Spread The Frelling Joy: Day 7

[sinkwriter]

Exercise O' Happiness. Yesterday was Day 6.

Usually this meme lasts about a week and this is my Day 7, so I'm not sure if I'll keep this going or let it simmer again and return to it the next time I either get tagged or simply feel like I need some extra vitamin P (for positivity, heh). We'll see how I feel tomorrow. *smiles*

In the meantime... here's what made me happy today.

Watching episodes of Bones.

I know, I know. Shocking, right? I've been quite verbal over in the daysofourbones and 206_bones communities about how frustrated I've been with this past season of the show. From my view, the two main characters have been forced out-of-character in order to fit overly wacky scenarios; stories and emotional connections have been started but left without decent follow-through; and it's lost some of the heart it used to have. I could give example after example of how the writing has changed, to the show's detriment, in the past season and a half.

However, this meme is all about positivity and joy, so today I feel it's important to express what I love about this show. For the last two days, I've been re-watching episodes from the first season and recapturing my affection for all the characters and some of the wonderful episodes that impressed and moved me. It's like wrapping myself up in a warm, familiar blanket.

The first four episodes of Season 1 had moments of amusement and curiosity, establishing personalities and tidbits of back history for each character, but didn't really grab me in an overall sense. Though I will admit that Brennan's stories about each victim and what she could learn about them based on their bones fascinated me, and Hodgins' "I am the warrior" speech in 1x04 still gets me giggling, it wasn't until episode five that I knew I wanted to keep watching this show and that I was invested in each and every one of these characters.

I was already in love with the lab "squints" -- Jack, Zack and Angela -- whose characters were vivid and surprisingly well-established, given that they were considered secondary roles and not all shows provide much texture to their sidekicks. So that added depth was astonishing and impressive to me.

However, while I was charmed by David Boreanaz in his lead role as Special Agent Seeley Booth, I admit I wasn't immediately enthralled by the titular character Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan, try as I might to appreciate her brashness, fierce independence and awkward social manner. I felt like the first four episodes tried to force me to like her, over-explaining her issues and her backstory, rather than showing me why I should be impressed by and empathetic to her as a lead character. And the writers kept including traits that I think they meant to be cute or funny, but I happened to find irritating.

Example: when in the field, she often ignored Booth's instructions, plowing into danger with no demonstrative regard for her safety or his, jumping into the fray simply because she felt she could handle herself. That pissed me off, because there's being brave and capable, and then there's being foolish and dismissing the abilities and experience of her partner, an FBI agent and former soldier. When he says, "Stay back," you should stay the hell back and let him go in first. It's not an affront to your feminist capabilities or your intelligence; it has everything to do with the fact that you're a scientist from a lab while he's a trained federal agent.

At any rate, my views of Brennan changed drastically when I saw episode five, "The Boy in the Bush." The writers presented her as a much more well-rounded, sympathetic character. She wasn't just a quirky oddball who's spent too much time in the lab examining dead bodies and not enough time out in the world, connecting with live people. Instead, throughout this episode they managed to solidify her trust in her partner Booth and move her character forward, revealing something new and emotionally effective about her that fit beautifully within the construct of the heart-breaking story about a young foster kid whose body was found in a field. Not only that, but the episode managed to reveal a little something about each and every character, even the sidekicks. Everyone had a purpose, everyone had a specific reaction to the case they were investigating, and each person was illuminated in fruitful ways. I was moved by the story and all of the characters, and felt the episode was balanced, touching, and well-written. It made me want to know more about each and every person on the show. It made me want to know what would happen next. I generally liked the first four episodes, but I found I really loved episode five. It's unquestionably worth a watch.

This week I'll continue to revisit the first season of Bones, and I genuinely look forward to watching the episodes that show these characters growing and developing and connecting with each other, becoming a well-oiled machine of an investigative team and, more importantly, an odd yet marvelous sort of family.

That quality in a TV show is something that brings a big smile to my face. That's what impresses and moves me, and that's definitely something that makes me happy.

For your evening's entertainment, here are two of the many little quotes from that episode that always amuse me:

HODGINS: When you write, you get this stunned look on your face like you stuck a fork in a toaster.


BRENNAN: They gave me a car.
HODGINS: Nice. Who?
BRENNAN: My publisher. Now I feel like I have to earn it by writing another book.
HODGINS: Fight coercion in all its forms. You don’t write the book, I don’t go to the banquet. Solidarity.


