Posted by Janie Logan Apr 23, 2010, 17:53 GMT
Booth (David Boreanaz) and Dr. Catherine Bryar (guest-star Rena Sofer) make a connection at the aquarium in "The Predator in the Pool." Photo courtesy of Fox.
After more than 100 episodes, I thought Bones had already showed me the craziest and most gruesome murder cases that television could offer. This week's episode proved me wrong. I was at once shocked and fascinated when a large fish in an aquarium tank opened its mouth and out popped a human skull. From what Hart Hanson has mentioned in interviews, it's his co-producer Stephen Nathan who takes pleasure in coming up with this twisted stuff!
"The Predator in the Pool" was full of surprises, which is really all I ever want from the procedural aspect of this show. When a dead tiger shark washed up on shore, it was found to have eaten a human leg. The bones showed teeth marks from several other marine predators, leading the investigation to the local aquarium from which the shark had just been released.
Brennan and Hodgins donned wet suits and swam through the tank collecting particulate samples and the rest of the victim's remains. The dead guy was a self-help guru named Jazz Gunn who had been scheduled for a seminar at the aquarium. His book, King of the Sea, described his experience overcoming paralysis he had suffered in a car accident years before. Swimming with sharks off the coast of Brazil, he faced his fear and regained the use of his legs.
As always, the case was solved by team effort. With the help of Hodgins, Angela, Cam, and Intern-of-the-Week Clark, Brennan figured out that Gunn had been cured by an experimental surgery in Brazil. The killer was the least suspect person who had been questioned earlier in the episode--a school teacher whose kids had taken a field trip to the aquarium.
She suffered from a painful disease and put faith all of Gunn's talk about life lessons from the sea. When she discovered that he was a fraud, she impaled his head on a lion fish with toxic spikes before pushing him into the tank where he was picked apart by sharks.
She gave a chilling confession: " 'Come face your fears,' he said. Last thing he should've said to me right then. I tell you what, though, he might have been on to something, that bastard--because ever since I shoved his lying face into that poisonous fish, I haven't felt any pain."
Aside from the interesting case, the personal aspects of "The Predator in the Pool" were understated and beautiful. Whereas the episode two weeks ago showed a big, emotional scene between Booth and Brennan, and last week's had a major development for Angela and Hodgins, this one let things settle a bit.
The feelings that have come to light recently aren't being ignored, but the actors are getting the chance to play out the emotions subtly. Hodgins and Angela standing together as they gaze wordlessly at the video feed from the aquarium tank, Booth and Brennan flirting casually with other people but in the end joining up to have a drink and talk--these are the things of ordinary life for our characters. Simple and sweet, they are the interactions that build to the great moments. Patience pays off in the end. You can't be a Bones fan and not believe that!
So I don't mind if Booth and Brennan go on a couple dates with new people because I think it will only make them realize how much they want and need to be with each other. I also don't mind if it facilitates exchanges like this:
Brennan: "She's easily as pretty as I am. I mean, using me as a standard."
Booth: "Well, Bones, you are the standard." (could have been corny but was actually perfect when said by David Boreanaz)
Brennan: "Andrew is not as handsome as you, using you as a standard. He is, however, taller."
Next week, Booth and Brennan reenact their duet of "Hot Blooded" while investigating a death at a Rock 'n Roll fantasy camp!
