A couple of hikers in the National Park get side-tracked and end up in a cave. Sadly, this bickering pair do not become the victims. They do, however, stumble across a couple entwined in each other’s arms and very much dead.
A few snide remarks from Brennan later and with the help of the Jeffersonian brainiacs, the pieces of the puzzle lock nicely into place. Turns out the couple were from different sides of the track, socially and economically (an anthropological anomaly), but had seemingly forged a bond so strong they would rather die together than live alone. Mr Nathan goes all “English Patient” on us when it turns out the dead man would probably have been able to go for help, but his lady would not have made it and he would have been leaving her to die alone. Or should that be anti-English Patient?
The upshot is a misguided Park Ranger pushed the pair, who met through AA, off a cliff after recognising the male victim as the man who supplied his underage niece with the alcohol that ultimately led to her death in an accident.
Oh, and did I mention that we get to meet Hannah? Booth’s ball and chain makes a surprise appearance in Washington, after discovering she didn’t like waking up alone (luckily Bones fans have a well trained gag reflex!). Brennan takes Hannah’s arrival in her stride like the true emotionless stall-wart that she is – or does she?
A few snide remarks from Brennan later and with the help of the Jeffersonian brainiacs, the pieces of the puzzle lock nicely into place. Turns out the couple were from different sides of the track, socially and economically (an anthropological anomaly), but had seemingly forged a bond so strong they would rather die together than live alone. Mr Nathan goes all “English Patient” on us when it turns out the dead man would probably have been able to go for help, but his lady would not have made it and he would have been leaving her to die alone. Or should that be anti-English Patient?
The upshot is a misguided Park Ranger pushed the pair, who met through AA, off a cliff after recognising the male victim as the man who supplied his underage niece with the alcohol that ultimately led to her death in an accident.
Oh, and did I mention that we get to meet Hannah? Booth’s ball and chain makes a surprise appearance in Washington, after discovering she didn’t like waking up alone (luckily Bones fans have a well trained gag reflex!). Brennan takes Hannah’s arrival in her stride like the true emotionless stall-wart that she is – or does she?
While The Couple in the Cave may be a little light weight in terms of the case (even I worked out who the killer was in the first few minutes, and I never work out who the killer is), it was heavily laden with subtext about love – that crazy little thing! Throughout the episode, one can’t help but draw parallels between the dead couple in the cave and the burgeoning relationship between Booth and Burley (Hannah) and the tried and true relationship of Booth and Bones. I found myself reading meaning into every line every character uttered.
So on to my “Five Stars and a Wish”:
Star One
Brennan Gets Her Crank On – There were a couple of instances in this episode where we got to see some cracks in Brennan’s normally level-headed demeanour. Early in the episode she has a couple of little digs at Booth about him not really being in love with Hannah, but the most poignant scene is when she lays into newly returned intern Clark. On the surface one might accept Brennan’s explanation that she was just trying to spur Clark on and make him a better scientist, but Cam (and the viewer) knows better. Brennan was clearly experiencing emotions that were unfamiliar to her, and was channelling her frustration at not being able to control them, toward Clark. (There is actually an interesting sound that plays behind the transition shot from Booth and Hannah together at his apartment to the shot of Brennan in the Jeffersonian. If I can quote The Princess Bride, it sounded a little bit like "ultimate suffering". Am I taking my analysis too far here?!). On the flip side, it was nice to see Brennan laugh off Cam’s interpretation of the situation. “It’s actually quite amusing to think that Hannah could ever affect my work”. Her laughter is so rare (remember Caroline saying to Booth, “I did not know she could laugh” in The Verdict in the Story?), it’s like a gift; even if in this instance it masked a darker feeling.
Star Two
The Imagination Runs Wild – After discussing the seemingly unlikely pairing of the victims, given their wildly different backgrounds, Brennan admits that while in Indonesia, she imagined herself and Booth together. Now there’s some dream sequences that would be worth seeing. And we all know, nothing happens unless first a dream.
Star Three
A Friend in Need’s a Friend Indeed – Lots of people had lots to say about Booth and Brennan in this episode. Cam thought they’d be together when they returned from Maluku and Afghanistan. Angela offered up that they were already a couple, albeit a couple who didn’t have sex. Even Clark couldn’t understand why they never got jiggy with it. Naturally Sweets was in the mix too trying to say his piece while still maintaining his bromance with Booth. But the most touching scene was when Brennan and Angela were discussing people’s lives turning out in a different manner to what they expected. Brennan commented that she was the only one living the life she expected. When Angela asked her how that was working out for her, Brennan’s sadness and regret was undeniable, despite her smile and comment that it was as she expected. I’ll probably say it every week, but it’s a testament to the acting genius of Emily Deschanel.
Star Four
Love is in The Air – There was so much rich dialogue in this episode about love it had my head spinning – it was enlightening, confusing and contradictory at times. It was bold of Brennan to talk about what happens to acts of love if someone falls in love with another (subtle as a poke in the eye with a stick) and it was nice to hear Booth say his acts of love for Brennan remained acts of love despite the fact he was now with Hannah (that’s me reading between the lines of course). The line that had me asking the most questions though, was one that came toward the very end of the episode. As Booth and Brennan debate the value of love versus the human imperative for survival, Booth says, “He couldn’t leave her. That’s what love is”, in reference to the victims staying together. What does this mean for his relationship with Hannah, who he left? Or his love for Bones, who he (sort of) came back to?
Star Five
Alone at Last – While not a happy scene, the final scene of this episode gave me hope. As Booth and Hannah headed off to dinner together it was heart crushing to see Bones left all alone at the bar. She put on a brave face and everyone was very friendly and socially polite (Hannah inviting her to go too, Bones politely declining). What this scene effectively did was show that the writers are going to handle the whole Burley/Booth/Brennan situation very well. We are going to feel every ache Brennan feels, we’re not going to be able to hate Hannah no matter how much we may like to and we’re going to see Booth....ummm, I’m not sure about that one yet. Let’s get to the wish...
The Wish
My wish is that eventually we get the point where during such a final scene (if it were to happen again in the future) as Booth and Hannah leave together, we see Booth looking back at Brennan, recognising her loneliness, pain and regret and wishing it was her he was leaving with!
It’s all about the looks people!
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