Why does time insist upon moving so rapidly? People keep attempting to discuss upcoming teases and spoilers with me, and I just completely shut down. With the airing of last week’s episode, we have reached a pivotal mark in the season. I will not actually say what that is, but anyone who can count will be able to determine quite quickly where we are in the season. So as not to make this yet another depressing introduction, I’ll move past this quickly.
Source: Marla @ The Game of Nerds
Last week’s episode was an absolute dream. It was extremely light in tone, and was filled with much frivolity- something for which I assume we will be grateful for in the next couple weeks. Bones has always done an impressive job of balancing out any season with drama, intensity, fun, and humor. To me, this week was pure joy. We witnessed all of the characters enjoying themselves to some degree, which is a beautiful thing to see. Especially with everything that is to come. I loved every single moment. And I have essentially had it on repeat since its airing. Who would have thought a lumberjack competition would make for such an incredible ride. Well, it’s Bones. They can make nearly anything into a most engaging episode.
Science vs. Mystery
“I’m never riding a bike again.” Those are the first words we hear following the discovery of of the body. And they are obviously coming from a very flustered Christine Booth. She flies through the door in a fury, and announces her immediate retirement from bike riding. Booth had been teaching her out in the driveway. She was apparently getting the hang of it, wobbling only just slightly, when Booth decided to let go. Bad decision. Christine hit the ground at once. And just like that, she was finished with bike riding “forever.” Brennan actually does not want Christine to ride a bike until she is able to teach her daughter the proper physics behind it. Booth is a bit perplexed. To him, riding a bike is simple. “You get on, fall off, you figure it out, you get back on.” Brennan starts listing all the elements of physics involved with the activity. She gets to “friction,” and Booth shows his appreciation for that particular force. Happy Valentine’s Day- here’s a treat in the form of a gif.
Source: Marla @ The Game of Nerds
Don’t you think that it’s-it’s good to not know how something works? I mean, come on, science takes the magic out of everything.
There’s no magic to begin with. It’s just rules that govern the universe.
These two have been having a variation of this science vs. faith (or love, or heart, or magic) discussion since the beginning of time. Well, since the beginning of the series. For Booth, there is definitely a time and a place for science, mathematics, and learning in general. But I think from his perspective, he managed to learn how to ride a bike without understanding the physics. And he presumably had fun doing so. Booth likes to have that bit of mystery in his life. He doesn’t require an explanation for everything.
Next thing you know you’re gonna be telling her that rainbows are-
Light refracted through water? She already knows that.
Of course she does.
This line is interesting to me. Because rainbows were brought up way back in season four, when Max was teaching the children at the lab about refraction. Brennan launched into a complex explanation relative to the science of refraction, but Max knew precisely what he wanted her to tell his group. He asked her to cite her favorite example of refraction when she was growing up. “Rainbows.” Max adds that his daughter used to make him drive to the other side of the rainbow. “She didn’t believe that light came out of the back of a raindrop.” To Booth, a rainbow would be beautiful because it’s magic. After the darkness of a rainstorm, something beautiful and mysterious appears. Actually, you can see his reaction to a rainbow in The Dwarf in the Dirt. To Brennan, a rainbow is beautiful because it’s an aesthetically pleasing manifestation of refraction. And to Brennan, the science behind it all is beautiful. Neither one of them is wrong. Booth and Brennan have always seen the world a bit differently. This situation is simply par for the course. And this would be a running theme throughout the episode.
Brennan proceeds to go check on her daughter, when the all-too-familiar sound of phone chimes interrupt. A body was found, and now they must go to work. Not before a little mention of viscera.
It’ll be fascinating to see how non-human viscera effects the decomposition of a human corpse.
There goes my appetite.
You’d think after 12 years you could handle a little viscera with your oatmeal.
Twelve years. Actually, over twelve years. But even so, twelve years of solving crime together. I will never get over this blessing.
I just want to mention how domestic this entire scene is. Not necessarily the dialog, of course. But the act of making breakfast in the morning. I could watch it over and over again (and I have) because the two of them are so natural together in the kitchen preparing their breakfast. It’s everything I never knew I wanted so many years ago. I obviously always hoped these two would eventually get together. I just never realized that even the smallest of moments would incite such powerful emotions in me.
