BONES: The Witch in the Wardrobe

Word up, BONES fans; we have a LOT to talk about! Wicca…and a WEDDING!

Did you like this episode? Personally, I thought it was one of the best ensemble episodes in BONES series history. Cheers to Kathy Reichs for writing an episode that utilized each character with great purpose! Likewise, the episode was case-driven, which always gives a good season one vibe to things. BONES had very good success with that procedural process, mixing in some quirky side characters and a dash of B&B at the end for the first couple of years, and it worked again. If Booth and Brennan’s relationship is what gets us to the table, then the cases are the bread and butter. And I guess that makes the squints a nice side salad with a spritz of vinaigrette. And now I’m hungry, haha. But please, like any of us eat when we watch this show. We know better!

THE CASE:

Although, this body wasn’t too gross, was it? It was mostly fascinating. Booth, Brennan, Angela and Hodgins are called to a crime scene where a woman’s skeleton is found in a wedding dress, in a wardrobe. But when a second and more recently deceased victim, Sherrie Bird, is discovered a few feet away and within a burnt circle, they figure the two bodies are connected in some way. This leads Booth and Brennan into the world of Wicca and witchcraft and it leads Hodgins and Angela to jail. Well, maybe not that exactly, but still…

Back at the lab, Brennan identifies that the wardrobe skeleton is from the Salem Witch trials. She spends a lot of her time in the lab while Booth interrogates several suspects, including a developer who wanted Sherrie’s house, another man who hired her to put a hex on his ex, and one of the witches, Ember. The other witches in the coven do not approve of Sherrie’s black magic, but even they are impressed by the fact that she is a direct descendant of a Salem Witch, and that she dug up the skeleton of her ancestor (the witch in the wardrobe).

The local sheriff arrests H&A (in her Prius) and they are forced to assist with the case from their shared cell. Meanwhile, Sweets is eager to assist on the case, while B&B observe and then interview a coven of white witches.

Booth and Brennan decide that Ember is their killer, but when the evidence isn’t strong enough, Brennan works harder and realizes that the entire coven inadvertently drugged themselves and acted under the influence to kill Sherrie.

THE SQUINTS:

Clark was good in this episode, and I liked his Hodgins-esque experiment. Cam was great too, and I laughed when she was kind of being scolded by the sheriff (and he was awesome!). Sweets was fun, and his whole friendship vibe with Booth is interesting to me. What is so intriguing is that Brennan is the one who basically ‘baby ducked’ him, but Booth is the one being followed around. Haha. I think Booth knew all along that’s what would happen, don’t you?

Hodgins & Angela: Ah, you guys. I cried real and happy tears when the sheriff tossed that confetti on them. What were your reactions? I was very shocked! Well played to have that impromptu wedding be away from the rest of the team. I loved their penny game to pass the time, but what I really loved was how honest they were with one another, especially about their diner break-up. That was so painful in the season four premiere, and the fact that the writers allowed them to DEAL with that gives me hope that some of the other BONES storylines will get equal denouement. Speaking of…

BOOTH & BRENNAN:

Let’s discuss, shall we? I’m glad this was a Hacker&Catherine free episode, and I liked the friendshippy ending, and I thought we might continue our ongoing discussion about the larger B&B picture. I just feel that Brennan is being pulled by this string of tension, a thin, straining thread so ready to break, the tug of war between the ‘not good enoughs’. On one end, that she’s not good enough for Booth (or that she can’t love him like he deserves), and the other end, that being just his partner and friend is not good enough for her.
She feels that tension, and it is so breathtaking to me. It’s such a fascinating paradox that she wants Booth to have a woman who loves him as she feels he should be loved, yet she is making him settle for what he would consider second best. I mean, which is worse, that Booth not be loved as he deserves or that he not be able to love as he WISHES? Right? She can’t quite see that he would rather love her with his whole heart, and take what she can give him (which I believe to be more than what she thinks she has to offer). That Brennan doesn’t want to make him sacrifice is where this gorgeous character development thrives, because he IS sacrificing, and for her. It’s delicious, this tension. And Emily Deschanel is just rocking this entire season. In the micro of this episode, we see that displayed as she is genuinely appreciative of Booth’s kind words toward her.

I liked the idea that Booth has many wishes for her. Was it just me or was he kind of fierce when she said she didn’t know what happiness meant. He was being goofy about his ‘Little Bones’, and his wish, but he grew serious about his desire for her to find “love, laughter, friendship, purpose”. Maybe I am projecting on Booth, but kind of thought he had this underlying vibe that he is back. Back to hope and patience and thinking that he can convince her. Now that he knows she cares about him enough to want what’s best for him, maybe he will begin to persuade her that she’s what is best for him. He’s the only one she’d believe; that’s for sure.

We’ve been chatting BONES here on GMMR for over two years, and during that time, a lot of us have mentioned how much we love Booth and Brennan’s partnership and friendship. That THEY care for one another is immensely apparent, but I still can’t help but feel that when it’s all said and done, those two things won’t be enough for them. Thoughts from you? And, Bingo Baby, next week! I cannot wait.

And before I forget, mark those calendars. Two months from today, Warehouse 13 is back on the air. We had a good time talking about it last summer. Are you in, starting July 6th? Let us know below!