*GRIN*

Joy to all of you, my friends. *hugs*

Comments

[readthesubtext.livejournal.com]

I must confess, I loved Brennan from the outset and I was online buying Season 2 before I'd even finished watching the first disc of Season 1, but I completely understand your issues with regard to her jumping into the frying pan without ever heeding Booth's advice. Then again, if she waited to defer to his superior wisdom in the Pilot, the murderer would have torched the basement and all of the evidence would have been lost, so her impulsivity and recklessness had it's advantages, too. Booth didn't even have the balls to get a search warrant for the Senator's house until she pushed him into doing it at the firing range - he didn't want to push the envelope, but she encouraged him to screw the rules and regulations, and it was that breach of protocol that ultimately led to her flash of inspiration with regard to the murderer's identity. Again, Booth was loath to take the shot in 'The Man in the SUV,' always careful and cautious, but those shoppers would have been blown to pieces if Brennan hadn't taken the initiative and called out Farid's name because she knew that Booth needed to see the target's face - not to mention that she was the one who spotted Farid in the first place. What would've happened if she had stayed in the car, as per Booth's request? I loved the fact that she could handle herself, and even when she went charging in ahead of Booth, it was never really to his detriment (although of course I accept that it could have been) - her quick reflexes helped to corner the guy in Nestor Olivos's bedroom in 'The Boy in the Tree,' and Booth used it to his advantage when he couldn't personally question the suspect in 'The Man in the SUV' - getting Brennan to accost him and take him down until he revealed what they wanted to know. Most of the time, when she did something impulsive, it turned out to have a favourable outcome, and that almost certainly wouldn't have been the case if she'd held back.

I completely agree that 'The Boy in the Bush' added a whole new dimension to her character, though, and it's definitely my favourite episode from the first five. My favourite quote: "I'll tell you what, if I can't respect the law, I can at least respect you." I think that was Brennan acquiescing to Booth's authority and I liked the fact that it didn't come out of no-where and they showed her working up to that concession, too. Her empathy for Shawn Cook, and her constant concern over his foster care arrangements, was so moving, and that lost-little-girl look on her face when Booth questioned her about her time in the system: "I'll tell you all about it one day, Booth..." was more than a little telling. Ah, the good old days *heaves a wistful sigh*

Have a great weekend, Sherry!

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

I watched the first episode and hated it. Mostly I hated Brennan.

I was already annoyed about the series as a whole, because I'd liked the books and felt like they'd gutted all that made Tempe interesting - her age being the most important factor - to appeal to tv. But I tried to give it a go.

But she pissed me off so much. I wanted to slap her. If she'd said "I don't understand" in relation to a cultural reference one more time... And the word "squints" pissed me off.

I did like Angela though. But it wasn't enough to give the show another chance. And I'm someone who realises pilots can often be crappy and always looks for some promise to bring me back.

And I'm probably squashing your squee...sorry! A lot of my flist watch and love it, so I'm probably alone.

[toomanysides.livejournal.com]

I love the Brennan and Hodgins relationship. Damn this calls for S1 marathon!

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Hi, Gem! I was hoping I'd hear from you! *GRIN*

No, your examples are right on target, and I had no issues with those moments. Booth wasn't at the senator's aide's home when Brennan arrived, so that was a completely plausible part, how she saw him destroying evidence so she broke in to stop him. Also, I liked that she challenged him at the shooting range, pointing out that he was backing down because the suspect was a senator. That was probably one of my favorite scenes from the entire pilot, Booth's speech about how cases are solved by cops "asking a thousand questions a thousand times, catching people telling lies every time" and Brennan's follow-up challenge ending with "be a cop." That was terrific.

And it was good that she shouted out Farid's name in "Man in the SUV" -- that isn't the charging forth I'm talking about. I'm more referring to those moments when they're together and entering a suspect's home or office (like the doctor's office in "Man in the Bear" or going into Nestor's bedroom in "Boy in the Tree" or entering the brother's house (the one who was making the bombs) in "Man in the SUV," or any other time they needed to enter carefully and secure the space and make sure every room was clear. Booth has training for that, and Brennan just charges forth, in several instances pushing past him even as he's saying "Stay back and let me go in first." Don't get me wrong, I love that she can take care of herself, that's something I admire, but I felt the writers were pushing that aspect so much in the first few episodes that it was almost obnoxious, because she wasn't listening to her partner and while the writers didn't end up writing it, there was still the possibility that her charging in without looking first or without allowing Booth to check out the scene could have gotten her or Booth killed.

