Fathers feels forced to me, totally unlike the scene between them in the diner. Although I love how Brennan laughed and was openly emotive with him, compare and contrast her behaviour with Booth and Hacker, with Hacker it was as if she was trying too hard, forcing herself, but with Booth it seemed natural. How DB can mix vulnerability with his character's definite edgey quailites is what makes him Booth, but I hope this is just a blip on the radar, and not an iceberg coming down the pipe.

Brennan - Brennan was wonderful in this episode, true to her characer in a way that you rarely see in a series where they do a show like this and Emily playing a sad, conflicted Brennan was touching and effective. The woman has acting chops and her Brennan was fantastic here. I am heartened by the fact that her character has maintained some emotional maturity and stability, as well as remaining intellectually consistent. Having Brennan remain her rational self and give that speech to Angela, pointing out the pointless and purely symbolic nature of 'saving the pig', only serves to reinforce those traits we most associate with her character. She's an evidence speaks, truth is paramount, rationalism over emotionalism kinda gal. Honestly this portrayal only makes me love her character more. It would have been a sellout for her to fold immediately and support Angela, further the fact that Sweets has to phrase it in such a way that she compromises for Angela, because their friendship is important, that rings true.

Brennan's interaction with Booth was also another positive step forward in their pseudo relationship. They were tactile, holding hands, patting hands, and more. The scene where she undid Booth's tie was particularly intimate and the fact that they were both so comfortable with that degree of contact in public, in the Lab, speaks volumes as to how fart they've come. Even the end scene, though I felt it was fake in many respects, showed her personal growth and the growth of her faith/trust in Booth. She's become so much better at reading his queues, knowing him, his tells, when he needs her support, and more, now she knows how to support him. She asks his advice to show she values him, that she needs him, and it's just what he needs to restore his flagging confidence. The Brennan of the last four seasons would never have done that. Progress indeed. Now KISS ALREADY!

The Intangibles
Costuming was great. Loved Brennan's outfits. Welcome back slacks and sweaters! Also pony tails outside the lab? Yes! Emily looked good this episode, damn good, and it was nice to see her dressed more like herself from the first two seasons. Nothing but skirts was getting old, as enjoyable as it was for me, still, old. Cam looked good, as always, loved the sweater in the first half and the dress she wore in the second - Tamara always looks good in a dress. Also for the first time in this season we have an entire episode where they don't dress Angela like a hooker! I'll let the fact that Wendell sleeps with her after he gives her $45 totally slide. Oh, and Wendell and Hodgins dressing alike? Too funny. It simply underscores how close those two have become, as well as the inherent dangers of Wendell dating Angela. Also, Booth at the Founding Fathers? DB cuts a suit like no one's business but I always admire his casual clothes the most - our tastes run the same in that area and the wardrobe folks do an outstanding job with him.

Scene of Note
The fight scene. Wow. When Angela fights she fights dirty, no prisoners, scorched earth. not pretty but definitely a scene of note.

The Diner scene with Booth, Brennan and Sweets. Booth & Brennan's interaction was touching, sweet and fluffy. Sweets and Booth's interaction afterwards, talking about the time Booth dated two twins, that was men bonding baby! Loved it!

Quotable Quotes
Hodgins: What I want to know is why they aren't all freaked out and getting trauma counceling?
Cam: Because they are the type of children who idolize Dr Brennan.

Brennan: Their moods are Capricious.
Cam: You couldn't just let them have that one. Let it go by.
Brennan: But then they'd never learn.

Cam: Do not tell me we're back to super chicken soldier again.

Booth: You know if you're locked up who's gonna speak for the chickens, huh pal?

Booth: Listen Bones, I would do anything for you. I would kill for you, I would die for you, okay? But I won't get between two friends.

Brennan: I'm just not used to not getting along with people.
Sweets: Seriously? Because it seems like... *THUMP*

Cam: Yeah, I don't twirl the interns.

Fun Facts
Hydrogen Sulfide has NO utility in suspended animation vis-à-vis cryogenics. What the writers were shooting for and missed was Dimethyl Sulfoxide, or DMSO. A well known cryoprotectant that has been used experimentally in conjuction with Ethelyne Glycol to arrest cell degeneration in the body during freezing.

We have an X-Files tie in. Brennan's 'Flat Worm' super soldier concept was first broached in the X-Files episode "The Host" with Flukeman, hands down one of the nastiest concepts for a monster/villain in the show's history. Mulder and Scully are alive and well in Booth & Brennan.

DARPA is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. A federal agency attached to the department of defense DARPA funded projects have a 95% failure rate but the 5% that succeed are the stuff of science fiction folks. Really, really cool stuff.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The GOOD - The diner scene between Booth & Brennan, it was touching, poignant, and everything good quality fluff should be. Also Booth & Sweets bonding, first in the Interogation Room then in the diner, it's nice to see Booth toss the kid a bone and treat him more like a friend than an adversary.

The BAD - The whole factory farming, PETA friendly, meat is murder story line. These are serious issues to a lot of people and the show handled them badly. The activists were a lot tamer than the ones I've encountered, far less physically confrontational (I'll tell you the story of how I got six stiches from 'pacifist' anti-hunting activist some time), the factory farm was a lot nicer than the ones I've seen, the employees were universally sullen drones, the owners of the facility never had their 'day in court', the third party's perspective (Meyer) was effectively reduced to a commercial interest, and despite my disagreeing with them, the activists own beliefs were given short shrift and glossed over with only a patina of genuine concern being shown. Angela's sudden conversion to animal activist is believable, but so overdone it's almost laughable.

The UGLY - Angela and Brennan's fight. Angela calling Brennan cold? Questioning how they could be friends? This is a woman who's very insecure when it comes to her relationships and, if one includes Booth, has exactly two close longterm friends. In one fell swoop Angela undecut years of trust she'd banked with Brennan, who honestly now has only one person who's never willingly betrayed her friendship.

A somewhat enjoyable episode despite the political mishmash tossed in throughout. Personally Angela's change of character is the most intruiging thing to happen this season, but it just doesn't seem like Angela is, well, Angela anymore. HH should have really taken a second look at this script and gone fore something a little less flippant, a little more serious when it comes to dealing with both sides of the political story. I fet the Squnitory was a distraction and forced, although I loved the quality fluff it afforded us between B&B and Angela/Wendell, it could have been handled much better.

For the Story Strength and Case Work I give it a solid:
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Continuity was good with no major errors:
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For overall watchability I give it a sub-par:
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Look, if you're going to hijack our favorite TV show to try and force feed us socio-political tripe at least do us the courtesy of being clever about it. Hanson and company were is about as subtle as a well aimed half brick and they should be ashamed of what they've done here.

king

RM

by DBCrazy Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:19 pm

I'm at a loss as to what to say here. I really enjoy reading these. I see some things that you say, some I didn't catch at all. I agree with some things and others I don't. No wonder you can't please all the people all the time!

I'm going to hold off any particulars until I've had some more time to cogitate. I have made a decision though. Next week I'm going to watch the show myself and come up with my own review so that I'll know how the show affected me, before anyone else's opinions get ahold of me. Write it down, commit to what I think about it, instead of waiting to read y'all and see how my ideas fit or don't fit. I'm curious what will surface if I spend the energy to actually make myself think about it, instead of just entertaining myself with it. Not that I'm going to post or anything though!

I've got to get up early in the morning to do some baking for some hungry boys anyway, so I'll be back while the oven's doing its thing. Thanks, y'all. But it's time for bed now. Tomorrow I'm up early, full day of work, then a 4-hour road trip after that.

by dawnsfire Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:31 pm

Sorry you're sick, Rob--I hope you feel better soon!

And this is interesting--this is the 1st time we've diverged this far in ratings.

THX1138 wrote:The sixth episode of the season and after three weeks being Bones Free I should be a happy camper, and I am...but I'm not. now why would that be? Because my first reaction to this was that it constituted a poorly disguised PETA fund raising commercial, and was only incidentally related to Bones. Okay, too harsh I know but that was my opening thought and it tainted the viewing. The one saving grace was that Emily's Brennan remained rational instead of becoming a bleeding heart activist, that job fell to Michaela's Angela. I should be happy because honestly had they gone the route of making Brennan the activist then the show would have lost all credibility and we'd never again be able to say what are the character's beliefs and what are Emily's beliefs. So at least Brennan remains a rational empiricist. When shows go down this road, pushing a political or social agenda on the show the writers often attempt to use elements of the story to capitalize on the stars' politics or beliefs. Next time don't they get the urge to do that I wish they would just say no.

See, I didn't pick up the same heavy-handedness. I knew it was coming, and figured ED had a hand in it, due to her personal beliefs. It didn't strike me as much stronger than the S1 episodes about war or the death penalty. And in those, the characters were stating what were obviously long-held opinions, whereas Angela was a new convert. Hence her dwelling on the footage from inside the plant. I've seen people do this on other topics.
I agree that making Brennan the heavy here would have been bad, and her reaction was perfectly in character. She strikes me as the kind who checks over any charity to see where the money goes, to make sure most of it goes to those it's supposed to help. She's probably looked into the animal sponsorship already.
But I think they also mishandled her vegetarianism--I doubt it was strictly health reasons, given her reaction to the weapon in Woman in Limbo and her speech in Death in the Saddle, not to mention her previous affection for pigs as found in The Blonde in the Game. Don't they have a show bible?

...the security guard John Collins. Wait, what? When in the hell did he become a suspect? Well we can blame that on the forensics. Yes the evidence and the science led us there so even though they pulled him into the mix with just ten minutes left in the show he's not another "nameless burglar", he's been hiding in plain sight and it took the Jeffersonian's expertise to find him so we got an interview.

Exactly. Wasn't disappointed at all.

Angela calling Brennan 'cold' and wondering aloud how they could be friends? Given the nature of the argument Angela's reaction was beyond overdone. Such callous disregard for Brennan's feelings and her own over emotional state given Brennan's refusal to help save the piglet make me question just how far apart the two have drifted since Angela and Hodgins got together in late S2. S1/S2 Angela would NEVER have said those things to Brennan, she'd have been sad and used guilt, not lash out. Sweets was right, it was past time for Angela to abandon celibacy. She needs to get laid in the worst way possible because she was/is becoming a real bitch. Seriously, she's Brennan's best and oldest friend, and yet she had the gall to attack Brennan's basic humanity? Sadly what we get a glimpse of here is something I've felt from Angela since the end of the second season. Her friendship with Brennan is predicated on the belief that she, Angela, is in charge. Brennan is a genius but Angela is the one who understands emotions and that means that when it counts Angela is the one who calls the shots. Booth coming into Brennan's life means that Brennan is no longer solely dependent on Angela for that support and I think on some level Angela resents that. Brennan's refusal to fall into line and do what Ange wants in this instance provokes an instant and predictable reaction, one you could expect to see from someone who feels as if they're position/prominence in a relationship is slipping - she attacks her friend in the most personal and hurtful way possible. This is NOT a healthy friendship and I wonder if it's ever really been one. Angela asks a valid question, how did they ever become friends? Honestly after that exchange I asked myself the same question.

This is an interesting perspective and I find it hard to completely disagree. We have seen Angela try to manipulate Brennan around, go out when she's tired or doesn't want to socialize, or to spill about things Brennan doesn't want to discuss--and I don't just mean Booth. Others have noted that Angela can also be as bad as Booth when Brennan flubs a pop culture reference. (Come to think of it, I don't believe there have been any of those so far this season.) And remember what we saw last ep--the stunned look when Brennan got all excited. How has Angela never seen that? Betcha Booth has, or at least a milder form.
Of course, this might leave Brennan without a female friend. That's not too good, either, in my opinion. Everyone should have at least one good friend of their own gender, you know? I doubt the writers are going to make this a permanent split, or even revisit it. No matter how interesting the storyline might be. And it would be interesting to see who takes whose side...

