(S03E14) "I am deceptively strong." Dr. Zach Addy
"I'm... deceived." Dr. Cameron Saroyan
This was a very lighthearted and playful episode, particularly after the gravitas of last week's trial. Not only was it a great send-up of FOX's sister show, American Idol, making light fun of the show and its contestants, but there was also a lot of joking around and funny moments, reminiscent of the best of Bones' first two seasons with the Squint Squad. It was nice to see them back in full force this episode. Simultaneously, there were plenty of clues from the beginning of the episode about what was going to happen. But I'll talk about that in a minute. Can we talk about Eric Millegan first? Did you know that he actually is a cabaret singer, and he has an act in LA, as well as a Broadway history pre-dating the show?
We have all of the pieces of the crime very quickly (except the head, ha ha). Before I get into the clues, let's talk for a minute about the humor from the beginning: Cam says she has brain matter, so the victim must have had a head, which is funny because presumably he had a head because he was a person, and not just because there is brain matter at the scene. Brennan's glee at finding the head in the mower's grille just exemplifies that fact that this is not a heavy-duty crime. The victim was an ass who stole money, disturbed his neighbors, made fun of his clients, and had delusions of grandeur. Even his name was funny: Tommy Sour. Nobody really seemed to care that he was dead: Except Pam.
From the minute they interview the artist, they have motive (the noise) and method (Bone makes a big show of admiring the artist's sculpture, which is held together with the same kind of wire that was used to kill the victim alter). So, even though we don't know yet that we have all of the pieces, the rest of the episode is window dressing, used to introduce us to Pam, the catalyst for the climax of the episode. So to speak.
Here is where Dr. Sweets comes in handy. His analysis identifies Pam as both manipulative and dangerous. He warns Booth openly about Pam, and Booth is dismissive. Booth even laughs off Pam's socks gift later, when, as an FBI agent investigating her in a murder, I am pretty sure he cannot accept gifts. For Booth, who reads people like books usually, it was unusual for him not to see Pam more clearly when she wanted to see him without Bones. However, it is plausible that Bones tends to make people uncomfortable.
There were so many nice moments in the episode: Zach talking about how buff he is. Zach breaking out into song in the lab. Booth busting the fake talent agent, who was drawing cartoons in his notebook. And probably the best part of all, when Brennan got up and sang, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." Wait. Temperance Brennan did what? She spent a lot of time talking about the open mic night and the need for people to have affirmation. Was her singing, as Sweets would put it, Presentational (ego-driven) or Relational (trying to make the audience feel something)? Cold, rational Temperance Brennan got up and belted at an open mic? Is this true to her character, or is the show starting to jump the shark?
Actually, I would love to have seen the open mic become a showcase for Zach, and have that become a new sub-plot, even though they established that Brennan's mother had a high opinion of her performance of that song. Perhaps that set up was enough, paired with Brennan's obliviousness about other people's perceptions of her, to make her performance believable. Believability aside, even though part of my brain was sounding alarm bells, I still enjoyed it.
And, of course, the real reason for Temperance to sing was revealed when Pam The Stalker showed up to see her new true love Booth. "Who will love me now?" Booth's placing his hand on her shoulder was an answering response, and Sweets was absolutely right to mutter, "No, don't touch her." Perhaps Pam should have been Tommy's killer, considering how easily and fast she was willing to fire that gun. She was trying to eliminate Brennan, and Booth took the bullet for her. Whoa! Even though I knew Pam was scary and dangerous, I didn't expect that. And how BAD-ASS was it when Brennan picked up Booth's gun and shot and killed Scary Pam? Nobody messes with her man. Nobody.
In some ways, it's a rip-off because they aren't going to kill off Booth. Of course he is still alive. So, I hope there is a purpose behind this, like this makes Brennan realize the depth of her feelings for Booth. You can bet your bottom dollar Sweets is going to have a lot to say about the fact that Booth stepped in front of a bullet for Brennan-- and then Brennan shot Pam without hesitation. You can also be sure that Booth will say that it was a combination of training, instinct, her protecting his partner, and Brennan will say that Pam still had the gun so it was self-defense. None of it had anything to do with deeper feelings they might harbor for each other... Yeah, riiiiiiight. But we'll see. I could be completely wrong. What do you think?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-13-2008 @ 12:28AM
Oreo said...
He isn't going to die?!?!
You are wrecking the show! :)
Zach singing was a great touch. I really enjoyed this episode and the ending was awesome. The shooting already had shown to have meaning, just look at how Bones acted after Booth was shot. She picks up the gun (which they made clear in precious episodes that she is terrible with) and killed the wacko. Bones jumped in front of the bullet to save Bones. If nothing else comes out of this than that, I'll be happy.
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5-15-2008 @ 12:50AM
tv.squad.zkam said...
... She picks up the gun (which they made clear in precious episodes that she is terrible with)...
huh? Haven't they shown repeatedly that Bones is an excellent shot? (or am I confused and thinking about her martial arts / fighting skills) ?
5-13-2008 @ 12:37AM
keithnl said...
"...Is this true to her character, or is the show starting to jump the shark?..."
True to the character she is now, or is becoming, and it feels like she earned that moment over the course of the episode and season.
Smoking Fat Pam was one of the greatest moments in TV history. All through that ep I was hoping for Booth to grab Fat Pam and smack the crazy out of her. So seeing Bones, giver her a hot lead tracheotomy was awesome.
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5-13-2008 @ 2:47AM
Gordon Werner said...
wow ... what an ending ... completely unexpected.
as for Booth though ... I'd have to say what he did was completely within-character for him ...
