My steadily growing addiction to Bones is only getting worse, y’all. Since I watched the Christmas episode, I may have seen the seven episodes that followed it. MAY. MAY. I’ve found that I can just put an episode on while I’m using the elliptical at the gym, and it’s great for that setting. I’ve been watching so many complex shows that it’s nice to have a procedural style show that isn’t heavily serialized. Which is not to suggest that Bones is a simplistic show! I’ve come to love the way the writers handle characterization more than anything.
Anyway, let’s get to “The Woman in Limbo,” which was commissioned by Nora! HELLO, NORA! The video for this episode is located here, and you can find all my Mark Watches videos indexed on Dropbox!
- Oh my god, the cold open is SO FUCKED UP. I assumed that the show wouldn’t answer much regarding Brennan’s personal mythology until a much later date, but I’m beginning to understand how much of that makes up the fabric of Bones.
- Yeah, I didn’t think you could get sadder than “The Man in the Fallout Shelter,” BUT HERE IT IS. I can’t even begin to fathom what a depressing and bewildering experience this was for Brennan. She is not given closure when she learns that her mother died, and as “The Woman in Limbo” unfolds, things only get worse. Like, the reveal that Brennan’s mother WAS ALIVE FOR YEARS AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED is just so gut-wrenching to me. It was bad enough that her mom was gone, but to know that for almost two years, she could have seen Brennan? Nope. NOPE.
- This episode is also remarkably brutal and uncomfortable in developing the relationship of Russ and Temperance. There’s a positive ending here, but it’s not after a lot of fighting. While Temperance is partially held responsible for her treatment of Russ after their parents disappeared, I was glad the show didn’t blame her for what happened. This wasn’t her fault or her brother’s fault, and both of them reacted as you might expect people to react in a situation like this.
- LIKE, FOR REAL, CAN YOU EVEN COMPREHEND BEING SEVEN YEARS OLD AND BEING TOLD TO INVENT A NEW IDENTITY? Poor Russ, my god, that is so scary.
- Just in terms of feeling satisfied and challenged by the narrative, I thought it was clever that the show doesn’t give us closure when it comes to what Vince McVickers did all those years ago. We have an idea how Brennan’s mother died, but nothing absolute. Oh god, what did McVickers do?
- Booth is GREAT in this episode, and I admit that I am finally starting to see him as someone other than Angel. It’s still taking some time because dude, it’s Angel. But it helps that Booth’s character is nothing at all like Angel. SIGNIFICANTLY LESS BROODING.
- This show is so jam-packed with plot twists, and it’s fun. I wouldn’t say that I’m spending my time ~deeply analyzing~ every single episode. It’s nice to be able to turn it off and not be so concerned about a complex serialized narrative. Still, these stories are fun, and “The Woman in Limbo” is a great example of this.
- The dedication that Brennan’s team shows in this episode is just spectacular. I LOVE FRIENDSHIP, EVERYONE.
- Specifically, I adore Angela. She is my favorite part of this show, and I’m obsessed with her character. I like that there’s someone who is openly kind and openly honest at the same time who acts as Temperance’s best friend. It’s such a fantastic dynamic!
- HOLY SHIT, HER DAD IS STILL ALIVE. DAMN YOU, CLIFFHANGER.
Okay, tomorrow, we’re discussing the absolutely incredible “Aliens in a Spaceship,” and then “Judas on a Pole” on Wednesday!