Cam - Cam is as sharp as Booth when it comes to reading her people, and her comments with Angela and Wendell, then Wendell and Jack, were just too funny. Ever the consummate professional you can tell Cam is worried about Angela and Wendell becoming a replay of Angela and Jack, even though Wendell is probably more emotionally and sexually mature than his age would indicate my bet is that if anyone gets hurt when Angela and Wendell break up it's Angela.

Agree completely.

Sweets - Sweets was the man here, his integration into the team complete, it was interesting to see how he played "Good Cop" to Booth's "Bad Cop" in interrogation, and how effective the two were. Also the scene between Booth and Sweets in the diner was very much a 'bonding moment' between the young psychologist and the older agent. Sweets genuinely sees Booth as a surrogate older brother, and his advice to Brennan was heartfelt and exactly what I'd expect to hear from Booth. Also his understanding of what was driving Angela's emotionalism was spot on and so insightful that Angela's immediate and negative reaction was confirmation of just how right he was. More of this Sweets please.

Didn't catch they were playing GC/BC exactly until you said it, but Sweets oh so blandly mentioning the punishment for assaulting a federal officer was priceless.

Wendell Bray - Wendell is my favorite Squintern. He's a regular guy, like Booth. He's a scientist with a sense of both humor and wonder, like Hodgins. He's insightful and emotive like Angela, and he's got that brusque, working-class thing going for him like Cam (she's from Brooklyn you know). Anyway Wendell is so thoroughly integrated into the team now that it's hard to see Brennan pick anyone other than him as her squintern.

Mine, too. Though I would say his background is a lot like Booth's, too--on a socio-economic level, anyway.

Booth - This was interesting, definitely Booth 2.0 but more vulnerable - he still has doubts, he still feels as if he's not 100%. While I liked seeing his part of things, and we're seeing that a lot more lately, Booth doing his cop-side of the investigation - making calls, digging for evidence that's not forensic - there was something about the end scene where he can't tell the guy is lying that just rang hollow to me. Booth's gut is wrong? That's like saying Brennan's forensic evidence was wrong, it just doens't compute. The man reads people, it's what he does, it's his raison d'être, so having him fumble the ball like that? That's huge. I mean the guy was NOT that good a liar, and yet Booth can't read him? It bothers me, this degree of vulnerability in Booth this late in the game.

I wish we had more of a timeframe or sense of real time. We don't know how much time passes between cases, no matter that they run every week (approximately). Summer break for us was 3 months, but it was only supposed to be half that time on the show. I would agree, though, that some of those issues (depending on how much time has passed on the show) should be earlier ones, like the brown sugar thing and the gut, not to mention those spoilers for next time. I think you read them, Rob. Maybe these two should have run before NatBM? Let me know next week!

He is supposed to be back at 100% but there are still gaps and that has the feel of an artificial 'road block', a HH maneuver to justify B&B holding off on furthering their relationship. I mean if Booth isn't 100% how can he declare his love for Brennan?

Certainly she won't believe it if he's still fumbling to re-establish himself.

Having Brennan remain her rational self and give that speech to Angela, pointing out the pointless and purely symbolic nature of 'saving the pig', only serves to reinforce those traits we most associate with her character. She's an evidence speaks, truth is paramount, rationalism over emotionalism kinda gal. Honestly this portrayal only makes me love her character more. It would have been a sellout for her to fold immediately and support Angela, further the fact that Sweets has to phrase it in such a way that she compromises for Angela, because their friendship is important, that rings true.

Like I said, when talking to Booth at the end, she still didn't just jump up and give in--she qualified it, that she was doing it for their friendship, no matter how irrational it was. Of course, decision made, she immediately executed it, and we don't know what she said to Angela at the bar. But for all her other faults (and we've really been picking on her this season), Angela forgives quickly. So all is glossed over--for now, if you're right.

Brennan's interaction with Booth was also another positive step forward in their pseudo relationship. They were tactile, holding hands, patting hands, and more. The scene where she undid Booth's tie was particularly intimate and the fact that they were both so comfortable with that degree of contact in public, in the Lab, speaks volumes as to how fart they've come. Even the end scene, though I felt it was fake in many respects, showed her personal growth and the growth of her faith/trust in Booth. She's become so much better at reading his queues, knowing him, his tells, when he needs her support, and more, now she knows how to support him. She asks his advice to show she values him, that she needs him, and it's just what he needs to restore his flagging confidence. The Brennan of the last four seasons would never have done that. Progress indeed. Now KISS ALREADY!

Amen, brother!

The Diner scene with Booth, Brennan and Sweets. Booth & Brennan's interaction was touching, sweet and fluffy. Sweets and Booth's interaction afterwards, talking about the time Booth dated two twins, that was men bonding baby! Loved it!

Me too! The diner scene is one I'm going to rewatch as long as I possibly can and next year, going to wear the DVD out.

Quotable Quotes
Hodgins: What I want to know is why they aren't all freaked out and getting trauma counceling?
Cam: Because they are the type of children who idolize Dr Brennan.

Brennan: Their moods are Capricious.
Cam: You couldn't just let them have that one. Let it go by.
Brennan: But then they'd never learn.

Cam: Do not tell me we're back to super chicken soldier again.

Booth: You know if you're locked up who's gonna speak for the chickens, huh pal?

Booth: Listen Bones, I would do anything for you. I would kill for you, I would die for you, okay? But I won't get between two friends.

Brennan: I'm just not used to not getting along with people.
Sweets: Seriously? Because it seems like... *THUMP*

Cam: Yeah, I don't twirl the interns.

You always pick out the best quotes...

A somewhat enjoyable episode despite the political mishmash tossed in throughout. Personally Angela's change of character is the most intruiging thing to happen this season, but it just doesn't seem like Angela is, well, Angela anymore. HH should have really taken a second look at this script and gone fore something a little less flippant, a little more serious when it comes to dealing with both sides of the political story. I fet the Squnitory was a distraction and forced, although I loved the quality fluff it afforded us between B&B and Angela/Wendell, it could have been handled much better.

Yeah, I have my doubts a period of celibacy would produce such drastic results--thought that even last season, when she was making passes at Clark. Some changes, sure, but that? I don't know. On the other hand, I don't know anyone who made such a change--everyone I know who is willing to talk about their sex lives have found a level they're comfortable with, whether it's regular or infrequent.

queen

by DBCrazy Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:31 am

So the morning didn't turn out like it was supposed to, but I did get a little started.

Boiling down everything I watched and read from both of you, I come up with two, maybe three things I want to say. The fight between Angela and Brennan, Angela and Wendell coming together, and Booth's reaction to his inability to read the guy's lie.

I hadn't gotten into Spoilers too much, so I wasn't really expecting a whole lot from Angela's & Brennan's fight. I didn't get too bent about what Ange said, especially when Brennan handled it so well. It seemed more like she was frustrated and blowing off steam more than it seemed like it was intended to cut to the quick. My reaction was probably about like Dawn's, but then reading Robert's take on it ... now we're in a whole new ballpark! That's a male perspective that intrigues me, even if being male has nothing to do with it! It also provides a glimpse into how writers create stories.

I'm right there with you through the whole dissection about what's going on, until Angela IS the bad guy. I can't go there. I got it that she's wrapped up in the moment, she's cranky, she's being a bitch, and I'll even follow you through she's losing her control over Brennan and that this is an unhealthy relationship. That's where I stop. My take on it, after trying on what fits for me, is that she needs to find her own two feet to stand on. She's been relying on her Brennan's best friend status for too long and now she needs to find herself - isn't that some of what this celibacy thing was supposed to help her do - learn to interact with people on a different level? And she's handled Brennan's abandonment issues for longer than anyone else. It may be a mark of my own heartlessness at times, but I think that we all fall prey to indulging our lesser angels - that's why losing control is so dangerous. The test of friendship isn't whether or not the other person will ever hurt you, but I think it is whether or not you can both overcome the fallout and grow stronger in spite of it. I know that sounds bad, but it feels true to me. Angela hasn't abandoned Brennan, even if she might be a little worse for the wear, and honestly I think Brennan stood up to the situation well, which if nothing else shows how she is becoming stronger in her own right. She's upset, but she's not falling apart.

And, Why are they friends?? Maybe they just ARE, maybe it's been a symbiotic relationship on both parts all along, and then again maybe they're about to find out...

I do think that Brennan didn't tackle this fight on her own. Maybe she would have, but Sweets is the one that brought her back to it, she didn't go seeking him out. I loved Sweets' poetic description of Brennan's way of dealing with the world around her! "Gossamer" is a beautiful word. Brennan did finally come around to seeing a bit more of the world through Angela's eyes, and those around her helped her do that. Now the question is, from a continuity standpoint, will the writers have Angela grow from here also? She has amends to make too.

Okay, I said two or three things, but I'm way over budget already, and I doubt anyone is still reading so ... I'm outta here!

Oh, one last thing that totally cracked me up!

Also for the first time in this season we have an entire episode where they don't dress Angela like a hooker! I'll let the fact that Wendell sleeps with her after he gives her $45 totally slide.

Somebody needs to turn that into one of those MasterCard "Priceless" commercials!!
lol!

by THX1138 Sat Nov 07, 2009 2:17 am

DBCrazy wrote:So the morning didn't turn out like it was supposed to, but I did get a little started.

Boiling down everything I watched and read from both of you, I come up with two, maybe three things I want to say. The fight between Angela and Brennan, Angela and Wendell coming together, and Booth's reaction to his inability to read the guy's lie.

I hadn't gotten into Spoilers too much, so I wasn't really expecting a whole lot from Angela's & Brennan's fight. I didn't get too bent about what Ange said, especially when Brennan handled it so well. It seemed more like she was frustrated and blowing off steam more than it seemed like it was intended to cut to the quick. My reaction was probably about like Dawn's, but then reading Robert's take on it ... now we're in a whole new ballpark! That's a male perspective that intrigues me, even if being male has nothing to do with it! It also provides a glimpse into how writers create stories.

I think the maleness does have something to do with it because of the differences in how men communicate with one another versus how women do so, as well as the interaction between the sexes. Trust me when I say that my female and male friendships are wildly diveregent in what is discussed as well as the emotions and experiences that are shared. Men tend to communicate in terms of dominance, we have a structure in our relationships - two male best friends will almost always consist of a leader and a follower - an Alpha and a Beta. Women tend to be much more cooperative in their relationships, not that a dominant role isn't evident, but from external observation you all seem to 'share' the role to some degree.

I'm right there with you through the whole dissection about what's going on, until Angela IS the bad guy. I can't go there. I got it that she's wrapped up in the moment, she's cranky, she's being a bitch, and I'll even follow you through she's losing her control over Brennan and that this is an unhealthy relationship. That's where I stop. My take on it, after trying on what fits for me, is that she needs to find her own two feet to stand on. She's been relying on her Brennan's best friend status for too long and now she needs to find herself - isn't that some of what this celibacy thing was supposed to help her do - learn to interact with people on a different level? And she's handled Brennan's abandonment issues for longer than anyone else. It may be a mark of my own heartlessness at times, but I think that we all fall prey to indulging our lesser angels - that's why losing control is so dangerous. The test of friendship isn't whether or not the other person will ever hurt you, but I think it is whether or not you can both overcome the fallout and grow stronger in spite of it. I know that sounds bad, but it feels true to me. Angela hasn't abandoned Brennan, even if she might be a little worse for the wear, and honestly I think Brennan stood up to the situation well, which if nothing else shows how she is becoming stronger in her own right. She's upset, but she's not falling apart.

