BONES: The Goop on the Girl
December 11, 2009 by Sarah Curtis
Hey BONES fans!
First of all, thanks to all who joined in on the live chat last night; it was a great time. I asked those of us there which BONES Christmas episode was a favorite, and I’m interested to know what you think, too.
1. The Man in the Fallout Shelter (Season One)
2. The Santa in the Slush (Season Three)
3. The Goop on the Girl (Season Five)
Be sure to vote in the comments. But let’s get on to this week’s episode.
A lot of times, I think BONES plays the smoke & mirror game and makes up for poor case writing with some fluff, but in this episode, I liked the case. Of course, perhaps that just means their mirror game worked as it’s never worked before. I need your help. Was this a good episode, or not?
Let’s talk Zooey Deschanel. I was torn, because on the one hand, I really liked all of Margaret’s moments with Brennan, but on the flip side; I had seen all of them from the promo videos, so that was kind of a let down. I’ll blame FOX for that, though, and not the actresses. I think I liked this as a one time thing; I don’t need for Brennan to go off searching for her biological family. Thoughts from you? Another note; it was nice to see Ryan ONeal around as Max again.
THE CASE:
The episode starts with a Santa robbing a bank; he has a bomb strapped to his chest. Once he gets outside with the money, Booth is in the area and hears of the robbery. He gets to the scene just in time to hold the Santa at gunpoint. It seemed to me that the Santa wasn’t interested in killing himself, and the bomb went off accidentally, leaving Santa (later identified as Holden Chevaleer) dead, and some witnesses covered in, well…goop. The prime witnesses are a cab driver, Booth, and a woman, Georgia Hartmeyer. She also becomes a suspect. Other suspects include a radio host, Owen Thiel, who angrily spouts out anti-materialistic radio waves, and Malaki Wallace, a bomb making expert.
I thought it was pretty creative that Holden was a patsy, forced to wear the Santa costume for the crime. And the scene with his mother in Booth’s office was heartbreaking. One of the most prevalent themes of BONES is ‘redemption’, and this episode featured that as Owen’s story. I liked his ‘confession’ at the end of the episode, and the entire team standing at the gravesite on Christmas morning felt very season one in a heartcrushingly good way.
Were you surprised that Georgia and the cab driver were in on it together?
THE SQUINTS:
You know how I feel about Daisy and Sweets when he’s with Daisy, so in the interest of Christmas spirit, I’ll just leave it at that.
Angela and Hodgins may have tried to sneak a moment past me, but…I don’t know. I’m still not convinced that they are meant to be together. What was with Hodgins quoting Booth’s “There’s more than one kind of family.” Um, hello! True statement, though. I liked the moment where Angela and Cam were talking to Hodgins when he had on his fake bomb prototype. And I really enjoyed that Cam’s part in the episode included her relationship with Michelle.
BOOTH & BRENNAN:
St. Joseph, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John. Ah, yes. I don’t think it gets any sweeter than Brennan blushing and keeping her hands on her work as she unbuttons Booth’s crisp white dress shirt and invites him to Christmas dinner. Except maybe Booth telling her that her heart muscles are bigger than people give her credit for.
Booth and Brennan are still the center; and the center is holding. I just finished re-watching Season One, and in that finale, Russ accuses Brennan of forgetting about him and creating her own family. She is shocked at the time, but it’s exactly what she’s done. The one person who at first glance seems to push people away has managed to be the center. And while each other character might say that they agreed to come to her Christmas dinner because they want to make her feel good; truly…where else were they going to go?
That’s why I liked the co-toast/co-hosting (and peeking) that she and Booth were doing at dinner. They’re still the center. Family and friends and lovers, and family and food. Cheers.
Ah, no more new BONES episodes until 2010, so I guess this is it for awhile. I’m still working on my 100 Days of BONES project; we’re getting ready to start Season Two, next Monday. In the meantime, I wish all of you a very happy holiday season. May your hearts be full, and your smiles be wide. I’m sending you all a pair of striped socks with Seeley J. Booth inside (boxers and Santa residue optional).
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I thought it was a good episode. Not my favorite Christmas episode, though. I think for me “The Man in the Fallout Shelter” was just so awesome, it’s hard to top. Overall this one was sweet, had some good moments, but I wasn’t left floored.
I may be judging this episode a little too harshly though. With all the pimping of Zooey’s presence early on, I was expecting way more. I even found myself worrying early on that she and Booth would hook up. Luckily that didn’t happen, but I didn’t really see much utilization of this amazing actress.
Okay, I just wrote a whole paragraph on how this was a lackluster episode given it was their 100th episode, then I realized that this wasn’t their 100th episode. I got my Zooey appearing on Bones and 100th episode spoilers momentarily confused. So, I definitely judged this episode too harshly while watching. I guess I’ll just have to watch it again. 🙂 That said, I wish they would have either done more with Zooey’s character in this obvious one episode chance, or not put every frame of film with her in it online ahead of time.
Thank you for sticking around for this essentially pointless ramble. 🙂
I think I know why Daisy keeps making appearances. Because you (the royal “you”) hate her. She’s annoying as hell, nobody really likes her, but that’s why the writer’s let her come back. Because she makes you love the other cast even more, because as bad a trait as they may have, you’re hard pressed to actually find a good one for her. And Sweets doesn’t count.
I liked Zooey Deschanel in this. She’s like an English Lit version of Brennan. They gave Bones the higher ground when she knocks Margaret off her Franklin habit, with admittedly a sweet line of wanting to hear what she has to say. And Booth goes one beyond, saying family isn’t who you like but who you still gather with regardless. And don’t think they slipped the Deschanel song past me either.
