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 9.09 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 9.06 Review: We've Waited Long Enough

Everyone – and I do mean everyone – that has yet to watch last night’s episode of Bones, rightfully titled ‘The Woman in White’, then please step away from this blog. As always, this is not a spoiler free zone, and I would absolutely hate to spoil the episode this series has built up to for nine years. Again, THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! This is your last chance to leave before I jump in, last warning.

Okay, you’re all going to have to bear with me on this review; it’s going to be a long one. I have been watching this series for two years now, and there is nearly a page and a half of notes related to this episode, half of which are probably my favourite lines of the evening, so here goes.

That, that was the best hour of television this series has had (okay, the Sweets centric episode was great too, but this was a fulfilling episode) in a very long time. This week’s episode has been built up to for nine seasons, and I just have to say how amazingly well done it was. I almost wish this was the series finale, because the amount of hope this episode ended with, and how fulfilling it was to watch Booth and Brennan make it down the aisle, I just don’t know how you do better than that. I suppose everything now really is just the cherry on top.

While not every character was able to make it to the wedding of the decade (I’m looking at you, Zack Addy. You may be locked up in a mental ward, but that’s no excuse.), there were a fair amount of returns this week. Booth’s always-loveable grandpa was in attendance, boy am I glad the actor didn’t die in the intervening years. Booth’s mom, who I don’t quite feel deserved forgiveness quite so easily and quickly, was also there. And even though there’s the easiest way to explain his not being there, Brennan’s dad did make it to the wedding, less Botox-y than the last time he appeared. Booth’s son Parker, who for some reason had to be picked up at the airport (can someone please remind me what happened there?), made his return to the series, about a year and a half from the last episode he appeared in. I have to say, he’s not nearly as adorable as he used to be, but I am glad to have had him around for the wedding. Then there was Cyndi Lauper’s return as the psychic Avalan, and can I just say how beautifully well done she sang that song as Brennan walked down the aisle? Breathtaking.

Now, for the more often recurring and regular characters of the series. We did get to see Caroline tearing up at the wedding, perfectly understated for a character such as she. All of the squints also got to be around each other for once, something I can’t recall happening since Booth’s brain tumour and subsequent hallucination, that ended up mostly happening, just out of order – but feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, you know my memory. Their outfits for the wedding were perfect for the wacky but brilliant characters they are. I absolutely adored the way Angela was crying at the rehearsal for the wedding, and then how protective she got of Brennan when everyone was betting the wedding would be cancelled. She very much can be a big sister type to Brennan, teaching her the ways of the world, aside from her vast intelligence for anthropology. It was a very Jack thing to do, to take bets on when the wedding will be cancelled; I’m curious to know who won when the wedding ended up going off with just a few hitches. Was it all given back to everyone? Cam even jumped in on the betting fun. Plus Sweets was hanging around, being his psychologist self. Hey, does anyone think that John Francis Daley just does not seem to age?

Then there’s Booth and Brennan themselves. I adored how Booth was tearing up as Brennan read her vows to him; sometimes David Boreanaz is a fantastic actor (though I’ll always love him more as Angel). Then Brennan, who was her logic-based self, sometimes just stating the obvious. While I would have added a white-jeweled necklace, or a necklace of some sort to accompany that dress, given that her hair was up, she did look beautiful. Her makeup was just spectacularly done. When I get married, can whomever did her makeup do mine? Pretty please, with sprinkles on top? I just loved how Booth and Brennan were thinking they were just looking out for each other, but really the big stuff didn’t matter to either of them, just getting married on that day was what was so important to them, as long as they were together. Such a beautiful sentiment to enter into a marriage with.

This was such a beautifully well-done episode. I literally (well almost) was pausing this episode every half a minute to minute to jot down more notes, more favourite lines, just anything that came to me about the episode. Booth and Brennan get their happy ending (okay, no, not an ending, but that word works best), and I am so unbelievably happy for them. Two characters. On a TV show. This is my life. But anyways, I actually nearly managed to cry as Cyndi Lauper sang the song while Brennan walked down the aisle. For anyone that doesn’t know me, I rarely cry, and I actually teared up at that point. I possibly would have cried, if I hadn’t paused the episode to jot down another favourite line (more on that below). As Booth and Brennan walked down the aisle together, hand in hand, their smiles, their happiness, it just warmed my heart. Pure happiness for them, I wasn’t even envious (okay, now I am, but that happens), I was just so happy for what they were finally able to accomplish.

I still, I just don’t know how you get any better than this. This episode was perfect from beginning to end. The cellphone calls ruining the wedding rehearsal at the church, the business of everyone trying to make sure they make it down the aisle, and how neatly the thirty-plus year old murder fit into the episode – even if the murderer ended up being a little boring. But I don’t know, I think I’d be happy with this being the last season, or at least the second last. No more after ten, that’s enough. Oh, and please bring back Zack Addy before the final swan song.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10. (Yes, I loved the episode, but this series has yet to be as good as the early years… Yes, with Zack Addy. Okay, that’s enough home. Zack Addy… Okay, that really was enough.)

Best Lines (prepare yourself for a lot):

“Can you cry after eleven?” – Booth asks Angela, when she can’t stop crying but they only have the church until then.

“I’ll put $25 on the wedding being cancelled by lunchtime tomorrow.” – Jack says. “Yeah, $50 says it’s cancelled before the sun goes down.” – Sweets retorts. “Worst friends ever.” – Cam mutters.

“I don’t need sleep to be beautiful.” – Brennan states. “No, but it does help you be pleasant.” – Jack retorts.

