Network: Fox
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, TJ Thyne, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley
Summary: When the body of a surgeon is found in a tough neighborhood with multiple skull fractures, Brennan is disturbed by how much she has in common with the victim, but her perspective may be just what the team needs to solve the case.
Review: Sorry this review is so late this week; I’ve been having some computer problems that make it impossible to watch anything with sound on my laptop, which means I spent the weekend trying to bully it into submission (it didn’t work).
So this was a very Brennan-centric episode of Bones, and one that finally called into question the entire philosophy by which she lives her life. For those who didn’t see the episode but are still reading this review for some reason, the team investigates the death of a prominent neurosurgeon with whom Brennan over-identifies. It forces her to reexamine her life.
First, I have to say that, while this may not have been Emily Deschanel’s best ever episode (I personally think that goes to the episode where she testifies against the Gravedigger), she definitely nailed it. Brennan’s been bottling everything up all season (well, really her entire life, but especially since she got back to the States this season), and it all have to come out eventually. I thought Deschanel did a good job showing a range of emotions that Brennan doesn’t normally display, namely fear and regret, in a way that was still believable for the character.
The case was the best kind of letdown. Stop here if you don’t want any spoilers. I said in a previous review that Bones (and many other crime shows) tries so hard sometimes to surprise the viewer by making the killer the least obvious person that it’s actually incredibly predictable. This episode was nothing like that. The fact that her death turned out to be essentially an accident was actually a bigger twist than any murder could have been.
Then, of course, there was Brennan’s revelation that letting Booth go was her biggest regret. Having seen the promo for this episode, I was anticipating this moment with trepidation, and I hated it just as much as I expected to. The whole thing just felt… awkward. I should state that I’ve never been a Booth/Brennan shipper, and I don’t see that changing unless one of them does a serious personality makeover. I think they (usually) have the best chemistry of almost any on-screen duo (Castle and Beckett might be the exception), but I don’t think it translates into romance. I know that I’m in the minority with this opinion, and I’ve almost accepted the fact that they’ll wind up together in the end, but this scene didn’t warm me to it. If anything, I’m hoping both of them can get some closure now and work on salvaging their friendship. Go off and be with other people. I know fans will say that they’ve already done that and it’s time for them to be together, but the opportunity was missed. If they’re really going to get together, another opportunity has to present itself, and I don’t believe that can happen until both of them have moved past this failed attempt.
So that’s it in a nutshell. There were a few more smaller things I enjoyed: the dinner Brennan threw in the beginning for Booth, Hannah, Angela and Hodgins; Brennan’s comforter; pretty much every scene with Sweets in it; how genuinely nice Brennan was to Micah (was I the only one who thought he might just be in her head?). In all, I think this was one of the better episodes this season, and I’m looking forward to seeing the consequences it will have.
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Rating: 4/5
Showing posts with label show: Bones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label show: Bones. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Bones - The Body and the Bounty
Network: Fox
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, TJ Thyne, Tamara Taylor
Summary: Brennan makes a deal with a celebrity professor to be her new intern after he inquires about hosting his children's science show from the Jeffersonian. Meanwhile, a dismembered corpse is identified as a bounty hunter, and the team find they're not the only ones looking for a fugitive who is wanted for murder.
Review: I sat on this episode a few days before writing a review because I'm still not really sure how I felt about it. On the one hand, I was annoyed by the Science Dude, and I found the killer to be predictable. On the other hand, it may have all been worth it for two scenes: the one where Angela and Brennan discuss the baby's name, and the one where Brennan comes out dressed as a skeleton.
Someone commented in a previous review that the characters were becoming "watered-down caricatures" instead of the complex characters from seasons past, and I'm starting to agree. The quirky ticks (i.e. Brennan's inability to hold a normal conversation, Hodgins' childlike enthusiasm for everything, Cam's slightly flighty nature) have amped up significantly since the 100th episode, and not necessarily in a good way. These traits which used to give balance to the characters now seem to dominate, making them more unrealistic. We've always had to suspend disbelief a little when dealing with the science behind Bones, but now I find myself starting to suspend disbelief when dealing with the characters.
People have told me they don't feel Booth and Brennan's chemistry is as good as it once was, and I can see where they're coming from, though I still enjoy the scenes between them (especially where they were planning the perfect murder in the beginning of the episode, although I feel like they could have done more with that bit later in the episode). And I do think they would be a little awkward around each other after Booth's confession of love and Brennan's rejection. That kind of thing changes a relationship, at least for awhile.