When they see a suspicious guy on the stairs coming from Nestor's room, for example, they don't know who he is, he might have been the killer, he might be armed, so Booth tells Brennan to hold back... instead, she pushes past him and charges into the room. While it did end up okay and she did give Booth the opportunity to take the guy down, the fact is that she charged in not knowing if the guy might be standing there, gun in hand, ready to shoot her at point-blank range and then shoot Booth. I like the scene you mention where she is able to question the suspect because her hands aren't metaphorically tied like Booth's are, but I definitely found myself aggravated at the many times she would just charge forth into a room or home without regard for Booth's instructions. I know the writers were trying to show that she's fearless and strong and capable of taking care of herself, and those are definitely qualities I enjoy in a lead female character, but I felt like they were doing too much of it, to the point where (in some scenes) she came off as reckless, not fearless, you know what I mean? And that definitely bugged me. I was glad when the writers eased up a bit on that after a few episodes. She was still strong and bold, but not recklessly so.

(I will say that I was glad that even those she was fearless in entering the aide's home in the pilot and in shooting him when the moment warranted it, it was great to see that she still seemed genuinely shaken by the whole experience once Booth had arrived and taken over. I loved when she was rambling at him about how she had no choice but to shoot the guy, and the whole time she's waving the gun around, seemingly unaware of her own distress. And I loved the look on Booth's face, like he's afraid she might accidentally shoot someone and he wants to gently take the gun from her hands. That's a classic moment. Hee.)

Back in a sec. I write too much!

;D

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

RE: your "Boy in the Bush" comments. You know I'm going to say this, right? YES. All of what you said. Exactly. So agreed. *GRIN* It just seemed like the writers really hit their stride with that episode. The first four were generally cute or interesting, there were scenes that made me laugh or made me pause to look at a character in a new light or want to know more, but in an overall sense those episodes almost seemed like they were working to establish footing, find where they wanted to go with these characters. "Boy in the Bush" seemed like the first episode where everything tied together, characters and story; the acting was terrific; and it made me want to know more about Brennan. That line about "I'll tell you all about it one day, Booth..." meant more and intrigued me more than a thousand of those scenes in the pilot where they kept tellling me that Brennan hates psychology and needs to connect and needs to offer up something of herself. I understood what they were trying to present in saying that, but they said it so many times in the pilot, it became annoying -- instead, I wanted to see that need in Brennan, not be told about it by Angela, Booth, and Brennan's ex-boyfriend. You know what I mean?

At any rate, where the pilot was a bit over-obvious about Brennan's character, I felt like "Boy in the Bush" really got me interested in her as a person. I was so impressed with how she handled the case, and how she and Booth connected (especially how she knew she could trust Booth to make good on her promise to Shawn), and how the whole team was affected by having to examine a little boy's remains... all of it just made me want to know more about these people. Definitely the good old days. *smiles fondly*

You have a great weekend, too!

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

*laughing*

I have a confession to make, Kat. I watched the first three episodes of this show, and I really, really disliked Brennan because of all the reasons I listed in my post plus the ones you did (that "I don't understand" often seemed impossible and I felt it was overused as a joke). It made me not want to watch the show, even though I genuinely liked the 'squints' characters and was intrigued by Booth's need to atone for the things he'd done as a sniper. But that wasn't enough. I felt that if I couldn't like the lead female character of the show, how was I going to enjoy watching the overall series? So... I stopped watching. For months and months. Pretty much the entire first season went by and I didn't watch it.

The only reason I gave it another chance was because a friend of mine had been watching it and she got really adamant that the show got better and Brennan got more interesting. She insisted I try it one more time.

Ironically, if I had just watched the next two episodes, I might have decided to keep watching without needing that nudge from my friend, because as I mentioned in my post, the fifth episode really moved me and made me look at Brennan in a different way. And the episodes did get a lot better from that point forward. But I really didn't like her -- I felt that same desire about wanting to slap her -- because I felt the writers made her obnoxious and at times even reckless, which seemed counter to her supposed brilliance. I understood the writers were trying to show that people didn't usually like her at first because she came off as obnoxious and brash and without a verbal censor, and I knew they'd probably eventually show that she was different once you got to know her and that it was tough to get to know her because something in her life made her less trustful... I figured that was one of the points they were trying to make, but I just wasn't patient enough to see it through at first because I didn't see them doing a good enough job in showing a sympathetic side to her. However, the fifth episode did accomplish that really well.