As it turns out, the victim in this particular case was a golf pro, turned lumberjack. Or should I say, “lumberjill.” I am constantly learning when it comes to this show. Booth and Brennan are on their way to the competition, discussing the case in the car. Booth is clearly exhilarated, and notes that lumberjacking is such a huge sport. He also uses the term “badass” to describe it. So you know that he is ready to get in on the action. Or at least watch. Of course anyone that knows me knows car scenes are my weakness. It’s just the two of them, no distractions, just dialog. And at times, a bit of ad lib.
Booth voices his belief that lumberjacking is far more exciting than golf.
I imagine the muscle groups used to swing an ax are the same as those used to swing a golfing stick.
Four years of playing golf and you’re still calling it a golfing stick.
It’s a stick used to golf. How is that not accurate? My point is that both golfing and lumberjacking are just applied physics.
They are picking up right where they left off that morning. As with riding a bike, Booth doesn’t want to think about lumberjacking in terms of physics. Brennan informs him that everything is actually mathematics when you break it down. I remember my own dad used to tell me as a child that math is the universal language. At the time, I always thought it was music. But he has a point. Brennan tells Booth that sports, architecture, and comedy are grounded in math. Booth has to disagree with the last item.
By vectoring the English language, I can make a multitude of hilarious jokes.
Please don’t. No.
For example, what did the math teacher say to the lumberjack?
Don’t care.
Make sure you use the correct “log-arithm.”
It’s all just simple “geome-tree.” Tree. Like, a tree, ‘cause it’s a log. It comes from a tree. It’s a play on words.
Perhaps some don’t enjoy or appreciate her jokes. But I have always had a soft spot for Brennan’s attempts at humor. There is a certain innocence to her when she tells a joke. A childlike quality? And the fact that she finds her own humor so amusing, I find it difficult not to smile. It’s simply adorable.
Booth and Brennan end up talking to the victim’s (Phyllis) training partner, Helga. Helga claimed that she would never have murdered Phyllis, as Phyllis had been sharing all of her secrets with Helga.
What secrets?
Just some math stuff that she’d use to calculate each chop, like they do it in golf.
As they should do it in every athletic endeavor.
When Booth asks if there is anyone who would have wanted to hurt Phyllis, Helga figures that it could feasibly have been the “crazy fans.” These highly intense lumberjacking fans apparently found her methods to be too dull. They claimed she was ruining the sport with her constant measuring. Booth admits that he doesn’t blame them. I know some people were a little hard on Booth in this episode. And perhaps he didn’t think before he spoke in some cases. But he certainly understands the importance of math, science, and academics in general. And he obviously appreciates and even celebrates his wife’s intelligence and fervent passion for science. It’s a part of his own everyday life for sure. But he just doesn’t want to infuse academics into every piece of his existence. It’s already a huge component of his professional life. He has simple desires. And sometimes he just wants to enjoy watching someone take a chainsaw to a log without thinking of equations. I like to think I fall somewhere in the middle of Booth and Brennan here. I am curious about and even fascinated by the logistics behind everyday phenomena. But I can also appreciate something on a very basic level. Sometimes you don’t want to think any deeper than that. And that’s okay. We already know he wants his children to inherit Brennan’s intelligence and passion for learning. So who cares if he wants Christine to learn how to ride a bike without a science lesson. Who cares if he wants to watch someone swing a chainsaw without hearing an equation. Science will always have a place in his life. Make no mistake. Could his delivery have been better? Of course. But I feel like we know Booth quite well by now. He meant no harm.
When Booth arrives back at his home later that evening, he finds Brennan near the dining area arranging a series photos on the window.
Bones, what are you doing?
Proving to you that lumberjacking is physics.
I am sure that it is, but I told you, I don’t want to know.
Don’t you wonder how the world functions?
You know what, Bones? Some things in life, they need to be a mystery, okay? Like the Internet.
Why planes fly. Farts.
Transfer protocol, manipulation of air pressure, vibrations of the anal–
Nah! Don’t need to know that.
