Reviewed by Jami Ferguson
Unearth even more thrills from “Bones” Season Eight with all-new content! Finally cleared of wrongdoing, Bones reunites with Booth (David Boreanaz) and the squints. Although the team solves some of their most challenging cases yet, madman Christopher Pelant continues his murderous rampage – inching closer to Bones and Booth daily. From solving the mystery of a roller derby darling’s demise to uncovering a previously unrecognized 9/11 hero to stopping a pandemic, Bones and the team make one remarkable discovery after another. Meanwhile, as if the challenges Booth faces with parenthood and his unique relationship with Bones aren’t enough, his mother shows up after a 24-year absence, and there is shocking news about some of his colleagues.
Show (2 1/2 out of 5 stars)
Dr. Temperance Brennan aka Bones (Emily Deschanel) is a forensic anthropologist who works at the Jeffersonian Institute with a team of squints (scientists). She has been working closely with FBI Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz), and they have since become a couple with and have a daughter together. The Jeffersonian team consists of Dr. Jack Hodgins (T.J. Thyne), his wife Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin) and Dr. Camile Saroyan (Tamara Taylor). Although his insights were originally discounted by Brennan, FBI Psychologist Lance Sweets (John Francis Daley) is now a vital part of the team.
Dr. Brennan runs the Jeffersonian Institute. Her team of “squints” is her best friend Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin), Entomologist Dr. Jack Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) and head of pathology Dr. Camile Saroyan (Tamara Taylor). FBI Psychologist Lance Sweets (John Francis Daley) assists with the psychological aspects and has counseled Booth and Brennan in the past. Although Brennan was once their only connection, Angela and Hodgins are now married with a young son. Booth and Brennan have also become a couple and as the season begins she is pregnant with their baby.
My disappointment in Bones continues but has not stopped me from watching the show. Ever since Booth and Brennan became a couple, the show seriously started to suffer. I don't like them as a couple and I wish more of the season had been devoted to the serial killer Pelant. It's nice to see “Sweets” become more accepted as a part of the team with each season but I wish Booth and Bones had remained partners. When the show becomes more about Brennan drama I long for the old days when it was all about the murders.
Season Eight does contain one very well done, and touching episode called "In the Ghost in the Machine," a young boy has died and the episode is shot from the point of view of his skull. All of the team members must evaluate whether or not they believe in the afterlife as many believe that the child's soul has not moved on. This episode might not have stuck with me before I had a child, but it's truly heartbreaking for any parent to watch. In the extras when a fan asks about episodes that have stuck with the cast this is the episode more than one person mentions. It's a very powerful episode and it includes guest star Cindy Lauper. I like the episodes the contain serial killer Christopher Pelant, especially the idea that he could be smarter than Bones. He seems to always be a step ahead of the team and is a more than worthy adversary.
This set contains the following episodes:
Disc One:
The Future in the Past – After being accused of murder, Brennan is on the run from the authorities.
The Partners in the Divorce – The team investigates the murder of a divorce lawyer with a string of enemies.
The Gunk in the Garage – The Jeffersonian team investigates an explosion in a parking garage.
The Tiger in the Tale – An animal expo employee's death uncovers illegal animal trafficking.
The Method in the Madness – A woman's mutilated body is found In a garbage can.
Disc Two:
The Patriot in the Purgatory – The team tries to identify remains that have previously been unidentified and the body of a man who died as a result of 9/11 is discovered.
The Bod in the Pod – A crime scene clean up expert has been murdered and the Jeffersonian team investigates.
The Butt in the Joke – In additional to identifying a murder victim the team must determine how to remove a dead body glued to a live one.
The Ghost in the Machine – Everyone has to deal with their own views on life after death when a young boy has died but his soul appears to be alive and affecting the team in different ways.
The Diamond in the Rough – A professional ballroom dancer was murdered and Booth and Bones go undercover to investigate.
Disc Three:
The Archaeologist in the Cocoon – An archaeologist has died, and had possibly made a big discovery just prior to his death.
The Corpse in the Canopy – Hodgins and Angela are drugged and wake to find the Pelant has placed a dead body overhead.
The Twist in the Plot – Two bodies are found at the same burial plot – a cancer patient and her doula.
The Doll in the Derby – A female roller derby athlete has died and Angela goes undercover with the team.
The Shot in the Dark – Brennan's near death experience brings up the past.
Disc Four:
The Friend in Need – A fifteen year old boy with few friends is murdered.
The Fact in the Fiction – Dr. Oliver Wells and Brennan quickly butt heads at the Jeffersonian.
The Survivor in the Soap – A man was found at a waste disposal facility in a barrel.
The Doom in the Gloom – The team investigates a former Marine whose body was found burned.
The Blood from the Stones – An undercover officer is dead and his loyalties are questioned during the investigation.
Disc Five:
The Maiden in the Mushrooms – The team's next case involves a TV producer who has been murdered.
The Party in the Pants – A man is murdered who was living a double life- executive by day, stripper by night.
The Pathos in the Pathogens – The team overts a viral outbreak during the investigation of the murder of a journalist.
The Secret in the Siege – Christopher Pelant is back and people close to Booth are being murdered in the season finale.
Video (4 out of 5 stars)
Bones the Complete Eighth Season is presented on Blu-ray with a widescreen 1.78:1 ratio. The show takes place in many different locations – both indoors and out. The bloody corpses and gooey remnants look realistic and show varying colors of red. Skin tones are accurate and there is enough detail evident to notice tiny scars and imperfections in the actors' flesh.
Audio (4 out of 5 stars)
Bones the Complete Eights Season is presented in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound with subtitles in English SDH, Spanish and French. Dialogue is clear and intelligible throughout and volume doesn't need to be adjusted between normal speaking voice and heated interrogation.
Extras (3 out of 5 stars)
I like to watch all the episodes and then all the special features and I wish they had all been on one disc. Having only a deleted scene on a disc made it annoying to have to stand up, sit down and load and unload so often.
The five Blu-ray discs contain the following extras:
Disc One:
Commentary – Audio commentary on “The Future in the Past” with Executive Producers Hart Hanson, Stephen Nathan and Director/Executive Producer Ian Toynton. It's interesting to learn that Emily Deschanel spends time with the baby that plays her daughter and David Boreanaz does not but the baby still likes him. Overall, these aren't the three most interesting guys I've heard on a commentary.
Disc Two:
- Deleted Scene – A deleted scene from “The Patriot in the Purgatory” with no significant information that needed to be retained in the episode.
Disc Three:
- Contains no extras
Disc Four:
- Deleted Scene – A deleted scene from “The Survivor in the Soap” where Hodgins explains soap and fat.
Disc Five:
- Deleted Scene from “The Party in the Pants” where an intern works on a human jigsaw puzzle.
- Dying to Know: Bones Answers Your Questions! - Executive Producer Stephen Nathan and various cast members answer viewer questions.
- Bare Bones: Total Fandom-onium – Fan videos reveal extreme love of the show.
- Gag Reel- The usual line mess ups and mistakes that crack the cast up in a fairly lengthy gag reel.
Summary (3 1/2 out of 5 stars)
The relationship between Booth and Bones was perfect when they were partners and she thought she was smarter than him. She could have loved him as a partner and the show would have been better off. I'm definitely mostly watching the show because I've invested so much time in it but I don't have the excitement for a new episode like I used to have. The Blu-ray discs have a very good audio and video presentation but I wish the extras had all been placed on the last disc. I do appreciate the season mode that allows you to stop anywhere and immediately pick up where you left off. That is a great feature for someone like me who can be easily distracted.
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