I think I have problems seeing things in other than black or white with Brennan, and I prefer having someone to blame, hence Angela as the bad guy. But you're right, and I like your explanation better than mine, it certainly helps explain why they were so obviously best friends, really almost sisters, in S1/S2 and now seem to be at a juncture where they aren't sure what they are anymore. I think Sweets celibacy shtick did serve a purpose but we didn't see it come to fruition until piglet came into the scene - granted there were warning signs this was coming, the latter episodes of S4 when we had Angela/Brennan moments at the FF, those scenes frequently ended up with Angela giving Brennan an almost gob smacked look - one in particular, when Brennan commented on how alike they were in their outlook on sex seemed to rock Angela to the core. Perhaps the whole question of "Why" is something that's been on Angela's mind for sometime because her protestations to the contrary she and Brennan do share some common ground in their need and reliance on one another. Also kudos for pointing out how much stronger Brennan is now, I can't imagine a S1 or S2 Brennan handling the fight as easily as she did here.

I would hope that this test of friendship results in a deeper, and better, understanding of who they are to one another. I think Brennan knows who and what Angela means to her, the question is does Angela know who Brennan really is? What she really means to the mecurial and moody artist? If Angela's been the emotional pillar for Brennan for years, then I see Brennan as the anchor that keeps Angela from wandering too far a field. Brennan, without Angela, would be a cold and distant woman whom even Booth would be beggared to reach. Without Brennan I believe Angela would become purposeless, sipmly drifting through life and peoples' lives without ever really making an impact on them. My meds kicked in last night, can you tell? Much less crabby.

And, Why are they friends?? Maybe they just ARE, maybe it's been a symbiotic relationship on both parts all along, and then again maybe they're about to find out...

I love that - they just ARE. It really is that simple sometimes. One of my best friends is someone with whom I've nothing in common except a love of bad cinema (and I mean bad, we bonded over Plan 9 from Outer Space). To the casual observer we've got nothing in common, no reason to be friends, and yet we've been just that for over 20 years. So maybe they just ARE. Love that Sherry, I do.

I do think that Brennan didn't tackle this fight on her own. Maybe she would have, but Sweets is the one that brought her back to it, she didn't go seeking him out. I loved Sweets' poetic description of Brennan's way of dealing with the world around her! "Gossamer" is a beautiful word. Brennan did finally come around to seeing a bit more of the world through Angela's eyes, and those around her helped her do that. Now the question is, from a continuity standpoint, will the writers have Angela grow from here also? She has amends to make too.

I do love the fact that Brennan was willing to consider both Sweets and Booth's input, and I think she'd have made amends with Angela eventually if only because she hates having her best friend angry with her, but the fact that she actively sought out Booth's advice (even if it felt forced to me) shows her own growth as a person. I mean the old Brennan would have resented Booth butting in even as she followed his advice, the new Brennan seeks out his advice and acts on it without complaint. It takes a strong and confident person to do that, and that's what we see in Brennan now. Also I agree, Angela has some 'mea culpas' to say, if only because her reaction was wildly out of whack with the arguement, IMO. It's definitely a growth moment for both women and their relationship. We've seen that Brennan is willing and able to grow, now how about Angela?

Okay, I said two or three things, but I'm way over budget already, and I doubt anyone is still reading so ... I'm outta here!

Oh, one last thing that totally cracked me up!
Also for the first time in this season we have an entire episode where they don't dress Angela like a hooker! I'll let the fact that Wendell sleeps with her after he gives her $45 totally slide.
Somebody needs to turn that into one of those MasterCard "Priceless" commercials!!

Heh, you know I almost cut that out but now I'm glad I left it in!

king

RM

Don't mind me, I'm going to lay down for a bit, cough up a lung and maybe pray for death. You kids have a good time, I'll be fine...

by dawnsfire Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:38 am

DBCrazy wrote:I'm right there with you through the whole dissection about what's going on, until Angela IS the bad guy. I can't go there. I got it that she's wrapped up in the moment, she's cranky, she's being a bitch, and I'll even follow you through she's losing her control over Brennan and that this is an unhealthy relationship. That's where I stop. My take on it, after trying on what fits for me, is that she needs to find her own two feet to stand on. She's been relying on her Brennan's best friend status for too long and now she needs to find herself - isn't that some of what this celibacy thing was supposed to help her do - learn to interact with people on a different level? And she's handled Brennan's abandonment issues for longer than anyone else. It may be a mark of my own heartlessness at times, but I think that we all fall prey to indulging our lesser angels - that's why losing control is so dangerous. The test of friendship isn't whether or not the other person will ever hurt you, but I think it is whether or not you can both overcome the fallout and grow stronger in spite of it. I know that sounds bad, but it feels true to me. Angela hasn't abandoned Brennan, even if she might be a little worse for the wear, and honestly I think Brennan stood up to the situation well, which if nothing else shows how she is becoming stronger in her own right. She's upset, but she's not falling apart.

And, Why are they friends?? Maybe they just ARE, maybe it's been a symbiotic relationship on both parts all along, and then again maybe they're about to find out...

I do think that Brennan didn't tackle this fight on her own. Maybe she would have, but Sweets is the one that brought her back to it, she didn't go seeking him out. I loved Sweets' poetic description of Brennan's way of dealing with the world around her! "Gossamer" is a beautiful word. Brennan did finally come around to seeing a bit more of the world through Angela's eyes, and those around her helped her do that. Now the question is, from a continuity standpoint, will the writers have Angela grow from here also? She has amends to make too.

Very well phrased, Sherry. Maybe it's just basic selfishness and habit that got her. Remember, even Angela once said she was afraid she didn't have a generous heart (tho I believe I laughed at that one). I can't tell how much she may have allowed herself to change; until this ep, everyone's been fairly bouncy. Thing is, we can only go by actions, so she came off poorly, no matter what turmoil is in her heart or brain. Yes, mutual apologies are required, but I'd say more of them are due from Angela.

And it does highlight Brennan's growth immensely. You're both right about that. No way would she have listened to Sweets when he 1st came on the scene, nor Booth, though she was admitting to some reliance on him in S2--Man in the Cell: "Considering the relationship between you and Cam, I’d like to say the right thing, Booth . . . I don’t know what it is. Usually I’d-I’d ask you or Angela."

THX1138 wrote:If Angela's been the emotional pillar for Brennan for years, then I see Brennan as the anchor that keeps Angela from wandering too far a field. Brennan, without Angela, would be a cold and distant woman whom even Booth would be beggared to reach. Without Brennan I believe Angela would become purposeless, sipmly drifting through life and peoples' lives without ever really making an impact on them.

In other words, Brennan would have been Zack, and Angela would have had a lot more than however many address in all those years (I forget the exact number--it's in Woman in the Car: the security review).

I maintain that the chances are low that we will come back to this topic on the show. Kind of a pity, but we can look for it.

queen

And as for taping--well, the VCR died, too... Half the DVDs on my Christmas list are to replace my old tapes!

by Thnx4theGum Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:44 pm

Hmm...I've seen Dwarf 3 times now Smile

Can't wait to hear what you all think...

by SnoopGirl Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:13 pm

Thnx4theGum wrote:Hmm...I've seen Dwarf 3 times now Can't wait to hear what you all think...

One of the best episodes ever!

by Thnx4theGum Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:16 pm

SnoopGirl wrote:
Thnx4theGum wrote:Hmm...I've seen Dwarf 3 times now Can't wait to hear what you all think...
One of the best episodes ever!

If nothing else, the 'ship has finally started to leave port. Not saying that it's all smooth sailing or that they don't have their issues/feelings to sort through...just saying it was amazing! And I get more and more out of each viewing!

pirat

by THX1138 Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:37 pm

InkSlinger 2 - Season 5, Episode 7

Now with 100% fewer Spoilers!

Sorry for the delay, still sick, still coughing up a lung and damned if it isn't hard to write with one of those buggers trying to escape on ya'!

The Dwarf in the Dirt

The seventh episode in the season and after watching this I can come to only two conclusions - first the folks at FOX actually have someone who peruses the bowels of the ABY and more specifically, my Inkslinger reviews, and second HH and company have almost no concept of the word subtle, almost that is. Now for the first part, I think it's pretty evident from tonight's storyline that they latched onto my whole "Three Themes" motif first proposed in my opening Inkslinter with a vengeance. I mean this entire episode was about Booth exploring A) his love for Brennan (The heart wants what it wants), B) his recovery from surgery (Where's the rest of me - Booth's search for himself), and C) a return to basics (everything old is new again). Given the fact that TIIC choose to read and take to heart my fevered ramblings allow me to take this opportunity to stress a few things: Booth 2.0 is a good thing and remember, more cop, less clown; Brennan as a more emotionally open, mature, and stable woman is a very good thing, the emotionally schizophrenic wreck of season four need not apply again...ever; finally when in need of an Englishman use Stephen Fry!

Now a shout out to Hart Hanson... Dude, love the episode but subtle as a well aimed half brick. We get the message that you got the message, now pull it back a little and stop beating us over the head with the troika of serendipity, symbolism, and Stephen Fry. Serendipity - was there ever a case where almost every single suspect seemed to have allegorical input reflecting on either the partners or their feelings for one another? If so I don't recall seeing it. Symbolism, starting with target range, then the rainbow scene, the three piece suit, we get it - Booth's off his game, Brennan's the treasure at the end of the raibow, happy-go-lucky Booth is gone, this is Booth 2.0, and dude - Steven Fry is awesome! But could you maybe not use him as the Deus ex machina of Semperance? I mean, his only appearances in S4 and S5 he's served as the major catalyst to advance their relationship forward and while I love him and love every scene he's in you really need to stop using him to fix your mistakes. How about an episode where he's just there as a friend and confidant? Or maybe as a suspect?

Anyway, on with the review...

The Case
A small, green, skeleton is found at the bottom of a sinkhole leading B&B to the conclusion that they're dealing with a leprechaun (Okay, really that was just Booth). Suspects include: the ex-girlfriend Gidget Jones (Debbie Lee Carrington) who was being sued and who'd dated the deceased (Bryce DaFonte); replacement Leprechaun Todd Moore (Martin Klebba) who won the position when Bryce dissappeared; cell mate George Alano (Jeremiah Birkett) who was ratted out by Bryce in return for a guarantee of parole; not so identical twin brother Derek DaFonte (David Norona) who had reason to be jealous of his brother. With motives galore - revenge, jealousy, and greed - and Booth still unsure of his ability to tell a lie from the truth, all of the interrogation (with one notable exception) falls to Sweets and Wyatt instead. Brennan and Hodgins do the bulk of the heavy lifting forensically, and in the end it comes down to a lucky (metaphorically speaking) find by Hodgins that Brennan is able to link to the brother that fingers Derek DaFonte as the killer. Seems Bryce had a long running affair with his sister-in-law Nicole, something evident early on. Hands down the clearest cut case and possibly the easiest to solve so far.

The Characters
There was a lot of character interaction here, a lot to build on and a lot of development that begs dissection so let's get to it.

Angela - An interesting shift in speed, and a welcome one given the amount of exposure last week. We have Angela for only two significant scenes and the first one is decidedly awkward. Despite Brennan's apparent ease with her friend following last weeks fight, Angela is quite stiff and ill at ease. Michaela's delivery of what should have been easy lines in a throw away scene came across instead as stiff and artificial, and believe she's far too good an actress for that to be the case. I can only think that scene and the comments she makes in her following scene with Steven Fry are foreshadowing of some sort of fallout or realignment to come between Brennan and Angela when the real damage done in that fight bears fruit.

