BONES Recap: ‘The Blackout in the Blizzard’
March 18, 2011 by Sarah Curtis
Hello, Bones friends! I’m “peased” you are here. Ah, come on! If Hodgins can make potato-puns, I can do a peas joke, right? Okay, okay…how did you like this episode? I’ll say a quick cheers to David Boreanaz again for another great directorial contribution, but as there is much to discuss, I’ll say my part, and then, as always, the comments are open. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!
I’m trying out a new-ish format for the case section, so feel free to offer concrit on that as well. Let’s do this thing! On the count of three…
THE CASE
The Scene of the Crime: It’s not a normal run-of-the-mill BONES ep as far as a crime scene (which, like last week’s episode, is very refreshing). Booth and Brennan and Sweets are sharing a meal at the diner when Cam calls Brennan to tell her that a set of remains was delivered to the Jeffersonian. She is anxious to get back to the lab, but Booth spots a row of discarded seats from the Vet (Veterans’ Stadium) and he begs (and cheerleads) Brennan and Sweets to help him get them back to his apartment. But they get stuck inside an elevator when the electricity goes out and Brennan and Booth must help solve the crime via phone messages from Hodgins, Wendell, Cam and Angela, who are in the lab, also sans electricity.
The Victim: Anne-Marie Weston, an American aid worker who’d suffered a car bombing in Chechnya, but was most recently working in Albania and the US, trying to uncover human trafficking ring. The cause of her death was strangulation, but she also suffered from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, or CCHF. Her remains are no longer contagious, but her killer likely is, as she might have breathed on him.
Potential Suspects & Motives: Since Anne-Marie’s identity is not ascertained until nearly the end of the episode, there isn’t the usual slew of suspects. But once Booth and Brennan know who she is, they are able to track down where she was working. They find the building (near Booth’s apartment), and they see where she was trying to help Albanian girls escape. B&B are confronted by a large Albanian man who attacks Booth. Brennan then attacks him, knocking him out (and onto Booth!).
The Lab Results: Though Cam was still used somewhat sparingly (though, in my opinion perfectly), Angela, Hodgins and Wendell all combined resources to solve this case. Staying in touch with Brennan, they relied on her knowledge (and her instructions on where she kept her research files) to help them try experiments, including non-electricity needing x-ray machines, using dye to highlight injuries on the bones and potatoes to try to generate enough power to activate Anne-Marie’s phone enough to see any outgoing calls she might have. It was smart. It was funny. It was great.
The Interrogation Room: Well, technically, no one was at the FBI building in this episode, but for the sake of this new format, I’m going with it. In this episode, Sweets and Booth worked side by side (literally) with Brennan. Booth particularly helped identify shrapnel in Anne-Marie’s leg x-rays.
The Verdict: Though Anne-Marie’s likely killer hasn’t actually admitted it by the end of the episode, it’s likely that he is guilty or that the charges against him for human trafficking will be strong enough to convict.
MY Verdict: As solid a case as any bottle-episode case can be, the likes of Man in the Fallout Shelter and Proof in the Pudding. The team used science, intuition, togetherness, and good old fashioned experiments to solve it. I actually cared about the case and the victim for the entire episode, and I liked that she was an honorable person, trying to help girls escape prostitution.
Thoughts from you?
THE SQUINTS:
Can I just say how happy I was that Wendell was the squintern of the week? I want him to live happily ever after with a hockey loving squint, you know? Any volunteers? But seriously, as much as I disliked the Wendell/Angela storyline in season five, I did like that he was there to reassure Hodgins of the love he shares with Angela. And I liked his potato experiment. Has anyone ever done that? I remember my brother doing it a long time ago for a 4-H experiment. Word!
I also laughed when he got the dye in the face after Hodgins fell from the ceiling. I mean, come on. We all knew Hodgins was going to fall. We all knew his fall was going to be dye-related in some way. But having Wendell get a face full of it was a shock. Well played, BONES!
Cam was annoyed that it was the last of the dye, but again, for the most part, she wasn’t in much of the episode. I’ve always thought she needed to be more of a Dr. Goodman-esque administrator of the lab, and so I was happy with this episode.
As for Hodgins and Angela? Well…first of all, tip of the hat to TJ Thyne for another outstanding, completely in character performance of Hodgins. I still contend Hodgins is the most developed character on the show. When he cried, I cried too. I found myself nervous that he and Angela were sort of hiding their truths from one another, but it was also understandable, as they wanted to protect one another from the pain of the possibility that their unborn baby could have LCA (Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis — a condition that causes blindness). That they ended the episode agreeing that they could face down any pain that tried to overtake them was very beautiful.
I’m anxious to hear your thoughts regarding Sweets. Honestly, I don’t find his tenacity toward Booth and Brennan (and their B&B-ness) surprising; he’s been that way since he met them. Sidenote: So have I, sometimes!
What I do find interesting is that he expresses his tenacity through his job. I was all set to complain about the way he is trying to use therapy on them as a way of getting what he wants. Right? What therapist suggests therapy for his/her own personal gain? And yet, Sweets would not relent on his “interrogation” of Brennan and Booth, because, in his words, he cares about them. So is he in the wrong? Yes, in some ways (and part of that is that the writers need to decide if they want Sweets to be friends with B&B or a psychologist who helps them profile cases. It doesn’t seem to work both ways).
However, I think that Booth and Brennan ALSO express their tenacity toward one another through their jobs, and so in that way, I’m more likely to see where Sweets is coming from. You?
BOOTH & BRENNAN:
I remember an interview with Hart Hanson once (maybe it was the Pilot commentary) where he said he swore to himself he was NOT going to have Booth and Brennan do “car scenes” — that is, they would not do the kind of scenes where B&B ride in a car together. But he admitted that he soon learned that putting them in an enclosed space with “nowhere to run, baby” (I added the baby!) was an ingredient in the recipe of B&B chemical success. Shoving them into an old elevator with a giant set of historic seats was exactly that sort of thing. With literally nowhere else to go, B&B were forced to be…together. And they’ve never been the type for silence.
I liked Brennan expressing her frustration out on the seats, and it made sense to me to see Booth later take it personally. I also liked that he shared the story about his dad and the Phillies game, and there was a raw honesty about it — a very real wound that existed and still exists.
These two are like a Slinky at times. When one pulls away, the other gravitates toward him/her. Then that person will pull away, the other moves back — and so on. They are always just sliding toward and away from one another. And that was true again in this episode. Booth tells Sweets that what he and Brennan felt for one another was in the past. Slide.
But he later tells Brennan he could see how Sweets would be confused. Slide.
Brennan offers up the information that she always thought they would be very compatible sexually. Slide.
But when Booth asks her what would happen after that…how they would work as a couple, she says it would never work. Slide.
And then Booth admits that he’s still angry, but not at her. He’s just dealing with stuff and needs some time. And he asks her point blank if she knows what he’s talking about. She says she does. She also offers up the incredibly beautiful and personal description of herself as someone who has grown from imperviousness (the lack of need to be strong for oneself) to strength (opening oneself up to risk of hurt). And SHE suggests that one day, when he’s not angry anymore, and she is willing to forgo the risk, they might be able to be together. And just like that, they slide toward one another in a way we haven’t really seen before. It’s what we think we’ve seen for many years, but this was really it. Slide, slide, slide!
I loved that she was the one to admit she wanted it. And I love that Booth talked about himself and her and love and happiness and life and fate in the same sentence.
And just like that, I’m sliding right back into BONES again. Just in time for another three week hiatus!
Okay, enough from me. What did you think? Did you like the case? Did Sweets push too hard or just the right amount? Is the fact that B&B “set a date” just a tease to tide us over until the series finale, or are we really “going somewhere”? Let’s discuss!
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First, let me say that as a new parent, the scene at the end where Angela and Hodgins talk about how they can do anything together and they like THAT math totally made me cry. I’m still leaking hormones, what can I say?
I agree with everything you said about Booth & Brennan. Great case, great B&B stuff, great job Wendell, great directing by David, great wrap-up Sarah, and GREAT HAIR CAM!!
L.A.M.E.
I’m not denying the BB scenes were MEGA cute, but it felt like candy coated bile. What about Booth confirming Bones’ fears about love being untrustworthy? So what exactly was Hannah to Booth? Last season, their talk would have been so great, but now it’s just not nearly enough.
And like others, I HATE the idea that Booth is justified in his anger and so doesn’t need to grow or change- he just needs time to recover. Meanwhile, Bones is one who needs to change all her ideas. That is NOT beautiful. It just makes the relationship so unromantic to me.
to me BONES went so far backward in that end scene we will never find her/and I do think angelea write the books if she couldnt come up with something better to said. booth must of done a lot of talking with sully and he must have the size problem.nothing liked a good episodes call the funeral.
I was so excited from the spoilers that I downloaded this immediately. I also can’t believe they gave that speech to Brennan about changing but didn’t say anything about Booth’s mistakes. They were both responsible in my eyes, and now it seems like HH and SN are trying to say Booth did nothing wrong, ever, regards to Brennan or Hannah. Everything was because Brennan needed to evolve to Booth’s level. I thought we were going to get a discussion where both sides aired their honest feelings. Whatever. So not worth waiting to download.
I think accepting that Bones is romantic “candy” and not the well rounded drama from earlier seasons is one of those things you have to accept in order to enjoy the show. But I understand if you’re still hoping and it’s not to force anyone into saying this is quality stuff since I miss Brennan from season 1~3 too. Even Broadsky isn’t as good as Howard Epps.
That said, I thought the episode was cute and much needed “candy” after Hannah, and it looks like BB are moving forward. And I am loving Cam’s haircut. I always wondered if her older style didn’t pinch her.
I don’t like Angela-Hodgins baby drama because it feels manipulative. Nothing’s going to happen to that baby so it’s just a cheap way to play with viewers’ emotions.
hey sarah,
thanks for your great review.
I found myself in a funny position while watching this bones epsiode. I’ve been on board the bones and B&B ship from the very first season. I believed in the magic those two had from the start because their story was so convincingly and brilliantly told and portrayed. They chemistry was epic…similar to Mac and Harm’s or Ross and Rachel’s.
And even though their dialogue was surprising and hopeful, I felt myself disenchanted. I think too much has happened…whatever made those two epic and wonderful has diminished markedly. Was Hannah the last straw? I don’t know…I think it was everything that just felt forced and artifical. all those circumstances that felt invented just to keep those two apart.
I remember how thrilled I was when Booth came to the pier where Brennan was bidding goodbye to Sully and told her that everything happens eventually. That was awesome. Bones managed to keep things magical but like so many other shows they rather ruined the magic than be bold and take this couple where it should be.
It’s really sad, but that’s the way it is.
I loved it! I’m probably about as pregnant as Angela is give or take a few weeks, and those scenes with her and Hodgins made me cry and hug my bump a bit more. TJ was amazing tonight.
The B&B scenes were great and I liked the fact that Brennan now gets what they’re talking about and how she’s the one who makes it clear how open to them being together she is, despite her saying they would never work as a couple.
Great episode to tide me over just before yet another hiatus!
Hi Sarah,
Great recap. I like the new format BTW.
This is one of those episodes that was really well balanced in terms of character interactions and the case / science. I know the elevator caused this to be a ‘bottle episode’ for B&B…which might explain why despite this being quite pivotal in the B&B relationship, that there are still people that are ‘unhappy’ – not that I’m one of them.
I’m also convinced that more than one viewing of this episode is required before jumping to firm conclusions…there were so many layers of complexity in 42 minutes and change, that folks could be forgiven for thinking that it was all a little ‘out there’ or ‘too little too late’ for B&B. There were a lot of subtle actions taking place…those ‘slides’ that you referred to Sarah…the physical distance between H&A as they tried to keep their emotions under wraps…even Sweets and his repeated ‘invasions’ into B&B’s emotional space. The baby duck is picking up on B&B’s need to talk…but the difference being on this occasion that B&B know that they need to talk & don’t need to do it in therapy.
There was also a lot of physical comedic relief, working around those stadium seats, the Lab stunts, Brennan ‘comparing body parts’ with Booth, then there was the whole therapeutic massage…yeah…that’s a good plan *and* a handy way to keep warm. HH said in his live blog that David & Emily spent five days on that elevator set, which must have been a trial and a blast. I think it turned out great, so Kudos to David Boreanaz for the directorial efforts on this one.
As for the end scene. Sure it was hopeful, sure it was a little awkward…but given the recent events for Booth, I think it was honestly handled (and no flames from the haters…Hannah happened people, get over it) within the context of the story so far. They’ve made an agreement and managed neither of them ran away…they’ve been truthful about where they stand in relation to each other without throwing a knee-jerk reaction into the mix.
Looking forward to the last run of seven episodes following the hiatus…let the speculation begin!
Well as a way to avoid the Moonlighting curse for the rest of the season, it’s a hellava lot better and hopeful than Hannah. That said, my problem with the “slides” is that it’s a one-sided slide and Booth is the home base. I know many find that image of Booth appealing, but I think he’s just as messed up as Brennan is emotionally and the idea that he’s “just angry right now” and he “needs time” instead of needing real character growth is disappointing. Where was Booth’s speech to Brennan about becoming a better man learning from his mistakes since the 100th or Hannah?
