BONES Recap: ‘The Tiger in the Tale’
October 9, 2012 by Sarah Curtis
Hey, BONES fans. How did you like this episode, “The Tiger in the Tale”? There was murder, intrigue, politics and relationship trouble, which certainly makes for an interesting hour of TV, so let’s talk about it.
THE CASE:
The Scene of the Crime: An arguing couple are on the side of the road, trying to push their car out of the mud. The woman pushes on the gas while her husband pushes the car. The wheels spin and mud and guck fly out on him. It’s no use and the woman stops. Her husband is coughing on something, and then she spots it — human facial skin on his shirt. Grossest body ever?
The Victim: Jared Drew, a divorced laborer and former hardware store owner. He picked up odd jobs to try to raise money and keep his family happy.
Potential Suspects/Motives: Jared’s ex wife Marcy had a restraining order against him, at the encouragement of her new boyfriend Mike. She is sad to hear about Jared’s death, but Mike is less so.
Jared’s remains and clothing indicate animal excrement and antique glass, and the team tracks down a location that recently housed a gun show, an antique show and an exotic animal expo. Jared worked the events, hired by Juan Chiquez. The animal expo was run by Eric Niedling, a safari type who claims to be on the up and up.
After Jared’s body reveals he was attacked by a purebred Siberian tiger, the team used satellite footage to search local farms, and one farmer, Thomas Casey, has several exotic animals on his property and is revealed to be the tiger’s owner.
Lab Results: Daisy assists Brennan, Cam, Hodgins and Angela at the lab. Angela’s first tough task is identifying the victim, since his face is in bad shape. Hodgins’ job is a little easier, since Jared’s body and clothing housed so many pieces of information.
Daisy realizes that Jared had a poisonous blood issue that affected his bones. This was caused by being slashed by the tiger. Cam identifies two gunshot wounds on Jared’s body, one on his hand and one to his skull. She puts two and two together and realized the hand wound occurred when Jared lifted his arm to protect his face. A bullet went through his hand and into his skull.
Interrogation Room: Sweets questions Marcy and Mike and wonders if they had motive to kill Jared. Booth and Brennan question Neidling, who insists that he does everything by the book and has no reason to deal with illegal animals.
Once the J-team finds the exotic animal farm, Booth and Brennan question Thomas Casey. He insists he’s innocent, but when Brennan spots carrion birds, she knows there is death around. Sure enough, the Siberian tiger’s remains are there, and Thomas confesses Jared delivered the tiger and that, out of self defense, he shot the tiger.
The Verdict: Booth and Brennan tell Thomas he is accused of murder as part of felonious activity, but he says he is innocent, and that they should talk to the person who was with Jared. Booth and Brennan talk to Juan, who says he received money from Neidling. When B&B bring him in, they notice he is ill…also suffering from the blood poison as a result of shooting Jared.
THE SQUINTS:
Very interesting squint dynamics in this episode. Cam was pretty much her same self — declaring she was a coroner in New York and rolling her eyes at people, etc. But I liked her conversation with Sweets, even if there really was absolutely no reason for him to be sniffing towels in the bone storage room.
I liked Hodgins’ work on the case in this episode. The satellite plane was great, and “Bug Rapture” was a classic moment. I sensed a little fight-vibe between Angela and Hodgins at the diner, but also laughed when they made Sweets feel like he was over-analyzing them.
As for Angela, it might be interesting to see her grow unhappy at the lab. On one hand, I can see that as part of her character growth; on the other hand, Angela storylines often result in her whining a lot, which is not fun.
Sweets’ was forced to confront his relationship with Daisy, after they agreed to move in together. He had anxiety over it and realized after a talk with Angela, that his definition of the relationship was different than Daisy’s — that moving in together had different meanings. For him it meant not marriage, and for Daisy it meant inevitable marriage, especially if she gets pregnant. Sweets, realizing he didn’t want those things, breaks up with her with this line, “I misconstrued the significance”…which is just an awfully heartbreaking and simultaneously perfect break-up line.
