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Bones offers to spend the evening naked

This week's episode of 'Bones' is all about Seeley Booth, whose father's passing forces him to come to terms with his view of their relationship.

- Season 7, Episode 4 - "The Male in the Mail "

I’m sure glad that Bones is back, even if it was only off the air for a week. I have to thank Carla for covering the show for me a couple of weeks back, as I was rubbing elbows with Mickey, Goofy and the Muppets at some of Orlando’s best amusement parks (believe it or not, I was working … I promise!). The return, however, wasn’t a lighthearted affair. Seeley Booth finally had to come to terms with his relationship with his father.

I enjoyed the way the story with Booth’s father’s passing played out. We know that whatever happened between Seeley and his father in the past was bad. And as much as Temperance wanted to find a way to get through to him, Hank Booth was the only one who could, at least originally. As much as he might despise his father, Seeley loves and respects his grandfather. When Hank chastised Seeley, reminding him that while Seeley might not have lost anything, Hank lost a son, was a very real, very believable moment. It was a great way to break through to Seeley and let him see that there was something more significant to his father than his hatred of him.

Bones did have her moment with Booth in the end. Carla spoke, when she covered the last episode, about how the interaction of the entire team and interesting cases is what makes the show great. I disagree; this show has always been about the dynamic between these two characters. The final scene proved how much their relationship has evolved. Hank may have opened the door earlier, but it was Bones, emboldened by her view of their shared future, that forced Seeley to open the box that his father left for him. The emotions that played out on Booth’s face, excellently delivered by David Boreanaz, were beautiful, especially when he turned to show Bones the card he made for his father.

This isn’t Tina Majorino’s first appearance on Bones. Last time, I wasn’t really sure what she brought to the episode, but that was likely connected to the fact that we were a little distracted by Vincent Nigel-Murray’s death. I really like the idea of seeing a larger FBI presence on Bones, and I’m obviously a big fan of Majorino (As all Veronica Mars fans tend to be). However, I could do without her being such a suck up. Let her be a junior agent that learns from Booth, and move past this desire to be perfect – I’m afraid of where her arc could go based on the way her appearance worked out here.

Notes & Quotes

  • [referring to the bones in boxes] … it’s packed very nicely. I wonder if the killer does gift wrapping on the side.” – Cam
  • If you weren’t thinking “Jell-O Mold” during the scene with the laser, then I’m really sorry I just put that image in your head.
  • “Oh, I see now. They’re much larger.” – Clark
  • Was anyone wondering if any of Hodgins’ weapons used to live at the Hyperion Hotel?
  • “Enough with the baklava, I just want to talk to the manager.” – Booth
  • “Wait a second … A guillotine? Where do you even find one of those? – Booth
    “Room 114 – the French Revolution exhibit.” – Hodgins
  • “I’m using [the seat cushions] to measure your client’s ischial tuberosity.” – Bones
    “My what?” – Sheila Burnside
    “Your ass bones. They’re like a fingerprint in your pants.” – Booth
  • I loved the call back to the baseball bleachers!

    

 

Photo Credit: FOX

Categories: | Bones | Episode Reviews | Features | General | News | TV Shows |

7 Responses to “Bones offers to spend the evening naked”

December 2, 2011 at 1:09 AM

Loved the reference to the Hyperion. Laughed out loud. Great article and much to agree with. I, too, like the show because of the dynamic of Booth and Brennan. The rest is just window dressing to me.

December 2, 2011 at 10:58 AM

Is it just me or is it really strange that Parker seems to have disappeared? I can’t remember if he has even been mentioned so far this season and considering how much he has been mentioned in the past not to mention how many times he has actually been on screen it is really off putting.

December 2, 2011 at 11:02 AM

No I agree completely, especially in the first episode, the ignoring of Parker was jarring.

He was mentioned in passing in (I believe) the second or third episode.

December 3, 2011 at 11:33 AM

Grandpa Booth also said this episode that he didn’t think he’d ‘be a great-grandfather again’- ‘again’ being because of Parker :)

December 3, 2011 at 1:35 PM

? He was mentioned in this very episode. Pops said to Booth, “Don’t you feel responsible for your boy?”.

I think it’s just that the young actor who plays him is unavailable right now. I don’t think they’re trying to retcon Booth out of having a son.

December 4, 2011 at 8:53 AM

You’re right, Kate … he was. He was also mentioned in episode three, I believe. But the fact that he wasn’t mentioned at all in the first episode, when Booth talked about being a father several times, was rather jarring:

https://cliqueclack.com/tv/2011/11/03/bones-season-seven-premiere/

December 4, 2011 at 9:07 AM

Yeah I remember that in the premiere. I remember thinking that in one of those particular conversations, the one where Booth talked about wanting to show his child that he gave them a home, that it made sense that he didn’t mention Parker because he’d always felt he’d failed as a father in that respect because he hadn’t married/stayed with Parker’s mother. That’s why Booth has always had issues with himself as a father and needs constant assurance that he is a good father. So in that particular context, it made sense that he didn’t mention Parker. Although they probably could have expanded that conversation to work in a mention of Parker so it wasn’t interpreted as Booth forgetting that he already has a kid lol.

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