Side note: I hadn't read the books, so I was going in to the program without any assumptions or expectations. That probably helped. *GRIN*

You're not squashing my squee at all! No worries. This show got good, and was really good for a couple of seasons. The acting is still good, but the writing has definitely hit a decline and that is what is frustrating to me these days. I used to love this show. Now I want to slap the writers. They've stopped writing this group as a team and a family; the heart is gone. That pisses me off to no end. :D

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

I love that exchange about the car. It's one of those great examples of the humor and fun of Brennan and Hodgins' relationship. And in re-watching Season 1, episode by episode, I'm being reminded of how great all these characters were together, how fun and funny, how touching, how all of them had such great chemistry and connections with each other. It wasn't just about Booth and Brennan -- everyone connected and had relationships with each other and they were interesting and fun to watch. (And boy do I find myself missing Zack when I watch these episodes. Some of the new interns are entertaining enough, but Zack was even more special than I realized at the time. I wish they'd never gotten rid of his character.)

Anyway, a Season 1 marathon is definitely worth it! *GRIN*

[readthesubtext.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm going to be perfectly honest here - I actually liked it when Brennan charged into the Doctor's office and whacked him over the head with a bed pan when he was about to incinerate the evidence. You're probably going to be appalled with me, but I found her gung-ho nature kind of amusing - you're talking to a Xena veteran here, after all (and just to clarify, I'm so NOT the person who Dresdon Doll mentioned in the recent DOOB thread who is in the habit of making favourable comparisons between 'Bones' and 'Xena' LOL). I can, however, completely understand why you might construe Brennan's behaviour as obnoxious and almost akin to reckless endangerment. Still, the way I see it, if Brennan listened to Booth's instructions and held back / stayed put when she was told to do so, then Booth would be dead right now:

"BOOTH: (intensely insistent) Bones, stay here with her. Stay right there." ('The Blonde in the Game')

Brennan doesn't, and saves Booth's life by eliminating Lapin before he has a chance to bring that baseball bat down on Booth's head. Again, it's an experience that leaves her intensely shaken and like you, I'm glad they showed that element in the Pilot, as well (although certainly not to such a poignant extent as they did in the aforementioned episode).

I think Brennan resents being treated like a rookie in those early episodes because, from her perspective, she's taking a calculated risk rather than what we consider to be a reckless one... she's a damn good shot (as evidenced in the Pilot), she has a black belt in 5(?) different martial arts (she effortlessly takes down that Homeland security guard who's twice the size of Booth), and can handle a firearm with ease, so she probably thinks that she's just as well-equipped as Booth when it comes to catching the bad guys - she's just impatient because she's loath to let them get away, and you can kind of understand why when you see how much Booth hestitates before taking that shot in 'The Man in the SUV' (not that I blame him for one minute, but caution is not always conducive to capturing felons). Of course, that doesn't excuse her ignoring Booth's instructions, but for me it offers enough of an explanation as to why she does it. She's not wet-behind-the-ears when it comes to dangerous situations... she's trekked through Tibet avoiding the Chinese army, been held prisoner by gangs in El Salvador, she's on her way back from excavating mass graves in Guatemala when we first encounter her - she's not your average lab rat.

TBC below... I write too much, too :D

[readthesubtext.livejournal.com]

I do completely take your point about how her attitude could have seemed like overkill in the first few episodes, though. I guess the reason why it didn't bother me was because I thought they did offer a picture of Brennan beyond that wilfully stubborn streak; I agree that we had a lot of commentary from everyone else with regard to her personality traits in the Pilot, but I still saw moments of empathy / underlying vulnerability / a desire to forge a connection from Brennan herself - in her passionate speech about Cleo Eller, in her insecurity: "What if Booth's right? What if I’m only good with bones and lousy with people?", in the way she thoughtfully watches Booth from the doorway, trying to get a read on him; in the way her expression crumbles when he says to her, "Is that something that you don’t like to talk about, families?", in the way she sincerely thanks Booth for sticking up for her outside of Cullen's office, in the way she offers to help him even out his cosmic balance sheet and opens up to him about her parents' disappearance at the end. Again, in 'The Man in the SUV' she shows a lot of compassion towards Booth and reaches out to reassure him that he did the right thing, and in 'The Boy in the Tree' she reassures Ambassador Olivos that her son was a good man with words that are so well chosen even Booth feels compelled to voice his approval.

