If any of you were within a few miles of lower Manhattan at around 8:59 last night, you probably heard the unmistakable sound of a TV blogger screaming like a lady. Well, it was me. And if you caught the latest episode of Bones, you know exactly why.
I hate to be a sucker for the old forensics show x serial killer + conspiracy theory = third season routine, but Bones is playing out this “Gormagon” storyline with an almost Hitchcockian deftness at maintaining suspense. Last night’s episode, “The Knight on the Grid,” picked up the only uncaptured villain in the world of Bones for the first time since the season premiere. He’d been mentioned, and suspected in other murders, but last night we finally saw him. He’s incredibly spry on a motorcycle, and he makes dirty bombs packed with human teeth! He’ll pin a child to the bottom of a pool just to get you off his back! He’s a villainous dynamo the likes of which you’ve never seen before! And considering he’s also two or three different people working together, you’re going to see a lot more of him this season (you know, if there is more). The episode sidetracked a little with Brennan’s ongoing familial issues of crime and parole. It doesn’t make for the most compelling viewing, but it furthers a greater plot and makes our awkward heroine that much more human. I like that Bones is really playing with the formula this season. I’ve always thought they did a good job distinguishing themselves from other procedurals, but they apparently aren’t content with just that.
The episode finished off with a thoroughly annoying montage set to angsty lady rock. I was angry and hurt that this glorious car-bombing, cannibal-chasing, baby-drowning night of Bones would conclude with a slide show of soap opera caliber facial expressions, but then they threw in one last scene: a shot of a spiky-toothed serial killer jumping from a coat closet and onto a lobbyist he no doubt proceeded to eat! It was enough to make me feel emasculated to anyone within earshot and dub “The Knight on the Grid” the scariest hour of TV this season.
OMG I’m about to post something about this. I knew Bones was too good just to use that montage/song thing so I had my hands up ready to cover my eyes but I still yelped out after that freaky scene. Damn, it STILL got me!