@courtney, I completely agree about the manipulativeness of the baby drama. It would be brave of the writers and I would love Angela and Hodgins for their reactions if the show actually went there, but it’s not that kind of show. So any kind of emotional tugging came off as melodramatic.
@Kali, it’s funny you mention Sully. Wasn’t that 4 years ago? I think after Sully, Max, Zack, and Booth’s fake death, Bone’s speech about change would have been fantastic. It would have made perfect sense. But now it seems “artificial” and “forced” and about 3 years too late. I think the only solution is to get back to stronger cases so the chemistry can recover naturally.
That certainly fell flat of the the season long build-up and hype.
It was still sweet if ham fisted on Brennan’s growth (I totally get the general annoyance in the comments).
lowered expectations, lowered expectations, lowered expectations….
I’m going to work but thinking about whether the chemistry is off for good or it’s because I still need a satisfying resolution to the Hannah arc. (Yeah, I don’t care if Bones doesn’t think she needs one, I think I might.)
Hey Sarah –
I just wanted to pop in and let you know I thought your review was fantastic and I love the new format (I’ll save my comments on the episode for BT). Oh, and the slinky analogy was awesome! 🙂 Keep up the good work!
justwoke-up /when are the writers going let Bones talk liked a normal woman?If I was david or emily I WAITED for a script for that last scene. cant believe producers of this show cant see what a lot of fans do they have lost the pattern for a good episode/booth is a loser if he cant see the wrong of hannah/but bones does have a problem and I DONT MEAN SOCIAL SKILLS.
If I ignore everything, and just go for my criteria… (Did I laugh? Yes. Did I cry? Found out that when Hodgins cries, I cry, so definitely. Did I think? Yeah… it took a full hour for the episode to sink in… obviously some thinking is involved) then YES, this episode was perfect in that sense (I’m not saying that it was a perfect episode, just that it fit my criteria).
I liked that the case was about something that is a very real problem going on right now. If you’re curious about what is being done about human trafficking, you should check out the Comic Creator’s Alliance as one thing. There are also many other resources.
The snow. I have to mention it. I’m from right outside DC (born and raised half an hour away), and we normally don’t get snow like that. And the snow that they had was definitely what we had last winter. I loved it. We were lucky not to lose electricity then, but my Dad did, and it got COLD.
We learned more about the Jeffersonian! I LOVE learning more about the Jeffersonian (probably because I worked for the Smithsonian two years ago), and I was sad to hear that they only have an American History wing, but the coin collection is actually something that was at the American History museum, and actually was put up when I interned there, so that was really cool, and brought back many cool memories.
I want to try the experiments now. Heh. I think I’ve done the x-ray one, actually, from a kit.
Hodgins and Angela… WOW. Yeah… they’ve got one amazing guy playing Hodgins. He seriously blew me away. Hodgins has always been one of my favorite characters on the show (confession: I’ve always liked him a tiny bit more than Booth). It was very difficult for me to hear Hodgins talking about those odds, 1 in 1,000, 1 in 10,000, because when I was ten years old, my mother heard those odds when she found out that she had, and had given my sister and I a rare genetic disorder (with a chance of 1 in 15,000 people having it). She had a 50% chance of giving it to us. It made me realize a lot about my own family. “I guess I’ll have to take up piano” nearly made me cry again. The idea of “sacrifice for love” is still a strong theme in this season.
Sweets was cute in this one. I loved the mysterious neighbor Mrs. Ross.
With Booth and Brennan… I was stunned. I think it’s more than just what was on the surface. Everything you see and hear is NOT what is going on with those two (and honestly, the whole show), there’s so much more. I think in this one we heard more about their expectations of each other and of themselves within their relationship. At the end, I had this moment where I went “did she really say that just now?” I was floored. I liked the fact that they both decided that they weren’t ready yet, and when they were ready, they’d go about it together. THAT to me speaks of a depth of trust I don’t think we’ve really seen between them yet (except for in alt-universe End in the Beginning). That they could be so honest with each other and speak of their expectations and also where they were, it was wonderful. They’re really in tune with each other. I liked that Booth said that he’s not angry with Brennan. I think that was important for her to hear. I think that she said that she was changing because she felt like he had wanted her to change, which is something that I’m still processing. I like this pacing. I feel like it’s both fast and slow at the same time. It’s good. I think we may be on the home stretch, and I can’t wait to see where it all leads.
Last night, I realized that the theme of this episode (actually, there’s more than one, but they seem to be escaping me) is self acceptance in order to accept what is going on around you. Hodgins and Angela have to accept the guilt that they (meaning their genes) may have caused their child’s possible blindness. The end scene is all about Booth and Brennan accepting what is going on inside themselves (her change and his anger) that will lead to their future. And really, when you boil it all down, I think we reached the cores of each character. Now we know where they are, and we now know for certain that there is an “eventually.” And this gives me so much hope.
Hi Sarah and thanks for the great reviews, as always!
I am really in two minds about this episode. The thing that bugged me more than anything was the fact that the whole Hodgins/Angela baby story felt so manipulative vis-a-vis the viewers. It felt misplaced in an episode that was otherwise focused on very different things, and it also felt as if they could find nothing better to do with the characters than to try and pull at the viewers’ heartstrings with some cheap drama. This kind of stuff is either done seriously (i.e. at the center of a well-written episode, which wasn’t the case here since this was the B or C story) or not at all. YMMV, of course.
As for Booth and Brennan, I wholeheartedly subscribe to the criticism that the show’s basically validating Booth’s POV on love and making Brennan do all the work to change. So yeah – she has to ‘improve’ but he has just to stop being angry and all will be fine. Right. I am so disappointed with this perspective, not in the least in gender terms: WTF is it that the woman needs to adapt to the man’s POV? Is it because the majority of the writing staff is male? Aldo, Brennan truly deserves to be with someone who loves her for who she is, awkwardness, self-protectiveness and all. Booth hasn’t been giving her that message for such a long time. It’s kind of sad. And dispiriting.
I agree that you need to take the fluff/candy/sugar approach to this show instead of expecting realistic character development, but it’s all become skewed towards Booth and that I do have a problem with.
Otherwise, an intermittently funny episode, but nothing to write home about.
Last night’s epside made me laugh and made me cry, yes I am looking at you Hodgins.
First: Angela & Hodgins – they nailed it. I love how Hodgins felt he had to be strong for Angela. They are a perfect match, and he is going to be an amazing dad. When Angela walked into the room with Hodgins & Wendall, the look on his face was absolutely heartbreaking. The moment Angela looked at Hodgins, she knew and then of course the tears came rushing to my eyes. I know this is just a ploy from the writers, but still, any time a baby is involved, its heartbreaking.
Wendall & Hodgins – Ha I love these two together. When Hodgins was dangling from the lights I knew something bad was going to happen, but when he went for the dye, I was laughing so hard I almost cried. I like seeing these two together, I have to say that I like Wendall a lot, and I would like to see him sooner rather than later. 🙂
Booth & Brennan – ok so I gotta admit, when I saw the preview last week, I might have let out a loud squee. And well, after last night, I did the same. Here’s my reasoning: Booth & Brennan don’t need counseling with Sweets, they obviously need to be trapped in a closed space because they can’t run away from each other. So much has happened between them that they don’t want to face their problems head on. I loved hearing Booth’s memory of the time he shared with his dad. I would love to hear Brennan share a memory, but I wonder just how much she would remember, because I feel like she has chosen to forget all of the memories she shared with her parents. One of the major things I noticed is that Brennan mentioned that making love to Booth would be a good thing (or something like that). The fact that she said making love & not sex is a huge thing, especially for Brennan. But Booth can’t have sex without feelings, so of course it would have to have a much deeper meaning. They can’t be “friends with benefits”, there are way too many feelings involved. And if for some reason that would happen, I honestly think that Brennan would be the one whose feelings would come to the surface first. But that could be just me.
The end scene for me had me a little too happy and maybe wanting to throw a shoe at the TV. I think that Brennan has changed but she hasn’t changed for Booth, she has changed for herself. I am glad that she has realized that she has changed, and Booth has too, but he has never had to vocalize it. I am glad Booth told her that he is not angry at her, because I honestly believe that she had been walking on eggshells around him. He drew that line again, and now because her feelings are stronger for him, she has to be careful about how she acts around him. The end scene did give me this hope though: Brennan said, in her own way, that once Booth is done being mad at the universe and he figures out where to go, that she will be there waiting for him. He had waited 5 years for her. When Booth is ready he will move on, and I really do hope that its not another 2 seasons.
Great episode! My daughter has Lebers Congenital Amaurosis and it is very rare. Only about 3000 people in the USA have it. Did this diagnosis come out of the blue, or was it a source of topic in previous episodes and I missed it. Just wondering where this story line came from since it is so rare. Anyway – it is a childhood eye disorder and it leaves all children blind either from birth, or usually by their late teens. It is devestating as parents – I knew exactly how they felt. BUT – it is really unusual for them to test for being a carrier unless there would be some family background. Most of us find out after our child is born, and in my daughters case – because she was not blind from birth – we didn’t find out until she was 3. So -it just strikes me as odd.
None the less- I am so glad to see LCA get some attention!!!
I have to say, I enjoyed this episode. It was funny, heartbreaking and heartfelt all at the same time. I feel like we as viewers or maybe just me, have to stop comparing this season to the previous seasons. Yes, when I watch episodes from Seasons 1-3, I feel wistful for those characters and those interactions, but B&B aren’t the same people they were then. Just as none of us are exactly the same as we were 5 years ago. We all change and evolve and that is what these characters have done.
I loved the elevator interactions, Booth’s story felt so genuine and then the end, I was happy, it held promise that I haven’t since the 100th episode. You know back when you knew it wasn’t going to happen that episode but sometime in the future you just knew it would. So now, it isn’t going to happen in the very next episode but I believe B&B as a couple is coming!!
I don’t think Booth needs to evolve feeling wise in the same way Brennan does. He is willing to take the risk, to put his heart out there, whereas Brennan has always feared that, not as much as at the beginning though. Booth’s insecurties come from him as a man, I felt we saw that in the last episode. He was stuck on Brennan comparing him and Brodsky! Because he fears that he might be like him, that he could be one wrong step from doing the same thing as Brosdky. It took Brennan at the end telling him “you are good, he is bad” to reassure Booth that he isn’t Brodsky. I think in the coming episodes we are going to see more reassuring from Brennan that Booth is a good man, very worthy of love, of her love! (At least that is my hope!!)
As for Hodgins and Angela, I am pregnant too and oh my gosh, that just made me cry. It is a hard decision to make to get any testing done. My husband and I are discussing it now. Because then, do you just worry? And is it needless worry if everything could be just fine? And you saw that very real worry happening in these two characters. Hodgins breaking down just broke my heart, that he blamed himself, was just so sad. But then, his cleverness at getting Angela to use math was great. When you are married and have a strong relationship, you can face anything, no matter what and I liked that they came to that conclusion. I didn’t feel this was a ploy even though we all know baby Hodgela will be just fine because that is something that parents do go through, and 75% of the time, their child is just fine!
I am mad about the 3 week hiatis, AGAIN! I hate American Idol, I really do and I wish it was cancelled! Hopefully the wait will be worth it!!
I’ve not been feeling “it” between Bones and Brennan for a long time, and since the start of season 5 have turned into a somewhat erratic watcher. I did however catch the last scene between Booth and Bones last night. When Booth and Brennan were discussing things between them, I was really getting a vibe of detachment from them, almost like they are not talking about themselves but some other couple. I’m having a hard time articulating my feelings, but it felt kinda matter of fact and flat, almost clinical in a way. Where’s the romance, the anticipation, the longing that I want to see them have for each other? Is it me? Has the issues of trust between them and the whole concept of who needs to learn and who need to change before they can happen, squeezed the concepts of love and romance to the side? Or is just a matter of too much time passing, and that sense of anticipation that I felt for so long is just worn out? I can’t decide. I’m struggling to get back the joy and delight that I used to feel for this couple. I feel like I’m just going through the motions now, and I really don’t like feeling that way.
In context, I thought the Booth and Brennan thing made sense. They have never really discussed themselves in plain terms, always kind of hiding behind words, so that didn’t really strike me as out of context. But, I think that for them to grow back together organically, they kind of needed a reset. Obviously, Brennan is hurt by the Hannah thing and Booth is hurt by the Hannah thing, and they kind of needed that moment where they can say, we are back to us, you know? Now, obviously, I wish they had discussed themselves more plainly, with Booth and/or Brennan saying specifically why they were so hurt by what happened, but maybe we’ll see that as they kind of grow back together with purpose?
Ok so i just have to say that every series always has a rough season where things drastically change and we as the audience have to readjust. good example One tree hill did the 5 year jump in season 5 that wasn’t my favorite season. As much as i disliked/liked Hannah throwing her into the mix was a big mistake. Whenever B&B had love interests in earlier seasons they only lasted for a couple episodes and it was over Hannah lasted way too long and it kinda brought down the chemistry. I loved the B&B scenes last night they were sooo cute. As far as Booth goes about being angry he got hurt again he opened his heart up to a woman who didn’t want to spend the rest of her life with him. Booth has a RIGHT to be angry and the fact that it’s still kinda new is a big factor as to why he didn’t open up to Brennan as much.