And, while 'The Boy in the Bush' was pivotal in validating my feeling that Brennan was a woman with many layers, many secrets, and a wealth of pain, I definitely had a distinct sense of that prior to then - and even though (thankfully) the writers showed her steadily evolving in subsequent episodes and letting her guard down a little more each week, I don't think she ever lost that impulsive, in-your-face streak - for example, I loved her for (recklessly?) going after that gang leader and beating the crap out of him in 'The Woman in the Garden' (even if Booth had to threaten him to keep her safe from his cronies afterwards). She did it because he'd hurt so many other people, and she wanted to hurt him.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that I think Brennan was just as impulsive as she was in those first few episodes for most of Season 1; I just think Booth realised she could hold her own and stopped trying to put a leash on her, so it didn't seem like she was actively defying him quite so much. For example: she gets involved in an altercation in the nightclub in 'The Man in the Wall,' she breaks Epps' arm in 'A Man on Death Row' (police brutality!), she rushes into the fray in 'The Woman in the Car,' helps Booth to take out the US Marshals and then upstages the trained FBI Agent by being the one who persuades Carl Decker to release his hostage, she does the same again while saving Hodgins from the bottom of that diving shaft in 'The Man with the Bone' (not to mention slapping a suspect twice to test his reflexes, with Booth stuttering his disapproval), she lays the suspect out on a pool table in 'Superhero in the Alley' etc etc. In all of those instances she's in a dangerous situation and saying/doing the first thing that comes into her head without Booth's prior approval, but I think (as with those first four episodes) it's easy to see that she has good instincts, and those instincts are more inclined to be a help than a hindrance.

In fact, I think the only time Season 1 Brennan is left in a sense of truly life-threatening peril is when she does follow Booth's advice and sticks with Kenton in 'Two Bodies in the Lab' LOL.

Hopefully that explains my perspective on those initial episodes, but I more than understand yours, too, Sherry! I love discussing this show with you.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

*chuckling*

I don't mind that Brennan hit the doctor with the bed pan; I just wanted her to let Booth go in first. Not because he's 'the man' or anything like that, but because he's the fed with the gun and the experience. She may be a good shot, but I believe she's only used those skills on the firing range; she's never been tested in the field the way Booth has. She probably couldn't have made the shots that he did at that range (after she walked away); there's a reason why he was a sniper, you know? There comes a point where she needs to defer to his experience and expertise, just like he has to defer to hers in the lab and in examining bodies. Equal partnership in that way, is how I see it, I guess. They both have skills and balance each other. :)

I should have probably added this statement: "But there are always exceptions to the rule." LOL. "The Blonde in the Game" scene is one of those exceptions. Heeee.

I'm not appalled with you at all. I like her gung-ho nature, to a certain extent. I like that she's brave and can take care of herself. And your points about her talents (in shooting and martial arts) as well as her ability to handle herself when going up against men who are three times her size are all well taken. I just don't like the beginning part of the series, where she seemed to be more out of control about it. Like she was going to do what she was going to do, no matter what Booth said. I confess I've done that myself -- not dangerous situations, of course, but I have held on to my stubbornness too long rather than listening to someone else's perspective, so perhaps that's why I was immediately edgy watching Brennan's behaviors in those early episodes. Perhaps I found it annoying because I see it as a flaw (rather than a positive trait) within myself. *sheepish grin* And the writers presented it to an extreme, on occasion.

I don't think she should stay behind (sometimes -- there are exceptions, like when Booth tells her to hang back at the confrontational moment in "Woman in the Car" when they're going up against ruthless mercenaries). The example you give with "Blonde" is a prime reason why it's okay for her to go out on a limb once in a while. But I think by that point she'd learned when to listen and when to stick her neck out and check things out and be bold. She didn't immediately charge forth in that scene, saying, "No, the girl will be fine; I'm going with you." Instead, she stayed with the kidnap victim, trying to comfort her, and eventually joined Booth when it seemed necessary. I suppose that's all part of her character development (heh, back when the writers offered plausible character development), but initially I did not fully appreciate her brash recklessness and impatience.

At any rate, you make a great case in your final paragraph, about her not wanting to be treated like a rookie. She does have the experience you've listed (navigating through dangers in Tibet, El Salvador, and Guatemala), and because of that I can understand her wanting some credit for knowing how to handle herself and protect herself. At the same time, I can appreciate Booth's perspective, that there are certain areas where Booth has more experience and expertise and just because Brennan's a genius doesn't make her able to handle anything. There are some things you can't learn from a book or from analyzing data; some things you have to learn from experience, and in that regard, she needs to see that he actually does know what he's doing. I like that Brennan learns that about Booth over time. (And of course that's what makes her doubt and insults in "Con Man" so implausible because by then she knew very well what was special about Booth.)

