BONES Recap: ‘The Suit on the Set’
May 8, 2012 by Sarah Curtis
Hey, BONES fans! You know how sometimes, you go to a local play — maybe a high school musical or something like that, and the actors toss in a cheesy inside joke? It might be a little bit funny, especially to a select few in the audience, but it’s also almost immature in its indulgency? That is how a lot of this episode felt for me. Some might say that a show in its seventh season deserves to be so self-indulgent, and I’m not saying I didn’t laugh a couple of times, but it just didn’t do much for me. BONES creator Hart Hanson tweeted and called it a “tip-of-the-hat to the super fan”, and from what I’ve seen, many, many people enjoyed it. So with that, let’s discuss!
THE CASE:
The Scene of the Crime: While visiting the Hollywood set currently filming a movie based on one of Brennan’s books, she realizes that a prop corpse is in fact an actual dead body. The studio wants to shut production down, but Brennan insists that she and Booth can solve the case. Dr. Douglas Filmore (from “Feet on the Beach”) is there as the scientific expert, and he offers his assistance.
The Victim: Hanson Stephens, network president, is the victim. Word on the set is that he’s disliked by everyone. As the case continues, Booth and Brennan find out that he was manipulative and not above sleeping with actresses to tempt them with movie roles.
Potential Suspects and Motives: One such actress was Cherie, who played the part of Kathy Reichs in the film. By her description, she is a lot like Kathy, well…if she’d gone to college, that is. But they have the same essence. Ha! Cherie was also snuggling up with gardener/screenwriter Fernando, who worked for topiary creator Valerie, who once yelled at studio VP Mandy, who thinks that Liam the screenwriter is a hack who wants her job.
It’s deliciously Hollywood, so pride, money, fame and prestige are the clear motives. Let’s not forget Cherie’s co-star Blaine, who tries to impersonate Booth (and protect him from prima donna director Jocco), who meanwhile is getting a potential job interview from Mike, the set head of security. Each player comes off as frothy and glossy or manipulative. Rounding out the case is Barry, an actor/botanist/microbiologist/
The Verdict: The Jeffersonian team is able to remotely work with Brennan, Booth, Barry and Dr. Filmore, and they determine that Hanson Stephens was hit by a car. Though Mandy’s car has foliage, it doesn’t match. But Valerie, the topiary master, confesses to the crime, stating that HS wouldn’t apologize for wrecking one of her works.
THE SQUINTS:
The lab is also caught up in movie mania, as the episode begins with Cam, Hodgins, Angela and Sweets watching a trailer and interview of Brennan’s movie. Hodgins is mostly bummed that the scientist characters don’t have big parts.
But his dissatisfaction is assuaged by two things. First is when Barry proves himself to be a worthwhile scientist on the case. The second is when Barry admits that Cam looks a lot like a woman he used to know in New York — a woman who once acted with him in a movie called INVASION OF THE MOTHER SUCKERS. Am I the only one who wouldn’t mind having Barry around the lab more? I thought he was great!
Hodgins enlists Angela’s help in searching for a copy of the film. Angela manages to do it while also assisting Dr. Filmore with an attempt to recreate the crime scene.
Sweets does a nice job assisting Booth on the case through remote video action, and he tells Booth that the mentality of people on the movie lot might contribute to a sense of falsehood — meaning someone could commit murder but then treat it as a plot and not real life.
Meanwhile, Cam is mostly unaware that her afro-wearing, vampire character days are being discussed, but when the entire team watches the film at the end of the episode, she is good-natured about it.
The squints are the happiest when Brennan tells them that because of their cooperation on the case, they are being given a chance to be on film.
BOOTH & BRENNAN:
I loved the B&B camaraderie in this episode, and Booth’s line “You’re my partner. Always.” will go down as one of my favorite lines of his this season. I didn’t necessarily buy that Brennan has wanted to make a movie her entire life, and I wasn’t so sure about Booth wanting to move to Hollywood either. That seemed like a weak plot point that didn’t really cause any tension…in other words, kind of pointless.
But I loved how they both defended her script and I liked how they worked the case. Quick question — did it surprise anyone that Brennan DIDN’T argue that Booth is the “real life Andy Lister”? I think we’ve all KNOWN that, and believe me, I liked that she didn’t, but I was kind of shocked when she didn’t deny it. Then again, maybe Booth made her admit it to him a long time ago. Good times! Side gratuitous note — David Boreanaz (Booth) and Emily Deschanel (Brennan) have not been more gorgeous in series history than they are in this season, IMO.
The idea of there being a woman who played a character named Kathy Reichs, written by a character named Temperance Brennan who is based on the real life Kathy Reichs and her Temperance Brennan novels is very fun, and maybe if I watch the episode a couple more times, I’ll enjoy it more. I know it was meta and there were internal shout outs, but I don’t know — just not one of my all time faves and not on my list of top episodes this season. I think I just wish they’d concentrate a little more effort into continuity in other episodes instead of using a lot of it up in one fell swoop.
But enough from me. What did you think? Did you like the case and squint action? What was your favorite inside joke in this episode?
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No, it didn’t surprise me that Brennan did not deny Booth was Andy Lister. Why should she? The denial period of her life is over. She has admitted that she loves Booth, that she wants a family…why cling to that ancient denial that (as you point out) every single character in the show universe and viewing audience knows is a case of protesting too much.
Sometimes the writing on this show is painfully anvil-esque, with characters all but looking directly into the camera while explaining motivations, but this was a case of…the audience can and should be expected to make that deductive leap.