Same thing goes for Brennan she has come such a long way from who she used to be as far as relationship wise, but just remember it took 6 seasons for Brennan to even admit she had feelings for Booth. Who knows how long its gonna take before Brennan is strong enough for a relationship with Booth.
The exciting thing now is that they both know how the other one feels and now we get to see that old tension that we love so much come back again and maybe even get a few laughs out of the jealousy that the other one feels when Booth gets hit on by another woman or when Brennan receives phone calls from other men wanting to know if shes free for valentines day. This is just a rough Season for Bones.
As far as the rest of the episode goes i liked it, this episode focused mostly around the character relationships rather than a major case which stunk a little but over all very good.
DONT WORRY Bones lovers it will get BETTER!
I was actually offended by how manipulative and cheap the Angela and Hodgins storyline was. My cousin was diagnosed for high risk disability in utero, and my uncle and aunt kept the baby for religious reasons. And the risk turned out to be real. So playing around with the possibility of a disability simply to show off how wonderful these characters are, “teasing”with the danger, felt so offensive.
And being Catholic, I mostly agree with Booth’s values, but I can still say being as morally superior as he is is unattractive in a romantic partner. Plus, he’s committing the first sin of pride, thinking his own values are better than Brennan’s.
I’m just getting the feeling that both Booth and Bones are treating their relationship as some sort of third party entity, like they are both on the outside looking in. It’s like they both have this “checklist” of exactly where they have to be, what they have to learn, how they have to feel, and that when all that is resolved then it will the right time time to have a relationship. And that they will “know” when that time is; it just seems so detached to me. We have two people who have lots of issues, true and believable, what I’m struggling with is the almost clinical way in which they articulate their issues and talk to each other about them. Or, maybe in the way that they even recognize their own problems? I don’t even know if I’m making sense here.
I’m just not feeling the emotion or the connection between these two that I think I should be. My brain knows that these are two people who are in love with each other, but my heart is just not feeling it. Maybe my expectations of romance and what love should look like are too high? Or maybe this has turned into show that I just can’t relate to anymore.
And I agree 6 years is too long, and Brennan was ready for the change after season 3. Everything after that was contriviance, which ok for fluffy “candy” but it’s not organic character growth. What could and should have been a great change seemed ridiculous, especially paired with the continuing trend that Booth is angry, hurt, just needs time, not real growth.
One small thing made me belive that Booth loves her (as he did for the past 5 seasons) for what she was/is – in the last moments with words ”are you gonna stop me?” ”no I actually like watching you do the math,that’s all”. For me – it was sweeter than the whole scene with burning dates… (although – ”wanted something really really bad” was priceless) She did change, and be real, she needed to – not for Booth but for herself. IMHO main problem was how she was missing all the great stuff between them refusing to belive that there is something more and shutting down in front any kind of closeness… It was so wrong when a man like Seeley was (is?) so opened and ready to give himself right there! She needed to give back… I think she can finally do that now and for that she is brave and strong like she confessed! It wasn’t easy episode to watch – at least it wasn’t for me,but it made me think – not in a way ” I’m looking at you in my pg’s – do it already!!” it was more ”I know the stakes here and we will risk soooo much – and that’s freakin’ scarey to the bone” (pun intended) It felt genuine,for a moment I was in her shooes and understood how much she has progressed – and that was the goal here,right? Progress to the final feeling of happyness for her – with him ofcourse 🙂
Sorry, english isn’t my first language – I hope I could put my rambling thoughts into understandable … something 🙂
BTW thanks Sarah – for all the hard work – you always help me understand all hiddden and important stuff that make this show part of all our hearts…
The idea of being impervious vs vulnerable in order to become stronger applies equally to Booth regarding his idealizations about love. Of course, the show has decided to validate and confirm that Booth’s idealizations are great. I hate the double standard that when Bones is rigid, it’s immature and when Booth is rigid, he’s principled in his beliefs.
I absolutely agree with the other comments that Sully, Max, Zack and Booth’s fake death were enough to bring out Bones’ growth. I’d add her bff Angela deciding to settle down with Hodgins to that list. That’s character growth based on professional, familial, and romantic changes in one’s life. Now that this speech comes after romantic regret after Hannah, I think the realization actually makes her/the show’s POV seem more immature and narrow minded than before.
I read a NYT article on female heroines in TV dramas yesterday, which namechecked pretty much all the female characters, and wasn’t surprised to see Bones mentioned. They mentioned NCIS and Nikita, but they also mentioned The Good Wife and Fringe, both of which have the more “vulnerable but strong” heroines, so the idea wasn’t limited to physical kickassing. Earlier seasons, I would have said, hey!. But I am so peeved by the way the show had to undermine the Brain and Heart balance to bring about Bones’ “evolution” that I could only shake my head.
But, @Festina Lente, I would also have the same criticisms if the gender roles were reversed. If Booth were the cynical but rational crime solver and Brennan the intuitive, idealizing scientist (not rare when you meet lab types), I would have the same criticism.
For those viewers who aren’t interested in the partnership balance, I am genuinely curious as to whether the romantic development was satisfying. It doesn’t seem like they resolved anything about the huge, long Hannah arc.
I loved the episode. Somehow, even when she makes me squirm, I love Brennan. I believed Booth when he said he wasn’t angry with Brennan, which surprised me because he has been so angry with her until very recently. But perhaps he sees that Brennan is standing by him as his friend whether she gets anything more out of it or not. Isn’t that what Booth did for several years?
The Angela/Hodgins story line worked for me. It made me cry. I look forward to seeing how it unfolds.
I guess everyone who says to enjoy the show as candy fluff is right. As a long time fan, I wish I never looked up online articles, which I only did because this season made NO sense and I was looking for explanations. Bones never gets covered in the usual sites I frequent and I wouldn’t be reacting so negatively to the BS about character growth and complexity. Now I can’t even watch the earlier seasons on TNT w/o putting it in context of the lopsided changes in BB. The “we’re the center” ideal is tainted now because after 6 seasons, the show is saying it’s not the center they created together. It’s the center defined by Booth, that Bones had to grow into.
When did the idea that for years, Booth was the one waiting around, being there for Bones come out? It was a mutually supportive relationship until the 100th, and Booth was just as hesitant as Bones, and sending mixed signals. That’s what I saw until the 100th episode. So the idea that now it’s Bones’ turn to wait is just plain weird.
Wow, what a great episode!! Kudos to David Boreanaz for making even a “bottle episode” surprising and interesting to watch. He has a keen eye for how to choreograph the camera angles and smooth sweeps around the characters, to really getting inside that elevator for those highly emotional moments to make it really clear which interactions were the most important.
I’m frustrated with certain negative comments about how Booth is expecting Brennan to change, but he’s not expected to change at all. I don’t think he expects her to change who she really is, just change enough to let who she really is out into the open, to reveal those parts of her that she’s hidden away behind her “impervious” exterior for many years since she was abandoned. I don’t think he’s expected not to change either, in that he is slowly opening up to Brennan more and more over the course of time about the things that have shaped who he is, including his painful abusive past with his father, and his regrets from his job as a sniper. He was portrayed as the more emotionally available person in the beginning, but I think we’re able to see that this portrayal was very superficial, and on the surface due to his happy-go-lucky behavior and his religious devotion. I believe that they are both changing their perceptions of what it takes to maintain a strong and healthy relationship, and what they must be willing to give of themselves in order for that to work with someone who is seemingly their polar opposite.
I LOVED the hope that this episode gave me that we are nearing the end of our wait on these two finally consummating their deep and abiding love and devotion to each other. Yes Mr. Boreanaz, I did want to chuck a shoe at the TV once or twice and yell out for them to just KISS already, but I was very satisfied with the conclusion and the direction the show is going in. Great job Bones cast and crew!!
After reading a lot of fan reviews, I have to way this: wow you guys are really angst lovers. When there is angst all of you guys are like “OMG why is Booth like that?” Or “how come they don’t get together, the series is over…” and so on and so forth. Really guys, get your stuff together. Its really becoming amusing on how you guys react. The episode was a real welcome break from all the angst and awkwardness from earlier in the season. I liked that it gave hope for fans to get B&B together in the future. And another thing, if you guys just complain about the whole thing, why even watch the show?
Now on the such next of Hodgins and Angela, they’re scenes were well acted out. Now I’m a Guy, and even Hodgins reaction and about finding out that he’s a carrier brought tears to my eyes. It was well acted and Wendell’s support was also nice. It showed that he still isn’t harboring a secret crush on Angela. Very good scenes between those three. Now I’m stopping here before I go into a full blown rant about how the fans always react to episodes. Oh and people, get over the awkwardness! And I don’t mean the characters!
I used to watch for the BB partnership that was like the X-Files, and a little like House-Wilson friendship, a little like the cancelled Life partnership, and now for the whole Jeffersonian team. But I agree, as well acted as it was, the whole baby plot was incredibly manipulative and melodramatic.
Re: Booth and change, I’m with @Liz “The idea of being impervious vs vulnerable in order to become stronger applies equally to Booth regarding his idealizations about love.” and @Karen, Booth’s been hesitant and indirect too. But there’s such a huge difference between how the show has been portraying Bones’ need to change (I remember “relentless” and “ham fisted”) and how the show treats Booth’s need to change by never actually having him own up to the need. It actually romanticizes his problems.
Outside of the partnership, I hate how they’ve trivialized all the unique perspectives Bones had about life and love into “hiding behind her immature imperviousness.” Yes, she had to open herself up, but she still had valid perspectives that she brought up in the 100th and have yet to be acknowledged.
I have to say, when I first read somewhere that Hart Hanson referred to some of the online fans as “nasties,” I thought it was a bit uncalled for. But, after reading the comments on so many of these articles, I actually think that he was being too polite. Some of these fans are so frickin’ annoying, because they are, at this point, convinced that this season sucks and are determined to think so regardless of what happens; as such, no matter what happens in an episode, they hate it. Like this episode. If Booth and Brennan had ended up getting into a fight and had slapped each other and been strained the rest of the episode, these “fans” would have hated it. If B&B had sex in the elevator and ended up together, the “fans” would have hated it. The way it happened, they hated it. Get where I’m going here? If you’re a fan overall and you just didn’t like parts of a particular episode, then that’s one thing. We don’t all like everything that a show does. But if all you come to these fan sites to do is hate on the show and post negative comments and complain, then you’re not really a fan. Stop being so negative. If the show bothers you that much? Simple. Stop frickin’ watching it. Let the positive, loyal, true fans be excited about the show and praise it without the “haters in fans’ clothing” dragging the rest of us down.
I have to say, I LOVED this episode. I thought that the words and interactions of all of them were completely in character. I liked how Wendell was there for Hodgins as his friend (since they ARE friends), how Sweets insisted on being there for Booth and Brennan as their friend (because he IS their friend), and how Cam reacted (as she always does) to Hodgins’s crazy experiment, which ended with him falling.
I REALLY liked the scenes with Hodgins and Angela. I feel like, had nothing difficult at all happened with the pregnancy, it would have eventually gotten boring to some of the fans. Like “Yay…she’s pregnant…and has been for 16 episodes…yay….” It would have been just kinda “there.” Potential problems with an unborn baby are something that many parents have to face. I was touched when Hodgins cried, too. Both the characterization and the acting for Angela and Hodgins were terrific this episode.
But, most of all, I loved the scenes between Booth and Brennan. I do not see at all how anyone can see it as a step backwards; it was a huge step FORWARD on their part. They were both able to maturely talk about their relationship. without either of them shying away (which one of them almost always does, if not both, when their relationship is brought up). The fact that Booth is angry about all the stuff that’s happened to him and needs some time to get over everything is entirely justified; if he just jumped straight into a relationship with Brennan, it would be like making her the rebound (even though we all know she really isn’t), which is wrong. The fact that Brennan isn’t completely ready to risk it yet, either, is also entirely justified, since Booth recently turned her down, and since she has lived a whole life without being able to trust. As for people complaining that Booth didn’t apologize for his actions–what did you want, for him to apologize for dating Hannah? Brennan didn’t apologize, either; rather, she admitted that she has developed to be able to trust others in a way that she couldn’t before. That was a problem Booth never had. And they both made their many shares of mistakes; they know that, and they understand that about each other. But they both admitted that they want a relationship together, as the final scene showed. They were both clear and honest about that, and both were hopeful that, one day, they would be able to try it. In the end, neither dismissed the idea, and they made it clear through the paper burning that they “really wanted it to happen.” I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to that episode, and was amazed by the landmark progress they were able to make in that one hour.
I don’t understand the so called positive fans attacking how other viewers see the show and trying to dictate all fan reaction. Honestly, if Bones ever got the TWoP or Vulture dose of criticism, the fandom might implode. And I have not made or read personal nasty comments about the show. The positive, negative, tired, jaded comments here are all talking about what they see on the show.
to me booth big mistakes was apolozing to sweets/in mine wishfull thinking I HOPE next show brennan go to sweets and tells him no way to couple therapy/after what booth and I WALK IN ON BETWEEN YOU AND DAISY,NO WAY and another hope brennan decide to talk liked a normal woman.and acknowledge she does write books. agreed I DIDNT find areasons to cry/but as awful as its sound I DIDNT mine booth hurting his back.
