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[Photo: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Greg Gayne/FOX]
I’ve been giving a bit of thought to the fact that in two of the three most recent episodes of Bones, Booth has had very vivid hallucinations that help him in whatever situation he’s in. In The Fire in the Ice, he hit his head and saw his favorite hockey star tell him that he’s not like his father and gave him the clue to solve the case. And again in The Hero in the Hold, his dead military buddy for whom he named his son, helped him to escape from the ship before it exploded. Were these just Booth’s own subconscious working overtime, or were they some sort of metaphysical experiences?
It’s an interesting thing to find out about Booth after 3 and a half seasons of the show. It makes me wonder if it’s a way to help us get into Booth’s head, so to speak, or if it’s leading up to a mental health diagnosis…
I tend to think that
- It’s a great tactic to give us more insight into a character we haven’t gotten a lot of back story for up to this point
- It’s way to show tough FBI Agent Seeley Booth as a more vulnerable person
- It’s a way to give the character a “flaw” since flaws are a way we can identify and feel closer to a character
But it also leads me to wonder where this trend could go in the future…
It could be the beginning of a breakdown where Booth ends up in the next-door room to Zack in the looney bin… (just kidding)
I rather like the interesting aspect of Booth’s subconscious helping him escape from peril and giving him clues to solve cases. It’s the complete antithesis of Brennan who is totally left-brined, linear thinking and logical. Booth has always been the more spiritual, emotional of the two, but this adds yet another cool dimension to his character that contrasts so nicely with Brennan.
There are so many ways to look at what is happening with Booth and his visions. I’m no mental health expert, by any means, but it’s a very interesting thing to me anyway. Could it be that Booth will now have this extra “tool” with which to solve crimes and deal with the aftermath of a difficult childhood? Perhaps he’ll not have any more of these incidents after the hockey blow to his head wears off. Or if he keeps having these experiences, will they become problematic or will they always be helpful? I’d be interested in knowing your thoughts on the matter.
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1159 days ago
[...] Michael Ausiello over at EW has just given us some really juicy spoilers to chew on. First, it looks as if dear old Zack may be back for the season finale. But there may be trouble ahead for Booth with some sort of health crisis. And go figure…he’s going to hallucinate again!!! I don’t know why, but I had a feeling there was a pattern developing… [...]
I think it’s more than hallucinations. In “hero in the hold”, at the end, Temp see the “ghots” too. It’s weird for a show like Bones, but I still don’t get it.
This is where they are (maybe) crossing the line between the science and the faith. The line between Booth and Brennan.
You know, I’m going to have to agree with JJ on this one. nobones, you never have anything good or constructive to say. I don’t know if you’re just trying to get a rise out of all of us or what, but you obviously aren’t a fan of the show, and you’re not really being respectful to those of us that are. If you have constructive criticism to put forth, that’s one thing, but you constantly bash everything about Bones. And as for good reviews, pick up an issue of TV Guide. Or Entertainment Weekly. Or look online. OR, just look at the ratings. “HITH” beat “Ugly Betty” by 3 million viewers! If that’s not a testament to a good show, I don’t know what is.
JJ- I guess it better when the citics bad month the writers. When was the last time you read a good review?
The one in Fire and the Ice was more of a dream cos he was unconscious, rather than an hallucination, I feel anyway. I love this aspect, we’re finding out about Booth and the fact that even though Brennan doesn’t believe in ghosts etc. she still asked about it when Booth mentioned it. I think it shows that she is opening up to his way of thinking a little, because I remember when she wouldn’t have even asked about it and they would’ve argued. I loved Hero in the Hold so much. I like the fact we’re finding out more about Booth, it’s like we’re seeing a darker side to him.
nobones, why don’t you quit watching if you hate it so much? there’s really no point in watching a show you dislike and then leaving annoying comments on fansites. seriously, get a life!
Booth hallucination just more bad writing. Or the writers want us to believe that Booth can’t do anything. I think the 50 killings we learned about in season 2 his victims fall on his gun. I so wish the writers know something about the FBI and Ranger training so the cases would stop being so dumb.
They’ve done it in HOUSE MD before. But in that show, House is aware that it’s a hallucination and that his hallucination is just him talking to himself. I think that is what the writes were getting at in BONES; they just did it less effectively. I like your thought of it tying into Booth’s more emotional, more open view of life. I don’t think they’ll feature the hallucinations too often (at least, I hope they don’t!).