We never do get to find out if he was a Yankee or a Rebel. A skeleton is found in some clay be a couple members of a Civil War re-enactment group. When he is brought in, it takes so much work to get the body ready to be analyzed. Mr. Nigel Murray is doing great work but yearns for Brennan's approval. We have several issues besides this. The victim was gay and played for an all-gay football team. He is filled with cuts and bruises and a triple fracture of his skull. In a secondary plot, Jared, Booth's brother, has met a woman with whom he has fallen in love and wants to marry. Booth runs a background check and finds she was a paid escort. He can't keep his nose out of things. It leads to some real tension and stupidity.
4 Reviews
The Dentist in the Dull.
mediamusings122 August 2022
Hi The Bones Booth Pod!
When a show has as many episodes as "Bones" has, even the most hardcore of fans is bound to forget the details of some of them. This is one of those episodes. I have seen it at least ten times, but for whatever reason, I can never remember what it's about. It gets a lower rating than I would normally give to "Bones", because it just doesn't do enough to move the overarching plot forward, nor is it a strong enough episode to exist as a stand alone. The true definition of non-essential/skippable. It doesn't help that I really don't like or care about Jared Booth. The only semi-memorable and good part of the episode comes at the end, when Brennan gives a toast about love. That's pretty much it.
When a show has as many episodes as "Bones" has, even the most hardcore of fans is bound to forget the details of some of them. This is one of those episodes. I have seen it at least ten times, but for whatever reason, I can never remember what it's about. It gets a lower rating than I would normally give to "Bones", because it just doesn't do enough to move the overarching plot forward, nor is it a strong enough episode to exist as a stand alone. The true definition of non-essential/skippable. It doesn't help that I really don't like or care about Jared Booth. The only semi-memorable and good part of the episode comes at the end, when Brennan gives a toast about love. That's pretty much it.
The Straight Washing in the Episode
johnlicoski13 August 2022
Hey Bones Booth
I've been thinking about What's In the Middle lately because its a staple on my migraine playlist but I couldn't remember what episode it was from. I was very disappointed when I realized it was this episode. So I figured it was worth rewatching to see if its as cringy as I remember.
I'm trying to put myself in the understanding of network TV in 2010, but this really isn't great for me. I remember being an awkward closeted teen changing the channel when this episode came on as a rerun because of its messaging.
I feel like this episode is trying to send the message of "stereotypes aren't real" and "gay men are exactly the same as straight men. So you make Dan have a regular job as a dentist. Make him play football. Make his ex Chris hunt. Make his ex Chris have uneven sideburns. Make the gay football team's coach portray toxic masculinity.
This does more harm than good in my view. Still leave the problem open for the gays that don't conform to the "basically straight" characteristics, think Max from Happy Endings. Kind of normalizes the homophobia of gays not being welcome in the locker room because of supposed glances. What I find the most troubling is Dan's closeted ex Cyd having to explain that he was happy and Booth wouldn't understand. This is where you try to take the moment to explain that love is the part where it is like a straight relationships and its the same as a man loving a woman, but in an episode where they try to normalize being gay by straight washing it, this is the one thing they incorrectly other-ize. Also the way they throw around fag in a way that makes it lose all impactful meaning.
Other random gripes include wasting a Jared re-appearance, final? On a terrible B plot. Booth shaming sex work does not shock me, neither does the show focus on Padme being "reformed". Brennan being not afraid of spiders lines up with her ever changing opinion on snakes.
Also how are you say Angela is not a genius? She makes you a new computer program every week.
I'm trying to put myself in the understanding of network TV in 2010, but this really isn't great for me. I remember being an awkward closeted teen changing the channel when this episode came on as a rerun because of its messaging.
I feel like this episode is trying to send the message of "stereotypes aren't real" and "gay men are exactly the same as straight men. So you make Dan have a regular job as a dentist. Make him play football. Make his ex Chris hunt. Make his ex Chris have uneven sideburns. Make the gay football team's coach portray toxic masculinity.
This does more harm than good in my view. Still leave the problem open for the gays that don't conform to the "basically straight" characteristics, think Max from Happy Endings. Kind of normalizes the homophobia of gays not being welcome in the locker room because of supposed glances. What I find the most troubling is Dan's closeted ex Cyd having to explain that he was happy and Booth wouldn't understand. This is where you try to take the moment to explain that love is the part where it is like a straight relationships and its the same as a man loving a woman, but in an episode where they try to normalize being gay by straight washing it, this is the one thing they incorrectly other-ize. Also the way they throw around fag in a way that makes it lose all impactful meaning.
Other random gripes include wasting a Jared re-appearance, final? On a terrible B plot. Booth shaming sex work does not shock me, neither does the show focus on Padme being "reformed". Brennan being not afraid of spiders lines up with her ever changing opinion on snakes.
Also how are you say Angela is not a genius? She makes you a new computer program every week.
What's happened to Booth?
absoluteparties28 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Hi, Bones Booth podcast. English Jan here,
This episode should be titled the return of the prodigal.