@buffaloluvsboreanaz, If you got over your frustration, you would actually see that you and Liz and others are saying the same thing regards to how Booth needs to and is perhaps slowly opening up and being honest. And no one is blaming Booth for being flawed. But I don’t know how anyone can deny that the writers are treating the similar flaws in both characters differently. The show has been everything but subtle in signalling Bones’ change and admitting how wrong and pathetic she was. So why be coy about Booth’s flaws? Why not have Booth man up and admit his problems the way Bones has? And I honestly don’t see how Booth can get over his anger without owning up to his own part in the failed relationships.
The brain and heart balance goes beyond the Hannah arc, and I have no solution. It seems for ratings or for social norms or some reason I don’t grasp, the show is idealizing the heart and saying the brain is an “impervious” shield that hides the real center/heart. I really have to share @Lurker’s disappointment- “they’ve trivialized all the unique perspectives Bones had about life and love”
Yes, as if her previous ideas were a “front” or an “immature phase.” The whole relationship has lost its previous X-Files dynamic and is now more like every other romantic comedy with the Type A heroine who learns the error of her ways. I still enjoy good episodes, like other say, it’s candy fluff. But the change has made me lose respect for the show.
I do love Cam’s haircut. It’s modern and relatively low maintenance. I know hair’s a big and complex issue for African American representations, and I’m certainly not saying she needs to sport a ‘fro (wouldn’t fit). It’s a small thing, but it helps me to know Cam now spends a little less time on making her hair look conventionally sleek.
Hi! What a brilliant review! First of all, I want to say that I really, really, REALLY enjoyed this episode. The case was really interesting, and the lack of electricity in the lab made for some really cool sciency scenes- i.e. the potatoes and the x-ray! I loved the Angela and Hodgins scenes- I totally agree with you, TJ Thyne played a blinder, one of his best performances on BONES, in my humble opinion. Their storyline was so convincing and heartfelt. I thought the last scene was amazing! It wasn’t forced or awkward and totally made me smile. I would have paid big money to see what was written on those papers! It was one of the best scenes of the season, I think. Anyways I could rant about this episode all night but gotta go! By the way, I love the new format of the review, very clear and enjoyable to read… I just MAY have skipped down to the Booth and Brennan part first… What can I say, I wanted to see what you thought! 🙂
I just want to say a very loud AMEN to every single word that Sonia wrote!!! I was just getting ready to essentially write the same exact comment but you beat me to it. I love this show. Do the writers do things that I don’t like? Sure. But they are the writers of a television show that we watch in order to escape from our lives for an hour a week and be entertained. I am along for whatever ride they want to take me on because they are the ones who sucked us all in to the Bones world in the first place. They know what they are doing. It is a complicated and complex show with complicated characters. Do we want Booth and Brennan do just do it already or do we want them to build a life together? If we want the latter, they were so far away from being able to do that from the beginning that it makes sense for that to take years.
I do not understand why some believe a show portraying a woman becoming stronger is somehow antifeminist. She is choosing to be stronger because she likes certain things she has learned from her interactions with Booth. She wants these things. She is becoming a fuller person. How is that a bad thing? As for Booth, we all know that he is as messed up as Brennan is in his own way. He knows that. Does he have anything to apologize for in regards to being with Hannah? Absolutely not. He told Brennan if she couldn’t be with him he needed to move on. She said that she understood. He tried build a life with someone else because he couldn’t wait around forever. I truly believe had he not tried to move on it wouldn’t have forced change within Brennan like the presence of Hannah did. Brennan needed to become strong rather than impervious and recognize that within herself. She needed to recognize her open heart like we all do. Why should Booth have to apologize or feel guilt when Brennan made the mistake? Brennan even told him that she made the mistake. If Booth had never “moved on” with Hannah, the development of these two characters had nowhere to go. Everything would have stayed the same and it would have become a very boring show. I guess I just don’t understand why everyone is so frustrated… Just enjoy the ride!
I loved this episode. I loved that they said things outloud that we have been waiting for for so long. Hodgins made me cry and TJ played the part of a scared father so beautifully. We got to see the results of all of the growth that has taken place over this season and I for one, am very excited to see where everything goes from here.
“I do not understand why some believe a show portraying a woman becoming stronger is somehow antifeminist.” That’s unfairly misrepresenting and simplifying the arguments. You don’t have to agree, but I would stick up for the criticisms too.
It seems like we have a tone of strong, vulnerable emotionally open female characters on tv now and we’re past the career – personal life division phase so all the theoretical claims about feminism doesn’t even apply. It’s about how the show chose to send that message specifically. Yes, after season 3, Bones’ growth would have been natural. But all the roadblocks that they put up afterwards,including the intro of roboBones had the effect of undermining all the other aspects of her character. When she travels, it’s not an indication of living the wide life. She’s running away from problems. And we’ve seen how the Hannah arc meant the show sold all the other relationships short (family, friends). Now that may have been for dramatic effect, but the unintended side effect is that Bones seems more self-involved. They could have have had Bones open up her heart while still focusing on how brilliant she was as a scientist and how much more mature she was as a friend and daughter. We didn’t see that, we just saw how stupid she was for saying no to Booth. Didn’t Marissa Roffman make a public statement about the show forgetting Angela is Brennan’s bff? I thought that was a tactful way of saying, yeah, why are you pretending Bones is completely pathetic without Booth?
Brennan became impervious during the show, especially in S4, she was not before. It was said and shown to us many times in S1/2 that Brennan was not “as cold and unfeeling as she seemed” (girl in the fridge) and she said it herself that she had feelings (woman in the car) and was not a cold fish (glowing bones) and there are others episodes like blond in the game or bodies in the book where Brennan had a really hard time reasoning herself, that’s not being impervious (and during these 2 episodes she was asked to be more rational, they really don’t know what they want from her). And now she says that she did use to be a cold fish…
That she was more impervious than most people, yes, but that’s what was interesting about her, that she was not pervious to the same things as most, that made her original with a different way of seeing life and copying with it, but she was still feeling when needed most of the time.
That’s the Brennan we miss, the one that WAS better (not perfectly) balanced between her brain and heart at the beginning of the show and yet was unique in her way of doing so, who did and understood sarcasms and wasn’t that literal, but she suddenly changed in S4, became robotic etc, and that’s when some started complaining, because they are treating this change like it is not one, like she has always been like that since S1.
And now they are telling us that she has improved (so basically for some of us she is just going back to where she used to be at first), and mostly because of Booth???? So it has definitely become a fairy tale where the strong man (as said in the previous episode) saves the weak (she wasn’t strong) woman *sigh*
It sometimes feels like they started the show over in S4 in a lighter and simpler way, hence the characters becoming 2D and caricatures of themselves. Personally I find S1 Brennan more interesting, even Booth and actually the whole show, that is what some of us are missing, the nuances, and the fact that it seems back then that Booth was also asked to change and learn from Brennan not just the other way around. Now we will probably get Brennan teaching Booth back his own lessons/beliefs/values/faith back, instead of getting Brennan’s rational inputs into the mix balancing his, and them meeting in the middle. Since S4 they have a black and white view of their characters.
@Poppy, yeah, I don’t think they did a good job with showing Brennan’s growth this season and it’s not about feminism. It’s that they diminished other aspects like her work and personal life outside of Booth to prove their point, whereas in earlier seasons, the other aspects added to her growth. (And Marissa mentioned the lack of Angela friendship again in her chat today and I’m probably reading too much into it, but I agree it’s a polite way of pointing out how limited the characterizations on the show have become.)
Although I do see where people are coming from with the comments about Brennan being the only one who seems willing to change, I also feel that it demonstrates that she’s the stronger of the 2 of them right now, because she’s evolved enough to be this self-aware emotionally. I get the impression that Booth probably knows he needs to change in some way, but he is still trying to figure out “what it is that he’s doing wrong” (or whatever wording he used at the end of tDitM) – hence Booth needing time etc…
In terms of how much Brennan needs to change etc, I wish people would stop commenting that she has a problem/Booth should just love her with all those flaws. First of all, we KNOW Booth loves her despite/because of those things, otherwise he never would’ve suggested making a go of it in tPitSotW! But also, has it occurred to anyone that Brennan is protecting Booth as much as herself? We know she loves him just as he is too, but she probably doesn’t trust herself yet to accept that level of responsibility over his heart. The bottom line is, SHE feels that she isn’t ready to handle the emotions (of what would essentially be a love affair of epic proportions) and she’s sticking around to actually deal with it, rather than running off halfway around the world to take part in a dig. So that is why the truly pivotal factor in all of this is Brennan’s ability to change.
Granted, there are always going to be things that are written in that fans will slate HH & SN for, (‘cos we’re all human & entitled to an opinion!) but we gotta remember that if it weren’t for them, the great things about the show wouldn’t be possible either!
All in all, I liked the episode… I thought TJ’s acting was exemplary (as always), there was a perfect balance of angst vs comedy, and David really seems to have a knack for knowing how to direct the hell out of an episode!
Just want to warn any readers who only want to see positive comments: the following contains both positive and negative comments.
The good: the McGuyver-y case solving techniques. Fun. T.J. Thyne’s performance. Excellent, moving. Also, I felt there was something very genuine when Booth asks Brennan if she knows what he’s talking about. It didn’t feel condescending, in a “Brennan doesn’t understand stuff” way. It felt like Booth was really trying to communicate with Brennan for the first time in a long time. And trying to communicate about the core of their relationship.
The bad: (trying to keep it short!) the continued portrayal of Booth as a person who doesn’t need to change and whose world view is correct; and the portrayal of Brennan as someone who improves only when she comes around to Booth’s way of thinking, even though that causes her to lose much of her unique personality. Plus everything about this topic discussed above by Lurker, Liz, Delph, Poppy, Jane St., Festina, and others.
The ?????: I felt like there was an attempt to show Booth accepting/learning from/appreciating Brennan’s way of thinking two times — first, when he agreed to her logical proposal to break the seats, despite his emotional attachment to them; and, second, at the end, when she responded to him in a very Brennan-like, literal way, and he “enjoyed watching her do the math.” But I felt this was undermined by Booth’s “I just need time” statement, because NO — he needs time AND change.
I wanted her to do the math the way she was listing all the different ways for the doctor in man in the bear to get the prion.
That was one of the early scenes that got me hooked on the show.
The thing that really bothers me, is this will probably be the last time Hannah is actually mentioned (unless she pops in for a visit). Yes, Hannah was the catalyst for a lot of Brennan’s self-realization, but IMO she was also the catalyst for Booth’s whole personality shift.
I mean the guy who was spouting the virtues of making love, started a “serious as a heart attack” relationship under a fig tree. As far as we know, he had no future plans to ever actually see Hannah again until she walked into the diner. Other than the proposal/break-up scene, we maybe saw one or two other scenes where Booth and Hannah had any type of serious discussion. I cannot reconcile the Booth that we saw in Seasons 1-5 to Season 6 Booth. And here’s the thing, maybe there was a valid, character-derived reason for those changes, but as far as we can tell Booth got over Brennan just fine and moved right on to Hannah…no problems.
In my opinion, all of Season 6 can be boiled down into one example: the sunglasses scene (The Bones That Weren’t…I think). The writers wrote and saw that scene as having a very specific purpose and the foundation of a very important friendship, while most (if not all) of the viewers were scratching their heads going, “Huh, I thought they wanted us to LIKE her?!” The writers were seeing something that, for whatever reason, did not translate to the viewers, I feel like most of Season 6 is just one big misunderstanding.
@Liz, I think you mean that Bones does *not* get mentioned in the nyt article. I read it too. Got the gist of your argument though and agree it’s telling, because the article does acknowledge other vulnerable women. This show has lost so much street cred critically.
@Tiffany, I think there’s justification to why Booth acted the way he did, but it doesn’t erase how he acted (some don’t make the distinction). Unlike the sunglasses scene, HH and SN should not revert to interview explanations. They need to provide a satisfying answer within the show. So despite some fans defending him, if another significant portion of the audience thinks Booth needs to explain his actions and beliefs on love before moving on, I think that’s a fair point.
Thank you Bufflaloluvsboreanaz & Sonia
You said pretty much everything I wanted to say and in a much better way than I could say it.
I do have a couple thoughts. I started following David during the Angle series and have been his #1 fan since. He has developed into a great actor and a very creative and effective directer. I loved this episode and from this day forward I am going to forget about Hannah. I have watched the episode 3 times and oh the B&B moments are priceless. What about the look on Booths face when Brennan said they would make love exceptionaly he was enthralled.
The last scene was special in so many ways. When Brennan was doing the math on the stadium seating he didn’t stop her because “he liked to watch her doing the math”. I remember the episode that Cydi Looper played the pycic she showed Brennan a card with a bright sun pictured on it and told Brennan “He knows the truth of you and is Dazzzled by You”. Booth has always thought Brennan is special. He accepts her with all her genius quirkyness. Brennan has always looked to Booth for advise and she dosn’t fowlow him around like a puppy dog. She speaks out when she feels strongly about something.