BOOTH and BRENNAN:
I can absolutely see Brennan making a pro/con list to determine her success as a president, and I can see her having no “cons” on the list. I liked the natural banter between her and Booth as the episode went on. I think sometimes the writers make Brennan so rational that she’s actually irrational, and that is a fine line that was crossed. It occurs when she can’t stop thinking about herself or her plans to focus on their work — evident in this episode when she kept bringing up her “administration” to every person on the case. I hate when they write her like that, because she is better than that.
The B&B scene where they questioned Neibling at the FBI worked well. It is great to see them both in the interrogation room and in the field. I liked the scene where B&B discussed the merits of zoos and having pets as well.
What didn’t work for me:
- Sweets and Daisy completely breaking up out of the blue didn’t work. Don’t get me wrong, it was clear they wanted different things from the relationship (and you know I hate her guts), but it was a pretty quick transition in terms of their relationship in the series
- I disliked Angela being a sore loser/whiny baby about Hodgins having more success than her in the lab on one case. Whatever!
What I loved:
- Loved the Sweets/Booth moment where Sweets asked whether it was a big deal to move in with someone, and Booth used himself and Brennan as examples — and loved Sweets reaction to that evidence
- I liked the way Booth said he would not vote for Brennan, but that he still supported her.
- I loved the way Brennan genuinely laughed at the way he was being funny at the end of the episode. Very nice.
Okay, enough from me. What did you think? Do you think Sweets and Daisy are done for good? Did you like the case? Would you vote for Brennan (or any other character?). What did you think of her reaction to the tiger’s death?
Remember, BONES is on hiatus for baseball season. If you’re so inclined, you can help me cheer on the Cincinnati Reds! Meanwhile, the comments are open!
Related Posts
Filed under Bones
I don’t see the Angela storyline as whining…this has been a long time coming. She was an artist who has thrown herself headfirst in death and that has to wear on a person (Brennan went to Maluku for this very same reason). Heck, it goes back to season 1, Goodman said something about her giving a face to the deceased. I think it is only natural that Angela would grow tired of all the death.
Loved B&B in this episode…especially the tiger scene. Feels like vintage Bones, only better
i’m still undecided on this episode. I didn’t like the presidential thing. Doesn’t seem like Bones. There was absolutely no chemistry btw B&B. Hodgins is usually right on top of Angie’s feelings but even when she came right out and said she felt inadequate he didn’t respond as Hodgins would. When Sweets asked Booth about moving in Booth made light of his feelings. He might not have wanted to share the details with Sweets but Booth would never take moving in with Bones so lightly. Then to say she only agreed because of Christine? Is this a new ep or one from last season? I felt out of order and couldn’t get my bearings. Now that I’ve thought about it I didn’t like this episode.
I have to admit, I went into this episode with guarded expectations. I am not a fan of the episodes Dean Lopata writes because he tends to play a little fast and loose with the characters and exploits the worst aspects of them to the point of making them caricatures sometimes. But in this episode, it wasn’t so bad – The only thing that absolutely didn’t work for me in the episode was Sweets & Cam and the towels. Is that all Cam is good for now? Feeling up towels in the bone room with Sweets?
I loved, loved, loved Hodgins’s glee with the bug rapture, and “Our friend over there wound up catching a face full of face” is now one of my favorite lines ever on Bones. Also, that opening scene even made my husband gasp out loud, so well done, SN!
I was kind of dreading the Brennan for President bit all week because I was afraid that Brennan would end up looking ridiculous and it would turn it into a tired punchline by the end. It thankfully wasn’t that bad. And I did laugh when Daisy earnestly called Brennan “Madam President.”
It was nice to see a little of the chink in Angela’s armor regarding her job and bring out a side of Angela that was touched on in the early seasons but not explored beyond the surface. Angela’s job upsetting her because she deals with death and murder has already been done, so I think there’s more to her discomfort than that, but I also hope that it’s just not the fact that she didn’t out-Hodgins Hodgins by going “beep-boop-boop” on her Angelatron for one case. It’ll be interesting to see how that storyline develops after hiatus.