A rare case in Bones where the subplot is much more interesting than the actual Murder Plot, which seems to me to like pulling teeth, pun intended.
Booth's brother Jarrard returns home from India in one piece. No real surprise there he is, after all, a grown man who is more than capable of looking after himself.
Interestingly enough, Jarrard equates falling in love as trouble. Foreshadowing, perhaps. We will have to wait and see. Booth comes across as totally racist in this scene, which I'm sure his FBI training would have contained some information on racial sensitivity. Tut, Tut Mr Booth, your report card shows must do better. I'm glad that a little later on, Booth is caught out and called out on his racism. But Booth is let off very lightly by a gracious Padme.
One highlight of this episode is the appearance of Mr Nigel Murry, along with his interesting facts; I use the word interesting here very loosely. But this is a loveable quirk of this English character, so he is forgiven. I will gloss over the phrase he uses "Repeated tugging."
Another low point of this episode is when Bones finds out that Booth has done a background check on Padme! Once again, not cool, Booth, so not cool. Booth neatly sidesteps the question of if he runs background checks on Bone's dates.
Booth seems to struggle throughout this episode with his brother's choice of girlfriend/fiancee and the victim's sexual orientation. This is most clearly seen when he is chatting to the American Football coach on the practice field. It is cringing to watch in 2022/23. Come on, Booth, you are supposed to be highly evolved. This is not the actions of a highly evolved man-no wonder this episode has scored so low. For such an ordinarily wise-ish bloke, Booth's head is all over the shop in this episode. Inferior writing and not linked to the character of previous episodes.
A high point is Angela pointing out to Bones that what Booth is doing is wrong and that he shouldn't be telling his brother about Padme's past.
The car scene between Bones & Booth, where Bone's is worried over Booth's double standard, shows that she understands other people's feelings is an actual role reversal. For once, the normally eloquent Booth is at a loss for words.
Even in the end scene, in the Founding Fathers' pub, Booth still insists on digging the hole he has made, still deeper. Even with Bone's trying to help him with a swift kick under the table. The only cute Aww moment comes when Booth says that Bone's kick was definitely meant for him, the double meaning is clear, as the look on his face when he turns to smile at Bones.
As ever, it is this last scene between Bones and Booth that helps lift this otherwise awful episode.
Would you get away with writing an episode like this one today? I highly doubt it. This is one episode I usually skip, as I'm sure many others do. This falls way short of the excellence we have come to expect from the Bones writers.
This episode should be titled the return of the prodigal.
A rare case in Bones where the subplot is much more interesting than the actual Murder Plot, which seems to me to like pulling teeth, pun intended.
Booth's brother Jarrard returns home from India in one piece. No real surprise there he is, after all, a grown man who is more than capable of looking after himself.
Interestingly enough, Jarrard equates falling in love as trouble. Foreshadowing, perhaps. We will have to wait and see. Booth comes across as totally racist in this scene, which I'm sure his FBI training would have contained some information on racial sensitivity. Tut, Tut Mr Booth, your report card shows must do better. I'm glad that a little later on, Booth is caught out and called out on his racism. But Booth is let off very lightly by a gracious Padme.
One highlight of this episode is the appearance of Mr Nigel Murry, along with his interesting facts; I use the word interesting here very loosely. But this is a loveable quirk of this English character, so he is forgiven. I will gloss over the phrase he uses "Repeated tugging."
Another low point of this episode is when Bones finds out that Booth has done a background check on Padme! Once again, not cool, Booth, so not cool. Booth neatly sidesteps the question of if he runs background checks on Bone's dates.
Booth seems to struggle throughout this episode with his brother's choice of girlfriend/fiancee and the victim's sexual orientation. This is most clearly seen when he is chatting to the American Football coach on the practice field. It is cringing to watch in 2022/23. Come on, Booth, you are supposed to be highly evolved. This is not the actions of a highly evolved man-no wonder this episode has scored so low. For such an ordinarily wise-ish bloke, Booth's head is all over the shop in this episode. Inferior writing and not linked to the character of previous episodes.
A high point is Angela pointing out to Bones that what Booth is doing is wrong and that he shouldn't be telling his brother about Padme's past.
The car scene between Bones & Booth, where Bone's is worried over Booth's double standard, shows that she understands other people's feelings is an actual role reversal. For once, the normally eloquent Booth is at a loss for words.
Even in the end scene, in the Founding Fathers' pub, Booth still insists on digging the hole he has made, still deeper. Even with Bone's trying to help him with a swift kick under the table. The only cute Aww moment comes when Booth says that Bone's kick was definitely meant for him, the double meaning is clear, as the look on his face when he turns to smile at Bones.
As ever, it is this last scene between Bones and Booth that helps lift this otherwise awful episode.
Would you get away with writing an episode like this one today? I highly doubt it. This is one episode I usually skip, as I'm sure many others do. This falls way short of the excellence we have come to expect from the Bones writers.
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