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2x09 Aliens in a Spaceship is, in my opinion, the perfect Bones episode.
After being so disappointed in the first episodes of this new season, I felt like I needed to go watch a really good episode to clear my mind of all my complaints. I chose Aliens in a Spaceship because I hadn't watched it since I first began watching Bones a couple years ago. I loved it so much this time through that I felt compelled to write something about how much I enjoyed it, and what made it so good when compared to the episodes we've been given lately. The biggest thing I loved about the episode was Hodgins, so I'll save him until last.
First, I loved seeing the team working together as a unit. What Booth said at the end of the episode summed it up perfectly. He said something to the effect of "I said thank you for saving all of us. If one of us hadn't been there, you and Hodgins would still be buried in that car." That was very true. They needed Zack's emotional detachment and extensive scientific knowledge, they needed Angela to be emotional and help push them to figure things out, they needed Booth yelling and arguing with them so they'd get things done, and they needed Cam's willingness to jump to conclusions. The team worked together perfectly and saved Brennan and Hodgins. On the other hand, Brennan and Hodgins were working on their end to prolong their air supply and blow themselves out of the car. If any one of them had ceased to do their job, Brennan and Hodgins would have died.
I miss that. We haven't really had a team-centered episode in a long time. The Pain in the Heart could have been, but it didn't pull it off. They should have aired less silly-Booth and Sweets, and more of the team's reactions to Booth not being dead, and to everything that happened with Zack. I want to see everyone working together, arguing, fighting, and eventually working things out in their own special bizarre way.
I also loved how Booth and Brennan were around each other in the episode. They were completely normal. It was so refreshing to go back and see them together before TPTB started trying to shove their relationship down my throat. They had faith in each other. Brennan was positive that Booth would find her. Booth was certain that Brennan had found a way to increase their air supply. They both kept working, having faith that the other was doing the same. This wasn't romantic. They really aren't very romantic... they never were, and they probably shouldn't ever be. They are simply two people who care about each other and trust each other almost completely. That's what they should be. What I've liked about Booth's "speeches" in the past (like in Death in the Saddle) is that they were so matter-of-fact. They weren't smarmy almost-declarations of love. They were just his opinions that he was trying to get across to her to make her feel better, or to make himself understood. (Don't get me wrong, I want them together in the end, but I don't think they're the kind of people (especially not Brennan) to be in a sappy love-letter type relationship.)
Another thing that I miss is their impeccable comedy. This episode was intense, suspensful, and powerful... but it also had humor. That was such a staple of the old Bones. They were able to find little bits of humor in their situations without being rude or over the top. I love Angela's "putting testicles on the outside doesn't seem like such a good idea" comment, Hodgins snarky remark about Congress, and Brennan telling Hodgins that she won't split the cost of the perfume with him after he tells her how rich he really is. These were perfectly executed bits of humor that kept the show from being completely morbid. Now we've got slapstic comedy all over the place. That pains me to watch. This show is NOT a comedy. It's a dark drama with some humorous elements. When did the writers/producers forget that?
And last, but most definitely not least, is Hodgins. He was absolute perfection in this episode. Jack Hodgins is my dream guy, just so you know. This episode is a huge part of why. He was so adorable and awkward around Angela in the beginning, he bought her perfume, and he writes her notes in his special code. Just when it seems like he couldn't get any more adorable, he then proceeds to lay out to Brennan just how much he loves Angela, and he writes her a letter because he thinks he's about to die. That Hodgins would never just let his relationship with Angela end over something like it did. Their breakup was entirely OOC for both of them, but especially for him. Nobody just lets someone that they're "crazy in love with" slip away like that. Especially not someone like Jack Hodgins. I mean, he goes on and on and on about his government conspiracy theories, he was so incredibly stubborn about telling people how rich he was, and he pursued her for so long and asked her to marry him so many times... a guy like that just does not give up over a little bump in the road.
I appreciated how much of a gentleman he was to Dr. Brennan while they were in the car. He apologized for calling her "baby", he was so respectful when he said "Dr. Brennan, it's been a privilege", when they were about to set the bomb off he held out his hand to help her into the back seat with him, and as they were saying goodbye he simply held out his hand for a handshake. I was impressed at his respect for her. I also enjoyed how open and vulnerable he was with Angela at the end. He told her that he was afraid, and he told her what he was afraid of. It takes courage to be that open with people... especially if that person is someone that you are in love with and you don't know whether they love you back. When she put her hand on his cheek, and he pressed his face into her palm... that was such a sweet moment. What happened to those? The kiss with the bells was good, but it was SO obvious. I love subtle things like tears slipping down his cheeks both in the car and when he was talking to Angela. I miss when the show was all about being subtle and bringing relationships around slowly.
Anyway, this episode is defintiely in my top three, and it might even be the best one ever on the show. I hope we can get back to something that is nearly as good as this was. This was rather long, and if you read all of this... I'm impressed. *hug*
What was your favorite episode? Why? What about it made it so good? And what do you wish they'd bring back?