It would have played a lot better if it had been the last scene of the first episode of Season 6 when they returned from their 7 month seperation. I’m going to write it that way in my mind.
I need to clarify something. I didn’t mean the Cydi Loper thing would have played better as the last scene of first episode of Season 6.
The sentance was placed in the wrong place. I meant the last scene of “The blackout in the blizzard” would have played better if it had been the last scene of the first episode of Season 6 when they returned from their 7 month seperation.
Sorry about that
I wanted to add that of course Wendell didn’t change like the other squinterns, which is not surprising since he is the Booth-like squinterns, he is already perfect, he doesn’t have to change, just like Booth *sigh*
Only the squinterns that represented a side of Brennan had to change…
It is interesting that last half of this season gets so polarized opinions, especially about B&B. I won’t shun annoying negative comments, because they have their right to opinion as I do – and hey, it’s just entertainment, albeit very good one (with powerful chemistry).
I Love this ep (with big L), this is actual turning point for Bones drama wise – and I love direction they are taking us. David is excellent director (he ‘feels’ script and sure knows how to bring the best from his colleagues) and would like to see him to direct cinema and TV after Bones (and active acting career). Story wise it was explosively emotional, but I didn’t felt cheated or out of water in all three story lines. As it was more character based, crime line had less time to prove itself worthy – but it did with flying colors. First, it was just cool, fun and geeky in supergood way to see all amazing practical experiments to get to the truth about murder victim with very rare and therefore potentially deadly virus. While end of it felt rushed, human trafficking is huge problem and victim’s death somehow didn’t feel in vain, because it busted at least one cell of this inhuman crime network.
While other comments called Angela and Jack storyline manipulative, I felt it was right in it’s place. Angela’s pregnancy has been very ‘silent’, but from my experience parents are usually experiencing huge stress like this one. And being afraid about your child and what health problems she/he will have – it’s natural and very human.
(by the way, every time I hear word ‘manipulative’, I’m looking for context, because it’s usually a mind response to painful topics. When something makes you cry when you don’t wan to, you resist and act angry against source of sadness)
Well, and here we go…
While feeling very nervious, emotionally big and all, I actually approve writer’s handling of B&B topic. Those who saying that it is too late, or too little, or displaced, or disconnected – well, for me, it have struck home base so far. Why? I don’t know, it just feel right. It is actually hard to explain your own feelings sometimes (no matter how you would like to go to ‘she loves him; he loves her; everyting is fine in la la land’, actual emotions and relationships are much more complex. Question of course is – are we ready to take risks?), so twisted and complex nature of B&B relationship (except that it is quite clear for very long time that they both digging for each other) takes a lot more to unravel.
Said that, it is quite clear from last scene that B&B just turned another page in their relationship – no more secret crushes, no more hidden jealousy. They know that they will one day. This time, they said it loud and clear. Now it’s time for us just to wait.
I actually surprised of level of chemistry Emily and David shows this season. It is growing huge (due of them slowly opening up their chars to each other) and it will be explosive (in good sense) when they both finally will get tothether.
From B&B stuff in this ep loved Booth explaining about importance of stadium chairs, Bones being open again about their relationship with Booth (last time she get hurt big time) and Booth finally admitting that they *should* talk about it.
Finally, being very dramatic ep, it hds it’s fair share of good old Bones jokes (all of them worked, by the way :)). I loved last one when Booth tried NOT to touch huge Albanian man with rare deadly virus when he landed over Booth.
Everyone knows that “I don’t love you ‘that way’ now but I might on X date in the future is the same thing as saying… well… I don’t love you that way.” The chemistry between Booth and Breenan worked when he was the one she aways wanted (the protector, the knight in shining armor) but she was oblivious to Booth being that person (I”m pretty sure he saved her three or four times in one episode and she still didn’t get it — remembering the bombed fridge and her kidnapping that Booth saved her from) — not to mention his digging her out from where the gravedigger buried her or stepping in front of the stalker’s bullett at the Karaoke bar. Topping it all off with the abysmal “dream” episode where the own a bar and are married, and it’s getting OLD. In trying so hard to avoid so called TV rule #1 (Don’t let the couple get together) they’ve violated rule #2 (people eventually get sick of a couple with chemistry not doing anything about it but talking). I LOVE this show, but it lost the magic between Booth and Brennan out of fear for violating Rule 21 and the show has suffered because of it. And I DONT want to be waiting around to find out what date Bones will be ready for Boothe. Yuck. Give the man his dignity; now he waits around for that date that he wished for like Jim Carrey’s character in Dumb and Dumber when told he had a one in a million chance at the objvect of his affection and he exclaimed “So I DO have a chance!” DONT DO THAT TO BOOTHE!
@Tasha, “I get the impression that Booth probably knows he needs to change in some way, but he is still trying to figure out “what it is that he’s doing wrong” ”
This is a hopeful interpretation and sincerely, one that I wish I could buy. On the condition that there was payoff. I still think the show has been so heavy handed and unambiguous with how “good” and “wronged” Booth is. If you’re right, I think the show would have indicated it more obviously and more often. Booth would still need to acknowledge he can’t figure out his problems and I would accept that as step one of the change. But we haven’t seen that. It’s been a year since the 100th so at what point does one go from being patient to a chump.
Nonetheless, yours and the idea I read last week that RobotBones is a “lapse” not a regression (longest lapse ever, grumble,grumble) are fanwanking interpretations I would support even if I’m wary that we’ll never see the payoff. I disagree though with being glad that Bones didn’t run off again as if travelling were merely an avoidance tactic. That’s one of the prime examples of how the show has been trivializing and undermining her professional passion.
@JR, yes, typo. And what? Bones used to be streets ahead?!
@Beth, I noticed the “I like watching you do math” and had the same ??? reaction, I think for the reasons you mention. I would rather not have comments like that unless it’s the start of real attitude change though. If it’s more like an “I like your hair” comment, no thank you.
One good thing was the victim’s story. In fact, I wish they hadn’t wasted the mystery on a week when the personal drama was clearly meant to dominate. This could have been a case where we and the characters actually were invested in bringing justice to the victim.
I probably shouldn’t say this, because I’m sure to get flamed, but I’m honestly puzzled by everyone who’s upset at Brennan changing. Yeah, I agree that Booth needs to grow and change – everyone does.
But in terms of relationships, if Brennan didn’t at least change to the point of believing in love and being willing to risk entering into a relationship, it couldn’t happen. So the only conclusion I can come to is that the people who are angry over her being the one to change are people who did NOT ever want to see her in a long term relationship – with anyone, not just Booth.
The only change I’m aware of Booth asking her to make was to take a chance on a relationship, and she said no. Thus – no relationship. That’s pretty simple to me. She either changes her views on relationships, or doesn’t. But if she doesn’t, then there’s no relationship, by her choice.
From what I can see, then, people want her to be the way she was in the first seasons, interested in short term relationships or casual sex and nothing more?
And in this sense, exactly how is Booth supposed to change? Is the idea that he should give up on love? Maybe he should quit believing in love and go for casual relationships, too?
Since I don’t see him being the same as he was in the early seasons, either, I’m confused on that, as well.
People see what they see, but what’s obvious to some of you – that Brennan shouldn’t have to change and Booth should (instead of both changing and moving toward a common goal) – isn’t at all apparent to me.
But I know for certain that unless Brennan changes to the point of saying, “yes, I want to risk a relationship,” one can never happen. And some of us want to see that.
Rynogeny, why would you get flamed. But you’re also obviously not interested in understanding what other people are saying, just putting words in their mouths. So why would they bother? And I’ve been a lonely, positive reader here but if you’re interested in a conversation, you should start by actually reading the comments.
I did read the comments, most more than once. I don’t see anyone explaining what changes they’re talking about, only complaining that Brennan’s the only one being changed and that Booth isn’t, apparently because he’s viewed as being perfect.
But I only see two types of changes in Brennan: she’s occasionally less awkward socially (and this is bad because…?) and she appears to be changing her views on love and relationships.
In the absence of anyone explaining what other changes they’re talking about – ones they find offensive because they’re not balanced by changes in Booth – I assume it must be those changes. And thus I’m left to assume people don’t want her in a relationship with him or anyone else, don’t want her to change her views on love.
And since I see changes in Booth that others don’t see…I’m confused on that point, too.
Honestly, when I read these comments, the only conclusion I can come to is that Booth screwed up by believing in love, telling her about it, falling in love with her, asking her to give him a chance, believing her when she said no, and falling in love with someone else. And he needs to see the error of his ways and …do what? Apologize for believing in love? For loving her? For asking her to love him back? For letting her ‘no’ mean no? What is it people want to him to do or be?
Less certain that he’s right about fate, perhaps? So if he says to her, “I’m wrong, and fate doesn’t exist, and maybe love doesn’t, either, and I was wrong to tell you it did” – will that work? I’m not being snarky here. I honestly do not get what people are wanting.
I do normally try to understand the point others are making, even if I don’t agree with it. But mostly what I see here is a lot of complaining about her having to change while he doesn’t, and I sincerely don’t get it.
@rynogeny: My biggest problem with Booth is his inability to recognize and acknowledge his own mistakes. He practically proposed to Brennan after years of drawing lines and keeping his distance. He gave her no clue as to his feelings and no time to process them when he did. He dropped a proposal on Hannah without actually discussing with her first whether she wants to get married or not. It’s true that she knew he was the marrying kind and that she wasn’t. But then it also has to be true that HE KNEW she wasn’t the marrying kind, or Hannah was right and he wasn’t listening, and if that is true then he shouldn’t have been proposing in the first place.
Is he perfect, Hell no! But to me, the show is letting him be angry at all the women who dare turn down Seeley Booth. I see no self-reflection, no acknowledgment that he made mistakes in those relationships too. So what happens when Booth and Brennan do enter into a relationship and Booth hasn’t realized those flaws within himself even exist…the same exact thing that happened before. Brennan is taking the time to make the changes necessary for her to enter into a long-term committed relationship with Booth, I want to see some reciprocity.
@Tiffany, thanks so much for answering my question!
I actually agree with your basic point, though I think I see some things differently.
In terms of his declaration to Brennan, I don’t think he was proposing, despite his reference to 30 or 40 or 50 years. I think he was telling her he loved her and asking her to give them a chance. I’m sure people will tell me she didn’t have any way of knowing that, that she thought he was proposing, but I don’t think that’s so. I don’t think it would have occurred to her that he’d jump that far with her, since she knows he knows her.
But with Hannah? Yeah, he screwed up with Hannah. The whole proposal was wrong and it would be nice for him to face that. That said, all we have to go on is Hannah’s word that she told him she wasn’t the marrying kind. We never saw that. We saw her reaction to thinking he was going to propose earlier in the season, which, yes, should have been a clue to him. But honestly, I don’t think he heard anything other than, ‘this woman who said she’d never request a stateside transfer followed me around the world.’ It was a case where actions shouted much louder than words, IMO.
And if she knew him, and knew he was the marrying kind, then I think that makes her responsible for being crystal clear with him exactly what she wanted out of the relationship.
And yeah, I’m defending him there. Where I won’t defend him in the proposal itself. He let Sweets and a shopkeeper bait him into it, basically. And while I think there were reasons for why he was susceptible to that, it was still juvenile and he deserved to be shot down.
The question is whether he’s learning anything from it? One thing I’m curious about is what he’s angry over. He tells Brennan he’s not mad at her, and I think it’s clear he’s mad at Hannah. But I’m not sure that some of his anger isn’t at himself. For trusting Hannah? For not seeing the truth in that relationship? For rejecting Brennan for her? I don’t know. But I’m not ruling out that we’re going to see some of those things people want to see there.
Unfortunately, what are the women telling him about what’s wrong with him? He spent years believing Rebecca had rejected him for reasons that weren’t true, and what he learned from Hannah was that he’d missed cues about why she was in the relationship.
From what we can see (or what I feel like I’m seeing) is that he’s not clear on what he’s doing wrong, only that nobody wants what he’s offering. I don’t think he’s nearly as confident as he comes across, so I can well imagine that if not for the relationship with Brennan, he might have backed off from trying again, permanently, figuring there’s something so wrong with him no one can love him.
But obviously, my views of him are rather different than many.
I’ve caught up with the episode, which is definitely becoming less of a priority. I don’t even know I’ll watch once the hiatus is over. But I really enjoyed the nuanced perspectives in the comments. I wish I could highlight everything and give props to everyone.
Karen-
The “we’re the center” ideal is tainted now because after 6 seasons, the show is saying it’s not the center they created together. It’s the center defined by Booth, that Bones had to grow into.
–> This is why I was invested in seeing Booth make adjustments to his idealized and rigid views on love (and other times he’s judgmental about other people’s values). I needed to see him learn from Bones. I find myself rolling my eyes when I catch scenes in reruns where Booth is imparting wisdom to Bones because now it seems like a one-way thing.