Side note: I confess I've never seen an episode of Xena. Was it a good show? :D

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Those are all great examples, Gem. Those are the very moments that affected me when watching the first few episodes, but I guess for some reason the first time I watched those episodes, I found the grating aspects of her personality to be stronger (and affected me more) than the underlying vulnerabilities. "The Boy in the Bush" was the first time I felt it was naturally part of the story rather than pushing that message (that she does have an empathetic side) on me as a viewer. I love when she finally opens up to Booth at the end of the pilot, but I think it would have been more emotionally effective for me if her telling Booth that story was the first time I'd heard it. But Angela had already pointed out that bit about Brennan to Booth, in a heavy-handed scene that seemed a touch unnecessary, so Brennan repeating it at the end seemed like she was telling me something I already knew, which took away a bit of the powerful point that 'wow, Brennan's finally opening up.' I would have preferred that the writers skipped Angela's speech about it and instead hear about it from Brennan at the same time Booth did, giving us an opportunity to feel for Brennan and fully appreciate what it must have taken for her to open up about something obviously so painful and private. You know what I mean?

I think I understood that Brennan had more layers from the very start... I just didn't think the writers were demonstrating it in the fullest way they could. I felt like I was being told too much about her, by other characters, rather than seeing it in her. It felt a bit pushed on me as a viewer. That is, until "Boy in the Bush," in which case I felt they managed to incorporate her underlying empathy and vulnerability in a much more natural fashion that fit with the story. The end scene with "Boy in the Tree" is another great example, where she shows her layers and capabilities in a wonderful way -- I just felt that was a terrific, well-balanced character moment scene, while "Boy in the Bush" was a great, well-balanced, overall episode.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that I think Brennan was just as impulsive as she was in those first few episodes for most of Season 1; I just think Booth realised she could hold her own and stopped trying to put a leash on her, so it didn't seem like she was actively defying him quite so much.

Hmmm... you may have something there, with that point about how it no longer seemed like she was actively defying Booth. That may have been what troubled me the most about her behaviors; that she seemed to be defying him, no matter what he told or asked her to do. It was partially about respect; that's something important to me, and I didn't like her seemingly disrespecting his abilities or judgment, especially in situations where he had the experience and she didn't.

She's a brilliant woman and has excellent logic skills (which worked wonderfully and appropriately in talking down Carl Decker in "Woman in the Car," because he is also a logical man). And like your examples show, she has excellent instincts (some of which she may have learned from Booth, over time, throughout the episodes, as she studied his way of going with his gut and sussing out suspects and their behaviors, and in turn he has been slowly but steadily learning from her, too). But I do think that her impulsiveness eased up a little after those first few episodes, or at least she didn't make such bold moves immediately. She started to learn and adapt and take her time a teeny bit more, before jumping in with both feet, you know?

But I understand what you're saying and am in awe of your memory for these episodes, LOL. I think we essentially agree, for the most part, anyway, but I think you have a higher level of understanding and appreciation for Brennan than I do. I've grown to really like her character, but it took me a little while at first. Ironic, I suppose, because that's the very argument that many characters make about Brennan on the show, that she seems annoying at first but once you get to know her, you learn what an incredible woman she is.

Thank you for discussing this with me! I enjoy it very much. :D

P.S. What is your user pic from? I'm trying to place it.

[readthesubtext.livejournal.com]

I'm all about the equal partnership thing, too, but I think that lies more in their different skill sets when it comes to solving the crimes - Brennan finds out the hard facts based on evidence, Booth deals with motive/intent based primarily on his intuitive skills, and they both bring something vital to the table in that respect. They're co-dependent on each other to crack the case. So I think it's fine for them to be on a level playing field and co-dependent on each other within the field, too - that just adds to the whole notion of equality for me, and I don't think it makes Booth redundant. I really liked the fact that Brennan was given the opportunity to rescue Booth in some episodes and didn't get lumped with the whole damsel in distress routine (even though, somewhat hypocritically, 'Two Bodies' is one of my all-time favourite eps LOL).

She probably couldn't have made the shots that he did at that range (after she walked away); there's a reason why he was a sniper, you know? There comes a point where she needs to defer to his experience and expertise, just like he has to defer to hers in the lab and in examining bodies.

