DAISY: And it’s a boy. And you’re the godfather, of course. I’m so glad you’re out and not dead.
BOOTH: I… I got a couple souvenirs there from prison still.
DAISY: Well, Lance is gonna help you, Agent Booth. It’s all he’s been talking about. He says you’re family.
SWEETS: All right, Daisy. Come on, let’s…
DAISY: It’s true. This is all gonna end well, you’ll see. Isn’t that right, little Lance?
Brennan figures out a way to help Booth feel better.
BOOTH: I-I’m fine. It just, you know, hurts when I breathe, that’s all.
BRENNAN: I won’t hurt you. I promise this won’t hurt a bit.
We get a new cast member.
AUBREY: I’m Special Agent Aubrey. Uh, James, Jimmy– I answer to anything.
Just in time, too, because we are losing Sweets.
Thoughts:
*This was an interesting, depressing, choice for a season opener. Also, when watching back-to-back, that is two really tough episodes in a row.
*I know that Bones has had to shove pregnancies into storylines depending on the actresses, but they could’ve let on that Daisy was pregnant much earlier on (because clearly she’s far along here), or had some hint of Sweets and Daisy hanging out instead of shoehorning new squintern Jessica into the mix. Last we knew, Sweets was hooking up with every new female that appeared on the show so this was very weird and jarring.
*The new B&B hut has WAY too many glass windows for the jobs they have. Clearly, they need a home fortress to stay safe!
“When I first stopped running the show so that Stephen Nathan was running it, one of the first things he did was completely and utterly defy me and killed Sweets,” Hanson said. “I would never have killed Sweets, but Stephen was running the show, and it obviously was a good idea.” -Hart Hanson
BOOTH: Okay, you know what? All I really need to know is “where is the bathroom?”
BRENNAN: You’re going to need to know more than that if you’re going to run the Berlin field office.
BOOTH: Look… this is not a done deal. I still have to go in front of the congressional panel.
BRENNAN: Sounds like you don’t want the job.
BOOTH: No. Look, we got a great life here. I mean, look how beautiful this home is, all right?
Subtle foreshadowing
Booth gets a mysterious phone call.
SWEETS: The Wireless Tracking Team used Orion to track the call you got.
BOOTH: Who is it?
SWEETS: It’s a burner, so, no name, but they got a location.
BOOTH: I’ll head over there.
SWEETS: Uh, you won’t be the first on the scene, Booth. ’cause the fire department’s already there.
BOOTH: What?
SWEETS: Yeah, the place burned down. They found a body inside. So we’re too late.
Booth’s boss is pressuring him about this new development.
STARK: Ms. Julian says the McNamara case is resurfacing, Booth.
CAROLINE: I told him you had it all well in hand, cher.
BOOTH: Yes, and I do. Everything we know so far indicates that we are dealing with a harmless crank.
STARK: A dead harmless crank. You’re going to be testifying in front of Congress, Booth. You don’t want the McNamara case hanging over you.
Brennan realizes this is getting weird.
BRENNAN: Foster must have found out that you were the lead investigator on the McNamara case. And whoever killed Foster incinerated the place so we wouldn’t find anything. We should ask Stark for more help on this case, Booth.
BOOTH: Bones, it’s just another case.
BRENNAN: You know that’s not true. You suspected an FBI leak yourself, when we were investigating the Ghost Killer.
BOOTH: Right, and if there is one, we’ll find it.
BRENNAN: Sweets would say that since this may be your last case before being promoted, you need to prove that you’re still the best.
BOOTH: And what would you say?
BRENNAN: I say you just can’t stand to let someone get away with murder.
Some quick summary episode quotes of this conspiracy stuff that again is crammed into one episode:
These new files are intercepted e-mails showing financial improprieties by business leaders, foreign ambassadors, State Department officials…
There are memos and letters and documents showing questionable business dealings McNamara had. Bribes to foreign countries.
That’s why they were able to use McNamara’s security firm. That’s why someone was able to block the warrant to investigate it?
So let me get this straight: We’re looking at someone inside the FBI who can control businessmen, politicians, foreign officials.
I’m confused and overwhlemed too, Booth!
B&B argue about the way to handle a vast conspiracy.
BOOTH: If they are Delta Force, they’re not gonna leave a trace, okay? I’ve trained with these guys. I know how they work.
BRENNAN: So you’re just giving up?
BOOTH: How can you say that to me? I’m not gonna give up.
BRENNAN: You told Caroline and Sweets not to do anything, and now you’re telling me that we’ll never I.D. the killers.
BOOTH: Calm down.
BRENNAN: Calm down?! No, Booth! We need to do something!
BOOTH: Look, I know you need to feel in control, okay? But we’re not. Not yet.
BRENNAN: When?