Hodgins - An interesting thing happened to Jack Hodgins, he found out. I'm putting that out there because for the first time this season Hodgins isn't the happy, fun loving, smart mouthed, quipping conspiracy nut and forensic scientist. Instead he seems like a tired, slightly depressed looking, meloncholy man who really wishes he were somewhere else. Conclusion? He found out about Angela and Wendell and he's not as over her as he thought he was.

Cam - Always professional, always a pleasure to watch Tamara on screen, and yet what the hell was up with all the interns and lab geeks bringing her stuff to sign? She's run that lab for more than three years and I think she signed more forms in one scene than I've seen her sign in a year. Again HH, try some subtlety.

Sweets - Wow, well poot Sweets. Again a character I like more when I see him just a little less and yet he was again critical to the show, only this time more for our benefit than B&B's. Sweets interaction with Gordon Wyatt was fantastic, truly wonderful to watch and entertaining as hell. The whole master/apprentice thing they had going on (not in the Gormogon sense, really) was fun to watch, and Sweets appreciation for Gordon's talents (and subsequently his disdain for Gordon's decision to become a chef) was also cute in the baby duck sense. What I found most interesting though was Sweets interpretation of Booth's and Brennan's relationship. His realization that it's Brennan's childhood trauma that forces her to push back/away those feelings of intimacy and Booth's subconscious realization that acknowledging them could actually hurt her (by forcing her to deal with her past) makes complete and utter sense. It's wrong, 100% wrong, but it does make perfect sense.

Vincent Nigel-Murray - Not my favorite Squintern, in fact he's dropped to second from last - saved only by the presence of Mr Vaziri. Not much was seen from VNM, he was acceptable as the squintern of the week but not outstanding. Honestly without his mindless trivia he's not that entertaining. Dare I say it - bring back Daisy!

Booth - We have another week of the vulnerable and self doubting Booth and I'm not a fan. I'm a fan of Booth 2.0, the newer better stronger cop version of Booth, the man who's a serious cop during the case but still obviously in love with his partner. The Booth this week vacillated between serious cop and whinny wuss. A fact illustrated by Gordon's admonishion that he "Grow a set". An absolutely priceless line, btw, and one that only underscores a recurring theme for the last two years which is that while Booth is one of the braves men on TV when it comes to doing what has to be done, he's basically a coward when it comes to Brennan. Anyway this new vulnerable Booth who's suddenly second guessing himself? Not for me. It was telling that during the cop-side of the investigation, especially the interrogations, that Booth relied almost exlcusively on third parties to get the job done. Now part of me appreciates the intra-episode continuity, seeing how as he took Brennan's advice from TMitTC, and yet another part of me hates that Booth can't trust his gut, or his shooting hand, or his memory.

Then it hit me, and it did so before Gordon announced it to the world thank you so very much, that Booth's problems are recent, and I mean recent as in just the last couple of episodes. Booth 2.0 was clearly in control during BitB and all the way through ANatBM - so what happened to make him go all whinny/wussy? Simple, that ending fluff scene in ANatBM is what happened - it forced him to finally admit how hopelessly in love with Brennan he is, and yes I know he'd basically admitted it to himself before but there's knowing and there's knowing, and after the almost kiss he knew he couldn't deny or bury his feelings for her anymore. So when he says to Nicole "When a man can't have the woman he that he loves he gets a bit crazy." he's just telling the world what we already know - his innability to shoot straight, his "gut" failure, his insecurities and moodiness - they're all the result of his denying his love for Brennan, not his brain surgery. They can all be fixed with just a simple kiss, a heartfelt expression of love, and maybe an NC-17 rated romp in the sack...hey, I can dream of a Skinemax version can't I?

Brennan - Okay, I have to get this out there right away, Emily was so amazingly beautiful and engaging this episode. I swear everytime she smiles or giggles just makes me fall in love with her that much more and she does it a LOT this episode. Now Brennan herself, well there's just something about her here, something we glimpsed the last few episodes but has become more pronounced since ANatBM, and that's her demonstrative nature toward Booth. There are signs, have been signs really, that Brennan has come to accept her depth of feeling for Booth, she's caught up to her reality and is looking for ways to show him that she's there, that eventually has come. Tonight though, we get a glimpse of just how caught up to her reality she is. It's obvious to even a casual observer that Booth and Brennan are superficially different people, yet fundamentally the same in their core beliefs. So it's fitting that both Booth & Brennan see only the superficial differences that 'separate' them, and even more fitting that Brennan makes such an obvious effort to change, to accommodate Booth so she can eliminate any barrier to them being together. Brennan is too literal? Tonight she's using colloquialisms galore (I mean, calling forensic evidence 'crap'? Way over the top). Brennan's too serious? Tonight she's joking and joshing. She's supportive, demonstrative, flirty and when he needs her she's there for him. There's nothing she wouldn't do for him, she admits as much and it's clear the sentiment extends to trying to become someone she's not if it makes him happy. It's touching but it's also troubling - anyone who's been in a lopsided relationship knows what I mean.

Other than that Brennan remains a woman of science and dedicated to finding justice for the victims. She's simply lovely in the opening scene down in the sinkhole, refusing to tie in green bones, gold coins, and a rainbow and come to the obvious conclusion: Leprechaun. Her insistence on remaining on point when it comes to the investigation, right down to her comment to Booth about wishing and praying being the same thing, was quintessential Brennan. Her insistence that she can remain objective about Booth's brain while he cannot is also her, but somehow less believable when one takes into account her precise observations of the changes he's undergone and the fact that she's reporting them back to Sweets, one can only come to the conclusion that Brennan is far from objective in her observations, in fact she's got a vested interest in his mental health - she's in love with him.

The Intangibles
Costuming was good. Loved Brennan in both the blue and purple outfits. The bustlines are flattering, a nice amount of neck and cleavage, good fit and flow - it's like they picked out clothes that fit or something! Also, Angela, welcome to week two of not dressing like a hooker! She actually looked nice, very soft and feminine. Stephen Fry/Gordon Wyatt dressed like an English professor - that is to say shabbily, and yet it fits him. Booth was looking smooth in that three piece suit, makes me want to wear a vest again 'cause brother man was working it!.

I liked almost everything about this episode, but the bumper music could have been better. The end song was too much a downer, too lowkey and mellow. Music like that is for a failed romantic encounter, or a bitter sweet goodbye, not a tender fluffy scene between B&B. And yes, the shooting range scene was tender and fluffy damnit!

Scene of Note
Really any scene involving Stephen Fry and John Daley, the two play off one another so well it's unreal and the scenes written for them in the Observation room, the diner, the founding fathers, were just wonderful. Daley is a good actor even if his character isn't one I want to see all the time, but when you pair him with Fry the boy just seems to elevate his game.

Angela with Gordon in the Diner. The fact that she thinks Booth fell in love with Brennan during the dream makes NO sense whatsoever. She's been working under the assumption that Booth is in love with Brennan for what? At least two seasons? Maybe three? And yet all of a sudden now she's saying he fell in love with her during the dream. Nah, don't buy it for a second. Now what she says to Gordon during that scene, about learning to enjoy things the way they are - that was wonderfully on point and it has the feel of a future echo for B&B.

Booth with Nicole DaFonte at the sinkhole. As he stands there and forces her to confront the damage she's done to two mens lives by not being strong and moral enough to do the right thing Booth struck a chord that spoke of his own pain. He empathizes with both Bryce and Derek DaFonte on some level because like Bryce he loves a woman (Brennan) and yet can't have her, and like Derek when she's with other men he feels cuckolded. If he would just turn his observation inward he'd realize why he can't shoot straight - he's driving himself crazy with love for Brennan.

Quotable Quotes - The Gordon Gordon Edition

Gordon: Ah I see, you've suddenly become an indescriminate homicidal maniac. Well that is cause for concern.

Booth: I just need you to help me fire my gun.
Gordon: That seems needlessly phalic.

Angela (To Gordon): You know you're really going to have to learn to enjoy things the way that they are.

Sweets: My Book concludes that Booth and Brennan

Gordon: When it comes to a man and his gun, a woman is the natural cure.

Gordon: Do try these amuse bouche, they may look like sperm on corn smut but I assure you they are magically scrumptious.

Fun Facts
Corn Smut is a black fungus called Ergot which is toxic to humans and can cause hallucinogenic reactions very similar to LSD.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The GOOD - Stephen Fry. More specifically Stephen Fry with DB, Stephen Fry with Emily, Stephen Fry with John Daley...get the idea? Any scene with Stephen Fry was a freakin' emmy nominatable scene!

The BAD - Nothing really, nothing at all struck me as bad. Hey, there were midgets! How can a show with midgets be bad?

The UGLY - The ending. After a show that's that good, that solid in the relationship growth and character growth areas to end on such a soft, mushy, down note was really...ugly.

A great episode and one I thoroughly enjoyed. It's patently obvious that both Booth and Brennan are in love and they know they're in love with the other, but both are convinced the other doesn't love them and both are so busy seeing the superficial differences that they can't see past them to the greater underlying commonalities. So we get a Brennan who's 'joshing' and using 'colloquialisms' and a Booth who's always ultra serious and always about the job - almost complete role reversal. She's trying to be what she thinks he wants, and he's so busy trying to convince himself he can't have what he wants that he's missing the fact that she's right there waiting for him to love her.

For the Story Strength and Case Work I give it a solid:
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Continuity was great with excellent intra-episode continuity:
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For overall watchability I give it an outstanding:
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Yes, I know, not a prefect score but honestly that ain't gonna happen when they give us all this character and relationship building in a single episode then have such a soft and unsatisfying ending. They came so close to a 5, in fact I almost gave them a 4½ on principle but the ending really did suck compared to the rest of the show - a hug, that's all I'm asking for, a simple congradulatory hug...and maybe he cops a feel. That's all.

king

RM

TIIC - The Idiots In Charge
TMitTC - Tough Man in the Tender Chicken
BitB - Bond in the Boot
ANatBM - A Night at the Bones Museum

by THX1138 Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:47 pm

SnoopGirl wrote:
Thnx4theGum wrote:Hmm...I've seen Dwarf 3 times now Can't wait to hear what you all think...
One of the best episodes ever!

It was good, really good, but was it Conman good? Or Knight on the Grid good? Or even Woman in Limbo good? Nah, not really. So I'd say as far as S5 goes it ties with A Night at the Bones Museum in many respects. As far as S4 goes it's the best episode of Bones since Conman.

king

RM

I can't help it - I'm a hard ass and that ending wasn't up to the quality of the rest of the episode.

by dawnsfire Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:49 pm

Dwarf in the Dirt

This was an extremely shippy episode, very fangirlish (if you’ll pardon the expression, gents). The feel was straight out of a fanfic, though I can’t think of an actual one that matches (there’d be in some trouble if one did, I suspect). I was even a little more excited about parts of this one than the hand holding, etc, in the last one.

Oh, and did anyone catch the Simpsons reference? Not playing the game, but curious to see what it was. Kid in Fringe was popping “candy” out of a Homer Pez dispenser.

Another one that was oddly hard to write about…

Case

Green dwarf bones in a sinkhole, midget wrestling, a cop who wants to participate, a handful of coins with assorted values, jealous husband. An agent worried he’s losing his effectiveness--wait, that’s not really the case. Felt like it though. While the case was nominally the focus, a lot more was given over the trials of B&B. Witness the number of scenes with one or both of the psychologists talking to Booth, Brennan, or Angela.
While I of course want to see progress between our favorite non-couple, this is a forensics investigation show with engaging characters, not the other way around.