Similarly, I have no issue with Brennan’s enthusiasm over the moving being made. She was seemingly indifferent to the movie in season 1, but she’s changed a lot since then. And as we’ve seen her dressing up like Wonderwoman and gleefully participating in the circus – she does have a whimsical side.
Bones was EPIC last night. The case was good. The actors were hilarious. Cam’s movie was hilarious…and of course, I loved B&B talking about moving to California and the kissing. They are so in love. Just a perfect light, funny episode before all the angst and drama next week.
Decent episode. I had the same take you did. Brennan always wanting to make a movie surprised me too.
I honestly felt like the last was more like the real life actors and not them playing their characters, especially ED.
I really loved this episode. Did it have the serious case side? Maybe not, but the whole thing to me felt like it really did stay in character for everyone. I see the point that it may seem self-indulgent… but if they can do it within the show’s framework, which I believe they did, then I’m good with it. It seems to me that even had I not been a “super-fan”, I’d still get a kick out of them poking fun at themselves – and since I am a Twitter fan-follower, I loved the inside jokes and call-outs even more.
But I don’t think I would have enjoyed it quite so much if it had not been for some classic character stuff. For example, I loved Brennan winning over Booth to investigate the case. I loved Booth’s warming up to the McQueen compliment, I loved how he sided with Brennan about the parts of the movie that were dumb. I loved Hodgins’ bummed attitude that he didn’t have a cameo and his skepticism of Barry’s scientific talents. Cam – in that movie – and her current reaction – priceless. I know that many viewers did not favor the original episode last season with the forensic podiatrist, Filmore… I hope that the Brennan-Filmore interactions helped soothe those reactions this time around, because I thought those scenes were written true to Bones form (and when Filmore’s hand “dropped” – too funny – better yet because they didn’t dwell on it, they left it for comedic effect. The absolute right decision).
The only downside that struck me was something that to me has been a disappointment season-long, not just this episode – absence of Parker in Booth’s decisions. I have no problems whatsoever that we haven’t seen Parker more than the one episode. I don’t think it’s that big of deal if we don’t hear about him all that often… but in past seasons, that kid has always had a major presence in Booth’s actions. The idea that Booth considered the move to L.A. doesn’t seem far-fetched to me at all, but that he only thought of Christine for it disappoints me and is not the first time this has happened. I’d have liked to have seen more acknowledgement of his existence throughout the season, that’s all.
Very B/B classic tone in their end scene on the studio lot – and sweet.
@ProfeJMarie 🙂 I’m rewatching last night’s episode and I noticed that Parker IS actually mentioned three times (twice as a general “you have kidS” and “we now have a family” concept, but still), AND Booth wanted Brennan to take a pic of him and Bart “for Parker!”. As I was watching, I remembered a review that talked about Parker (yours!) and decided to comment on it 🙂 So maybe, you’re right, he doesn’t seem to be ON the show as much (or in his dad’s mind), but perhaps he is not as forgotten as we might think (myself included, I miss Parker and Brennan interacting)
Other than that, loooved the episode!! David’s description that it was “over the top” doesn’t even begin to describe it!!! Also, how adorable is it that he just casually mentioned that Christine loves the beach? Implying that they have taken her to the sea and all. Imagine that cute little baby on a cute little swimsuit!! ADORABLE!!!!!!! 😀
C’est tout
I loved the episode. It was light and funny before a very angsty finale. I never thought Brennan would say Booth wasn’t Andy Lister. As Barbara said, Brennan is done with denying her feelings about Booth.
Loved all the easter eggs for the fans.
Booth’s line about “your my partner for always” sent a chill down my spine. That’s a portent for what’s coming.
Booth shouldn’t be expected to plan his life around the son he doesn’t have custody of. Parents move out of state for new jobs all the time. For all we know, Parker is living in England now and only makes short visits to Booth. If necessary I’m sure Brennan would pay to fly Parker back forth.
Sarah, I’ve lost count of all the dissatisfied reviews from you this season. Clearly Bones no longer holds the appeal for you that it once had.
I finally got a chance to watch “The Suit on the Set” and as a long time Bones fan, I was disappointed. I thought the writing was banal and not as creative as previous eps. I think the writers from earlier seasons need to be re-hired! However, I did think the clip of Cam’s movie “Die Mothersucker” was hilarious! I’m hopeful that the season finale will be awesome-the previews look great.
@andrea You know that it’s supposed to be a silly, funny spoof, right?
Jillian, of course I know it was supposed to be a silly, funny, spoof-except that it wasn’t-funny. Bones has been successful in the past with silly episodes which were a lot funnier! I am a fan of X-Files as well and have seen “Hollywood AD” which had a similar spoof of the characters-the movie within a movie- format. I thought in that case, the spoof was quite funny. However, I feel “Suit on the Set” missed the mark. There were some funny lines, and the clip of Cam’s movie “Die Bloodsuckers” was the highlight-now that was campy and funny. But on the whole, not the best episode. I’ve been a Bones fan since the beginning, so I feel bad to be critical of a show I love; although I think there have been good episodes this season. I’m looking forward to the season finale, which looks very promising!
oops meant “Die Mothersuckers”
Really don’t understand why they had filmed, edited and aired the promo for the Boney film before they had actually made the film? Surely thats not normal? :/
this episode was really goofy but I loved the Andy Lister actor doing a caricature of Booth in action, and Booth’s reaction to it….like no real FBI guy would possibly do those things. To me, that was really funny.