Again, Booth spends most of his day immersed in science to some degree. Granted, not every interrogation involves science. But that said, let him have a bit of mystery if that’s what he wants. He believes in the intangible- love, faith, magic, God, his gut. A little mystery and magic is good. Brennan doesn’t always understand the intangible. She used to put no stock into it. But she respects it. Just as Booth respects science. They may discount these things at times, but at the end of the day, the two of them come together and find a compromise. Because they believe in each other. And that’s enough for them to respect the other’s beliefs and passions.
By the end of the episode, Booth and Brennan are going to settle the bicycle debate once and for all. They will go up against each other in a logrolling competition. Just as every married couple does at one point in their lives together. The winner gets to decide the method by which Christine will learn how to ride a bike. Brennan has made sure to conduct the proper measurements so as to give her an advantage over Booth. Apparently it has taken 20 minutes. “Do husband and wife understand the terms of the agreement.” I just wanted to include that for the obvious attention drawn to their marital status. Brennan is confident she will be victorious, as she has spent two days studying the physics of the sport. Booth has spent that time enjoying the sport. He feels he will definitely win.
Your hair looks beautiful today, I must say. It’s gonna look that much better when it gets all wet.
I hope your lack of scientific strategy results in you losing.
We’ll work on that trash talking later, okay.
They are the two most precious people in the world. Honestly. The hair comment, though part of Booth’s “trash talking” strategy, was just everything to me. It was entirely too adorable. The two of them begin the competition. Brennan is spouting off scientific jargon like “friction” and “torque” as they continue rolling along. They splash each other. And I’m just in utter disbelief at what I am seeing. Never in a million years would I have conceived of this situation in my mind. But it’s perfection. This is why I love the writers. And this is why I trust the writers. They have given me so many scenes I never even knew I wanted. How would I have ever imagined this? Finally the screen flashes to black. And there is a loud splash. Who fell in? That’s likely an unsolved mystery. I have seen people make their own hypotheses. I have as well. I feel that they both fell in together. And this is going to sound ridiculous- They are stronger together, as a unit. As partners. Brain and Heart. Two sides of the same coin. Clown fish and sea-anemone. Etc. Science is not going to win. Neither is “Magic” (for lack of a better descriptor). They will win by working together. Just as Booth and Brennan achieve a better result by working together. If both fall in at the same time. Neither lose. They tie. Or in my twisted mind, they both win.
Hodgins’ Discovery
Zack’s case was brought up once again in this episode- this time by Hodgins. He had sent Angela a photo of the crime scene from the lobbyist murder. After a bit of shock, Angela only wants to know how she can help. Hodgins believes that the severity of the stabbing can prove that Zack innocence. “There’s too much blood. I mean, if Zack were to stab someone, which…But still, uh, he’d do it as cleanly as possible.” I have to agree with Hodgins’ assessment here. Zack would know how to very precisely stab a victim so as not to leave evidence splattered all over the place. He would never be sloppy. However, I also agree with Angela, in that it would likely be extremely difficult to overturn the ruling based on this evidence. As well as the fact that Zack already confessed to the killing a decade ago.
Later in the episode, Angela informs Hodgins that she may have found something useful on the lobbyist’s rib. Apparently, Brennan missed something in her preliminary examination. Both Hodgins and myself were in utter disbelief about that one.
Inside one of the wound tracts I found what could be the killer’s microbial signature. It’s a combination of all the particles every human emits. It can be used to distinguish between individuals.
Yeah, I’ve-I’ve heard of that, but there are variables. I don’t think that’s ever actually held up in court.
First time for everything.
And there it is. I have to assume that this will somehow resolve itself in a fairly positive manner. I don’t think the show could feasibly leave Zack in such a position for eternity. That hurts me to say. Not the Zack part. Just thinking about the inevitable.