Characters

Brennan--Keeping the science in line. Unintentionally squashing a few flights of fancy along the way, but hey, those are of no use in an investigation, right? I will say it’s a pleasure to see her in the lab more again. Last season, most of the labwork was shuffled off onto the Squintern and the rest of the team. A good balance tonight.
Only Brennan would notice which hand or foot Booth uses; there’s probably a ton of stories and thoughts and conclusions to be drawn from that. And her insistence that all he needs is practice--I think that’s her trying to be supportive, telling him that his problem is simple and easily fixable, not the drastic and probably unfixable side effect from his surgery that he fears. Not her fault that’s not how he hears it, of course. I’m not sure how much she would have tried to console him in early seasons (or that he would give her something to react to). But she has changed a lot, especially in regards to him. “I can’t think of anything I wouldn’t do to help him.” That’s pretty wide, not to mention amorphous for her.
Otherwise, pretty much classic Brennan, still (mostly) rational, still socially inappropriate at times.
The way she was talking--maybe she’s been watching some of those old movies with her dad again, because some of the things she was saying are certainly not current--joshing, packing heat, cracking wise, for example. Hey, I know what they mean, but I am fairly well-read. But he’s right it’s not 1945. *beats away spoilers* not now, not now…

Booth--Putting on a good front in front of Brennan (if you’ll pardon the expression). The way he wobbled between confident and agonizing was excellent, but even she could see there was something off. Even. I shouldn’t say that anymore in regards to the two of them. Anyway. It was particularly obvious near the end where they agree they’re the best, but then he’s in Wyatt’s kitchen fretting about failure. I really felt for him in the opening when he checked his targets and then was given grief by the other agent. We knew he was a marksman par excellence and to have that taken from him, no matter the cause, ouch. From the sides, I had the impression that the other agent had been mocking him, but watching, I would say not. Dismissive, oh yes, but not mocking. (Can’t be that Booth guy because his shots are so poor). Also the entire ep explains how he could be such a lousy shot now when he made that great one back in Harbingers. Which actually brings up another issue. He did well with Brennan in the room, but what happens when she’s not around? Co-dependency, anyone?
Loved how he turned the whole thing round on Sweets in the beginning--the I learned how to do that from you routine. And I can completely appreciate how he was wary of talking to someone who might report his insecurities and issues to the higher-ups, resulting in reduction of field time or even more medical leave. Excellent way on his part of determining how things would fall.
Despite his concerns and possible co-dependency, he still can make those connections just fine; for example, taking Hodgins’ comments about the sinkhole and the old underground walkway and Angela’s sketch and combining them with a scan of the immediate area and coming up with robbery’s pretty good, I think.
There’s a blog out there listing off themes, elements, and scenes from EitB that have been pulled forward. I imagine Booth’s waistcoat (yummy) and the jacket over his shoulder will make it. Loved the shot of him sitting on the side of the sinkhole, too. Which is another change for him, one I find positive. He’s getting into the forensic side a little more, willing to get a little grubbier. S1 he complained about damage to his expensive suits--we note how fast that disappeared, but he still didn’t do the whole wading through muck or doing any of the getting down and dirty type of observation. And to back up slightly, he wasn’t wearing a suit jacket as much this time, either. Not complaining, just looking for things that are…different.

Squints--Sorry, hard to separate them tonight. Very much in the background, I thought. Cam was pretty much in administrative mode (granted, it was a skeleton; no flesh)--what was with all those things she had to sign? Never seen so many before, and she can go entire episodes without. Hodgins did his dirt thing (no real slime or bug), sorted through all the “crap,” to use Brennan’s term, gave Booth a direction to look, found a couple essential clues. Angela was back to her lovable self, offering computer work, a sketch (huh. Weren’t we just discussing her art somewhere else?), and a little insight. She’s still a little baffled by Brennan, and I think there could be an edge left over from the last few eps. Nothing definite, but I’ll be watching for more. VMN was the Squintern o’ the Week, and honestly, I’m thinking he might have taken up less screen time than Clark, and definitely a lot less than Wendell. Points for his chutzpah (or minus if he just forgot) in referencing LotR twice to Brennan, even in the face of her obvious disapproval for dipping into fantasy during work hours. He does have a sweet smile, though, doesn’t he? That one right before the cut to commercial…*sigh* I’m a Wendell girl, but…

Sweets--Hell, yeah, he was jealous! I talked about that scene at the beginning briefly from Booth’s POV. But my take on Sweets was that he wanted to give Booth the answer he was looking for and was unsure of what it was. Heck, Booth probably wasn’t entirely too sure. The bit about calling him Agent--well, that’s what he usually calls Booth; sign of respect, a lingering formality, whatever, but it’s a speech pattern now and fairly telling for the Agent. I do find it interesting that Sweets has turned into the master interrogator. When Booth regains his footing, will Sweets be off to the side again?
And his book never published? Interesting--I figured there hadn’t been enough time, not that it had never been submitted. I will say that his ultimate conclusion (which neatly avoided stating plainly who knows about their feelings and who doesn’t) is also straight out of the ‘shipper’s handbook. They’re in love! And it is screwing Booth over in a way. He “quite literally can’t bring his weapon to bear.” Laying it right out there, hmmm? And that’s the sort of thing Sweets perhaps should handle--except that he’s not really their psychiatrist anymore, is he?

Wyatt--I love his character, but they went a little over the top with the food stuff. Maybe? I don’t mean the critiquing. As any of us with a passion or new interest know, you can’t help wanting to compare. More the language, I guess. A man of passions is our dear Wyatt: music, psyches, cooking… And he certainly picked it up quick; my impression was that he had just started in Mayhem. Am I wrong? But to have a restaurant already, definitely fast work. I suspect he didn’t mind being called in to help either Booth or Sweets, however.
“You’ve turned into an indiscriminate homicidal maniac.” Why does Wyatt get the times when Booth has issues because of his gun?

Random Impressions

Hey, a lab tech with a name! Sandy. And Hodgins called her by said name. Should I read anything into that? Didn’t until just now as I typed this.

The scene at the wrestling match and the interrogation right after echo earlier episodes--the guy taking off because of some non-related issue is straight out of Death in the Saddle, and the entire feel of the match itself is a lot like Mayhem on a Cross. Chaos, Wyatt, Booth doing something borderline inappropriate…

And Booth misses his dream. I think Sweets kind of thought that, back in the opener, but couldn’t get confirmation. Too bad he’ll never know that Booth actually started wearing some of the clothes he said he missed. Maybe that wasn’t a lie, after all!

There were some very interesting comments tossed about. I wasn’t able to get Gidget’s two that really smacked home about men written down, but there’s these two from Booth: “A man who doesn't get the woman that he wants, he goes kind of crazy.” “She doesn't love me back. I would know if she loved me back.” (Would you? You’re not batting 100% yet. And denial is still very much alive there…)

Brennan: “I prefer good boys.” Booth: (interested) “Really?”

Wyatt to Angela: “As usual, you see the truth of things.” Not entirely sure that’s true.

And I mustn’t forget the car scene where it’s affirmed that she always tells him the truth and it’s a huge comfort to him; that he usually feels better after talking to her. Just another sign of the closeness they’ve built up.

I don’t always pay much attention to the music, but I thought it worth mentioning that a couple times it had a distinct Irish feel to reflect the leprechaun discussion. And there were lots of food references--not surprising, considering Wyatt’s new career and obsession, plus Booth eating during an interview. Never done that before--is that professional?

Good
Definitely the B&B relationship progress. The end scenes in the restaurant and shooting range were good, and yes, Wyatt’s totally trying to help them. And let’s not forget his classic advice to Booth, either: “Grow a set!”

Bad
Like I say, I would preferred a stronger case. I don’t feel this is one of the ones we speculated were meant to be a sign of Booth’s unsettled state. It’s just weak. And shouldn’t he have gone through that recertification process at the range a little sooner?

Ugly
While this was not a spectacular episode, it wasn’t too bad either, so I am retiring this category until I find something really, really bad.

Somewhat weak case, excellent B&B interactions and possible advancement make it a

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And next week is Grandpa Booth! And should I mention that there was a pistachio commercial during Fringe that I swear had one of the wrestlers in it?

queen

by Thnx4theGum Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:46 pm

Hmm, well, as I stayed up til 4am last night watching this one over and over again, I'll not drag things out super long tonight. I liked it as a Bones ep and LOVED it as a Season 5 ep! Judas will probably never be dethroned as my all time fave...and tonight paled to ConMan.

Thanks both of you for your reviews- I look forward to them every week and it's always interesting, Rob, to get a guy's perspective Smile

. I really think this ep marks the end of wimpy Booth b/c we now know he can't default back to blaming it on the tumor. I feel like I should throw confetti or something. Let's all pray Booth 2.0 sticks around though, b/c I love the cop in him and TV doesn't need another goofy guy.

The first time I watched I was moved, the second I was struck by the number of phallic references and felt that "subtle as a brick" thing Rob mentioned. HH doesn't do subtle well, but I'm addicted to his show anyway. Tonight when I watched with hubby (I have to watch online to pre-squee so that he doesn't have to suffer my predisposition to squealing like a fangirl at Booth in FBI t-shirt, LEATHER, the VEST, and well, anything really...hubby knows I love him) it was great- we laughed, we shook our heads, and we exchanged meaningful glances.

I actually didn't have a problem with the ending. The whole ep was centered around the ship and where the ship was(sorry Ange, he didn't find love in the dream, he just figured out what he was missing by repressing himself like some kind of 21st century monk- boy's been in love for a while now) and where it was going(GG's observation that Booth was building a family around her- spot on!). So to me a typical ending would've seemed over the top...besides, that's what fanfic's for!

IMO, this ep launches B&B coupledom-really, can you see them going backwards from this point?- so it's only appropriate that they went back to the range, where it all started(though admitedly, the Pilot range was much hotter physically). It would not surprise me at all now if HH started revisiting old S1/2 scenes but from a newly in love couple's POV.

Ah and to answer both of your musings as to what the heck was up with the line of clipboard signings....blame that on the Simpson's scavenger hunt(I loathe cross-promotion)...those were a line of Simpson's writers. Not sure a/b Sandy. Also why Homer's x-ray is behind VNM in the scene just after the opening credits.

Extra EiTB refs: Mr.B/Agent B, Booth's soft spot/fondess for Sweets, "I would KNOW if you were cheating(with Aristoo)"/"I would KNOW if she loved me.", and AU Clark says something a/b Cain and Abel too I believe, oh, and one could argue parallels between GG's end speech a/b taking flight and cherubs vs Brennan's "burdens that allow us to fly"

Can't wait for Pops *tries to restrain from complaints that Bones is promoted as an hour-long comedy despite the dramatic themes and fails because it's really ticking me off this year....even Prodigy was promoted with the funny parts...not cool! -end rant*

Hmm...bed calls and I've rambled a bit more than I thought I would.
Again, loved both of your insights!
Gum pirat

by THX1138 Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:23 pm

Wow, we diverge again, though something tells me we'll be on point when it comes to "Hank's" episode next week. Just hearing Ralph Waite call Booth "Shrimp" was good for half a skull!

dawnsfire wrote:Dwarf in the Dirt

This was an extremely shippy episode, very fangirlish (if you’ll pardon the expression, gents). The feel was straight out of a fanfic, though I can’t think of an actual one that matches (there’d be in some trouble if one did, I suspect). I was even a little more excited about parts of this one than the hand holding, etc, in the last one.

Oh, and did anyone catch the Simpsons reference? Not playing the game, but curious to see what it was. Kid in Fringe was popping “candy” out of a Homer Pez dispenser.

Another one that was oddly hard to write about…

Agree, a very shippy episode but then I liked that about it, and Stephen Fry rocked the epi.

