Bones 9.12 Review: Not Being Able to Let Go

This is my friendly reminder for all those that have yet to watch Friday night’s episode of Bones, entitled ‘The Ghost in the Killer’, then now would be your last chance to do so before proceeding ahead into spoiler waters. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Well, that was a thoroughly enjoyable episode. I always enjoy the episodes of Bones that include a lot of genuine feeling emotions and drama to it; it does have its fair share of quality comedy to it, but I prefer the drama. The way Brennan was so focused on finding the female serial killer that it was causing drama between her and the ones she loves was masterfully done. I especially enjoyed her arguments with Booth, and how, by the end, he’d made his decision to believe in his wife.

The part I think I liked most about this episode was how well crafter the characters were this week, and the way they interacted with each other. It was so on key to have Cam not want to know what personal issues Clark was having, and how flabbergasted he was by it. Just the way he was rocked by the end of such a long relationship in his life was also phenomenally well done. And how Hodgins showed what growing up wealthy had facilitated his childhood, and still how he was able to interact with the other family. And, like I said, how much I enjoyed Brennan’s genuine interactions with Booth in the beginning, that also nicely bookended the episode. Plus, getting to see Hodgins and Sweets being somewhat buddy-buddy, while not as good as the Hodgins and Zach friendship, was nicely done. Also, that nice little moment between Brennan and Clark, where she asks him to call her by her first name was beautiful.

My one issue with this episode would definitely have to do with how Hodgins was still able to work on a case that he had affiliation with the possible suicide victim. Didn’t we go through this a few seasons back, where his evidence was found in contempt because he hid his relations with the victim’s family? Why would this be any different then that? It seems a bit like there would be a lack of continuity with the last episode where Hodgins knew the victim.

Anyways, for the most part this was an incredibly well done episode, particularly for one that has come after season six – which I believe was the last great season. I especially liked the quality of that nightmare it opened up with. Also, I’m glad that, despite Booth and Brennan being married, they are able to keep juicy, interesting episodes going forward. I just hope the next episode is at least nearly as good, given that it won’t have to do with the Ghost Killer.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“As long as a person has enough, they don’t need more; and I’ve got more than enough.” – Hodgins shares his wisdom with Sweets.

“I thought I was explaining?” – Clark questions. “You are, very slowly.” – Brennan remarks.

Okay, so I’m going to go review last week’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. now, and then probably Trophy Wife from last week, and then this week. See, I may be able to catch up after all.

Bones 9.11 Review: The Many Ways We Grieve

Anyone that has yet to watch Friday night’s episode of Bones, entitled ‘The Spark in the Park’, that is what I suggest you go and do now before proceeding ahead. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

I have to say that I really enjoyed Brennan in this episode. The amount of emotions she was able to demonstrate just based on her parallels with the victim’s father this week was wonderful. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to see her character really show an array of emotions, and I always enjoy it when that is really able to come through on screen. This kind of Brennan is more of what I really want to see of her character, not the Brennan that is almost completely pulled back from everyone or always happy. Getting to see the complete scale of emotions is what I like.

Booth, on the other hand, I felt was very much an ass in this episode. I understand that he is an FBI agent trying to find the murderer, but he was way too hard on the father when even I could see that the man was grieving. For someone that is able to figure out people, he wasn’t really able to use that skill when it came to the professor. Sure, it may have been partly because the man is similar to Brennan in that they grieve strangely compared to the average person, but I almost felt that his character did that so that Brennan would be the one to take an interest. In that case, it is okay, but still not natural to Booth’s character.

This week, Cam was able to confront the woman that stole her identity. For such an intricate problem to be given to this character, the whole reason behind why the woman had stolen Cam’s identity, the woman that had been her friend in college, was kind of ridiculous. I expected more from this story than what panned out. Also, Cam really needs to grow her hair an inch longer, or at the very least half an inch.

All in all, this was an enjoyable episode. This series is becoming a bit too ludicrous for my liking, but it does have its moments. There is a lot of humour to this series now, and almost too much happiness for these characters that it becomes a little plain. I really think that this series needs more depth going forward, if it wants to continue on one more season passed this one.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Do you really think I care if she sits in there for a while?” – Booth asks Cam, regarding the woman that stole her identity.

“I’m more of a wrath and vengeance type.” – Cam relates to Arastoo.

