TV Review: Bones Season 10, Episode 10 “200th in the 10th” (USA, 2014)

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By Kimberley Veart

This week Bones went back in time to the glory days of Hollywood, when the hairstyles were sprayed to perfection and the dialogue was fast and witty. The 200th episode acts as a tribute to its stars, the series and to the Hitchcock style mysteries it descends from. The show is a package of delights for Bones’ fans and film buffs alike, perfectly capturing the nuances of fifties’ cinema with a cast of old favourites that the audience will recognise.

The episode is the creative vision of writer Stephen Nathan, brought to vivid reality under the steady directing hand of star David Boreanaz. In a nice nod to the enduring talent of its stars, Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel appear as old Hollywood versions of themselves at a premiere together and putting their hands in the cement outside the Chinese theatre. It’s a sweet touch that sets the tone for an episode that showcases and relies upon the sparkling chemistry between Boreanaz and Deschanel.

In this alternate reality, Boreanaz is Seeley Booth, a jewel thief with a sense of justice whilst Deschanel is Temperance Brennan, a feisty, trailblazing officer with the LAPD. Booth is framed for a murder he didn’t commit, and Brennan must work to prove his innocence to show her father, the police chief, that she is worthy of being a detective. True to its 1950s setting, Brennan has to fight against sexism and sexist jibes. Michaela Conlin is fantastic as stenographer Angela, championing Brennan and referring to Booth as a “dream boat I’d like to sail on.”

Another stand out is T. J. Thyne as palaeontology professor Hodgins with a seriously epic hairstyle. It is clear that Thyne relished this role, making the most of his screen time, particularly when he and Angela meet. He shyly compliments her by saying “you can’t argue with the Golden Ratio.” Blushes ensue all round. Much as I loved Thyne’s role, the only element of the episode I found clunky was the portrayal of Brennan as single-handedly founding the forensic anthropology discipline. With a simple brainwave, she apparently thinks to transfer the forensic science usually applied to fossils to analysing human remains.

This criticism aside, the episode was an enjoyable ride from start to finish with a terrific climax on an airplane. It’s a fun twist for Tamara Taylor to play the maid, Camille, who turns out to be the killer. To have the whole cast taking on the various roles was a fantastic idea that allowed the actors to be stretched outside their comfort zones, while still maintaining elements that made them recognisable as their usual selves. John Boyd was particularly good in this regard, in his role as the wealthy playboy version of James Aubrey who describes Booth being framed for murder as “a frightful inconvenience.” Playing around with the characters this way also allowed Booth and Brennan to meet for the first time again, and watching their banter was a nice throwback to the early years of Bones.

To pull off an episode as adventurous as this requires a high level of talent from the entire creative team, from the writers, to the actors and the director. Bones’ 200th episode is a testament to why the show is still on the air today.

Review Score: FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)

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