By the end of the episode, Hodgins is nearly giddy to show his new evidence to Cam. At first, Cam is enthusiastic. As much as anyone else on the team, she wants Zack to be exonerated. But like Brennan, she wants it to be done in the right way- objectively. And legally, of course. Cam takes a look at the evidence in front of her, and notes that it’s all very conclusive. Perhaps a bit too conclusive. She is concerned that it’s actually too good to be true, implying that Hodgins somehow doctored the evidence to help free his friend. She tells him she cannot look at any evidence that has been tampered with. And a frustrated and upset Hodgins tells her to just throw it away as he leaves the room. Cam watches him leave, and I suppose she figures that Hodgins probably would have tried to find every legal possible way to prove Zack’s innocence. The stakes are too high to mess this up. And since they all seem to have at least an inkling that Zack did not kill anyone, she decides to take a look at his folder. I’m glad this story is addressed throughout the season without making it the main focus. The amount of time they are dedicating to it is perfect.
Poor Rodolfo
Dr. Rodolfo Fuentes was the intern of the week. I say this about most interns, but I just adore him. He has been an incredible addition to the team over the past few seasons. Learning his backstory really fleshed out his character for me. He can certainly be arrogant at times, but rightfully so. He was a doctor of forensic anthropology in Cuba. He’s brilliant. But he also knows where he came from. He misses his country, his family, the life he left behind. But he is in pursuit of a better life. I love when Brennan first notices his crucifix. He is indeed an atheist, as are many of these characters, I’m sure. But he believes in the right to believe. That’s what his necklace symbolizes. And I think that’s beautiful. It reminds him why he came to America. He has a fun and addicting personality, that cannot be denied. But there is also so much brewing beneath the surface.
This week in particular, Rodolfo didn’t have the best luck. He was the one tasked with digging out remains from the pile of animal guts brought back to the lab. Hodgins was having a bit of fun with him, asking Rodolfo to locate the skull from under the guts. While Rodolfo literally has his head inside the disgusting pile of remains, Hodgins shows the skull to Angela and Cam. Angela glares at him.
What? I’m having too much fun.
I hope you’re having fun when you’re in hell.
Ten more minutes, okay?
Meanwhile, Rodolfo is moaning in the background because he can smell the remains through his mask. He must have a strong stomach. If this was reality, I would never have been able to get near that pile with my hands, let alone my face.
Following the opening credits, Rodolfo announces quite proudly that he fished every single bone out from the “carcass pit.” “Are you looking for praise for performing the most basic task?” Poor guy. Honestly, I just wanted an excuse to revisit that line. I love Brennan.
After the victim’s girlfriend informs Aubrey that she was a golfer turned lumberjacker, Rodolfo figures out that a chainsaw could have made the kerf marks on the bones. The victim was also wearing chain metal socks, which are used for protection during a competition. He can reasonably assume that she was murdered during a competition. Brennan announces that she and Booth will go to the lumberjacking contest. Rodolfo so very kindly offers to go if Brennan needs to spend more time in the lab. But Brennan sees right through him. “I sense that you are being disingenuous and that you just want to go to the competition.” Precisely. He wants to go because apparently “all men love chainsaws.” Brennan doesn’t believe this to be a proven fact. And learning that the security guard, Greg, also loves chainsaws does not help bolster his argument. Brennan will go. And she will “Chatsnap” pictures to Rodolfo. I would LOVE to see Brennan’s Snapchats. If it’s anything like her Twitter account, it would be genius…Just imagine her bitmoji!
Rodolfo faces yet another harsh blow when he attempts to convince Cam that she should subpoena every chainsaw from the competition. He figures that he could match the striations on the bones to the striations made by each chainsaw. Then he would be able to narrow down the pool of people who could have dismembered this body. Rodolfo so badly wants to play with chainsaws all day. But once again, he plays it off and acts as though he would rather do anything else. Sneaky Cam has other ideas. She tells him it’s an excellent idea. But since he doesn’t want to play with chainsaws, he can examine the sliced wood from each competitor. That way, he doesn’t have to worry about testing chainsaws himself. “Since you didn’t want to do it anyway.” Once again, poor Rodolfo.