I would never dream of contesting that Booth is undoubtedly a better shot than Brennan, and I think that the concluding scene of 'The Man in the SUV' was an perfect example of them working in harmony and using their requisite skill sets - Brennan identifies Farid from his gait/bone structure, and Booth nails that all-important shot. But if Booth was partnered with someone else from within the ranks of the FBI, just an average Agent, what's the likelihood that they would be an army veteran or a trained sniper, either? But I bet he wouldn't order them to stay in the car / keep back / not move from the spot where he left them, they'd be front and centre right along with him. I completely accept that Brennan doesn't have the tactical training and experience that the FBI Agents have to undergo at Quantico, and that she should definitely pay more heed to Booth because of that, and stay behind on large-scale operations like the example you mentioned from 'The Woman in the Car' where a violent shoot-out and casualties are inevitable, but I still think - when compared to your bog-standard Agent - she could more than hold her own with a firearm and in hand-to-hand combat, and I think that's why she refuses to take a backseat during day-to-day investigations, and why she's pissed off that she can't have a gun LOL. And I kind of get that, because I'm a lot like Brennan myself. (Picture me in a Tae Kwon Do Class): "No, I'm not fighting with the other girls, I want to fight the boys." LOL.

I totally hear what you're saying about stubborness being a flaw and not enjoying seeing your own faults reflected back at you. I guess when I see aspects of myself in other characters, it makes me relate to them even more, even if the element in question is a highly undesirable headstrong streak. And let's face it, one special Agent Seeley Booth is pretty damn stubborn himself - he's as loath to concede a point as Brennan is, and that's what makes their bickering sessions so stimulating to watch. And he's not beyond acts of recklessness himself, just ask the clown on top of that ice cream truck LOL.

That being said, like you, I do empathise with Booth and I completely understand why he's worried for Brennan's safety, why he's frustrated at being undermined, and why having a loose canon in your vicinity makes your job that much harder. I'm not denying that Brennan has a tendency to run wild, that she's stubborn to a fault, and that I'd probably want to strangle her if she disregarded my instructions like that; but at the same time, I don't think she would do what she does if she genuinely believed that doing so would endanger Booth or herself, and she seems to be wise enough to know the difference being that disregarding Booth's instructions has invariably resulted in them taking down a suspect or saving Booth's life. Words cannot convey how much I miss kick-ass Brennan :(

TBC... (yes, again *grin*)

[readthesubtext.livejournal.com]

OK, I'm back after a brief interlude...

I like that Brennan learns that about Booth over time. (And of course that's what makes her doubt and insults in "Con Man" so implausible because by then she knew very well what was special about Booth.)

I completely agree. I wrote a mini-essay on this issue and tore that particular element of 'Conman' apart at the beginning of my 'Ode to Temperance Brennan' vid. And it's funny you should mention that episode, actually, because I'd much rather the Brennan from those first four Season 1 episodes than this feckless idiot:

Brennan: "Booth, do you want me to try and shoot him?
Booth: "No."
Brennan: "Why? I'm a good shot."
Booth: "You are not a good shot." (Let's forget the Pilot, The Blonde in the Game, The Wannabe in the Weeds etc etc.)
Brennan: "Well, *you* are. You know, maybe if we switched weapons you could hit him right between the eyes."

And then she *gets* shot. See, this is what happens when she asks for Booth's advice and prevaricates, Sherry. He he ;) And we're supposed to believe that this is the same woman who so shrewdly talked Carl Decker down in 'The Woman in the Car' and found that guy's achilles' heel in 'The Man with the Bone'? Ye Gods, give me strength. Now that is a Brennan who shows no signs of intelligent life.

You've never seen an episode of Xena? You don't know what you're missing, Sherry LOL. To be fair, I'd barely hit my teenage years when I fell in love with that show, and I think you've got to have a certain sense of humour to "get" it and appreciate that many of the episodes aren't supposed to be taken seriously (even though some were genuinely gut-wrenching), but Xena and Gabrielle remain my second favourite ship of all time and to their eternal credit, the creative team really cared about the characters and their development (Xena's redemption and Gabrielle's evolution from a naive peasant girl with pacifist tendencies to a fierce warrior were handled so well). And to top it all off, the writers totally pandered to the niche fanbase (they threw so many in-jokes and such shameless subtext at us lesbians, we couldn't have really asked for more validation). Now I look back and remember it fondly, and I can't quite manage to convince myself that I've completely out-grown it, even though I haven't watched it since we played "spot the subtext" drinking games at Uni. It's a little silly, it's a little slapstick, but it had a lot of heart and steady & believable character development. Well, except when they kept coming back from the dead, you know ;)

I love when she finally opens up to Booth at the end of the pilot, but I think it would have been more emotionally effective for me if her telling Booth that story was the first time I'd heard it.

I can completely understand your POV there. I guess I still felt the significance of her mustering the courage to make the admission herself, but it definitely could have had more of an impact if, as you say, we hadn't already got the gist of her back-story from Angela.

