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Bones recap - The Doctor in the Photo

By Wayne Hall Dec 10, 2010, 7:48 GMT

09/13/2010 - Emily Deschanel - Fox Fall Eco-Casino Party - Arrivals - Boa - Los Angeles, CA, USA © Tommaso Boddi / PR Photos

‘Bones’ Recap – The Doctor In The Photo
 
With the holidays approaching, this episode is the last new one we’ll watch until Thursday, January 20, 2011. Was it a good one to end up the current run? Let’s find out!
 
Here’s this episode’s summary from tv.com: “Booth and Brennan investigate the mysterious death of a surgeon whose life and death challenge Brennan's legendary objectivity. As the team sifts through the evidence, Brennan identifies more and more with the brilliant doctor and her life which makes her question some of her own choices.”
 
When things are going well and one has everything under control, it’s so easy to be self-sufficient. Temperance has all she could ever want—a challenging job, intelligent co-workers, a successful writing career, and more. But is it what she really needs?
 
That’s the premise of this episode, which really focuses on Brennan’s life choices. Could she end up like the doctor in the photograph, someone who basically vanished one day and no one seemed to notice?
 
There are a lot of spooky turns in this hour, including Brennan seeing the victim as herself. And then the voice of the doctor sounds hauntingly like Brennan’s as well. When Temperance discovers that the victim died with heroin on her person, Bones leaps to her defense, and it’s obvious to all but Brennan that she’s identifying with the doctor very strongly.
 
In a sense, this episode really functions like “A Christmas Carol” in that Bones gets to see life from another perspective, and it isn’t always a good one. We see very little of the other cast members, but the writing and acting keep our attention riveted to the screen.
 
You have to give Emily Deschanel a lot of credit. She carried the hour very strongly on her shoulders. And that’s saying something in a show that prides itself on making good use of an ensemble cast. Good job!
 
One of the most interesting aspects of the episode was the appearance of Micah, the nighttime security guard. Brennan has found a friend in him and, thanks to the many lectures at the Jeffersonian he’s attended, Micah can talk with her about what’s troubling her. Of course, we have to wonder if he’s really some sort of angel a la “It’s A Wonderful Life,” but in the end, we get a resolution that really isn’t one … and that’s a good way to handle this. I hope we see Micah again sometime.
 
In the end, Brennan finally acknowledges the signals that Booth had been sending her. When he responds to her, reality hits Brennan, and it’s a sight we don’t often see—Bones crying.

It’s a strong episode, one that fans will be discussing for some time to come. Yes, it is a good place for a break because we can use some time to digest this hour!
 
Come the new year, the next new episode of Bones will be “The Bullet In The Brain.” No information has been released about that show yet. Have a great season—may you enjoy whatever holidays you celebrate!