I also mentioned last week that the case seemed to be just an excuse to have the characters make jokes, and I feel similarly this week--that the case was just an excuse to set a record for the most "Amazing"s in one hour. I find this to be particularly sad, since the complex cases were one of the things I enjoyed most about Bones, after the wonderful chemistry between the characters. How can anyone compare the cases we've seen in the past few weeks with the Gravedigger or Gormogon? Even before they became arcs, those stories were significantly more intricate and compelling than anything we've seen recently.
I don't want to make it sound like this episode was terrible, because it definitely had its redeeming moments, the best being the scene between Angela and Brennan. I've always loved their relationship, especially because Brennan tries so hard to be a good friend to Angela, even though she's fairly incapable of normal social interaction, and Angela loves Brennan no matter what. This scene was probably the highlight of the whole episode for me because their relationship is one of the few that is uchanged throughout the series. It was the first thing we were introduced to in the pilot episode, and it's something that has always been solid.
Also, the final scene, though incredibly out of character for Brennan, was hysterical. It may have made the whole episode worthwhile. Brennan reciting the "Scientist's Oath" was one of the funniest things I've seen on Bones in awhile.
All in all, I have mixed feelings about this episode, and I'm not entirely comfortable with the path Bones is heading down. It's always had a strong character focus, which is good because forensic anthropology is not most people's cup of tea, but the characters are starting to detract more from the plot than enhance it. I enjoyed it while I was watching it, but it didn't have any kind of lasting impression, to the point where I had to struggle to remember the plot of this episode. Did anyone else have the same problems? Leave me a comment and let me know.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, TJ Thyne, Tamara Taylor
Summary: Brennan makes a deal with a celebrity professor to be her new intern after he inquires about hosting his children's science show from the Jeffersonian. Meanwhile, a dismembered corpse is identified as a bounty hunter, and the team find they're not the only ones looking for a fugitive who is wanted for murder.
Review: I sat on this episode a few days before writing a review because I'm still not really sure how I felt about it. On the one hand, I was annoyed by the Science Dude, and I found the killer to be predictable. On the other hand, it may have all been worth it for two scenes: the one where Angela and Brennan discuss the baby's name, and the one where Brennan comes out dressed as a skeleton.
Someone commented in a previous review that the characters were becoming "watered-down caricatures" instead of the complex characters from seasons past, and I'm starting to agree. The quirky ticks (i.e. Brennan's inability to hold a normal conversation, Hodgins' childlike enthusiasm for everything, Cam's slightly flighty nature) have amped up significantly since the 100th episode, and not necessarily in a good way. These traits which used to give balance to the characters now seem to dominate, making them more unrealistic. We've always had to suspend disbelief a little when dealing with the science behind Bones, but now I find myself starting to suspend disbelief when dealing with the characters.
People have told me they don't feel Booth and Brennan's chemistry is as good as it once was, and I can see where they're coming from, though I still enjoy the scenes between them (especially where they were planning the perfect murder in the beginning of the episode, although I feel like they could have done more with that bit later in the episode). And I do think they would be a little awkward around each other after Booth's confession of love and Brennan's rejection. That kind of thing changes a relationship, at least for awhile.
I also mentioned last week that the case seemed to be just an excuse to have the characters make jokes, and I feel similarly this week--that the case was just an excuse to set a record for the most "Amazing"s in one hour. I find this to be particularly sad, since the complex cases were one of the things I enjoyed most about Bones, after the wonderful chemistry between the characters. How can anyone compare the cases we've seen in the past few weeks with the Gravedigger or Gormogon? Even before they became arcs, those stories were significantly more intricate and compelling than anything we've seen recently.
I don't want to make it sound like this episode was terrible, because it definitely had its redeeming moments, the best being the scene between Angela and Brennan. I've always loved their relationship, especially because Brennan tries so hard to be a good friend to Angela, even though she's fairly incapable of normal social interaction, and Angela loves Brennan no matter what. This scene was probably the highlight of the whole episode for me because their relationship is one of the few that is uchanged throughout the series. It was the first thing we were introduced to in the pilot episode, and it's something that has always been solid.