“That’s a gross oversimplification.” – Brennan says.

“Yes! I’m never wrong about an identification.” – Brennan states.

Okay, so apologies for not getting this up yesterday, I would’ve had to choose between watching this, or Haven, if I did that, but I really wanted to watch both, so I picked watching yesterday, reviewing today. So here this is. Stay tuned for my review of Haven, coming up next. 

Bones 9.10 Review: Accidental Cannibalism

For all those that have yet to watch Friday night’s episode of Bones, entitled ‘The Mystery in the Meat’, now is your last chance to do so without spoilers before reading ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

While the dumping ground for where the body was found this week was intriguing, the boasted about bachelorette party “episode” was rather lackluster, despite the brawl between our series regulars and the biker women. The way this episode had been written about, I expected most of the episode would be about the bachelorette party, and not just five minutes spent in what was supposed to be a rodeo bar.

Elsewhere, I was happy to see two squinterns in the episode, even though the way they did this makes me feel like they’re trying to build up to Daisy and the new guy dating. A little too cliché if you ask me. Although, while the newbie is rather abrasive and tries to claim every idea, I do find his ability to get under most of the staffs skin funny to watch, so the guy is growing on me.

Also, they seemed to resolve the whole Angela-Booth situation this week. Was it just me, or does the acting in this series seem to be over-the-top now more than ever and not natural in the least? As I watched that scene, it didn’t appear as if the characters had known each other as long as they have, and it just didn’t seem to click. Maybe that’s one of my issues with this show; it’s lost its naturalness, ever since the end of season six. Before I used to be able to watch emotion, drama, and humour all nicely wrapped together, and now I’m not feeling most of that on a regular basis. It really is time to end it.

Okay, well overall this episode was alright. It was very surficial and light. There wasn’t much depth to it, except for in fleeting moments. It’s almost like this series is merely grasping at straws; not even the actors are putting their entire selves into it, and the writing has just gotten bleak. I love this series first six seasons a great deal, and then there were some great moments and brief story arcs after that, but for the most part it’s time to put this series to bed. The move to Friday marks that possibility; I just hope we’ll get some sense of finality when it does end.

My rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“It’s fine with Cam.” – Angela tells Brennan. “It is?” – Cam asks.

“I can’t believe this! We’re homies!” – Daisy delights.

“I dislike almost everyone. I dislike you and I don’t even know you.” – Agatha Blume remarks.

“Don’t be nice to me, it’s weird.” – Daisy complains. “Just deal with it.” – Oliver replies.

Okay, more apologies for not posting this yesterday as I had hoped. Again, Friday and Saturday nights I always get home around 2:30, so I only get four hours to myself. I did watch this yesterday; I just didn’t have time to review it, so here it is. Both Once Upon A Time and Revenge are not airing new episodes this week, so check back in tomorrow night for my reviews of How I Met Your Mother, Almost Human, Sleepy Hollow, and The Blacklist. See you all then.

Bones 9.09 Review: Injustice is Everywhere

For all those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Bones, entitled ‘The Fury in the Jury’, this is where I suggest that is what you do before proceeding ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

This is going to be quick, because I still have last night’s episode of Haven to watch, so here goes.

For about the first half of the episode, until we learn who the corpse on the table is, I kept thinking this guy better be Barnes or else these two cases don’t work together. I knew it was him from the moment he was mentioned, but I’m still happy it was because I wasn’t really that interested in the washed up corpse until it did work into the jury case Brennan was working on. The process of the jury and evidence and the court case was much more interesting to me than them searching for clues on the murder victim. I kind of wished they had focused more on the court case because it was a nice change of pace, much like this week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, sadly I don’t think they used it to the best of their abilities; they really should have absolved from the murder victim of the week to just the court case this episode, in my opinion.

Until it was brought up again in this episode, I had completely forgot the poster child for a PSA about having her identity stolen was that of Dr. Soroyan. This is where I think this series resolves things strangely; things will be mentioned maybe two or three times in the span of several more episodes and then be quickly resolved. Just you wait, this won’t even be mentioned in the next episode, and possibly not even the episode after that. That’s the problem this series has, bouncy continuity, and jumping character development. They can’t just stick to a story momentum; much like a schizophrenic, they jump from one delusion to the next, one story to the next, to the next, back to the second, than the first, than the second again, and finally the third once more. It’s erratic and mildly irritating.