BOOTH: If they figure out that we’re closing in on them, I’m not going to sit back and wait for the worst to happen. That’s why we’re gonna let them win.
BRENNAN: That makes no sense. At least try to be rational.
BOOTH: I am. I want you to issue your report on Foster’s death, and say that it was an accident.
BRENNAN: But it wasn’t. Y-You want me to say that I’m wrong? I-I’m never wrong.
BOOTH: Which is why they’re gonna believe it. That gives us… time with no eyes on us. Pretty rational, right? Look, I want to act like we put this one to bed, all right? And we pretend to move forward. All right? I go to my hearing, you continue to play with your bones, and we keep digging. And we’re in control again.
BRENNAN: And we’re in control again.
Booth is ambushed.
CONGRESSMAN: Did you or did you not assassinate an American citizen?
BOOTH: Those are classified documents. You should not have access to them.
CONGRESSMAN: I’ll take that as an admission of guilt.
BOOTH: I’m not admitting guilt to anything, sir.
CONGRESSMAN: So, you’re saying that the law does not apply to you?
BOOTH: That’s not what I’m saying.
So, somehow, this rich family (McNamaras) had a secret serial killer in it, whom Hodgins knew well, who Pelant somehow knew about, and the rich family’s father was invoved in secret government things too, and so that means they have to get Booth.
BRENNAN: Anthropologically, when a society feels threatened by an individual, that society tries to eliminate the threat. The collective fear becomes so severe that murder becomes acceptable.
Booth sets up a way to get the bad guys to reveal themselves. Brennan wants to help.
BRENNAN: I-I… I-I have my gun. I’m an excellent shot. I…
BOOTH: No. No. This is done now, do you understand? We have a daughter to think about now. You get Christine you and go to Max. Now. I’m not asking you, I’m telling you. Now.
BRENNAN: I hate you for telling me to walk away.
BOOTH: Bones… I love you.
BRENNAN: Don’t you die. Okay?
BOOTH: All right.
The team tackles things on their end. Apparently, they had no security until they met Pelant. LOL
ANGELA: We’re being hacked.
HODGINS: Hacked?
ANGELA: Yes, but because of Pelant, I installed a fail-safe program on the server. It’ll give us 90 seconds to remove all the vital data before they shut us down.
B&B take down the baddies together but Booth is hit.
They keep B&B apart, suspiciously.
Still Boots & Blazering
STARK: Booth killed three FBI agents who were coming to serve a warrant on him.
Thoughts:
*Interesting concept but again seemed rushed. This whole storyline could’ve been spread out and developed better.
*If the FBI was out to kill Booth they could finish the job at the hospital, or literally go after him any time they wanted so…it’s all confusing honestly. I don’t know why they’d tip their hand so publicly at a hearing when they could’ve had him get into an “accident” while in the field or something quieter.
*David and Emily did a great job at the ending. Booth being so focused and ready to fight, Brennan feeling and expressing emotions and trying to get to her husband’s side. Give them all the awards. Great job!!
*And, of course, all credit to DB for another fantastic directing job. He really is good at it. I can always tell episodes that he’s done. The set ups, camera angles, and lighting…it’s all so good. He shines with the action episodes. I think it really helps he was an actor for so long and studied the craft. Bravo!
Just a bonus cute pic
BONUS FACTS:
While an entertaining episode, neither Stephen Nathan nor David Boreanaz are military/government (plus it’s for TV). According to the “Goofs” section of IMDB, many aspects are inaccurate:
Numerous tactical and technical mistakes are made by the “Delta Force” operatives in the raid on Booth’s house. When breaching a building, all operatives would breach and enter a building in a highly coordinated manner, and then commence a coordinated sweep through the target area, neutralizing all threats while the target is still disoriented. Ideally, the entire operation will take seconds to complete. The operatives depicted here breach separately and slowly “tiptoe” in a disorganized manner to the target, crossing each others fields of fire in the process. Additionally, the weapons handling of the operatives is highly uncharacteristic of supposedly highly trained soldiers. Instead of the short, accurate burst fire taught to every soldier in basic training, both parties in the shootout “spray and pray” wildly with their weapons. These mistakes would never be made by a regular soldier, let alone a team of highly trained Delta Force operators and an Army Ranger.
During a subcommittee hearing, congressman Hadley presses Booth for information about his alleged assassination of an American citizen in Pakistan. Such action is a blatant breach of several laws concerning classified information, as all parties present (first and foremost, the press and clerks) were definitely not cleared for secret military information (it was a subcommittee to review Booth’s conduct as an FBI agent). Dissemination of classified information to the public would most likely end with Hadley being deprived of his diplomatic immunity and charged with espionage.
Booth would not testify before a House committee to be confirmed to a posting. Confirmation is a power reserved to the Senate.