Liz-
Sully, Max, Zack and Booth’s fake death were enough to bring out Bones’ growth. I’d add her bff Angela deciding to settle down with Hodgins to that list. That’s character growth based on professional, familial, and romantic changes in one’s life. Now that this speech comes after romantic regret after Hannah, I think the realization actually makes her/the show’s POV seem more immature and narrow minded than before.
–> I agree completely, and it’s why I don’t watch teen dramas. But it’s also why I can’t hate the character Bones too much. It’s mostly the show becoming more narrowly focused, not just Brennan. I wholeheartedly agree with everyone on the need for better cases and BB more invested in the cases, not their personal melodrama.
Delph-
And now they are telling us that she has improved (so basically for some of us she is just going back to where she used to be at first), and mostly because of Booth????
–> Like in Liz’s comment, I think the timing is the real problem. After season 3, they had to create this weird version of Bones and have Booth “fix” her all over again. And like with Liz’s comment, there was too much emphasis on the romantic “growth” while forgetting about other areas of her life. (And they seemed to have switched out reticence and reluctance for complete inability in the romantic side too.)
Poppy-
Now that may have been for dramatic effect, but the unintended side effect is that Bones seems more self-involved. They could have have had Bones open up her heart while still focusing on how brilliant she was as a scientist and how much more mature she was as a friend and daughter. We didn’t see that, we just saw how stupid she was for saying no to Booth.
–> I agree that this is probably an “unintended side effect” to how the show wanted to emphasize the romantic storyline and again, one that could have been prevented if we saw BB and more of the team being devoted to justice and science. This actually reminds me of later seasons Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls, where people started to criticize how girly conventional the character had become, and it was because of the storylines but also because the show simply stopped showing us scenes of her being bookish, studious, earnest, etc. the things that made her unique.
Jane St.-
The brain and heart balance goes beyond the Hannah arc, and I have no solution. It seems for ratings or for social norms or some reason I don’t grasp, the show is idealizing the heart and saying the brain is an “impervious” shield that hides the real center/heart.
–> I also don’t have a solution to this either, which is sad because this is the part I miss the most (also an X Files fan). I’m just sorry that this is the perspective the show has taken instead of the earlier idea that science/rational thinking and the heart strengthen each other.
I also hope this helps rynogeny without having everyone repeat themselves. I am however completely confused as to where you got the idea that 1) people think Brennan doesn’t need to change or 2) that anyone thinks Brennan opening up her heart is bad.
Just one more thing-
Liz-
I disagree though with being glad that Bones didn’t run off again as if travelling were merely an avoidance tactic. That’s one of the prime examples of how the show has been trivializing and undermining her professional passion.
I was really annoyed that the writers chose to make Maluku a bust for Brennan. Why couldn’t she have made significant contributions to defining what it means to be human anthropologically AND come to the realization that she wanted to give romance a chance? In fact, wouldn’t it have increased the dramatic effect of her realization and opening up if she were successful and realized it wasn’t enough?
@rynogeny: “That said, all we have to go on is Hannah’s word that she told him she wasn’t the marrying kind. We never saw that.”
Did Booth ever actually tell Hannah that he wanted to get married? Not that we ever saw, so either he did tell her at some point, or Hannah got the message anyway. Can we not then assume that Booth understood Hannah’s stance on the issue without it being expressly discussed? Yes, we the audience, have been told that Booth wants to be married, but it doesn’t seem like Booth and Hannah ever had a straight forward conversation about it. So why does the responsibility of being clear fall to Hannah when Booth was the one who decided gamble their relationship away, just like he did with Brennan. One out-of-the-blue, roll of the dice and it’s over.
My point is, this season there is not a single viewer who is in doubt that Brennan made a mistake and is doing everything in our power to correct it. Booth has also made mistakes, and there is not a single viewer who can prove that he has realized it and is trying to correct it. Ergo, the frustration that “Booth is right, and Brennan is wrong.”
This is my first time commenting so feeling a little shy. Honestly, Rynogeny, even if you didn’t mean to, the way you misunderstood everyone was pretty insulting, which is “not helping.” I read GMMR and Bones Theory, and I think the posters here are more critical (so more negative and I understand how frustrating that is). But people here are also seem less obsessive (which helps them see the bigger context) and I don’t know who’s checking back to defend themselves.
But yeah, I can’t find a single comment that says Brennan should not change or that making herself vulnerable to a relationship is bad. It’s just that many here are more interested in other parts of her life that got lost or underplayed or ignored or changed while she was going through the changes re: Booth and romance. Others are saying, even if Brennan opens up her heart, doesn’t she want an answer to Booth confirming her fears about love being unreliable?
The other issue seems to be reciprocal growth. Tiffany said – “Booth has also made mistakes, and there is not a single viewer who can prove that he has realized it and is trying to correct it.” I think it’s interesting that even all the people who were happy with BB’s talk in the end, thought it was honest and satisfactory, don’t have an answer to Tiffany’s question. Of course if you don’t think Booth made mistakes, as in your interpretation (“Booth asking her to make was to take a chance on a relationship, and she said no. Thus – no relationship. That’s pretty simple to me) there’s no settling that debate.
The compromise I can see comes from Tasha who said – “I get the impression that Booth probably knows he needs to change in some way, but he is still trying to figure out “what it is that he’s doing wrong””
And Liz replied -“Booth would still need to acknowledge he can’t figure out his problems and I would accept that as step one of the change” and “Nonetheless, yours and the idea I read last week that RobotBones is a “lapse” not a regression (longest lapse ever, grumble,grumble) are fanwanking interpretations I would support even if I’m wary” So we’re all fans here and it seems everyone is looking for good explanations and just waiting to give Booth/the show the benefit of a doubt.
I have lost some interest in Bones during the past year. My reasons are
several…. mostly the writers have dropped the ball. The show has become
a Soap Opera in many ways.
Also, with the spin off show (Finder or Locator) I read that Brennan gives
the lead FBI agent a Boot Call.
Not much of a start for some up coming relationship between Booth and
Brennan. My guess the up coming season will be the last one.
The writing has become horrible….. at least for me.
Chiming in a little late, but I thought the baby plot was a cheap ploy. Maybe I’m too touchy but some topics are just too sensitive to use as plot ploys. Except in full blown soap operas.
I agree with the above, the writers have just dropped the ball. I mean all the contrived things like the Jeffersonian not having a generator and the Valentines Day time clock and everything else this season- it’s not a big deal until it adds up and makes the writers seem lazy. But I disagree about Brennan giving another FBI agent a booty call. If that’s the spoiler, I WILL watch. Nothing wrong with making love, but nothing wrong with some fun casual sex either. Booth should be old enough to know that, and everyone I watch with thinks Brennan deserves a good night or nooner with a nice, nonjudgmental guy.
I THINK booth made a lot of mistakes in his relationships with hannah/liked her saying I DONT WANT BE STEPMOM/BUT THE BOOTY CALLmeant more./my complaint with brennan is I DIDNT have a dictionary handy.
Hi – I’m late but want to thank you for always being positive Sarah. I appreciate that, especially this year when it’s hard to be positive about the show.
If I watched this ep. in a vacuum, I thought it was good. DB/ED are magic together…..it’s too bad over half of the season was wasted.
I’m not sure what to think now.
Can I ask you and/or Marisa to tell me what happened in eps. 2-13? Because I don’t get it.
Is Brennan the Consolation Prize (because he can’t have Hannah) or….it Booth the booby prize (because he’s Hannah’s reject)?
In eps 2-13, I saw Booth choose Hannah over Brennan twice. I could kinda understand 9, because is came out of the blue and he may have been shocked. But in 13…..asking Hannah to marry him is something I haven’t gotten over and I don’t know if I can. WHY did he do it? I see that as having all the knowledge he had about Hannah and Brennan’s feelings…..wanting to be with Hannah over Brennan. That’s ok, but don’t come crawling back Booth……is he with Brennan now only because Hannah rejected him??
Did he propose to Hannah to chase her away so he could concentrate on Brennan?
Can you help me understand this? I worry that HH will never explain because he doesn’t get it.
Help……..I want to like Booth again…….but it’s just not coming back.
My hope for Brennan is that she finds a good guy like Hodgins. He’s my gold standard for guys on Bones. It’s no longer Seely Booth.
Sarah, Marisa any thoughts??
thanks, Lola
Sarah thank you so much for the review. I really enjoyed this episode and I believe we are heading closer and closer to eventually
@Lola I really recommend that you watch the episodes you missed because I’m pretty sure if you watched them you can answer your own questions and form your own opinions on the show.
Diana I did watch…… but I didn’t like what I saw. I wanted their opinion. I trust them to be fair, and Marisa is good with HH/SN at getting some answers.
I do feel like Brennan’s the consolation prize and Booth is now a booby prize. She gets him because Hannah didn’t want him and he’s a big loser when it comes to relationships. He doesn’t know the first thing about communication it would seem.
They appear to be ending up together because they can’t find anyone else…..kinda sad after this series started off so well. imo
The ‘Bone Girl’ has very interesting comments about the science of Bones. It is worth a look.
Love Cam’s new ‘do – she looks GREAT!
As for the rest of the show… TJ did a great job, kudos to him; hope the baby is okay and they survive everything together. I enjoy Wendell too and wouldn’t mind seeing him as the only squintern.
as for BB – I hated how upset Booth got about Hannah. It really does seem that Hannah was like “the one” for him, especially with his equally passionate assertion that his feelings for Brennan were in the past. It’s frustrating because I have a hard time trusting the writers can change my opinion on that one. Brennan just seems like now a consolation prize and if that is how it’s written as we go forward, I know I’ll continue to feel gypped after years and years of supporting what I once would’ve called the best couple on TV. I don’t mind that Hannah happened, but she was written as too perfect, and Booth was so in love, and so upset she turned him down, and now you can’t even say her name and his feelings for Bones are “in the past, duh!”, don’t you EVER mention Hannah again”… I dunno. For Bones to ever seem like she matters more to him than anyone else (like it used to seem), just feels like a terrible long shot right now.
Also, why does Bones have to change? Why isn’t she good enough? She used to be fine. Yes, she needs to be open to the danger that comes with relationships. But… Booth isn’t perfect. I hate the writers act like he is and write him as sort of perfect. He was a jackass for part of the season. Never got an apology or anything.
Honestly, I hope Broadsky targets Brennan, I really do. That’ll put things into perspective and possibly if done right, re-excite me for my old Bones.
Okay my opinion I do NOT think Bones is the consolation prize nor do I think Booth is a booby prize. Booth while drinking with Sweets went on the offensive when Sweets also drinking mentioned that he didn’t want to be Booth’s age and never having been married and lets face it Booth is how old now and he hasn’t been married before. Booth also at Sweets urging told his partner of five years that he has stronger feelings for her than partnership/friendship and got turned down but yet still agreed to continue to work with her…then that partnership is all but gone for seven months without any word from her while they were gone so of course he moved on just like he told her he would. Now Brennan realizes her mistake and tells Booth only to be let down and HONESTLY would you have been happy with Booth for dumping Hannah to be with Brennan because that is NOT in Booth’s character like Brennan said to Hannah when Booth is in a relationship he puts his whole heart into it . When Hannah came to DC Booth was shocked and was thinking maybe that wow this woman flew all this way to be with me and maybe he wasn’t listening to what Hannah was saying about not being the marrying kind he was just living in the moment and he thought that Hannah changed her mind after being together for a while. He said he was angry but he made a point to show that he wasn’t angry at Brennan maybe he was angry at himself for not paying close enough attention or maybe angry at making that kind of decision while being under the influence of alcohol combined the fact that what Sweets said to him must have hurt and also should Booth have remained calmed when the subject of Hannah comes up especially by Sweets who is partly to blame for Booth’s rash decision to propose. The feelings regarding what happened with Hannah is still too raw for Both hence why he said he needed time to not be angry.
Thanks every one for sharing your feelings I always look forward to reading everyones passions about Bones. Sarah’s great reviews are always wellcomed.
Everyone has strong feelins about B&B. I am a B&B shipper long before I new what shipper meant. I can’t express how upset I was when Booth returned declaring his heart attack feelings for Hannah. I was heart broken it was like one of my children getting a divorce. I never felt like Booth needed to change. I love the guy he is a good man. Maybe I’m making a wrong connection with changing and personal growth. Yes Booth needs personal growth in a lot of things but I like the strong reliable steady romantic man he is and his outlook on life. Maybe I’m of fasshioned but I can’t fauld the man for believing in love marriage and wanting a committed relationship. I think it’s admirable.
I really believe he was heart broken when Brennan turned him down then he turned to Hannah on the rebound. I didn’t expect he would propose to Hannah hopefully he’ll realize Hannah was a big mistake. (I think HH & SN reliaze that too but won’t admit it to the fans). Booth didn’t ask Hannah to come back to the States with him he left her to come back to his son. She’s the one that followed him gave up her lust for adventure to be with him that speaks loud words of commitment to me not just having fun. A man like Booth would take that to be a committed love and to him that leads to marriage and I see nothing wrong with that. She told hime she knew he was the marring kind and she wasn’t. Then the little twit says she thought they had more time before it would come to that and that they weren’t done yet. It was bad enough to her to turn Booth down but he had to listen to such rubbish. He was cold as ice to her after that. I think he was mad at himself more than anyone for believing he could love someon so shallow as that. He certainly didn’t turn to ice when Brennan turned him down. Remmeber they walked down the promenade with Brennan’s arm in his and her head on his shoulder and he then leans his head on hers. Goodness the tears streamed down my face watching that.