Case

Green dwarf bones in a sinkhole, midget wrestling, a cop who wants to participate, a handful of coins with assorted values, jealous husband. An agent worried he’s losing his effectiveness--wait, that’s not really the case. Felt like it though. While the case was nominally the focus, a lot more was given over the trials of B&B. Witness the number of scenes with one or both of the psychologists talking to Booth, Brennan, or Angela.

While I of course want to see progress between our favorite non-couple, this is a forensics investigation show with engaging characters, not the other way around.

I agree 100% and yet I liked the emphasis they placed on the relationship this time - we needed something a little over the top shippy to help repair the damage and set the stage for bigger and better things between them. Also I get the feeling that next week's episode will likewie be a bit fannish. Seriously, as much as I love the case-centric episodes we need an epi like this from time to time to help move things along. Know what I mean?

Characters

Brennan--Keeping the science in line. Unintentionally squashing a few flights of fancy along the way, but hey, those are of no use in an investigation, right? I will say it’s a pleasure to see her in the lab more again. Last season, most of the labwork was shuffled off onto the Squintern and the rest of the team. A good balance tonight.
Only Brennan would notice which hand or foot Booth uses; there’s probably a ton of stories and thoughts and conclusions to be drawn from that. And her insistence that all he needs is practice--I think that’s her trying to be supportive, telling him that his problem is simple and easily fixable, not the drastic and probably unfixable side effect from his surgery that he fears. Not her fault that’s not how he hears it, of course. I’m not sure how much she would have tried to console him in early seasons (or that he would give her something to react to). But she has changed a lot, especially in regards to him. “I can’t think of anything I wouldn’t do to help him.” That’s pretty wide, not to mention amorphous for her.
Otherwise, pretty much classic Brennan, still (mostly) rational, still socially inappropriate at times.
The way she was talking--maybe she’s been watching some of those old movies with her dad again, because some of the things she was saying are certainly not current--joshing, packing heat, cracking wise, for example. Hey, I know what they mean, but I am fairly well-read. But he’s right it’s not 1945. *beats away spoilers* not now, not now…

I like seeing her lab presence as well, and I saw some of the same things you did but the old film references - now her attempts at colloquialisms make sense! I should have put that together, and right now I blame the codeine for not making that connection. It fits with her personality, her love of old films (something she used to share with her father) and it jibes with her sudden need to make herself over into a more "Booth friendly" model.

Booth--Putting on a good front in front of Brennan (if you’ll pardon the expression). The way he wobbled between confident and agonizing was excellent, but even she could see there was something off. Even. I shouldn’t say that anymore in regards to the two of them. Anyway. It was particularly obvious near the end where they agree they’re the best, but then he’s in Wyatt’s kitchen fretting about failure. I really felt for him in the opening when he checked his targets and then was given grief by the other agent. We knew he was a marksman par excellence and to have that taken from him, no matter the cause, ouch. From the sides, I had the impression that the other agent had been mocking him, but watching, I would say not. Dismissive, oh yes, but not mocking. (Can’t be that Booth guy because his shots are so poor). Also the entire ep explains how he could be such a lousy shot now when he made that great one back in Harbingers. Which actually brings up another issue. He did well with Brennan in the room, but what happens when she’s not around? Co-dependency, anyone?

I don't see it as a continuing problem - IMO once he's beaten the problem it's gone. I'd be surprised if next week he's still relying on Sweets quite as heavily for help during interrogations. Not saying it won't happen just that I think that Booth's got that ability to make the connection and once he's proven to himself that he's back in one category, he'll start coming back in others as well.

Loved how he turned the whole thing round on Sweets in the beginning--the I learned how to do that from you routine. And I can completely appreciate how he was wary of talking to someone who might report his insecurities and issues to the higher-ups, resulting in reduction of field time or even more medical leave. Excellent way on his part of determining how things would fall.

Agree, and I love how Sweets suddenly realized how he'd missed his golden opportunity. Sweets desired nothing more than to be one of the gang, to be Booth's go to guy - notice the pride with which he tells Gordon how Booth uses him in interrogation? That's Sweets own hero worship of Booth coming to the fore. So when Booth knocks hem back by pointing out where his loyalties' lie? It's huge. You can tell Sweets won't risk screwing up like that with Booth again. I even imagine there's a chance we'll see Sweets risk his career for Booth in the near future. A way to prove himself to the man he thinks of as a big brother.

Squints--Sorry, hard to separate them tonight. Very much in the background, I thought. Cam was pretty much in administrative mode (granted, it was a skeleton; no flesh)--what was with all those things she had to sign? Never seen so many before, and she can go entire episodes without. Hodgins did his dirt thing (no real slime or bug), sorted through all the “crap,” to use Brennan’s term, gave Booth a direction to look, found a couple essential clues. Angela was back to her lovable self, offering computer work, a sketch (huh. Weren’t we just discussing her art somewhere else?), and a little insight. She’s still a little baffled by Brennan, and I think there could be an edge left over from the last few eps. Nothing definite, but I’ll be watching for more. VMN was the Squintern o’ the Week, and honestly, I’m thinking he might have taken up less screen time than Clark, and definitely a lot less than Wendell. Points for his chutzpah (or minus if he just forgot) in referencing LotR twice to Brennan, even in the face of her obvious disapproval for dipping into fantasy during work hours. He does have a sweet smile, though, doesn’t he? That one right before the cut to commercial…*sigh* I’m a Wendell girl, but…

I don't know if VNM had less screen time than Clark, but he certainly made less of an impact. I just get nothing out of VNM. As for Hodgins and Angela, well, I got a weird vibe off both of them - wonder if you felt the same? Jack seemed not quite right and neither did Angela, though she was more her old self with Wyatt than I've seen her in a while.

Hey, a lab tech with a name! Sandy. And Hodgins called her by said name. Should I read anything into that? Didn’t until just now as I typed this.

I'm right there with you, in fact I took a good second look at her because I wondered if Hodgins might not be hooking up with her in response to Angela hooking up with Wendell - but I've since discounted that possibility, at least until we see more of Sandy. Still it was interesting the emphasis placed on non-case related lab activity meaning amdinistrative work and folks like Sandy, that we don't see as directly involved in the case. Where has this been before? Seriously, more activity in this one episode than I can recall ever.

And Booth misses his dream. I think Sweets kind of thought that, back in the opener, but couldn’t get confirmation. Too bad he’ll never know that Booth actually started wearing some of the clothes he said he missed. Maybe that wasn’t a lie, after all!

Hey! I put out a tag for TEitB that said pretty much the same thing, that Booth went to bed missing his dream life and woke up regretting the fact that he wasn't married to Brennan with a child on the way. Nice to know they read my work!

There were some very interesting comments tossed about. I wasn’t able to get Gidget’s two that really smacked home about men written down, but there’s these two from Booth: “A man who doesn't get the woman that he wants, he goes kind of crazy.” “She doesn't love me back. I would know if she loved me back.” (Would you? You’re not batting 100% yet. And denial is still very much alive there…)

Brennan: “I prefer good boys.” Booth: (interested) “Really?”

Gidget's quotes are:
Guys are like that you know. On the outside it looks like they don't care but on the inside it chews them up like cancer.
You know men, something goes wrong in the heart department it always shows itself in another way.

Also, it doesn't surprise me that Brennan likes "good boys", she's all about law & order, the quest for justice, and Booth is the poster child for Good Boys with a bad streak - so he fits her bill to a 'T'.

Bad
Like I say, I would preferred a stronger case. I don’t feel this is one of the ones we speculated were meant to be a sign of Booth’s unsettled state. It’s just weak. And shouldn’t he have gone through that recertification process at the range a little sooner?

I would have preferred a more challenging case but was happy with what we got given the emphasis on the relationship. That said, Booth wasn't recertifying to field carry, he was recertifying for pistol marksmanship. Marksmanship certification would take place either annually or bi-annually and there's no reason to believe that Booth, having been cleared to work in the field, would have to recertify as a marksman before his certification expired. That's what I took the situation to be, though I could be wrong - it's really a crap shoot given the way HH plays games with the FBI in his show.

And next week is Grandpa Booth! And should I mention that there was a pistachio commercial during Fringe that I swear had one of the wrestlers in it?

Wee man! I was really wanting him to be in this episode - I do love my midgets. Laughing

Excellent review my Queen, you've given me some food for thought when I watch this epi again.

king

RM

by DBCrazy Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:04 pm

Thanks you two! I love getting your takes on it. I did watch intently this week without trying to multi-task, but my effort will probably end up being a crossword puzzle Laughing

if anyone's interested in those (old hobby when I was a kid.)

Anyway Gum got here sooner with my one observation that I didn't see either of you mention. That being Gordon Gordon at the end. It felt like he was casting a spell on B&B, turning back time from when Brennan deleted the end of her story in tEitB and Booth woke up wondering who she was.

... from The End in the Beginning:
(spoken and laptop / laptop only / spoken only)
You love someone, you open yourself up to suffering, that's the sad truth. Maybe they'll break your heart. Maybe you'll break their heart and never be able to look at yourself in the same way. Those are the risks. You see two people and you think they belong together, but nothing happens. The thought of losing so much control over personal happiness is unbearable. That's the burden. Like wings, they have weight, we feel that weight on our backs, but they are a burden that lifts us. Burdens that allow us to fly... Burdens that make us better than we are. Burdens which allow us to fly ...

... from tonight's ep ...
Gordon Gordon: Do try these amuse bouche.
They may look like sperm on corn smut
but I assure you they are magically scrumptious.
Be brave, my children.
Make a foray.
Cast off your shackles etcetera etcetera.
Abide by my exhortations to joie de vivre
that you may be borne aloft on the trembling
wings of giggling angels.

Oh, and the music at the end didn't bother me at all. It did feel a bit somber, but it lifted as it was ending, much the way I felt Booth's mood did as he proved himself. At the end, his face- it told everything. He knows, he's certain now, and he's not going to be afraid anymore.

I loved this ep, and the not subtle stuff just felt like HH was making sure that everybody knows. Very Happy

by dawnsfire Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:13 pm

THX1138 wrote:The seventh episode in the season and after watching this I can come to only two conclusions - first the folks at FOX actually have someone who peruses the bowels of the ABY and more specifically, my Inkslinger reviews, and second HH and company have almost no concept of the word subtle, almost that is. Now for the first part, I think it's pretty evident from tonight's storyline that they latched onto my whole "Three Themes" motif first proposed in my opening Inkslinter with a vengeance. I mean this entire episode was about Booth exploring A) his love for Brennan (The heart wants what it wants), B) his recovery from surgery (Where's the rest of me - Booth's search for himself), and C) a return to basics (everything old is new again). Given the fact that TIIC choose to read and take to heart my fevered ramblings allow me to take this opportunity to stress a few things: Booth 2.0 is a good thing and remember, more cop, less clown; Brennan as a more emotionally open, mature, and stable woman is a very good thing, the emotionally schizophrenic wreck of season four need not apply again...ever; finally when in need of an Englishman use Stephen Fry!

Don't wrench your arm patting yourself on the back, O King! Not that you don't have a point about the themes...

Brennan and Hodgins do the bulk of the heavy lifting forensically, and in the end it comes down to a lucky (metaphorically speaking) find by Hodgins that Brennan is able to link to the brother that fingers Derek DaFonte as the killer. Seems Bryce had a long running affair with his sister-in-law Nicole, something evident early on. Hands down the clearest cut case and possibly the easiest to solve so far.

Only because they were lucky, as you pointed out.