After being so disappointed in the first episodes of this new season, I felt like I needed to go watch a really good episode to clear my mind of all my complaints. I chose Aliens in a Spaceship because I hadn't watched it since I first began watching Bones a couple years ago. I loved it so much this time through that I felt compelled to write something about how much I enjoyed it, and what made it so good when compared to the episodes we've been given lately. The biggest thing I loved about the episode was Hodgins, so I'll save him until last.
First, I loved seeing the team working together as a unit. What Booth said at the end of the episode summed it up perfectly. He said something to the effect of "I said thank you for saving all of us. If one of us hadn't been there, you and Hodgins would still be buried in that car." That was very true. They needed Zack's emotional detachment and extensive scientific knowledge, they needed Angela to be emotional and help push them to figure things out, they needed Booth yelling and arguing with them so they'd get things done, and they needed Cam's willingness to jump to conclusions. The team worked together perfectly and saved Brennan and Hodgins. On the other hand, Brennan and Hodgins were working on their end to prolong their air supply and blow themselves out of the car. If any one of them had ceased to do their job, Brennan and Hodgins would have died.
I miss that. We haven't really had a team-centered episode in a long time. The Pain in the Heart could have been, but it didn't pull it off. They should have aired less silly-Booth and Sweets, and more of the team's reactions to Booth not being dead, and to everything that happened with Zack. I want to see everyone working together, arguing, fighting, and eventually working things out in their own special bizarre way.
I also loved how Booth and Brennan were around each other in the episode. They were completely normal. It was so refreshing to go back and see them together before TPTB started trying to shove their relationship down my throat. They had faith in each other. Brennan was positive that Booth would find her. Booth was certain that Brennan had found a way to increase their air supply. They both kept working, having faith that the other was doing the same. This wasn't romantic. They really aren't very romantic... they never were, and they probably shouldn't ever be. They are simply two people who care about each other and trust each other almost completely. That's what they should be. What I've liked about Booth's "speeches" in the past (like in Death in the Saddle) is that they were so matter-of-fact. They weren't smarmy almost-declarations of love. They were just his opinions that he was trying to get across to her to make her feel better, or to make himself understood. (Don't get me wrong, I want them together in the end, but I don't think they're the kind of people (especially not Brennan) to be in a sappy love-letter type relationship.)
Another thing that I miss is their impeccable comedy. This episode was intense, suspensful, and powerful... but it also had humor. That was such a staple of the old Bones. They were able to find little bits of humor in their situations without being rude or over the top. I love Angela's "putting testicles on the outside doesn't seem like such a good idea" comment, Hodgins snarky remark about Congress, and Brennan telling Hodgins that she won't split the cost of the perfume with him after he tells her how rich he really is. These were perfectly executed bits of humor that kept the show from being completely morbid. Now we've got slapstic comedy all over the place. That pains me to watch. This show is NOT a comedy. It's a dark drama with some humorous elements. When did the writers/producers forget that?
And last, but most definitely not least, is Hodgins. He was absolute perfection in this episode. Jack Hodgins is my dream guy, just so you know. This episode is a huge part of why. He was so adorable and awkward around Angela in the beginning, he bought her perfume, and he writes her notes in his special code. Just when it seems like he couldn't get any more adorable, he then proceeds to lay out to Brennan just how much he loves Angela, and he writes her a letter because he thinks he's about to die. That Hodgins would never just let his relationship with Angela end over something like it did. Their breakup was entirely OOC for both of them, but especially for him. Nobody just lets someone that they're "crazy in love with" slip away like that. Especially not someone like Jack Hodgins. I mean, he goes on and on and on about his government conspiracy theories, he was so incredibly stubborn about telling people how rich he was, and he pursued her for so long and asked her to marry him so many times... a guy like that just does not give up over a little bump in the road.
I appreciated how much of a gentleman he was to Dr. Brennan while they were in the car. He apologized for calling her "baby", he was so respectful when he said "Dr. Brennan, it's been a privilege", when they were about to set the bomb off he held out his hand to help her into the back seat with him, and as they were saying goodbye he simply held out his hand for a handshake. I was impressed at his respect for her. I also enjoyed how open and vulnerable he was with Angela at the end. He told her that he was afraid, and he told her what he was afraid of. It takes courage to be that open with people... especially if that person is someone that you are in love with and you don't know whether they love you back. When she put her hand on his cheek, and he pressed his face into her palm... that was such a sweet moment. What happened to those? The kiss with the bells was good, but it was SO obvious. I love subtle things like tears slipping down his cheeks both in the car and when he was talking to Angela. I miss when the show was all about being subtle and bringing relationships around slowly.
Anyway, this episode is defintiely in my top three, and it might even be the best one ever on the show. I hope we can get back to something that is nearly as good as this was. This was rather long, and if you read all of this... I'm impressed. *hug*
What was your favorite episode? Why? What about it made it so good? And what do you wish they'd bring back?