All in all, in its first episode in its new Friday night timeslot, this episode was mediocre. It had its moments where it was good, and then blatantly awful. I am a big believer that this series needs to end soon because, aside from the wedding episode, this series hasn’t been good since the end of season six. It’s far too happy, too joyful, too bland and not as gritty, realistic, with a flare for comical moments to dark tones. This series quite possibly needs to end this season, if not the next. And even if it gets a tenth season, I don’t know if I can see myself sticking around for it. This season may be it for me; it’d be nice to get a gratifying ending.

My rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“You’re very quiet.” – Booth says to Brennan. “Because I’m not talking.” – Brennan replies.

Okay, I’m off to watch Haven now, but don’t stick around for that review. Check back in tomorrow night for the show I actually looked forward to watching tonight and saved for last.

Bones 9.08 Review: Tactfulness and All It Entails

All those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Bones, entitled ‘The Dude in the Dam’, now would be a good time to do that before reading ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

While I do believe this series has limited time left after giving the fans what they wanted when Booth and Brennan got married, I’m trying to enjoy the episodes this series has left while I can. In that sense, this was a very pleasant episode to watch. Booth and Brennan had their first fight after being married, about none other than Brennan and her idea of whether she is tactful or not. It was a nice easy fight that we didn’t see too much anger behind, other than the fact Brennan thought being called tactless was incorrect and disrespectful to her. For a couple that practically does everything together, they don’t fight quite as often as I’d expect them to.

The circumstance that stirred on the fight between the newly married couple was surrounding Brennan’s review of another novelist’s books and vice versa. It was actually interesting to see the books brought into this series again, other than to be fawned over like in last week’s episode. The drama between Brennan and Tess was very intriguing and something that is adeptly true of life and those involved with entertainment. I loved that Brennan had strong enough morals though to not want to be part of the ruse, and that the author in the end got her karmic justice.

Another big part of this episode was Hodgins and his being a living host to a fly larva. Hodgins is definitely a character. He’s such a strange man, and while I miss, at times, his grumpy side and extreme conspiracy theories, this happy go-lucky side isn’t something I wouldn’t wish on someone I cared about, it just doesn’t always make for dramatic television. I did like the little giggle he made when he said yes to Angela asking him if he was growing a fly. He’s definitely goofier now than he was broody early on in the series. I do tend to prefer broodiness – to an extent – but this isn’t terrible either.

Of course, there was also the murder of the week that we were introduced to this episode with. I loved that it began with this whole beaver dam being studied for these two kids class, and it definitely made for an interesting place to find a body. I was also quite intrigued by the murder victim’s life, although I didn’t quite get his narcissistic personality thing. It didn’t come across clear enough for me to grasp. The whole leopard slug goop was very cool, and the fact that it basically becomes like a glue was interesting information. Definitely brought on a funny moment with Wendall and Hodgins, particularly when he basically backhands Hodgins accidentally and his gloved hand becomes stuck to Hodgins face. This series certainly is ripe with funny moments.

Overall, a decent outing this week for this series. I loved that the writers plugged in Booth’s whole anti reading newspapers on touch pads, and how technology isn’t always a good thing. I very much agree, while I don’t read newspapers all that often, I prefer holding a book in my hands, the feel of the pages, and the look of the paper as its read rather than the bright white of computers. One thing I wasn’t sure of was how inappropriately short Angela’s dress was. I don’t think that any self-respecting person with a job in a place like the Jeffersonian would ever wear a dress that short to work. No, I don’t think Brennan’s earrings would likely be up to dress code, but there not as apparent as that dress. Still, this was a good episode, not outstanding by any means, but good.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Technology is not all about improvement.” – Booth tells Brennan. I agree that it can often be a hindrance with its readiliness.

“Bitch.” – Wendall calls the other author offhandedly to Brennan.

“Angela is going to divorce you.” – Wendall says to Hodgins, regarding the bug growing in his neck.

“Oh man, this is becoming normal to me.” – Wendall remarks, after making cutesy noises to the larva popping out of Hodgins neck.

“Yeah, but I’d need a laser. … That alien attacks you, you’d be happy I had a laser.” – Booth says to Brennan, trying to convince her to write aliens into her next book.

I’m off to go watch Sleepy Hollow now. After that it’s The Blacklist, so stay tuned.