Angela - An interesting shift in speed, and a welcome one given the amount of exposure last week. We have Angela for only two significant scenes and the first one is decidedly awkward. Despite Brennan's apparent ease with her friend following last weeks fight, Angela is quite stiff and ill at ease. Michaela's delivery of what should have been easy lines in a throw away scene came across instead as stiff and artificial, and believe she's far too good an actress for that to be the case. I can only think that scene and the comments she makes in her following scene with Steven Fry are foreshadowing of some sort of fallout or realignment to come between Brennan and Angela when the real damage done in that fight bears fruit.

What I've noticed, and it was especially apparent in the previous 2 episodes as well as this one, is that Angela has these surprised looks on her face while dealing with Brennan. They're similar to the ones from S1-3, but not the same. It's not Sweetie, I can't believe you just said/did that, but I shouldn't be surprised, but rather just I don't understand why you did/said that. We talked about the stunned look on her face along with everyone else's (and I would have loved to have seen Booth's reaction, had he been there) when she and Daisy went a little nuts. That's the edge I mentioned, and I take back any previous statements about not returning to the divisive moment. It may not be explicit, but there will likely be more splintering. No, more like rotten wood--looks fine on the outside, but the next storm will (might?) bring it down.

Hodgins - An interesting thing happened to Jack Hodgins, he found out. I'm putting that out there because for the first time this season Hodgins isn't the happy, fun loving, smart mouthed, quipping conspiracy nut and forensic scientist. Instead he seems like a tired, slightly depressed looking, meloncholy man who really wishes he were somewhere else. Conclusion? He found out about Angela and Wendell and he's not as over her as he thought he was.

He wasn't exactly chortling like he was previously, but I don't know if it's as bad as you suggest. Something to check in my own rewatch, whenever I get it in. Poor Jack! I'd cuddle him any day of the week.

It was telling that during the cop-side of the investigation, especially the interrogations, that Booth relied almost exlcusively on third parties to get the job done. Now part of me appreciates the intra-episode continuity, seeing how as he took Brennan's advice from TMitTC, and yet another part of me hates that Booth can't trust his gut, or his shooting hand, or his memory.

Yes, the continuity was appreciated. I know they keep saying this is an episodic show, but a slightly thicker thread would be nice.

Then it hit me, and it did so before Gordon announced it to the world thank you so very much, that Booth's problems are recent, and I mean recent as in just the last couple of episodes. Booth 2.0 was clearly in control during BitB and all the way through ANatBM - so what happened to make him go all whinny/wussy? Simple, that ending fluff scene in ANatBM is what happened - it forced him to finally admit how hopelessly in love with Brennan he is, and yes I know he'd basically admitted it to himself before but there's knowing and there's knowing, and after the almost kiss he knew he couldn't deny or bury his feelings for her anymore. So when he says to Nicole "When a man can't have the woman he that he loves he gets a bit crazy." he's just telling the world what we already know - his innability to shoot straight, his "gut" failure, his insecurities and moodiness - they're all the result of his denying his love for Brennan, not his brain surgery. They can all be fixed with just a simple kiss, a heartfelt expression of love, and maybe an NC-17 rated romp in the sack...hey, I can dream of a Skinemax version can't I?

In other words, he told himself to forget those bloody scans, which did make their reappearance, and go with what he feels...but now he's afraid of hurting her (see Cam and Sweets warnings in Harbingers)? Roughly? You are aware that is pretty close to what you said Sweets got wrong, right? At least the way I read it (granted, the subconscious desire not to hurt her aspect was a little iffy). And should there be a Skinemax version, I can rely on you to make sure I get a copy, right? Twisted Evil

Now Brennan herself, well there's just something about her here, something we glimpsed the last few episodes but has become more pronounced since ANatBM, and that's her demonstrative nature toward Booth. There are signs, have been signs really, that Brennan has come to accept her depth of feeling for Booth, she's caught up to her reality and is looking for ways to show him that she's there, that eventually has come. Tonight though, we get a glimpse of just how caught up to her reality she is. It's obvious to even a casual observer that Booth and Brennan are superficially different people, yet fundamentally the same in their core beliefs. So it's fitting that both Booth & Brennan see only the superficial differences that 'separate' them, and even more fitting that Brennan makes such an obvious effort to change, to accommodate Booth so she can eliminate any barrier to them being together. Brennan is too literal? Tonight she's using colloquialisms galore (I mean, calling forensic evidence 'crap'? Way over the top). Brennan's too serious? Tonight she's joking and joshing. She's supportive, demonstrative, flirty and when he needs her she's there for him. There's nothing she wouldn't do for him, she admits as much and it's clear the sentiment extends to trying to become someone she's not if it makes him happy. It's touching but it's also troubling - anyone who's been in a lopsided relationship knows what I mean.

Even Booth called her on the term crap. Presumably Brennan knows better than to completely give over what makes her her; or more likely, wouldn't be able to do it. She's too attached to her job, no matter what love she bears. Might be interesting to have an interested outsider (Max?) notice this change and caution her against such drastic change. Of course, that's another worst case scenario, since I truly believe her core would not change.

Her insistence that she can remain objective about Booth's brain while he cannot is also her, but somehow less believable when one takes into account her precise observations of the changes he's undergone and the fact that she's reporting them back to Sweets, one can only come to the conclusion that Brennan is far from objective in her observations, in fact she's got a vested interest in his mental health - she's in love with him.

Well, that'll blow your objectivity out of the water every time.

And yes, the shooting range scene was tender and fluffy damnit!

What's wrong with that? Not that it was overly fluffy, but tender, oh my yes. Understated. With some of the swings of this and the last ep, a little understatement did not come amiss. Besides, it was more about him than them at that point.

Angela with Gordon in the Diner. The fact that she thinks Booth fell in love with Brennan during the dream makes NO sense whatsoever. She's been working under the assumption that Booth is in love with Brennan for what? At least two seasons? Maybe three? And yet all of a sudden now she's saying he fell in love with her during the dream. Nah, don't buy it for a second. Now what she says to Gordon during that scene, about learning to enjoy things the way they are - that was wonderfully on point and it has the feel of a future echo for B&B.

Maybe she's always worked under the principle it was a more lustful love than love everlasting, which we've already determined scares her as much as it does (did) Brennan. Neutral

Nah. Perhaps she means he's been forced to acknowledge said feelings? Or shall we chalk it up to a continuity glitch?

Booth with Nicole DaFonte at the sinkhole. As he stands there and forces her to confront the damage she's done to two mens lives by not being strong and moral enough to do the right thing Booth struck a chord that spoke of his own pain. He empathizes with both Bryce and Derek DaFonte on some level because like Bryce he loves a woman (Brennan) and yet can't have her, and like Derek when she's with other men he feels cuckolded. If he would just turn his observation inward he'd realize why he can't shoot straight - he's driving himself crazy with love for Brennan.

Here's the one thing about Booth--and maybe I'm inspired by too many fics, I don't know--but he doesn't strike me as the self-contemplative type. He's as resistant to psychotherapy as Brennan, if for different reasons. And yes, he broods, but it's on the more obvious stuff--sniper, shooting a suspect, and perceived surface flaws, and probably including things like his family, his relationship with Rebecca, and maybe a few religious issues. If that makes sense.

Angela (To Gordon): You know you're really going to have to learn to enjoy things the way that they are.

Somehow that smacked of foreshadowing, not to mention excellent advice she won't actually take.

A great episode and one I thoroughly enjoyed. It's patently obvious that both Booth and Brennan are in love and they know they're in love with the other, but both are convinced the other doesn't love them and both are so busy seeing the superficial differences that they can't see past them to the greater underlying commonalities. So we get a Brennan who's 'joshing' and using 'colloquialisms' and a Booth who's always ultra serious and always about the job - almost complete role reversal. She's trying to be what she thinks he wants, and he's so busy trying to convince himself he can't have what he wants that he's missing the fact that she's right there waiting for him to love her.

I didn't enjoy it as much though I did get a few laughs. But the rest, I think you got spot on.

a hug, that's all I'm asking for, a simple congradulatory hug...and maybe he cops a feel. That's all.

You are such a guy. Laughing

For Booth, running a hand up and down her ~~back~~ arm counts as copping a feel at their glacial pace!

queen

by dawnsfire Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:32 pm

Thnx4theGum wrote:Hmm, well, as I stayed up til 4am last night watching this one over and over again, I'll not drag things out super long tonight. I liked it as a Bones ep and LOVED it as a Season 5 ep! Judas will probably never be dethroned as my all time fave...and tonight paled to ConMan.

Thanks both of you for your reviews- I look forward to them every week and it's always interesting, Rob, to get a guy's perspective . I really think this ep marks the end of wimpy Booth b/c we now know he can't default back to blaming it on the tumor. I feel like I should throw confetti or something. Let's all pray Booth 2.0 sticks around though, b/c I love the cop in him and TV doesn't need another goofy guy.

The first time I watched I was moved, the second I was struck by the number of phallic references and felt that "subtle as a brick" thing Rob mentioned. HH doesn't do subtle well, but I'm addicted to his show anyway. Tonight when I watched with hubby (I have to watch online to pre-squee so that he doesn't have to suffer my predisposition to squealing like a fangirl at Booth in FBI t-shirt, LEATHER, the VEST, and well, anything really...hubby knows I love him) it was great- we laughed, we shook our heads, and we exchanged meaningful glances.

I actually didn't have a problem with the ending. The whole ep was centered around the ship and where the ship was(sorry Ange, he didn't find love in the dream, he just figured out what he was missing by repressing himself like some kind of 21st century monk- boy's been in love for a while now) and where it was going(GG's observation that Booth was building a family around her- spot on!). So to me a typical ending would've seemed over the top...besides, that's what fanfic's for!

IMO, this ep launches B&B coupledom-really, can you see them going backwards from this point?- so it's only appropriate that they went back to the range, where it all started(though admitedly, the Pilot range was much hotter physically). It would not surprise me at all now if HH started revisiting old S1/2 scenes but from a newly in love couple's POV.

Ah and to answer both of your musings as to what the heck was up with the line of clipboard signings....blame that on the Simpson's scavenger hunt(I loathe cross-promotion)...those were a line of Simpson's writers. Not sure a/b Sandy. Also why Homer's x-ray is behind VNM in the scene just after the opening credits.

Extra EiTB refs: Mr.B/Agent B, Booth's soft spot/fondess for Sweets, "I would KNOW if you were cheating(with Aristoo)"/"I would KNOW if she loved me.", and AU Clark says something a/b Cain and Abel too I believe, oh, and one could argue parallels between GG's end speech a/b taking flight and cherubs vs Brennan's "burdens that allow us to fly"

Can't wait for Pops *tries to restrain from complaints that Bones is promoted as an hour-long comedy despite the dramatic themes and fails because it's really ticking me off this year....even Prodigy was promoted with the funny parts...not cool! -end rant*

Hmm...bed calls and I've rambled a bit more than I thought I would.
Again, loved both of your insights!
Gum

Thanks!

Anyway, I did not pick up on the return to the range aspect at all; perhaps because it isn't the exact same place. However, you triggered a thought. Wyatt suggests Booth is having problems because he's closing the wrong eye and Brennan scoffs at the thought of Booth closing an eye. Something about sharpshooters not needing to do that. When he (deliberately?) misses in the Pilot, did he close an eye? Have to go check now. I'll see if I can catch any other somewhat familiar spots as we go on; I doubt if they do that it'll be the actual place.

Thanks for enlightening me about the Simpsons thing as well as the never-ending stream of clipboards. I'm going to have to look for the x-ray when I get a chance to rewatch. Crayon in the brain, I assume?

I agree with you about the end, and while it would not be impossible for them to go backwards right now, it would be very difficult. Especially depending on how it was done.

queen

by queen bess Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:56 pm

DBCrazy wrote:

Anyway Gum got here sooner with my one observation that I didn't see either of you mention. That being Gordon Gordon at the end. It felt like he was casting a spell on B&B, turning back time from when Brennan deleted the end of her story in tEitB and Booth woke up wondering who she was.