Even though Booth is an FBI agent, he does not have legal immunity to the consequences of keeping blocks of high explosives, grenades, and automatic submachine guns in a cooler in his garage. Even at best, Booth would have to explain why an FBI agent with an illustrious career on the verge of a prestigious posting would have a cache of weapons and explosives in his house.
Additionally, the C4 blocks Booth uses are military equipment and marked as such. Being caught in possession of them would have meant an instant end to his career, and a long stint in federal prison.
We open with a reason for David to prep for his next directing role!
BRENNAN: You came home late last night.
BOOTH: Yeah, well, you know what? I got a lot to review here before I testify in front of the subcommittee. You see all this stuff?
BRENNAN: You have two more weeks, Booth. You should take a break.
BOOTH: I want to. You know, Sweets wants to take on more responsibility, take some of this workload off of me.
BRENNAN: You want Sweets to lead a murder investigation?
BOOTH: Well, he’s earned it, right? Without Sweets, we would never have caught the kid who killed the chess player.
BRENNAN: While I agree with that, you are my partner.
BOOTH: I’ll still be around.
Meanwhile, we are pretending like Sweets hasn’t helped B&B multiple times already in the field.
SWEETS: I gotta do everything by the book. I can’t let Booth down.
BRENNAN (on walkie-talkie): Is that Sweets?
CAM: Yes, it is. And he looks mighty dashing in his booties.
SWEETS: Thank you.
HODGINS: Hey, got a new sheriff in town.
BRENNAN: Dr. Sweets, please make sure that Dr. Saroyan has the support that she needs. She’s in charge of the scene, and sometimes the FBI techs can be sloppy handling evidence.
Also, new squintern time.
JESSICA: My instincts are highly developed. It’d be a crime not to put that in the mix.
SWEETS: Look, I appreciate that Ms. Warren’s here to learn, but perhaps a novice isn’t the best choice in this situation.
CAM: You really didn’t have to accompany the remains to the Jeffersonian, Dr. Sweets. Though we appreciate your thoroughness.
SWEETS: Well, no, Booth would know if I wasn’t following protocol.
JESSICA: You know, when someone is as uptight as you, usually they have something bubbling inside.
As they investigate the death of a local swim coach, Brennan gives a compliment.
BRENNAN: Since acting as an agent, you’re finally using evidence to reach conclusions– I appreciate that.
SWEETS: As opposed to my usual meaningless psychobabble?
BRENNAN: Exactly.
They discover the victim had a secret identity.
BRENNAN: Anthropologically speaking, homosexuality is not a prerequisite for cross-dressing. There are Kabuki actors and certain Hindu devotees of Krishna. It’s an expression of personality, like you wearing your socks.
BOOTH: Okay, look, socks are a little different than a dress.
Sweets and the new intern like each other, because of course they do.
ANGELA: Hey, just a little word of advice. Don’t pass this one up.
SWEETS: One? Which one? What are you talking about?
ANGELA: Jessica. She likes you. And she’s fun. You could use a little fun.
SWEETS: I have fun, okay? I don’t… I’ll think about it, but she seems a little unpredictable.
ANGELA: That’s what fun is. That’s why you could use some.
They find a student at the college killed the coach. Nothing to do with a secret identity at all!
SWEETS: Why? You left the military, you were getting an education.
STUDENT: At a community college. I wanted a four-year school. I served my country. I deserved it.
SWEETS: How was Brian preventing you? I practiced so much, my grades started to fall. I copied another guy’s midterm.
BRENNAN: Brian caught you.
STUDENT: He was going to report me. I’d never get into a four-year school. I-I tried to make him see my side, but he said rules are rules. We argued… and I shoved him into the pool. And then I just lost it. I-I liked Coach, I really did. But I just lost it.
Quick B&B workplace wrap up!
BRENNAN: You sure you don’t have any more studying to do?
BOOTH: Well, yeah. Look, if the subcommittee doesn’t like my answers, it’s just not meant to be.
BRENNAN: That’s an excellent answer. You’re definitely ready.
BOOTH: I’m ready.
BRENNAN: Hey, Sweets was good, by the way. Very good.
BOOTH: Oh, wait a second.
BRENNAN: What?
BOOTH: You want another partner now?
BRENNAN: He wasn’t that good, but he did make me realize I should never take you for granted.
BOOTH: So it worked out well for both of us.
BRENNAN: You weren’t testing me, were you, Booth?
BOOTH: What do you mean?
BRENNAN: Well, if you do get this job, maybe we won’t be working together anymore, and you wanted to see how that worked out.
BOOTH: Whoa. Wait a second. Oh, let me just tell you one thing. I told Stark, okay, if you’re not with me, I have no interest in that job.
BRENNAN: Another excellent answer.
Thoughts:
*It was a decent episode. New writer, but recurring director. Very DB light, obviously, since he was prepping to direct the season finale.