The Sweets/Daisy break up – I don’t know if I quite buy that Sweets “miscontrued the significance” of moving in considering he’s been ready to get married to Daisy on two separate occasions in the last three years. But JFD and Carla Gallo both did such a marvelous job of acting in that scene that I overlooked it until I sat down and thought about it afterwards.
The scene with Brennan’s reaction to the tiger – ED was absolutely heartwrenching. It felt like a real gut reaction, not just an acting performance. But regardless of whether animals are involved or not, would Brennan really be in favor of the death penalty? That seems like it would be out of character for Brennan. Might be an interesting hot topic to discuss, though.
Hope these next 4 weeks fly by!
LanaSweets- I don’t know what you’re looking for when you say that there was no chemistry between Booth & Brennan. When he held while she cried about the tiger or when he told her she was like the tiger “beautiful and rare” while looking at her adoringly or when he covered himself in “Bones for President” campaign buttons and jumped under the covers. If you mean there was no passionate making out well no, but Booth going under the covers to play JFK & Marilyn Monroe implied there would be.
Booth doesn’t take moving in lightly, but it wasn’t a big deal to him because he loves Brennan and living with the woman he loves just comes naturally for him. That’s why there was no huge decision for him to make. He also loves Brennan enough to recognize that for her it was a HUGE decision.
I also did not take Angela’s comments about not feeling useful as “whining”. She doesn’t feel as needed as she used to, plus she’s an artist at heart-not a murder chaser. She needed Dr. Goodman to remind her of why she’s so important to the team. That actually did a nice set up for upcoming episodes when she meets another artist.
I’m glad Sweets and Daisy broke up. Those characters work best when they’re apart from each other although Daisy looked devastated. Big step towards growing up for Sweets.
Dean Lopata is credited writer for this episode. In my opinion, he is no friend to the women on the show and always writes them over the top or snarky.
We know *Cam was a coroner in New York* why was that line even necessary? Although I did love her saying that Angela was brilliant coming up with the satellite idea to view the farms.
Not very professional of Brennan to keep speaking about her hypothetical presidential run to every person they encountered while working the case. I did love her fist bump with Booth though when she told him she would make him head of the FBI when she was president.
Also, while I appreciated her outrage at the killed tiger her complete hysterical break-down was over the top. I loved how Booth comforted her, but he shouldn’t be doing that while they have a suspect standing nearby and unrestrained.
Plus, the social commentary at how terrible zoos are was too much for me. Not all balloons end up choking animals in the sea and the occasional treat of cotton candy doesn’t automatically make you a type II diabetic. Many zoos are beautiful and strive to provide the most natural habitat for their animals. They are well treated and cared for. We’re not talking about a traveling side show and animals in tiny cages.
It wasn’t a perfect episodes by any means, but there were enough good moments in it for me to come away happy.
Lisa- it’s not chemistry to hold a person when they cry. When he told her she was like the tiger “beautiful and rare” while looking at her adoringly she didn’t acknowledge him or his “adoring” look. Because I found the presidential bit silly I couldn’t care less about the buttons and he jumped away from her, toward the bottom of the bed. They used to have long talks at the end of the show, an admission, a confession, a deepening of their feelings. In this ep and the last they had 2 minutes. It just wasn’t the same, for me. Not you, me.
LanaSweets-still don’t know what you’re looking for. The way she trusts him to hold and soothe her while she cries-that’s a connection and you have to have chemistry to get that connection. Not sure how much deeper their feelings can get for each other. She did acknowledge his comment about being beautiful and rare in the end scene. I thought Booth burrowing under the covers to get to her was adorable. I’m sure they had David do that so Emily wouldn’t be scratched by the buttons.
They just had admissions and confessions in episode 2. This wasn’t that kind of episode for deep and meaningful.
People who love each other don’t spend all their time on top of each other or declaring how much they love each other. This is a real, true to life love story being played out. Too bad you can’t see that.