... from The End in the Beginning:
(spoken and laptop / laptop only / spoken only)
You love someone, you open yourself up to suffering, that's the sad truth. Maybe they'll break your heart. Maybe you'll break their heart and never be able to look at yourself in the same way. Those are the risks. You see two people and you think they belong together, but nothing happens. The thought of losing so much control over personal happiness is unbearable. That's the burden. Like wings, they have weight, we feel that weight on our backs, but they are a burden that lifts us. Burdens that allow us to fly... Burdens that make us better than we are. Burdens which allow us to fly ...

... from tonight's ep ...
Gordon Gordon: Do try these amuse bouche.
They may look like sperm on corn smut
but I assure you they are magically scrumptious.
Be brave, my children.
Make a foray.
Cast off your shackles etcetera etcetera.
Abide by my exhortations to joie de vivre
that you may be borne aloft on the trembling
wings of giggling angels.

THIS! I noticed this as well, too similar to be a coincedence?? I HOPE SO!!

by Shelly Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:05 pm

The only thing that did irk me a little bit about this episode (and always does when we get Sweets and Gordon together to be objective observers of B&B), is the casual nature of this "therapy," that they are providing Booth. It's a bit unrealistic/unprofessional when Gordon is palling around with B&B to crime scenes, and speculating with all of his co-workers about the motives for his behavior. Definately not what I picture in my head when I think of clinical counseling. I understand Gordon Gordon (who I love dearly, don't get me wrong) is not a practicing psychologist anymore, and therefore he's providing advice from a friend stand point as well as a mental health professional, but I think the basics as far as counselor-client confidentiality should still apply. In reality, counselors are not supposed to befriend their clients because boundaries become blurry. Is Gordon Booth's friend, or Psycologist, or both? And if he is both, SHOULD he be? Is that the best thing for Booth?
Obviously this is a technicality the writers overlook for the sake of the wonderfully rich interaction we get between Gordon and the rest of the characters. As Rob mentioned earlier, the scences between Sweets and Gordon were great, and even more than that I love the play between Gordon and Angela. Gordon Gordon Wyatt is one of my most favorite re-occuring characters, I just think sometimes too many psychologists can spoil the broth. Maybe if they could keep the psycho-babble within the walls of a clinical setting I may feel a little less nervous.
Overall I did love this episode, though I think I am in agreement with the majority that Booth has been in love with Brennan since long before this coma-dream. Gordon Gordon, and Angela know it too. I don't mean to nit pick what was really a fine episode. I especially liked the end scene, and even though some people thought the music was alittle meloncholy, I thought it was quite pretty. For me it kind of reflected the heart break of having the woman you love, without ever really having her. I think I need more coffee...

Does anyone know, what was Gordon Gordon quoting at the end? Is that from a piece of literature or was it original prose?

by dawnsfire Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:04 pm

Foot in the Foreclosure

(I see we're both running late tonight. My apologies to all who have been waiting.)

This is one of the episodes we’ve been looking forward to--Grandpa Booth! Or Pops, as he is referred to. I think it lived up to the hype.

I found it a funny episode. Another one where the case seemed dwarfed by the personal issues, and definitely dominated by Booth, Brennan, and Hank. Also very fanficcy, as has been happening quite a bit. Not really complaining, since tonight, especially, I was more interested in the Booth men.

Case

Pile of ashes with a human foot and an ashy hand found on a bed in a house up for sale, the fire limited to the bed alone. (I did note that the carvings were particularly referenced by the highly unsympathetic real estate agent as a selling point, but never thought to actually look for them.) There’s a partially eaten chocolate cake and some orange goop there as well. As it turns out, it’s two victims, not one, a slim woman who initially confused the issue since the method for the fire’s containment require a fair amount of body fat, and a short heavy man. They were fooling around in a place more private than their own homes and cheaper than a motel, which is just icky.

Long story short, the killer is the house’s seller, who snapped seeing the couple fool around in his and his late wife’s bed. Smashed them with the finial in his image (nice touch, that, as opposed to using his wife’s) and then set them on fire. Have to wonder, considering the foreclosure aspect, if he wasn’t hoping that the entire house would burn down. I know nothing about mortgages and foreclosures and house insurance.

Characters

Brennan--the more open and sympathetic version was here on display, still a little baffled by social norms. Of course, she never had any grandparents that she was aware of, so this is foreign territory to her. As is so much else… Did anyone else get the feeling she was lying about Bones being the only nickname she’s ever had? (discounting Tempe and T that we know her immediate family called her--see Killer in the Concrete)
Loved the way she bonded with Hank. In some ways she treated him like Booth. How many other people do we see her just touch? Oh, there have been a few here and there. But her interactions with him are straight out of fanfic, the way she is often portrayed as taking to or being taken to by Booth’s family. She’s definitely turned a corner, even if most of her concern and generosity is limited to those she knows.
She was distressed at the thought of Booth taking a leave of absence, but how much of that was work related and how much was that she thinks she wouldn’t see him? Or perhaps because it felt as though he was shutting her out? All the more because she was connecting to Hank, and trying to be helpful.
She’s still stealing fries, even when she has to reach all the way across the table to do so--glad they kept that.

Booth--this was Classic Booth, chasing down the suspects, handling interrogations, yet with a touch of vulnerability when it comes to his family (Hank and Brennan in this case). He’s in an odd position for a man in his late 30s; ever hear of the sandwich generation? Normally his parents would fall in that category, but since his dad took off (no wonder he hasn’t seen daddy dear in a long time), Booth ends up taking on that responsibility along with all the rest. The other side would be his son.
But he’s trying so hard, and so willing to sacrifice, even though I do wonder if the Bureau would have let him take a leave of absence so soon after his medical leave. Given the way he normally works, it’s not like they can accuse him of being a slacker, but still.
Wait, wait…Hank had bypass surgery about 3 months ago? Where does that fall against Booth’s own surgery? Fairly close together, I imagine. Maybe that’s why he didn’t show up.
And I would say Booth really is far less prudish than he appears. It’s Brennan who does it to him (or Parker--but that’s more age related). He had no problem with Hank dancing with those ladies at the club, commenting about how the older man never had any problems with the ladies (much like his grandson, but probably less…shy), and I don’t even think he flinched when Hank explained the crocheting euphemism. Unusual, as many people think their grandparents couldn’t possibly have an interest in sex.
And he looked so hot in the end scene, jeans and leather jacket…

Hank--More! Please, Hart, please! More Hank! Pulls no punches, tells it like it is (or how he sees it, anyway). He and Max would probably get along famously. A complete and utter shipper from word one. Obviously Booth tells him plenty about Brennan, and in such a way he assumed they were involved, but when corrected, he doesn’t question that fact, just “Shrimp’s” motivations. Absolutely admired his willingness to face the hard facts and make the right decision. I would have liked to have seen him at the Jeffersonian, but that’s probably just asking for trouble.
And you can see where Booth got some of his mannerisms and other traits. Reliance on emotions, able to sum up a situation with a fair amount of ease, a willingness to shoulder guilt that isn’t rightfully his, not to mention a certain readiness for most challenges. But he’s far enough outside the situation to give both Booth and Brennan some solid advice. I think Booth might give similar advice if he saw people he knew in a situation like his. None so blind, as they say.

Squints--once again, very much in the background.
I appreciated Cam’s tact and subtle support of Clark opening up about his family. Since this was yet another body with absolutely no flesh, her role as a pathologist was not needed, so nothing more for her to do than speculate and help point them in the right direction.
Angela shows up as the eternal romantic with her poorly-timed comment of “sweet.” But her computer skills really shone tonight--virtual casts, 3-D scanning, the works, not to mention a little more of her art background (color wheel).
Hodgins also has a light presence, id’ing the orange goop and helping highlight Clark’s “confession.” Touch of comedic relief when Booth answered Brennan’s phone, thinking it was Hank. He’s more cheerful than last week, either spiking the King’s theory that he’s already found out about Angela and Wendell or he’s gotten over it already.

Clark--my God, the man’s human! He gets his own commentary just for that reason alone. He’s got something in common with Booth, even though I would bet good money that they’ll never talk about it, and it would take something of that magnitude to crack the door open. And that also let his baby got back (that is what he said, right?) comment slide out, too. This is much closer to the Clark of S3, who I liked, rather than the repressed man of S4 to date. Even if he looked as embarrassed about showing it as when Brennan caught him and Hodgins in Con Man trying to recreate one of the vic’s inventions.

Sweets--our favorite psychiatrist almost slipped my mind. He was pretty light on the case side, but tried to be helpful with the personal issues. He does a lot of babysitting for Booth, doesn’t he? In fact, the decisive psychological comment came from Angela, when she told them who had the finials, not Sweets. But he can’t escape that youthful aspect, even though to Hank, they’re all kids. Almost feeling sorry for him--right until he’s 50 and looks 30; then I can hate him.

Random Impressions

I find it amazing that they could separate male from female bones among all those teeny tiny shards. What happened to at least referencing the testing for age, sex, and maybe ethnicity?

I almost missed good ol’ Vincent--they’re talking about potential spontaneous combustion and nobody referenced Charles Fort? Shame, shame.

I find it interesting that Booth’s female relatives seem to get short shrift. More has been said about his father than his mother, and the only comment about his grandmother was Hank’s rather fond reminiscence of her…ahem…physical attributes. What is this, a Disney flick? But we did get some more Booth family history, and I want more. Was Hank simply referring to Booth telling Brennan about being abandoned when he told her to listen and comfort him?

The bodies’ appearance was an awful lot like the ones on Fringe last week, collapsing in on themselves in a pile of ash. Honestly, both cases gave me a shiver.

“Pair of steel ovaries” *snicker* Actually fairly true, metaphorically speaking, of course!

Never did hear of the feeder and eater concept before, but, then, I’m a homebody. And the roommate’s description skeeved me, too. Even though everyone likes to be appreciated, there are limits. Sorry, no brisket eating here.

The victims--why did we never see Hugo? No picture, no checking out his house/roomie, no feel for him at all, almost like he didn’t exist. And almost everyone else they talked to was unpleasant, from Meg to her boss to the first woman at the club. And the real estate agent--not sure how to describe her. She was pretty close to obstructing justice and incredibly callous…or maybe just incredibly desperate and self-absorbed, the way she kept trying to keep the house on the market, despite it being an active crime scene. And the seller--I was convinced they were linked somehow, the way he kept popping up when she did, at unnecessary times.

Good
End scene made my fan girl heart go pitter-patter. “I like the thing around your neck.” “You’ve seen it before.” [True!] “Oh, I don’t think so.” And that smile! *happy sigh* Finally, finally, finally taking an active step, no matter how small!
I’m also pleased about how they treated the whole “getting older” bit. We’re going through some of that in my family (minus the fire, thank goodness) and that part rang very true to me. Including how difficult it was for Hank to decide to go back to the retirement home. It’s a fine line to walk, and Booth’s reluctance to insist that Hank needs help or even to completely override him, as in the fire issue, is very true to life.

Bad
I feel as though some of the more physical aspects of the forensic work are being treated with a little less weight than they should. Admittedly, when we’re talking about ash and bone shards, there can’t be much for us to watch, but a little more discussion of the difficulties would have been nice.

A light-hearted episode, which even dead bodies and the discussion of Booth’s father couldn’t bring down. I’d like the Christmas episode to have this level of lightness, but a somewhat more sober one would not come amiss. Amount of jargon's really dropped since Zack left, I noticed, having spent some time rewatching old episodes.

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