Due to television ergonomics (only once did this formula fail, with the Amish episode), I was curious about the witness when she actually had a scene inside the lab. I was surprised when the taxi driver was in on it too, but then I thought he was dead until he was mentioned again.
Hodgins and Angela and getting sad. Sad emotionally, and sad uncomfortably. Yes, we get it, they had something, they lost it over some stupid reasons right after they were supposedly “perfect” for each other (God sent a bicycle race to cut off Barasa after all), and now they get puppydog eyes remembering the good ole times. There’s already unresolved tension between B&B, I don’t think two helpings is worth the effort here. “Will they” or “won’t they” doesn’t even factor any more for me, it’s down too “just get back together already, geez”.
The chat last night was fun! I even learned some stuff, seeing as though I missed pretty much ALL of season four, and the start of this season too. No idea who Michele was, but I liked her last night, and I liked the dynamic between her and Cam. I’ll have to go back and rewatch her introduction (or ask for DVDs for Christmas!) to truly grasp the situation.
My favourite Christmas episode has got to be The Man in the Fallout Shelter. As if the fact of Hodgins in a towel isn’t great enough … there’s the “festive non-lesbian manner”, the eggnog conversation, Booth high on drugs, and the sweet gift exchange. Oh, and the case! I really liked that case, and it still makes me cry when I watch.
This episode was good, though, and I liked Zooey as Margaret. She seemed slightly off-balance, like I think Brennan is – so that was a nice touch. I hadn’t really seen any previews, or read spoilers – so other the fact that she was on, I didn’t know much. It was all new to me, so it worked. And the ending with all of the wrap-ups, the sweetness, the tears … it was great.
Speaking of Angela and Hodgins … they’re still my true ship, so I am certain they’re destined to be together, and I hope it happens in the end! For now … they’re cute flirting!
Yes, The Man in the Fallout Shelter is still the best. It was our first Christmas show and it’s still the sweetest. Yeah, and Kimber? It still makes me cry too.
I enjoyed last night’s episode and even remembered not to be eating when Santa blew up.
I almost always find Zooey annoying so nothing new there. I did like that they used her to make a point about family and Christmas.
I loved the squints (except the whole Daisy/Sweets exchange because really? Gag me) and B&B were GREAT! Hodgins “where is your chest hair?” Brilliant!
I had a few facepalm moments. In particular, Hodgins licking the swab of evidence. As a general rule of thumb for life, you just don’t put unknown things into your mouth. I think this rule holds even more ground when it comes to science and bombs. I was also a little skeptical at Angela’s clay reconstruction. I appreciate that she’s a fantastic artist, but she’s not an anthropologist, budding or professional, and placing markers would not be in her job description.
That being said, I sort of feel this was Hart’s and the writers’ point to the episode. Sometimes it’s not about the science, but rather the heart-crushing truth. And I did still squeal an awful lot at all the fluffy moments of goodness.
Sara V.– Haha! I have totally done stuff like that. I enjoyed seeing your thoughts progress as the comment was going on. haha. I was also a teensy bit nervous about a Margaret/Booth pairing, but I’m thankful that didn’t come to any fruition. What I can’t tell is whether Margaret was trying to convince Brennan that Booth was trying to fish for her (Brennan) or that Brennan should try to fish for Booth with the whole “he that would fish should venture his bait” line. Either way, it was kind of cute.
Jacob, hahaha. “(God sent a bicycle race to cut off Barasa after all)” HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, universe! Hahaha. Thanks for this, my first real laugh of the day. And good point about Daisy working as a foil for other characters.
Kimber, you could always check out the reviews for last year on here! 🙂 I think you might like season four, some, at least. There is some pretty good Hodgins character development, as he has to deal with both Angela and Zack out of his life, and it’s good to see that. If you are picking and choosing season four episodes to catch up on, I personally LOVE Fire in the Ice. Conman in the MethLab is good too, if only Booth gets very, very, very fierce, on Brennan no less. Passenger in the Oven is fun too, if you can excuse the very very end of the episode. I also liked Science in the Physicist and Mayhem on the Cross is worth watching, because Gordon Gordon Wyatt is in it. I guess I would say the whole season is worth a watch, at least once, but if you don’t have the time for that; those are probably my favorite episodes (although I know not everyone would agree with me).
Patty: I know you had mentioned (here, I think) that you were thinking of giving Bones another run through from start to finish, and I just cannot recommend that highly enough. And I agree with you (and Kimber) about The Man in the Fallout Shelter, It’s so great, and I still cry when Brennan opens her gifts at the end, and when Booth invites her to Wong Foos. Booth was in his boxers THEN too (and doing pull ups, no less), which is a Christmas BONES theme I can get behind. Hopefully it won’t be another four years before we see that again, haha.
Sarah: Haha, I totally agree. I was like, “Um, Hodgins…don’t put that in your mouth. Don’t put anything that’s in the lab in your mouth.” There has to be another way to test the substance, haha.
Patty (and Sarah) – glad I’m not the only one who gets teary at Man in the Fallout Shelter. It’s such a fabulous episode, all the way through!
Hey Sarah! Thanks for the suggestions on S4 Bones episodes to catch up on. I figured a lot had to happen with Hodgins, as I heard bits and pieces about him and Angela “breaking up”, and whatnot. I honestly intended on watching S4 when it aired, if for no other reason than Brendan Fehr had a starring role (he was a fave of mine from Roswell, and he’s also from my little Canadian hometown!). Anyway, I might end up buying the DVDs if I can find them on sale anytime soon, and catching up that way.