I could be wrong but it seems to me a lot of the angry feelings toward Booth have been because of the way he reacted when Hannah turned him down. His heartbreak was genuine he had reason to hurt. As he said 3 woman have rejected him. My heart broke for him when he cried out why the women did not want what he had to offer. That was a statement of heart wrenching soul searching. He doesn’t feel sorry for himself he is really huring . Brennan was the strong one she stayed for him she was hurting with him. That was the only time I can remember Booth being harsh with Brennan he gave her an ultimatum partnership or leave. He had such a pleading sound in his voice when he said walk out the door or stay & have a drink with me he wanted her to stay. She had the drink. It was a very emotional scene. Dam they are good actors. They amaze me.
I dont’t think Booth is rigid in his beliefs any more than Brennan. Brennan has changed in many ways and she wanted to change. She wanted to learn how to relate to people like he does she asked for his help. Everyone needs to watch the Pilot you’ll see what I mean. She demanded he let her participate in all aspects of the cases. And she watches him and learns how. He accepts her as she is with her genius quikyness. Their discussions on issues can get a little combativce but they treat each others point of view with respect, Angela says “It’s Hot”. He has pushed her a little in ways she sees no reason for, like visiting her mother’s grave site and coaching her to say a few words of prayer or just talk to the universe. She rolls her eyes and thinks he’s nuts but she gives it a try. After she started speaking she got into it and it helped her express her feeling to herself. I see nothing wrong in that. He helped her tremendously with building a father daughter relationship. They were ways to help her become more open to the world not to change her. Brennan is a self reliant indepentent woman and will always be. I believe when she came back from the Maluaka Islands she wanted to tell Booth she wanted a relationship with him but was thrown off kilter when he told her about Hannah. I feel she became robotic for self protection. Booth is so important to her she made friends with Hannah to stay close to him (never did buy the BFF with Hannah). She loves the man and values his friendship. I see that as change in a good way she has opened her self up to feelings she never wanted but now finds her life will be much richer because of those feelings, even if they are hurtful.
With Brennan’s help Booths world has opened up to many new things. He now looks to the squints for help with the case with respect and admiration of their ability’s. He now sees that good old investigation techniques are served well with the combination of good science to solve cases. He is reasssured by that. Plus the squints have become more than just squints they have become his friends. Brennan guides Booth by helping him to see how important Science is to society. He has come to rely on that. Booth & Brennan are two beautifl strong complicated human beings. They each have their own strengths and weeksness’s and they grow stronger and better with each other. He needs time to work through his anger and to “find peace of mind”. Peace of mind says to me he has self doubt and internal conflict. He has to deal with his deep feelings in his own way. Remember haow he hated talking about his feelings in couple’s counseling. Gordon Gordon helped him more than Sweets but he still keeps a lot of emotional feelings to himself. He opens himself us to Brennan then anyone. They are both comfortable with each other. They have both been through very personal emotional upheavals this past year and have agreed they each need time to heal. The have now set a date looking forward to being together. Wow I can’t wait for that date.
I’m looking forward to the rest of the season. HH & SN have created a beautiful love connection with Booth & Brennan. David and Emily are such creative actors they make Booth & Brennan believable people. With that combination having them become a committed couple would break the moonlighting curse and make TV history. I hope they have the courage to do it.
I think the issue is that the writing has been so bad that the audience has been left to interpret what Booth and Brennan are supposed to be feeling. Normally with 3rd party arcs the couple that is supposed to be together is together because they chose to be together. In this arc Booth chose to be with Hannah not once but twice so Brennan looks like a consolation prize because Hannah did not want Booth. Whatever Booth is mad at really does not matter because he did not chose Brennan. Instead if being treated as something wonderful Booth treated her as something keeping him from his real want – Hannah.
In his recent blog HH called this arc very popular. Until he realizes he left a portion of his audience behind I don’t think I can get on the B&B boat. HH says he cannot make everyone happy because 1/3 of his audience is unhappy no matter what he does. I say please just give me B&B back. To do this I think Booth needs to chose Brennan and Brennan needs to shown to have good things in her life not the friendless, lovelesss person they showed this year.
Remember when Brennan could relate to people without the Power of Booth’s Love? Remember how she could relate to the foster kids, the illegal immigrants and she was the one who comforted Angela?
That Brennan who could spar with Booth who was always rigid and a bit of a jerk. Now they’ve turned him into the biggest tragic hero/victim and saying he is right about everything.
For the record, I think every mistake he made with Hannah made sense and I felt sorry for him. Of course he would confuse rebound figging with love, of course he would put his own need for marriage before Hannah as an individual.
I’m only confused that the show is saying, well, we’ll change Brennan to be your idealized woman, but you don’t have to adjust your childish and stubborn ideas about what love is. You WERE ALWAYS RIGHT! We love you BOOTH!!!
Rose – you said it very well. I don’t begrudge Booth the fact that he met someone, I begrudge that he chose Hannah over Brennan when he proposed. In ‘triangles’ the couple that should be together…….chose to be together. Booth is Hanna’s reject. That’s the ONLY reason he’s still on the market. He didn’t say, I’m sorry Hannah, I don’t love you enough. or I’m sorry Hannah this isn’t working out or my heart belongs to someone else……….no he asked Hannah to marry him in total disregard for what Bones had said to him in the van. He never addressed it with her again……can I call someone for you? Something you might suggest to a stranger on the street if you saw them in distress.
And no I don’t want to see Hannah come back so now Mr. Booth can correct his stupid act in ep. 13 and choose Brennan. It’s the engagement ring I hold against Mr. Booth. I don’t get it. He doesn’t deserve Brennan any more. She deserves to be more than a consolation prize. She only has her chance now because Hannah said no. It’s sad – we waited all this time……..and this is what happens. Brennan gets Hannah’s reject. I guess that’s ok since they were bff’s. Dang that was the most awful story very.
It makes me sad. At this point, I’m not sure if this story is fixable for me.
Booth proved Brennan was right……..love is fleeting. In Booth’s eyes, his ‘loves’ are very replaceable/interchangeable? Who knows.
Why don’t the writers tell us what Booth is mad about? Why did he choose Hannah over Brennan for LIFE in ep. 13??? I want to know. HOw can I forgive someone if I don’t know why he did it?
I can understand how everyone feels about thinking Brennan is the consolution prize. I have a hard time adjusting my feelings around that to. But I prefer to look at Booth and Brennan the same way as Hodgins and Angela, and I remind everyone how you all love Hodgins and Angela being together. How many people has Angela been with since declaring her deep love for Hodgins. There was the lesbian relationship, she was very commited to her, she asked her to move in with her. Angela admitted she had never asked anyone to move in with her before. The woman turned her down and went to paris. Then there was Wendell, she thought she had become pregnate with his child. I do believe she would have married him if he had told her he was happy about the baby instead of offering to stand by her and take responsiblity. Now Angela and Hodgins have a deep strong loving committed relationship. I don’t recall Angela admitting to Hodgins that any of her relationships were a mistake. I believe Booth and Brennan are good for each other. I don’t believe Booth is the perfect saint of a man. He is a good man, who has a good heart. Brennan isn’t a bad woman she is a brilliant genius who has discovered she wants more to her life then just living alone. When she turned Booth down she pushed him away saying she couldn’t, she didn’t have an open heart like he did she was a scientist and coudn’t make him happy. She told Angela when she learned Booth was with Hannah that she was fine with it, she expected to be alone in her life. She didn’t mean her life was meaningless. She loves Booth and wants to have a full life with him not seperate but with him. I think Brennan has become willing to take the risk that love may not be perfect but it is worth opening her heart to another person. She believes Booth is that person who is worth the risk regardless of what has happened. She is obviously willing to move past Booth’s proposal to Hannah she told him after he isn’t angry anymore and she is stronger they could persue their relationship. So I’m going to forgive Booth for being with Hannah. And continue to believe in Booth & Brennan’s love story.
Nancy, I appreciate that anyone still wanting B&B has to really get creative and talk themselves into it again. Maybe I’ll get back to that point ‘eventually’. But I can’t forget what I saw Booth do.
Well I’m not a big fan of H/A……I’m a fan of Hodgins. I don’t think Angela deserves Hodgins…..he’s a prince among men. How come no one called Hodgins a stalker when he didn’t replace Angela after she turned him down numerous times? Booth gets a no once and high tails it out of there…….
Booth looked at Brennan in ep. 9 and said you’ll get over it, I did. He proved it in ep. 13 by ultimately choosing Hannah to be his life partner. Angela never did THAT to Hodgins. Brennan also never looked at Booth and said I love someone else. booth has never told Brennan he loves her…..only Hannah.
I wish she would have said yes to Sully now that I see how Booth has treated her. The feisty Brennan of earlier seasons would have called Booth out on his actions. What woman wouldn’t ask him about the crap he pulled. No, I’m getting over Seeley Booth just like he got over Brennan.
Who ever thought that harpooning your ‘couple’ like this was a good idea?
I want Brennan to find someone who deserves her love…..not someone who’ll not turn on a dime and leave her. Give up and quit…….I still say Brennan deserves better.
Since when does love turn you into someone’s doormat? That’s so unappealing to me. This brilliant woman shouldn’t just take this from Booth. imo
Lola, I get your point about Hodgins. I agree I love Hodgins, he has a love for Angela that is limitless. Your right about me getting creative about B&B’s relationship. Their love story was totaly ruined by the writers thinking it was a good idea to create another love for Booth. I was going to give up on the idea of B&B together but I couldn’t in fact I was going to give up on the show and never watch another episode. I will never watch another show HH or SN have anything to do with a of any kind. They ruined a beautiful love story. They have no respect for the fans. Plus they could write B&B becoming just partners and friends with no love interest, of course I hope not. I’m not sure what I’ll do then. I’ll just have to wait and see. I love the show and love B&B together and I admit it I love Booth. He’s a good man with faults. So I’m going to forgive Booth and hope that Brennan will forgive him to.
Nancy, I’m in total agreement….I won’t be watching any other HH/SN shows. Not after this last story. I’ve been toying with the giving up on Bones. I guess I just hoped that Marisa would find out if there is any hope they’ll fix it. But I don’t know what they can fix. Short of Booth being an alien/ or he’s been replaced by his identical twin that was separated at birth…..or this all been a terrible dream! 🙂
The B&B story is definitely tarnished for me. Not nearly as enticing as it once was……hard when you only like half the couple! 🙂
Yeah, they’ll get there eventually, but will it be worth it?
Interesting….in the effort to prolong the UST or coupling so the show will be on longer….he basically ruined the couple for me and made me not want to watch. Have to work on wiping out s6 from my brain. Sure won’t be buying this season! For me, it’s the season that wasn’t! 🙂
Lola, I need to comment on Angela & Hodgins. Hodgins was the one that was solid in his committment to Angela. She didn’t consider his feelings at all.
I guess my compairing H&A to B&B was the wrong approach. I was useing H&A as a compairson because everyone seemed to believe in Angela’s love for Hodgins was pure and marvalvous and Booth acting the same way was total rejection of Brennan.
I should have said what I was reading Booth was still a good guy regardless that he was with Hannah and a real jerk the way he treated Brennan and I agreed. When Brennan told him she made a mistake most still believed he loved Brennan. He shouldn’t dump Hannah right away & run to Brennan he should take a little time then dump her then he could go to Brennan. When he proposed to Hannah that’s when Booth became a selfish total jerk and never loved Brennan and she should find somesone else to love.
That what I was trying to say.
I’ll shut up now and give everyone a break from my rants.
Nancy, I agree that the proposal was the big betrayal. I could rationalize the other stuff away. But that, I can’t forgive right now and I don’t understand. Why in the world did the writers go there?
Why make the stars of your show look like a loser and a consolation prize? What in the world is the appeal to that?
What did that proposal accomplish? Slap in the face to Brennan and Booth looking like a loser? I made no sense. Booth should have decided to end the relationship with Hannah because his heart wasn’t in it. IF indeed they meant to show us that Booth had totally gotten over Brennan and completely fell head over heels in love with another woman……then ok – give Brennan a new love interest. But don’t try and sell me this lame story that Brennan plays consolation prize/lap dog and doesn’t even ask questions. Doesn’t point out to him that his lectures about ‘love’ were completely bogus……he know nothing about it. He’s a 3 time loser and needs therapy……
It’s a sad story……if you think about it.
I guess they just want us to forget it…..so why mention her name and make him seem all defensive about it? That scene was a downer if he wasn’t going to apologize for being so stupid.
Sorry I’m so late to the party but Bones only caught fire with me a couple of months ago and I just got done catching up on all of the eps. I thought I would toss in my [considerably more than] 2 cents because I think I may be able to make ya’ll feel better about the direction of the show.
