OK, so I made a decision. It’s a quiet period, of necessity, just now, thanks to the writers’ strike. We’ve talked a lot about the episodes we like and I have spoken about the reviews we used to write weekly when I was a frequent visitor to tv.com/bones. Well, pitilessly regardless of length, I am going to re-post my reviews here, with the intention of stimulating some much-missed Bones discussion. Hope they give you pause for thought!
At home, Friends-style, we call this ‘The One With The Pirate’. It’s strange I’m not more familiar with it, given the generous and enjoyable dollop of Hodgins it contains. It’s partly because of the convoluted and unlikely plot – double skeleton theft, I mean a whole skeleton? - and partly because the appeal of pirates is lost on me. Never felt drawn to ‘Treasure Island’, never watched the ‘Caribbean’ series. “It’s a guy thing, sweetie,” Angela confides knowingly, but gives this the lie by finding the legend ‘cool’ herself! Of course, it’s chiefly, though not exclusively, men who are lured by the romance of the risk, challenge and financial rewards of high seas adventuring. Me, I focus on the hunger, discomfort, injury, scurvy, syphilis and, at the top of the list, untimely demise in one’s twenties.
There’s joyous shared humour in this ep, and repartee so quick-fire it’s easy to miss. Right from the start, the squints take bets on whose this mysterious phalanx might be, with wonderful child-like reactions (“you can’t change yours!”) which say a great deal about their relationship. I like, too, the running gag about Harry the incompetent FBI medical examiner who gets a worryingly sexual kick out of angering Brennan and being manhandled by her (“I’m always open to being corrected”!).
Familiar by now with the way the team works together, we feel very relaxed in the lab – as are they. Zach smilingly admits an interest in the pirate, Jack treats him with friendly exasperation (“Pirates aren’t Santa, Zach!”) and Brennan is far less rigid than we’ve previously seen; she calls Hodgins ‘Jack’ for the first time I recall, is flirtatious and maternally indulgent with the boys over their pirate fancies, jokes about Hodgins working with a parrot on his shoulder and even very nearly apologises to the gang for her misdirected fury when her bones disappear.
As in ‘Woman In The Garden’ and some episodes of S2, it’s fun to see a side of Hodgins’ strong personality outside the lab. He’s well at home in this situation, dancing infectiously with confidence and elation at his obsessive nature’s whim. There’s no modesty – he knows he’s good – he’s a certified cave diver (when he boasts about this even Brennan is tempted into one-upmanship) with 3 doctorates, and perfectly at ease with the power these skills bring. There are a few embarrassing piratical moments, notably the yo-ho-ho-ing in the shaft, the dreadful ‘bug man’ pun and the absolutely cringeworthy “Avast, ye lubbers!” However, the male bonding we mentioned earlier is pleasing to see and well in evidence. Although Hodgins has never really ‘gelled’ with Booth, they are as one on the pirate issue, laughing and excited in unison. Their shared mania also endears him to McGinnis, whom he rapidly disabuses of the impression that he’s a ‘weekender’ ‘looking for something to brighten up his boring-ass life’. However, for me it doesn’t quite ring true, given his secretive, defensive nature, that he allows his fascination to blind him to danger – it seems naïve and foolish to entrust McGinnis with his life on so short an acquaintance.
I was never sure whether the picture Angela produces at the end was an image of the pirate or one of Jack! For which reason I am leaving you lot to comment on its possible subconscious significance!
Lines I love:
Brennan’s retort to Booth’s earlier “still no TV – why do I even bother?” – “I had the time (to cave dive all over the world) because I don’t own a TV.”
Goodman, to the security guy: “Think of me as a grieving parent.” So very Goodman!
Booth: “That’s not music, it’s bagpipes”. Almost a quote from my husband!
Seriously, though, even though I don’t get the main focus, there is much to revel in and, as usual, the episode makes some deeper points. There is, for instance, Brennan’s thoughtful reply when asked if she believes in the treasure: “I believe in greed – that’s the real curse”. And then two very different people seem to indicate that life is about making the most of the journey and its risks rather than aiming solely at its rewards.
Harry: “It’s not about right or wrong – it’s about the dialogue”.
Dane: “It’s all about the search, man.”
And finally. There’s a fantastic scene in which Harry delivers soil and water recovered from Macy’s throat to Jack. Watch carefully. I think this is one of those ‘glove moments’ to which TJ has referred, where he can’t get the glove on and there are fingers and thumbs all over the place. It is funny – and, I think, unintentionally!