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5-13-2008 @ 3:27AM
Brent McKee said...
When Cam (that's Camille not Cameron btw) said that "the victim must have had a head," I just took it as meaning that the head was present at the crime scene and had been hit by the mower (as opposed to the body being dumped in one place and the head in a second location).
"The artist's sculpture, which is held together with the same kind of wire that was used to kill the victim" - uh no. The wire armature that the sculpture is constructed around has noting to do with the wire that was used to kill the victim. The wire that was used to kill the victim was thin and flexible and is used to cut clay from bigger blocks as opposed to the thick and stiff wire used for armatures.
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5-13-2008 @ 5:17AM
evocatus said...
DAM YOU FAT PAM!
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5-13-2008 @ 6:35AM
Bill said...
I thought she got up there to sing mostly just to win an argument, which is entirely in character.
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5-13-2008 @ 6:35AM
DudeBoyz said...
That phrase - Hot Lead Tracheotomy is just freakin' awesome, and yes, this could very well be one of the most fantastic actions ever to appear on a TV screen.
Like on that show 24 when Jack Bauer killed that criminal inside CTU, beheaded him, put the head in the bag and took it to his terrorist buddies to prove his loyalty.
I can hardly wait for the season finale! Just awesome!
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5-13-2008 @ 7:52AM
RT said...
What worries me is that TV Guide says next week's episode begins with a funeral for a beloved character. The only one I want killed off is Ryan O'Neal. Every episode with this overrated actor is just painful to watch.
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5-13-2008 @ 10:31AM
Kris said...
I don't know about the funeral at the beginning of the next episode. They kinda gave it away during the preview when Cam is seen walking out of the hospital room saying, "Well, I didn't expect that." It was a little too lighthearted if Booth had died.
5-13-2008 @ 8:28AM
Shannon said...
They've established in previous episodes how much Brennan enjoys music. I don't think it was out of character at all for her to get up and sing. Especially with all her buddies there to cheer her on.
Now, on to next week and the quickie wrap-up of the Gorgoman. Anyone else think it's gonna be Sweets? I hope not! I've really enjoyed his interaction with Booth and Brennan.
Oh, and for the last few weeks my husband and I have been ending every epsiode with a resounding (and obnoxious) chorus of "He LOOOOOVES her..."
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5-13-2008 @ 9:26AM
bruce said...
So let me get this straight. The neighbor would KILL Tommy Sour for singing loud and disturbing him, but after he's dead and his alarm clock keeps going off, he wouldn't break in to his apartment and turn it off (or smash the crap out of it)? Simply unbelievable (as in not realistic).
After the teaser for next week's episode (finale already? damn) it sure looks like the predictions of Dr. Sweets being Gormagon are correct.
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5-13-2008 @ 9:45AM
vacelts said...
After watching the final seconds of “Wannabe in the Weeds” all I can say is Oh. My. God. And that’s not even the season finale. I can only speculate how exciting the finale is going to be.
http://redlightnaps.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/bones-wannabe-in-the-weeds/
http://redlightnaps.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/2008-season-finales/
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5-13-2008 @ 10:29AM
GL said...
It's in character for Bones to do anything she thinks she is good at and it was established that a person she trusts (her mother) made her believe she was good at singing that song.
@bruce - What non-professional killer would break into someone's apartment after they beheaded them?
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5-13-2008 @ 12:27PM
Oreo said...
I hope Sweets isn't the bad guy, but it's rather clear it will end up being him. I think it's a little rushed with the storyline anyways. All the major storyline have been wrapped up. Gorgogon (whatever) is wrapping up, Bone's dad is out of jail. They better have some great storylines planned for season 4 and not just random deaths of the week.
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5-13-2008 @ 2:25PM
Debby said...
A couple of things about the epi - Yes, I laughed at Cam's comment too and thought, 'well, duh.' I liked Cam and, especially, Angela's reaction to Zach's singing. They exhibited the fan reaction most singers are looking for and Zach was oblivious, and I think Hodgins felt a little jealous/threatened. Zach was king of the lab that day. Bones' actions at the end mirror almost exactly what her father did - killing a person who is threatening someone who means alot to her, without hesitation, and would probably do it over again, no regrets. Of course Booth will live, but this definitely changes the emotional dynamic of their relationship, even if it doesn't become romantic.
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5-13-2008 @ 2:56PM
Jennifer said...
I thought her singing was adorable, and worked within the show. Especially with her commenting on (a) people wanting attention, and (b) her considering anyone who was bouncy on stage to be a good singer. And Booth's bouncing just as hard as she was was adorable too.
Zach's got quite a pair of lungs on him, don't he?
Yeah, I was with Sweets on the "don't touch her." Eeek. Totally enjoyed her shooting Pam in the throat (appropriate for a karaoke episode!).
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5-13-2008 @ 3:28PM
Vito said...
It had better not be Sweets! His interactions with Brennan and Booth are hysterical.
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5-13-2008 @ 8:06PM
KateGee said...
Yeah. It had better not be Sweets!
I loved Emily Deschanel's singing. I have often wondered if she could sing like her sister. Apparently belting it runs in the family.
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5-13-2008 @ 8:16PM
bruce said...
He wasn't beheaded in the apartment. And the answer to your question: the type of guy who would behead someone over making noise (would break into the guy's apartment to stop an alarm clock from buzzing every few minutes which has got to be worse than the guy's singing no matter how bad it may have been).
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