I think it’s clear Bones has been going through the stages of grief after losing Booth, albeit in her own fashion. She was initially in denial that Hannah could truly interfere with what she and Booth had together. When this turned out not to be the case, she skipped anger and went right to bargaining because like Zack she doesn’t ‘do’ anger. First, she bargained a friendship with Hannah so she could remain close to the center of Booths life. Then she tried to bargain a real romantic relationship with Booth with her confession in the car. After the failed proposal, she accepted a bargain to remain his partner rather than exit his life altogether.
As for Booth, it really all boils down to him acting out because of his wounded male ego. Because of his ego, rather than try and ‘win’ Bones after she rejected him he retreated to lick his wounds. He jumped into a relationship with Hannah to salvage his self-esteem. He never meant for it to go any further than Afghanistan. Think of the Freudian slip when he said his relationship was as ‘serious as a heart attack’. Heart attacks are painful and often deadly–not something you’d normally associate with peaceful and loving feelings. When Hannah arrived in DC, it’s my opinion that subconsciously he intended to use her to elicit a passionate emotional response from Bones, something he longs for. When this didn’t happen and instead Bones seemed A-okay with the whole thing, even going so far as to seek to build a friendship with Hannah, albeit for different motives than Booth assumed, he kept upping the ante, taking them quickly through the stages of a serious relationship by moving her in, introducing her to his son, and finally proposing. On top of that, several times he either chose Hannah over Bones or betrayed earlier promises he made to her and all of it was his clumsy attempt at forcing a response from Bones.
I’m not blaming or judging him for any of this. He’s human and he hardly knew what he was doing. Yes, he was deliberately blind to his own motivations but haven’t we all done that at one time or another?
Only, when she did finally respond–I mean, who WOULDN”T have some sort of emotional break after suppressing so many painful feelings of love, betrayal, and bitterness?–he realized he’s been a cad and couldn’t respond the way he wanted to without completely losing his sense of self. His coldness in that scene in DiTP was his all-too-human way of expressing that he partly blames Bones for this sad state of affairs.
It’s my opinion that he proposed, on the fly, on a DARE practically, AFTER Bones admitted her feelings because subconsciously he knew this was the only way to make Hannah leave without admitting to himself that he has been using her to get to Bones AND using her to punish Bones for the pain she has caused him; pain from both the rejection and by failing to respond to the fact of Hannah the way he NEEDED her to respond.
Yes, he acted dishonorably with Hannah but he’s only JUST now, in Blackout in the Blizzard, coming to realize this and he’s angry about that, angry at HIMSELF.
IMO, if he weren’t coming to realize this on his own he would have jumped into a relationship with Bones the minute Hannah left. That he didn’t jump right in is a good thing because it means he’s doing a lot of self-reflecting. but it also means he can’t be with Bones until they clear the air, and the ONLY way to clear the air is for Bones to go BACK to the stage of grief she skipped, ANGER. She NEEDS to go Network on his ass and get mad as hell at the way he has behaved, both with her and with Hannah. Only when he admits what he has done and why can they move on and rebuild what they have lost.
As for Hannah, she was not the perfect, wonderful, independent, adventurous truth-seeker the writers portrayed on the surface and they dropped hints of this throughout. First of all, she was an EMBEDDED journalist, which means she is a respected ESTABLISHMENT reporter, one who can be trusted to toe the party line. This was brought home when she told Booth she was one of only 5 reporters invited to breakfast at the White House, and when she told him her boss wanted her to do a story connecting crime stats with lack of funding for law enforcement. That last told me she does what she’s told, writes the stories she’s told in just the way she is told to do them. On top of all that, her *personality* was one of accomodation and acquiescence, not independent thought and action. She was the complete antithesis of Bones and she was deliberately written that way imo. Booth could never have truly loved such an eager to please lapdog.
So bottom line is Booth has a lot to face about himself and Bones getting mad and confronting him—I mean really? What strong independent woman would wait around for Booth to get over himself to decide whether and when HE wants to be with HER? She’s bound to snap at some point—-will be the catalyst for ultimate change and for the universe to right itself again.
I agree with a earler post. Bones has become a Soap Opera with all the
on again/ off again relationships.
The Booth/Brennan relatioship has become a bore.
The “Booty Call” which may or may not happen is not of any interest to
me.
Also, has anyone noticed that Emily Descahnel has gained a lot of weight.
I saw some pictures of her at a recent award showl. Even in a black
dress….. she lost as if she gained weight.
Maybe she is pregnant or just enjoys married life.
Lola, I agree with you 90%, only 90% because I will never think of Booth as a loser. Come on give the guy a break he made one h** of a mistake. He still can redeam himself if the writers will let him.
I’ve always belived that HH/SN/WRITERS sat around a table discussing how to shake Brennan into waking up to her feelings about loving Booth. Hannah was the big idea. They patted each other on the back on how brillrent they were by creating such a great story line. We have to make Booth so crazy about her he seperates himself from everyone and Brennan will become robotic to deal with her feelings. Oh yeh Hannah has to become Brennan’s BFF. It’ll will be great we’ll shake the whole show up. If the fans don’t like it tough luck we’ll get new ones. So on and so on.
I don’t understand it either I get so mad and sad I could scream. All I can hope is that they will realize they weren’t so brilliant and correct their mistakes.
I’m just not ready to give up on B&B relationship yet. It could be Booth will admit to Brennan that he’s been a fool and made a big mistake with Hannah. I’m all for Brennan letting it rip and telling Booth what a tolal a** he’s been. I hope the writers will let B&B react that way it would improve the problem they created.
I’m going to wait and see and hopefully the writing will improve and they will go back to the wonderfull Booth & Brennan of the past.
@Nancy—“I’m all for Brennan letting it rip and telling Booth what a tolal a** he’s been. I hope the writers will let B&B react that way it would improve the problem they created.”
Seriously, it’s the only way to resolve anything and clear the air between them. Bones has been behaving too much like Hannah, being so accomodating and accepting of everything Booth throws at her. Maybe she thinks that’s what Booth wants out of a woman so she’s modeling her behavior on the woman she thinks Booth loves, when nothing could be further from the truth. I know she’s afraid to get angry because of her abandonment issues, but somehow, some time, something’s gotta give and Bones has to get tired of standing around waiting on him to resolve his issues without being honest with her and talking it out. She’s too good to put everything on hold while he feels sorry for himself. Getting mad as hell at him and telling him about himself will shake him out of his funk and facillitate some REAL dialogue between them.
To the posters who are angry at Booth….. remember it was Brennan who
rejected him first. He told her that he was going to move on….
So the writers had him move on to Hannah…. which did not work well.
I am tired and bored with this almost relationship…..
Either end it or have them together. I doubt Bones will go beyond season 8.
So, the writers can fun with relationship…. marriage, baby etc.
By the way, Emily Deschannel has gained weight..from recent photo’s
some award show. She is beginning to look like Kristie Alley.
I enjoyed this episode but the teasers for it were becoming annoying. It was the little things, some lines and small moments that made it really great, and I feel the group is able again to show their acting ability. My husband didnt like Cam’s hair, and I thought it looked like a wig, although I know the cut is stylish. I was kind of hoping Sweets would have made a move on the 40-yr-old daughter of Booths neighbor, and that was why he kept going back there…
My daughter actually started raising the point about the validity of Hodgins being a carrier for an X-linked trait and I was hoping that the science was correct… Does anyone know?
I am very pleased that B&B finally came to the conclusion that they could be together, they want to be together and it was sweet. In watching older episodes they often hug and fall into each other and touch, but just as in “real” life, the more it matters and means something, the more careful they are about physical contact and the more they think about it – it is the way you can often tell if ppl in the workplace are more than (or want to be so)co-workers – by that self-conscious avoidance of natural touching or human reactions to emotion. I really am feeling excited about the show again!
Hate these long breaks, especially for something like Idol. Bah.
Lola, Your story line is a perfect way to solve Booths problem. Maybe you could become a writer on “Bones”. The only thing I don’t like about your script is Booth feeling sorry for himself. Yes Booth is in a funk. Is there a different way that you could explain his funk than him feeling sorry for himself. I’d just like your script better if you would.
Ellie, I like your feelings about Booth and Brennan’s situation.
I do want B&B together. As I’ve stated before B&B together would break the “Moonling Curse” better than any couple on TV. HH & SN need the courage to write it that way and they could make TV history. Ellie I think I read how you thought of great ways for the writers have B&B together. These are just a few examples of what you wrote. Having B&B moments with them siitting at their kitchen table. Something like arguing in the morning while Booth is getting dressed. They are such rich multi layered facinating people. With them together it would not make the show less interesting, it would open up the story line with all kinds of great moments between them. I’ll just keep my fingures crossed and hope the writers will let that happen.
Nancy – I truly hope they redeem Booth. 🙂
Ellie – I totally realize that Brennan caused all of this….she opened the door for Hannah. She sure didn’t make Booth act like he did towards her or make Booth ignore her, belittle her or ask hannah to marry him……..those were all Booth’s great ideas.
It’s almost like HH made Brennan suffer all through the SO story because she said no…..But I really don’t think Booth listened to Brennan. She was scared in 100/ shocked. She didn’t say I don’t love you. Again, Booth wouldn’t have looked such a fool if he’d listened to Hannah when she told him she wasn’t the marrying kind. But I can’t ignore that Booth picked Hannah over Brennan more than once……all his doing. Brennan didn’t make him do it.
Sad story for both characters……..I’m tired of that.
But I do think they need to have it out. Booth needs to apologize or recognize his faults. This ‘anger’ thing just won’t cut it.
I sure hope things get better
I wonder that if the last BONES. Show ending will end like the Sopranos
ending. Open Ended….. no one really knows what happens to the stars
Bones (show) needs to either move on in relationship of Brennan and
Booth or just end it for good.
I am getting bored with this…… I doult that the FBI bosses would have
moved Booth to another post. Since his quailty of work must have suffered
during the past year.
The up coming season will mostly be the last for this series.
Lola, Ellie, Vee, and Everybody
I like all your ideas about how the writers have dealt with B&B relationship. Everyone is sick and tired of the will they or won’t they. II’s not only in the scripts it’s in interviews. I feel like HH & SN are snickering and laughing about how they have shacken up the fans. I read a statement HH made after all the uproar about Hannah. It’s “The Show is not a Democaracy” it’s his story and he feels that Hannah is the way he wants to write the story. His attitude is to h** with the fans. He arrogance astounds me. I have two old expressions that have been rummberling around my brain to express how I feel. Some people will find them crude but they express how I feel very simply so bare with me. HH has his head where the sun doesn’t shine and B&B’s relationship is sh** or get off the fence. HH treats the fans and his actors with total disrepect. HH is so d** lucky to have David & Emily, they breath life into Booth & Brennan with their wonderful acting skills. Without them “Bones” would not have become the success it is. I really would like to know how David & Emily really feel about what has happened with Booth & Brennan.
After all they’ve lived with these character for six seasons they know them better than anyone.
I don’t know how many season’s “Bones” will last. I enjoy this show more than any on TV so I hope it will be around for a long time. The only way that will happen is if the rating’s stay up, Fox will only keep it on as long as it’s a success.
I don’t know what will happen with B&B all I can hope is the writing will improve and they will come up with some plausiable way to get them together. I can’t help it I’m a shipper all the way. I love to read how passionate people are about “Bones” it has generated such a wonderful fan base. I really enjoy reading how everyone feels each week.
I really enjoyed what Sunny said, on March 23rd, 2011 11:03 am. I think you had a well balanced psycho-analytic approach to your review of the Booth and Brennan situation. Especially about Hannah!
On a random note, has anyone noticed that Angela’s eyebrows have been getting thicker in the past few episodes?
This is really late and no one will probably read it, but I can’t help myself…..
I think you guys are trying to make Booth and Brennan into characters from a romance novel and they just aren’t. That’s not to say their relationship isn’t a romance, but it’s not a mushy gooey gob that ends after 200 pages. There’s a reason romance novels end when the couple gets together…..because reading about people being insanely happy is boring.
Brennan isn’t angry at Booth. He is her best friend! Brennan wants Booth to be happy and realizes that he offered himself up and she turned him down in fear of losing him. When that happened, she had to accept that he was going to have to find someone else because he’s not the type to simply accept friendship in lieu of romance for the rest of his life. Enter Hannah.
If Hannah hadn’t been written in, I still think Brennan would have gotten to the point where she would still want to try a relationship. Basically, it was thrown out there and she wasn’t ready, but the idea took root. The big hurdle for both of them is trust. In order to be truly happy as a couple, they would have to trust each other or one of them would run away….so the Hannah relationship (particularly the end of the Hannah relationship) was important to show them supporting each other through thick and thin.
This episode was them basically admitting that they are going to be together. Maybe not immediately, but that is their plan and it was an extremely important conversation for the ‘shippers that has not been given enough credence on comment boards. Having both characters, at the same time, admit to hoping for a future together was a BIG deal in the world of B&B.
I thought the cutest part of the entire episode was the very, very end where the camera pans to the light bulb (they obviously had power back), but Booth & Brennan still decided to fill his apartment with candles. <3