Bones: Judas on a Pole

(S02E11) Whenever a show features a guest writer or director it sometimes distracts from the story. For example, when Quentin Tarantino directed an early episode of ER you could tell it was being done differently from what we had seen previously that season. Same thing can be said when Ricky Gervais wrote an episode of NBC's The Office (which I didn't think was funny, but I digress). So, when I read that former X-Files and Red Shoe Diaries star David Duchovny was directing this week's episode of Bones I became a bit leery because I knew some things would be different.

And they were. Just by watching the first minute of the episode you could tell. The camera angles were slightly different, there were more close-ups of the actors, we actually got to see the actual murder of the victim. Even some of the characterizations were different. Heck, this is most human I've seen Bones act in awhile, which I will discuss in a bit. Luckily, Duchovny's directing stint didn't distract me too much because I was hooked into the story. If anything, Duchovny's style helped move the story along a bit more.

It was family week on Bones as Temperance's brother Russ returned to give her a message from their fugitive dad. As I said, this was one of the more human versions of Bones that I had seen in a long time. I don't think she showed this much emotion when she was buried alive by the Grave Digger a few weeks ago. It was refreshing to see her being less analytical and more, um, sensitive. There's a scene where she practically faints after seeing what she believes is her brother's blood all over her apartment floor. Nice performance by Emily Deschanel.

Also appearing this week was a friend of Bones' Dad, Toby Coulter, portrayed by Ryan O'Neal. Well, at least he said he knew her father, but there was something more to him that could be seen as soon as Russ introduced him to Temperance and Booth. I'm not going to spoil it for everyone who hasn't seen the episode. Let me just say that Bones and Toby are closer than you think. In fact, Toby and Russ are closer than you think, and not in that Father-alter boy sort of way. Like I said above, it was family week. So, you put the pieces together.

This week's mystery was one of the best this season, although it was a bit confusing to follow at the beginning. A burned-up body is discovered on a hotel roof. Evidence on the body leads back to Bones and her family as well as a conspiracy within the FBI, which really pisses off Booth. However, it excites Jack since any conspiracy is a good conspiracy for him. During the investigation a falsely convicted man is released, a body is exhumed, and Booth is suspended from the FBI. It sounds like a lot of plot for a 44-minute episode, but they were able to conclude it all without being heavy-handed about it. By the way, the man who is released says the the conspiracy is run by a higher power. I wonder if that whole storyline will be brought up again later in the season? Maybe Duchovny will direct that episode again. I mean, no one knows conspiracies better than Agent Fox Mulder.

This was another heavy Booth and Bones episode. The squints were there, but not in the capacity that we normally see them. This time around I didn't mind that, since the mystery was more conspiracy-driven this time than it was scientific. The squints did their job to clear an innocent man, but they were hiding a bit in the background this time around.

While were on the subject of the squints, viewers were introduced to a new character this week . . . Doctor Zach Addy. Okay, he's not new, but he got a new clean-faced look in order to get a job with the Jeffersonian Institute. Yes, he already worked there, but as a graduate student under Dr. Brennan's wing. Now he is a full-time employee with a sharper haircut. Zach is growing up right under our very eyes. Let's see where this new character development goes over the next few episodes.

One more thing before I leave you for the holiday break. One of the members of Zach's dissertation board was Professor Constance Wright. You may or may not have recognized her. Her real name is Kathy Reichs and she is a forensic anthropologist. She is also the inspiration for the series Bones and the character Temperance Brennan. Ms. Reichs, thank you for lending yourself to create this very fine show.

That's it for new episodes of Bones in 2006. Next new episode is Wednesday, January 24th. I'll probably need to write up a summary post just so we remember what happened. Have a happy holiday season everyone!