Finally, he got his wish. Rodolfo determined that none of the lumberjacks in the competition made the striations. So now the team was no longer looking for a lumberjack’s chainsaw. He and Hodgins wonder how they will ever determine what kind of chainsaw was used to dismember the victim. It could have been any make or model in the world. They both look at each other with barely concealed glee. And they launch into a montage of intense chainsawing. Cam enters and wants an explanation. They give her theirs. Cam is displeased to admit that there was a “small grain of intelligence in that theory.” So the men continue. A little while later, a scream is heard from inside lab. Rodolfo was clipped by the saw. After assessing that his injuries weren’t serious, Cam tells him that she is furious. But this helps Brennan come to the conclusion that the killer likely has a similar injury to Rodolfo. “Good work Dr. Fuentes.” Poor guy. But you cannot say he was not invaluable to this case.
She’s Bones
One of my favorite exchanges of the episode was not exactly a critical plot point. But it was an exchange which occurred between Booth, Brennan, and the head of the lumberjacking competition (played by Dave Thomas). It was another reminder that Booth calls Brennan, Bones. And I am all about callbacks and reminders this season.
What happened to your femur?
Uh, chain saw snapped. I got boned.
“Bone” is not a verb.
I got a bone.
What bone?
A “bone” is a hard piece of wood, Bones.
Wait. Who’s Bones?
She’s Bones.
I’m Bones.
Oh, I thought she was Brennan.
Booth, this is exactly why you shouldn’t call me “Bones.”
Right, because, you know what? This happens all the time.
While in the beginning of the show, Brennan was adamant about Booth not calling her Bones, we saw her acquiesce as the series began to progress. It even reached a point where it was more than just acceptance. You could plainly see that Brennan appreciated that someone cared for her enough to give her a special unique name. Perhaps initially it seemed more derogatory to her. Being a woman in science, she likely faced plenty of men who neglected to pay her the respect she was due. She probably had to correct more than a few who didn’t bother to use her proper title. For Booth, it was never about disrespect. Maybe at first he did it only to get on her nerves. But it evolved into a sign of affection. When he’s introducing her to people, he always makes sure to introduce her as Dr. Brennan. He respects her position. “She’s a doctor at the Jeffersonian, plus she’s my wife.” He has occasionally used her first name when speaking to her, though not so much anymore. But “Bones” is more personal. It’s something that is just theirs. It’s his name for her. And while she still has moments where she reverts back to a “don’t call me Bones” mentality, I think she would find it wrong for him to call her anything else at this point. As would I.
Additional Quotable Moments
I wasn’t entirely sure where to put these, as it pertains to the story. But there were a couple moments that just made me smile like an absolute fool. The first was when Booth and Brennan were at the competition talking to one of the “crazy fans.” He tells the partners what they want to know, but then asks if he can leave to go “pee.” They had found him while he was chugging cheap beer at the competition.
Um, can I can I go now? I have to pee really, really bad.
That’s due to the fact that you consumed 24 ounces of beer. Fluid is filling your bladder, applying pressure to stretch receptors, which signal your urethra-
Lady, you’re not making this any easier for me.
Booth, meanwhile, doesn’t care whether or not Brennan making it easy on the young man. To perpetuate the situation, he silently stirs the water cooler next to him. It’s brilliant. And Brennan adds “Does that help?” I love these two.
Finally, there was “the bear.” I have no idea what prompted this dialog. But for some reason since this episode, I cannot stop referencing the bear moment. The suspect, who turned out to be the victim’s new girlfriend, broke down crying in front of the partners. Brennan attempted to comfort her.
There- there, there.
What does “there, there” mean?
It’s okay. It’s supposed to comfort her. Maybe try the bear.
Let’s give her some time, please.
Do you want a bear?
Stop.
Give her the bear.
From now on when I am sad, someone just give me a bear. The bear will always work. It’s just one of those moments that would be an odd throwaway scene transition for any other character. But because it’s Brennan, it’s both fascinating and amusing.
Well, that’s about all I have for today. Have I mentioned that I love this episode? I am definitely not ready for 12×07- for a number of reasons. But I suppose ready or not, it’s coming tonight. It’s going to be incredibly stressful and emotional. But I think it’s also going to be tragically beautiful. We will likely have to wait until 12×08 for any sort of resolution. I imagine the next week will be more than a bit tense. While I am terrified of what is going to happen, I am also extraordinarily excited. Because it’s going to be brilliant. The acting is going to be magnificent. And I just love that this show still takes chances in order to portray the most compelling story.