*Funny that they acted like Sweets had never partnered with Brennan out in the field before. New writer problems I guess? Though I feel like any of the actors could’ve been like, wait, we did this before! 🙂
*I also guess that Sweets and Daisy broke up so his character could hook up with every young, single, new character they bring on (aka Agent Starling who never returns, and of course Jessica). Jessica is so much like Daisy I wish they’d just brought back Daisy! I liked the revolving squinterns idea to a point, but they gave us too many. They all had traumatic, intense backstories we were supposed to care about. I could’ve done without Fuentes, Jessica, Finn, and Wells. I want more Clark, Fisher, Wendell, and Daisy (RIP Vincent). More of the original squad.
Back to the Pelant arc. The “Ghost Killer” Pelant alluded to is still on the loose.
Cam somehow instantly knows the new victim is connected to this killer and keeps Brennan away since she went overboard last time.
BOOTH: Cam just wants me to go.
BRENNAN: What? I always go with you to a murder scene. We’re partners.
BOOTH: She’s bringing Clark out on this one.
BRENNAN: Clark? I’m the head of forensic anthropology. What is going on?
BOOTH: Well, she thinks that this has something to do with the Ghost Killer. And since, you know, Clark is heading this up…
BRENNAN: She thinks I’m incapable of being objective about the Ghost Killer, which is absurd. I laid all the groundwork for the Ghost Killer case.
BOOTH: I know, but you know… you know how you and Cam got into it, last time, on this one.
BRENNAN: What about you? Do you think that I’m the best person to investigate this case? Of course I do. It’s not my call, okay? Don’t shoot the messenger here.
BOOTH: You just… Just take the high road on this, all right? Just show Cam that you’re a team player.
The victim appears to be the sister of the last “ghost killer” victim, from the family Hodgins knew.
HODGINS: The truth is, the family was always strange, you know? Like they were living under a cloud. A very wealthy cloud. Yeah, tons of money, and all that’s left is murder, sadness and secrets. I’m telling you, I’m doing a hell of a lot better broke.
Brennan explains how she gave Booth a glowing report for his promotion file about trusting his gut.
BRENNAN: How could I not support you? You believed in me, even when there’s no tangible evidence the Ghost Killer existed.
BOOTH: I guess it was my gut.
We get a familiar MO.
BRENNAN: So, the Ghost Killer might have glued the nails from her other victims onto Stephanie. But why? The SEC?
BOOTH: Yeah. The McNamaras had billions. I want to know who benefits from Stephanie’s murder.
BRENNAN: The Ghost Killer doesn’t care about money, Booth. She’s fulfilling an emotional need, not a financial one.
But with a twist.
ANGELA: Stephanie was in town for the wedding of her college roommate.
BRENNAN: So Stephanie put those nails on herself. Stephanie McNamara was the Ghost Killer.
HODGINS: But who killed Stephanie?
BOOTH: When we pressed the gardener, she admitted that McNamara used to lock his daughter in the tack room if she did anything wrong. And Stephanie tried to claw her way out.
CAROLINE: Poor child tore her nails up so badly that eventually she had none left, to speak of. Which is why she took the fingernails from her victims.
SWEETS: Symbolically, she was replacing something that she felt her father had stolen from her.
They continue, which leads to the Bones crew cramming a whole long actually interesting arc into one episode so they can end it. Another missed opportunity. To summarize:
The dead victim was the real serial killer.
Her family knew and covered it up for years.
An innocent man was set up and tried and convicted years ago for Stephanie’s crimes.
He decided to plot revenge while in prison.
When released, he started revenge killing everyone involved including Stephanie.
No reason given for Pelant being involved.
They find the killer that killed the serial killer, but he ended it himself.
We end with a traditional B&B wrap up.
BOOTH: So, um, Stark and Caroline, they’re trying to figure out a deal so Kessler will cooperate.
BRENNAN: He’s a killer.
BOOTH: Yeah, but who he killed…in the Old West, they would’ve made him a sheriff. So, um, Stark has finally recommended me for that promotion. Course, I have to be confirmed by the House subcommittee.
BRENNAN: Congratulations, Booth. This calls for a toast. To you.
BOOTH: No, no, wait. To us, okay? ‘Cause I told him no matter what happens to us, we’re still a team.
Thoughts:
*Again, Hodgins should have been a million miles away from this case, as he knew so many of the participants. If Cam was worried about Brennan’s involvement ruining the investigation, she should’ve been worried that a defense attorney would have all of Hodgins’ evidence thrown out in court!
*Why, oh, why do they have to screw up every good serial killer arc besides Epps? This could have played out over many episodes and been very interesting, to have an innocent victim turn into a killer for revenge?? Oh well!
Boots & Blazers 