Also, the final scene, though incredibly out of character for Brennan, was hysterical. It may have made the whole episode worthwhile. Brennan reciting the "Scientist's Oath" was one of the funniest things I've seen on Bones in awhile.
All in all, I have mixed feelings about this episode, and I'm not entirely comfortable with the path Bones is heading down. It's always had a strong character focus, which is good because forensic anthropology is not most people's cup of tea, but the characters are starting to detract more from the plot than enhance it. I enjoyed it while I was watching it, but it didn't have any kind of lasting impression, to the point where I had to struggle to remember the plot of this episode. Did anyone else have the same problems? Leave me a comment and let me know.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Bones - The Couple in the Cave
Network: Fox
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, TJ Thyne, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley
Summary: A surprise visit by Booth's girlfriend, war correspondent Hannah Burley, forces Brennan to take another look at her relationship with Booth. Meanwhile, the team tries to identify a couple whose remains were found in a cave in a national park.
Review: I'm going to come right out and say it: I like Booth's new girlfriend. And I like her and Booth together. Booth is so happy with her, and he's so obviously in love. How can you not like it? I also really like about their relationship is that Booth is clearly not with her as some kind of twisted ploy to make Brennan jealous (which you may scoff at, but is a fairly typical plot device when two characters are engaged in the "will they, won't they" game that Booth and Brennan are). He loves Hannah because he loves her, and it has nothing to do with Brennan at all.
This episode was good for several reasons. First, like I just mentioned, because it introduced Hannah and really showed her relationship with Booth. Also because the team was solving their first case the way they used to, without any of the awkwardness of having been apart for seven months. Even Clark was back as an intern... and he was still troubled by the fact that the team brings their personal lives to work with them all the time. Everything was back to the way it should be.
The case itself was pretty easy to solve, which is a mild detraction from the overall quality of the episode. I know after awhile there are only so many ways a case can pan out, but it's nice when the writers still manage to trip you up a little. In this case, I identified the killer the first time he/she walked into a scene. It loses a little bit after that point, even though it's still enjoyable to watch the team try and come to same conclusion.
It's good to see that a summer off and a new character haven't disrupted the chemistry between our favorite characters. Booth and Sweets had a few wonderful exchanges throughout the episode, Booth and Brennan were spot on, and even Cam and Hodgins had some fun. I'm looking forward to more of Hodgins and Angela and the baby story as the season goes on.
This episode did exactly what it needed to: introduce Booth's new girlfriend, establish what her relationship with Brennan would be, and show the audience that, despite the end of season 5, the team is back and just as good as they were when they left.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, TJ Thyne, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley
Summary: A surprise visit by Booth's girlfriend, war correspondent Hannah Burley, forces Brennan to take another look at her relationship with Booth. Meanwhile, the team tries to identify a couple whose remains were found in a cave in a national park.
Review: I'm going to come right out and say it: I like Booth's new girlfriend. And I like her and Booth together. Booth is so happy with her, and he's so obviously in love. How can you not like it? I also really like about their relationship is that Booth is clearly not with her as some kind of twisted ploy to make Brennan jealous (which you may scoff at, but is a fairly typical plot device when two characters are engaged in the "will they, won't they" game that Booth and Brennan are). He loves Hannah because he loves her, and it has nothing to do with Brennan at all.
This episode was good for several reasons. First, like I just mentioned, because it introduced Hannah and really showed her relationship with Booth. Also because the team was solving their first case the way they used to, without any of the awkwardness of having been apart for seven months. Even Clark was back as an intern... and he was still troubled by the fact that the team brings their personal lives to work with them all the time. Everything was back to the way it should be.
The case itself was pretty easy to solve, which is a mild detraction from the overall quality of the episode. I know after awhile there are only so many ways a case can pan out, but it's nice when the writers still manage to trip you up a little. In this case, I identified the killer the first time he/she walked into a scene. It loses a little bit after that point, even though it's still enjoyable to watch the team try and come to same conclusion.
It's good to see that a summer off and a new character haven't disrupted the chemistry between our favorite characters. Booth and Sweets had a few wonderful exchanges throughout the episode, Booth and Brennan were spot on, and even Cam and Hodgins had some fun. I'm looking forward to more of Hodgins and Angela and the baby story as the season goes on.
This episode did exactly what it needed to: introduce Booth's new girlfriend, establish what her relationship with Brennan would be, and show the audience that, despite the end of season 5, the team is back and just as good as they were when they left.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
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