BONES: The Foot in the Foreclosure
November 20, 2009 by SB
Before we get into a discussion of last night’s episode, I have a special announcement.
Mark your calendars! Set a reminder on your iPhone! On December 10th, we’re going to host another LIVE BONES CHAT. I thought it would be nice if we could watch the BONES Christmas episode together. The episode features Zooey Deschanel, Ryan O’Neal and Booth in his boxers. Hello! Are you in? RSVP in the comments.
Hey there, BONES fans! How are things? Did you like this episode? I don’t know if it caught me on a bad day or what (actually, it did), but it felt a little forced to me. I guess I could have handled a two or three episode arc with Pops, and getting all of that storyline across in one episode seemed like too much. I will say that once again like last week, while Booth was centric to the episode, it was really more of a commentary of Brennan’s character development. Loved that.
THE CASE:
A pretty good case, I thought. Booth and Brennan are called to a home for sale, and in the bedroom is a body (or two, as we find out) completely incinerated with the exception of a foot. Also a hand is somewhat salvageable. Booth and Brennan are cute at the crime scene. Never thought I would say that, but I’m not complaining. There are a few suspects in the deaths of Meg and Hugo. Meg’s roommate; the capitalizing real estate agent; the home owner, etc.
BONES managed to gain justice and sympathy in the end when it was revealed that Howard, the original home owner was the murderer. On the advice of the realtor, he’d moved out of the house. But he just wanted to sleep in the bed he’d carved for himself and his late wife. Seeing Meg and Hugo in the bed was enough to incite him to murder, ironically using the handmade bedpost toppers as weapons.
THE SQUINTS:
- Clark: Clark confused me, but sort of pleased me, which was more confusing. He was kind of personable! It was a shock to the team and to me too. And then I realized that maybe it was just crappy writing. BONES is notorious for making the characters do things that fit storylines. It’s kind of annoying actually. Hmmm…
- Hodgins: I’m such a hypocrite, though, because as annoyed as I was at Clark’s feelings, I loved Hodgins’ reaction to them. Oh well, I will just move on. I liked his wick effect theory. Smart!
- Angela: Angela made me smile actually when she was telling Brennan about nicknames. And I liked how she kind of thought the murder was sweet. I think Angela was great in an episode? Hmmm…
- Cam: She seems almost more responsible for the grad students than Brennan sometimes. Do the squinterns work for her and the Jeffersonian, or are they grad students of Brennan’s?
- Sweets: LOVED how Pops got some digs in on Sweets. Sweets was pretty good natured about it, though. What was interesting (vs last week) was that Booth relied on Sweets in this episode for help, and that seemed very straightforward, as in there was no question in Booth’s mind. I think Sweets was pleased by that. I’m sure he would say, “I know”. Haha.
- Pops: Ah, Hank! He was fun. It felt overdramatic and cheesy to me, when he was talking about Booth’s childhood, and at the end. What’s wrong with me? Am I too jaded? If so, BONES made me that way. Ha. Perhaps there was just too much build up for this episode. That always has as tendency to disappoint me. I do want to know what Booth said to him about Brennan. That she was beautiful? Did you see the way Booth introduced her to him? He wanted them to like each other. And they did, which I liked a lot. I think it made Booth a little nervous, in a good way, though. Especially at lunch at Founding Fathers. Pops kind of reminded me of my own Grandad, in a very good way, but particularly in the way that if he were in a home repair store that he would quickly become the expert! Loved that. Pops was terrific at Club Jiggle!
BOOTH & BRENNAN:
I do not understand the plot point that Booth was rescued in his childhood by his grandfather. Not that I don’t buy it as plausible, but what about when Brennan told him in season one that SHE was in foster care until her grandfather got her out of the system. First of all, why didn’t Booth…(well, actually, first of all, where has THAT grandfather been this whole time?), but why, in all of those times when Booth comforted Brennan about her family or childhood did he not mention that? I hope that when all is said and done on BONES that we will have some resolution on that front.
I do like the idea that Brennan has this secret now about Booth’s childhood. It will be interesting to see if that ever comes up again, if in fact she ever tells him (and holds him). Either Brennan has adopted Booth’s penchant for telling people what they want to hear or she honestly believes she will be in his life ‘one day’.
I love the moment in Club Jiggle where Booth finds out that the cake was devil’s food. It’s like in that moment, that kind of cake was ruined for him for life. Funny. But here’s the thing, Booth. First of all, I love you. Secondly…grow a set. Grow some steel ovaries, if you want. And also, get a clue. Your partner wants to be in your family. And for her, family=love. She may never call it love, but when she had no family, she decided that love didn’t exist. You know that about her. You know her better than anyone. Can’t you see it in the way she is excited to be invited for grilled cheese; she bought a pill box, she eats your fries, and she wants to kick your ass at dominoes? She wants to be with you. Also, call me.
But seriously BONES fans, we discussed last week (and throughout this season) that Booth knows he is in love with Brennan. Cam told him. Sweets told him. Dr. Wyatt told him. And not once has he denied it. What I found myself thinking was that I wished Brennan felt the same. But here’s the thing. No one has said to her face that she is in love with Booth. Last week Sweets gave us a couple of clues as to why, but I kind of wonder what would happen if someone did say that to her. Or maybe not ‘in love’; I’m not worried about those two words ever coming from her mouth. But if Angela or someone were to say to her, “Booth is your family. You want to be his, and you want him to be yours”, I don’t think she would deny it. I could be wrong. But I don’t think I am.
Thoughts from you?