“I got your text about the wedding pool. I’ll put fifty on it being called off by three.” – Clark tells Jack, who then pulls out a notebook.

“Hodgins, what have you got for me?” – Cam asks. “Brennan’s done with her mani-pedi.” – Jack answers, not in the way Cam had wanted.

“I prefer not to tell you while you’re wearing your tough face.” – Clark tells Angela, after she asks him if he’s in the wedding pool. She does have a mean tough face.

“Yes! Tricking is an excellent coping mechanism when dealing with people like Dr. Brennan.” – Clark states.

“$20 says it’s cancelled by one tomorrow. Oh God, I hate myself.” – Cam adds in her bet to the pool.

“My God Booth, you burned the church down.” – Max remarks.

“And you’re completely unnecessary.” – Oliver goes one sentence too far with Angela.

“So, I’m inviting you. I have to go put on my dress now.” – Brennan says, starting in one place, and ending up in another.

“You’re a lucky man, Booth.” – Aldo tells him. “I know.” – Booth replies, in one of the two sweeter moments in the episode.

“It’s my fatherly duty to tell you if you do anything to hurt my little girl, I’ll kill you.” – Max half-heartedly threatens Booth, before they hug each other.

“Keep it to yourself or get out because this is going to happen.” – Aldo exclaims, forgoing the traditional standing up if anyone should see fit these two should not wed.

“I can be a duck.” – Brennan naturally butting in to Booth’s vows in remembrance of one of their first encounters.

“Now, Temperance, will you be speaking from the heart as well?” – Aldo asks. “Nooo, I will be speaking from my mouth.” – Brennan replies with her usual amount of logic.

“This is that time. This is that place.” – Brennan tells Booth in her vows, after reading the note she wrote to him while Hodgins and her were buried alive.

“As usual, she’s right. Go.” – Aldo tells Booth, referring to Brennan’s stating that Booth should kiss her now.

“What do you think happens now?” – Booth asks. “Everything that happens next.” – Brennan replies. The other sweetest line sequence of the episode, and a fitting end to the episode.

I told you there were a lot.

Alright, I’m off to watch The Blacklist, or possibly just go to sleep, either way I’ll be posting the review of that later today (it is already a new day after all). I’m all wiped out from taking over an hour to watch an episode that is forty-five minutes on my DVR. I really did pause it quite often. Plus, I heated up some food. Anyways, good night to any night owls like me; I’ve been up since noon to go see some two week old kittens (three of them) to try and help decide which one my roommate and I are going to take (to join our three other cats). Then I had an eight and a half hour shift at work, so I’m kind of exhausted. Night all.

Bones 9.05 Review: Make the Most Out of the Life You Live

All those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Bones, titled ‘The Lady on the List’, then now would be a great time to do that. This is not a spoiler free blog; there is a chance that this episode, and previous episodes, may be ruined below. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

While very much the same as most episodes of Bones, there was a beautiful message to be had in this particular one. The idea that life needs to be made the most of, and that you can cross off everything on a bucket list but it will never be finished because you’ll just keep adding more. It was a wonderful notion to state that a life can only be fulfilled when a person does their best every chance that they get, to let go of the past, let go of the negativity, and just live to make yourself happy. It certainly was a very wise thing to say.

Now, more on the episode. I quite like Dr. Wells, not because – to quote Angela – he is a douche, but because he stirs up these different characteristics in these characters that are not so easily shaken. Cam is constantly taken aback by what he says, Angela almost treats him like a child that needs to taught better, and Brennan is astounded of the thought he acts smarter than her. Anyway it’s put, he brings an interesting dynamic to the show. He almost seems to have characteristics of someone with Asperger’s, or something of the like.

Despite this series having become more or less the same, with very little change from season to season (ever since Brennan got pregnant), there are some humourous moments to the show that keep me coming back for more. I just loved Sweets whole issues with Val, although I completely agree a computer cannot pick up on something that is so subjective, it was still quite fun seeing him freak out over the whole thing. Hodgins’s bucket list was also funny, in that he was astounded that anyone wouldn’t want to be launched out of a canon. Then there was the moment where Dr. Wells is asking out Brennan on a friend date, and Hodgins walks in at the wrong moment, then Brennan turns around and he’s just standing there. Such a perfect Hodgins moment; he’s so much lighter in this series than he used to be.

While I don’t think this series can go on much longer, I am finding episodes pleasant to watch, if a little predictable. I did guess the killer a good ten minutes before Brennan figure it out, and I’m not usually one that picks up on that so easily. Perhaps it’s because my brain has grown more critical after the amount of reviews I’ve done in the last month. Either way, I don’t think this show can last more than a season after this one, otherwise there’s the threat of running it into the ground. And let’s be honest, it should’ve ended a while ago, but I am glad to be able to see the unthinkable happen in the whole wedding between Brennan and Booth next week. It’s sure to be interesting, despite my idea that Brennan would’ve worn something more different than a simple white wedding dress. But, oh well.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Right now I’m gonna go with yes.” – Cam says, in reference to the way Dr. Wells speaks.

“Never discount random luck.” – Wells states, proving Angela right in relation to his douchery.

“It’s less icky if I call it cerumen.” – Hodgins says to Cam, about earwax.

“I hate Val, she is stupid. I hate her.” – Sweets expressing his frustration toward the program.

“If it was the wife, she’s brilliant. In a murderous sort of way.” Wells mutters.

“Oh my God, I don’t.” – Wells exclaims, about his not knowing what happened and who the murderer is.

Okay, ladies and gents, I’m off to go watch Sleepy Hollow, then I’ll finish things up for the night with The Blacklist. Stay tuned.