I just felt that was a terrific, well-balanced character moment scene, while "Boy in the Bush" was a great, well-balanced, overall episode.

That's a fair point, and I've no qualms in admitting that 'The Boy in the Bush' was superior in quality to all four of those previous episodes, for all of the reasons that we've both outlined - but I did enjoy them a lot (with 'The Boy in the Tree' being the weakest of the four for me), and they wouldn't be among my least favourite of Season 1.

OMG, I still haven't finished rambling. Back in a sec...

[readthesubtext.livejournal.com]

It was partially about respect; that's something important to me, and I didn't like her seemingly disrespecting his abilities or judgment, especially in situations where he had the experience and she didn't.

But let's not forget that the whole reason why Brennan is so antagonistic towards him in the Pilot episode is because, when she worked with him previously, he disregarded her findings and didn't believe she could garner what she did from X-rays alone - and she proved him wrong. And his whole condescending attitude at the firing range, "squints don't solve crimes, cops do" etc probably didn't help. So it's no wonder that she's a little wary to start with. And sometimes when she disrespects him, it's for a good reason; like when she refuses to go along with his intimidation tactics by threatening to deport the woman and keep her baby in 'The Woman in the Garden.' And Booth just sweeps in and demands that she drop everything to come and work a case with him in 'The Man with the Bear,' acting like he has jurisdiction over her schedule, which is more than a little disrespectful, IMO. I found that in the earlier episodes, he was really impatient and snippy with her, even when she was trying to make an effort (I love that whole "I thought it was good to start with good morning" scene in 'The Boy in the Tree'). That, again, is why 'The Boy in the Bush' is such a great episode, because we see how much faith they're starting to have in each other - Booth trusting Brennan to interrogate Shawn and then, as you say, Brennan trusting Booth enough to make good on her promises to him etc.

But I understand what you're saying and am in awe of your memory for these episodes, LOL.

My memory is a steel trap - and I'm not sure whether it's a blessing or a curse sometimes LOL.

I think we essentially agree, for the most part, anyway, but I think you have a higher level of understanding and appreciation for Brennan than I do.

I think that's because I value a lot of traits in Brennan that some people might consider to be faults - I'm a well meaning person who never sets out to offend anyone, but I call things as I see them and I rarely think before I speak, so the lack of tact, the brutal honesty and the inability to sugar coat things to make them more palatable strikes a chord with me (but the callousness we've seen in Season 4 most definitely does not). While I'm always willing to hear people out, I'm also highly opinionated and unwavering in my beliefs unless I'm presented with good, solid evidence to counteract them. I don't understand people who spend their lives telling others what they want to hear instead of forming their own opinions, so I like the whole "what you see is what you get" aspect of Brennan's personality that Booth mentions in 'The Girl in the Fridge.' I've been alienated because of my intelligence (which is hardly on par with Brennan's, but enough to make me stand out in a crowd), but it's tempered with a certain degree of social ignorance, too. I don't trust easily, so it's hard for me to form connections with people even when I want to, and there's something of me that I always hold back - because I'm sure I should have had a broken heart by now LOL. I just feel like I get Brennan on some profound level; I understand what makes her tick, I understand where her insecurities stem from etc. But I guess I should start speaking in the past tense, really, because I don't understand Season 4 Brennan at all :(

My icon is from "Saving Grace," and if that means anything to you, I may have to become an even bigger fan of yours than I am already, because it's one of my new favourite shows and I'm dying to discuss it with someone. Then again, if you think Brennan's behaviour in these episodes is questionable, I can only imagine the horrors that Grace Hanadarko would bring you, what with her alcoholism, promiscuity, foul-mouthed tirades, flashing at her elderly next door neighbour etc. I freakin' love her, though! I'm a sucker for a lost cause ;)

And I'm running out of space again...

[readthesubtext.livejournal.com]

Well, it's been an absolute pleasure discussing all of this with you - I can always count on you to give me a run for my money in the debating department, Sherry, and even if we disagree (which is rare!), I'm never, ever left with a sense of frustration because I can always see the merits in your perspectives; you back them up so brilliantly and articulate yourself so well. It's such a refreshing change from people who squee or snark without substantiation! You are my LJ soul mate, my friend. And I think I've spammed your journal enough for one night so I'll leave you in peace!

[riddledfate.livejournal.com]

You mentioned several of the things that I love and hate about this show. I've tried to give it a chance, really, but the last season had me going all O__O They really killed some good potential in there, it's a shame.

Also, I LOVE HODGINS! XD