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First of all, why didn’t Booth…(well, actually, first of all, where has THAT grandfather been this whole time?), but why, in all of those times when Booth comforted Brennan about her family or childhood did he not mention that?
He did mention it, last season in the episode “Mayhem on a Cross.” At the end of the episode, Brennan and Booth confessed their childhood traumas to Sweets to let him know they trusted him. Booth confessed that if it wasn’t for his grandfather, he probably would have killed himself as a teenager. I’ve been waiting for this episode ever since.
I loved Gramps for getting Brennen to smile almost the entire episode. She had almost a childlike quality about her when he was around and it was very sweet.
I think I might put Bones on the rewatch list. I know in the first couple of seasons I watched so fast I missed things.
I feel like this episode was here to set up a future episode. Maybe Pops dying will serve a greater purpose because he told them both that they know that they are supposed to be together and that is what he wants. Maybe that will be the catalyst to finally break down barriers and get them together. I don’t know…just a thought.
I loved this episode even though I do agree that it may have been a bit forced. That being said, the whole thing with Pops now puts Brennan smack in the middle of Booth’s life, between work, being Booth’s “village” when it comes to Parker, and now both of them having a relationship with Pops. It kind of completes the circle. Whether she knows it or not, or will even admit it, Booth has been the center of her life for a few years now. He knows everything about her past and has been very involved in her own family life. Booth is aware of all of this…I wonder what will need to happen in order for Brennan to be aware of it and ACCEPT it.
I feel like this season, although it has been a lot about Booth coming to grips with being in love with Brennan, the big changes are going on with her underneath the surface. It is amazing to me how the writers can change her and still have her remain in character. Brilliant.
>>Ashley, you are so right! I love that episode, and that moment. I think i’ve watched it about 1,000 times, just hoping that if i watch it enough times, that his hand will touch hers just before it slips away. of course, it never does, and i just keep on watching ;).
But i guess i was thinking more along the lines of the season one finale (I think) where Booth comes to her apartment to talk to her, twice. And again in Season Two when he comforts her after her father and Russ leave AGAIN. And even in season three during Max’s trial, there is just no mention from him that he was raised by his grandfather. (remember when he talks about how parents have secret lives, and how he loves his father, and how he tells Dr. Wyatt in season two that he doesn’t have dad issues…that GG is barking up the wrong tree with that one?). I’m not saying that this current story of Booth (and I consider last season’s reveal in Sweets’ office to be this current story too) isn’t right or plausible, and maybe Booth has just been repressing it this whole time. I just don’t see that it has been the plan all along for Booth. Particularly compared to the fact that it was in fact Brennan’s storyline at one point. Haha, this tangent is way past your original point. Which as I said already, was totally right. Thanks for pointing it out.
>>Patty, I highly recommend that! I am currently 2/3rds of the way through season one again, and it’s worth it, for no other reason than the episodes are funny, and Booth and Brennan get into some real good old fashioned bickering. As far as Brennan + Pops, I so loved that. You are right about how she was very childlike. Not immature, or anything, but just…I don’t know, the same way I feel about my grandpas, and I’m almost 30. I think it’s just a natural reaction or expression of affection. Considering she didn’t have that, i thought it was very special too, to see her like that with Booth’s Pops. I thought Booth was pretty cute with Pops too. 🙂
>>Hey Angie, Perhaps you are right. But what is this about Pops dying? I’ve heard it other places too, which is sad! Hmmm…hmmm…! I agree with you about the fact that Brennan is now ingrained into Booth’s personal life. I think anything he might have been unsure about (her ability to communicate with parker, her reaction to his less than desirable childhood, his protectiveness of his brother) have been dealt with. He kind of doesn’t have any more excuses on that front. Plus, like you said, she’s not indifferent toward his personal life; she’s actually quite obsessive about it (in a good way). that hasn’t really changed since the beginning of the show. She’s such a curious person anyways, and Booth’s family and personal life have always been outside of what she has known about him.
I am hoping that all of this set up isn’t about to crash into something terrible. Maybe i’m a TV pessimist, but I just really really hope neither Booth nor Brennan does anything foolish that sets them back only to have to be rebuilt again.
Ah!
I think the part that really drove it home for me was Booth telling Brennan that he should be ‘a good boy’.
Wasn’t it just last week that Bones revealed she preferred good boys?
YESSS!!!!!
I liked that Pops told Booth (basicallly) to put the brain in neutyal and the heart in overdrive. Because everything associated with Booth’s love for Brennan has been in regards to his brain, right? This season, at least.
As Booth himself has said, Brain and Heart, Brain and Heart.
Oh, man, I submitted that last comment from my BlackBerry while driving in the dark. that’s the last time I’ll do that! So I meant basically and neutral! Haha
I too felt like the episode was rushed and (don’t hate me) a tad melodramatic. It was sweet and it’s always nice to see Brennan acting human but it just didn’t do it for me, I don’t why. Maybe because it raised more questions than it answered like where was Booth’s mother when the father was sent away? And of course, like you said, it brings back the neverending continuity issues – why did he pretend that his family was so ‘normal’ in the first season and where the hell is Brennan’s grandfather?
Overall, the episode was ok. Not my favorite of the new season but still far better than most of the previous season. For once I feel like they’re on a good path at a perfect pace. I’m enjoying the slow build and I appreciate that we’re not being hit over the head with the relationship – the writers get that we get it, we know the score and we can wait. I feel like GG’s ‘Hope and patience…’ from the previous episode was as much for us, the rabid fans, as it was for Booth.
seeleybaby,
You shouldn’t email while you drive, whether it is light or dark.
You could kill yourself or someone else!