‘Bones’ Recap – The Crack in the Code

By Wayne Hall Jan 13, 2012, 3:57 GMT

Every so often, ‘Bones’ begins a storyline that focuses on a bad guy so despicable that the story must be spread out over multiple episodes. The most notable villain that the show has chased for a long time previously was the Gravedigger.

Welcome to the first episode of 2012! This episode aired at a different time, at 8 p.m. on Thursday, so it could serve as a lead-in to ‘The Finder!’

Here’s this episode’s summary from tv.com: “The team investigates what appears to be a murder scene at a national monument, but the only clue left is a coded message made of human blood that will be the beginning of a scavenger hunt for the solution, courtesy of a new, technologically-proficient foe. Elsewhere, Booth and Brennan look for a new home.”

Every so often, ‘Bones’ begins a storyline that focuses on a bad guy so despicable that the story must be spread out over multiple episodes. The most notable villain that the show has chased for a long time previously was the Gravedigger.

So, who’s the new baddie? His name is Christopher Peliant, who describes himself as a “hactivist,” someone who believes he’s doing the right thing. If people get hurt as that’s happening, he’s fine with it. Andrew Leeds from ‘Nip/Tuck’ portrays the character.

Right away, we get a sense that a “big brain” is behind this mystery. There are amazing mysteries to solve, including how a piece of bone causes a computer at the Jeffersonian to burst into flames. Also, the spinal cord of a victim has been taken apart and re-assembled to send a message to the Squints. Now, that’s quite the task!

Along the way, Peliant challenges Angela and Hodgins, that latter of whom takes quite a bit of time to unravel the strange code left behind in the dead girl’s body. What’s interesting is that he knows that there isn’t proof enough to arrest him even though he openly admits to all the crimes committed. After all, he’s got an anklet that sends his location to the company that keeps track of him. No one would believe he can kill a girl and do all that to her body in 37 seconds!

What was particularly eerie was that there was the blood of five FBI agents near the skeleton. Then, too, a journalist seems to be the person behind things until he ends up hanging upside down himself!

Clearly, the new foe is eventually going to mentally take on Brennan, who constantly says that she’s smarter than he is. Looks like the gauntlet has been thrown down!

Other plotlines continue on, including Brennan and Booth seeking a new house. Booth actually finds one that she thinks will work, but it will require a lot of work.

It’s nice to see Sweets actually contribute as Booth’s current partner, which will likely only last until Brennan can get back into the saddle again. He’s a good observer and can provide psychological information that can help point Booth in the correct direction.

Sadly, it’ll be a while before ‘Bones’ is back. Turns out the program is giving Emily Deschanel some time off to bond with her very real-life baby. Until then, ‘The Finder,’ created by the same team, will take its place each Thursday at 9 p.m. See everyone when the show returns a few months from now!