One can only hope Sweets and Daisy are done for good; Daisy was too obnoxious. I think the confrontation between Hodgins and Angela was the weakest part of the episode. My coworker at DISH and I were talking about what Brennan for president would be like, very odd. I have the season recording automatically thanks to my Hopper and its PrimeTime Anytime feature. I didn’t have to set a reminder to record Bones last night; my Hopper just took care of it for me. I like the new season so far; I thought this episode was rather weak overall, and I can’t wait for new episodes in November.
Lisa–I don’t see what you see because you’re Lisa. I’m Lana. I shared my views same as you. Am I not entitled?
Animal cruelty has always been a powder-keg issue for Brennan, the way abuse cases are for Booth. And in the heat of the moment, there is no real way to control your emotions (Booth punching Mike Shenfield in “Signs in the Silence”). It isn’t even a new reaction (Finger in the Nest, Ripley ring a bell?). And LanaSweet…not every episode is going to end with deep meaningful conversations, because not every episode needs one. 8×02 needed it because of what both Brennan and Booth had gone through. There will be more as the season goes along, just not every episode. I personally loved the ending, nice bit of fluff after witnessing the end of Swaisy.
madbengalsfan85 — too bad; they’ve been there in almost every episode to date starting in the 2nd or 3rd season. Those quiet moments, revelations, etc., are why I fell in love with the show.
I agree @Lisa and madbangelsfan85 Not every episode is going to have some deep meaningful talk or look. I don’t see how that’s chemistry. There’s a difference between having chemistry and having deep, emotional talk and looks.
I would not say it was a favorite but it was ok for me. Too much Sweets two weeks in a row for me. I really like both Sweets and Daisy separately, but together they are silly. I would love to see more Hdgins
The whole presidential thing with Brennan was overdone to me in light of her reaction to te death of the tiger. They just seem to write Brennan to extremes but that is my own opinion.
The episode was only so-so for me. I also thought her reaction about the tiger was too much. Where was that emotion when she was leaving Booth behind last summer? The presidential business was also just silly. I don’t know why she has to be such a caricature now.
Let’s take bets on what name will be used by the Dish Network droids when Bones comes back on Nov 5th. They love posting here don’t they?
If I got to see Brennan go over the top about the tiger dying to see some Booth and Bones comfort and connection time, so be it. We don’t get enough of that as it is, so far be it for me to complain right now about the reaction.
The whole episode seemed like a political speech of sorts- we had the economy covered, jobless, no insurance and some animal rights stuff thrown in. I do not see a woman of Bone’s intelligence seriously thinking about running for a position such as President, her character is more in line of doing activist type things and not falling in line with a government she doesn’t believe in.
When I stop and think about it- Bones is really painted into an interesting box by the writers. She doesn’t like religion, common or otherwise, she doesn’t believe in government as it stands, she thinks marriage is a sham, all hospitals are germ pits, and now I will stop. When I stand back and look at this character, she seems more the conspiracy theory type now, not Hodgins.
Can a character be written so detached from all aspects of society, that they can no longer blend? Be believable? Thoughts to ponder for the next several weeks.
This whole episode felt a bit awkward, especially the towel scene with Sweets and Cam. Also, I felt like Hodgins overreacted at the crime scene: his laughing sounded so unnatural.
But overall the biggest problem to me was that there was zero mention of the fact that Sweets was shot last episode. SHOT. I assumed that was kind of important, but it didn’t come up at all. Am I the only one who noticed?
This episode was a not so subtle political speech that was delivered to the public with impeccable and convenient timing – a week before the election. The need to hit a variety of both related and unrelated political topics ranging from job unemployment, animal rights, socioeconomic classes, espionage, etc. seemed forced and poorly scripted. Similarly, the “sudden” decision by Bones to run for President made little dialogue sense except in light of our upcoming election. Regardless of personal political views and ballot votes next week, poorly scripted television propaganda is hardly a way to form an educated position in this or any other election. I feel intellectually insulted that screen writers and producers took the liberty of “educating” me and the rest of the public in matters that require more than television drama in making informed decisions.
My apologies as I realize the show aired earlier in October. Regardless, the timing stills seems very deliberate and convenient.