monanotlisa

Spoilers for the Bones S3 finale

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May. 31st, 2008 | 11:39 am

Watched Bones 3x15 and must say, HOLY RUSHED & RAGGED FINALE, BATMAN!

It's not even that I thought the plot was crammed and too fast-paced, the suspence arc without amplitude, although these were disappointing. But I don't watch Bones for brilliant plots or the Agatha-Christie-style whodunit. Characterisation and motivation, however? That's where this show usually excels, and where I've come to expect a lot. Why this finale made me go, Wait, What?! Nameless Rasputin-y evil-doers who live in the shadows -- basements of mansions, tiled in black and white, oh-so-occult? Oh writers! -- but plan untraceable murders and enlist a young genius straight out of their midst? And then the lame misdirection with Hodgins! Puh-lease. I don't hate the idea of Zack as the Apprentice, of having been approached just after Iraq. It's just that if I had been a writer, I'd have used cues from earlier seasons and left breadcrumbs left and right -- nothing plot-related, mind you, just the smoking guns of characterisation. I'd have used his general personality and beliefs and of course hidden trauma after fighting in a cruel war, which in someone like Zach might manifest differently.

Mostly, admittedly, I'd have needed ABOUT SEVEN MORE EPISODES. I've seen shortened and less satisfying arcs in my other shows now, but boy, the Writers' Strike really made the showrunners screw up. I think the wise and sensible decision would have been to just let Gormagon be for another season -- wrap it up with a spectacular case file, only one small reminder of the cannibal case, and pick it all up again next season, with enough time to develop everything. Everything meaning the characters in question, of course.

(I did sniffle upon seeing Brennan touch foreheads with Zack. Oh, Temperance: You loved that boy; you got him like no one else, not even his best buddy Jack.)

If you have written about the Bones finale -- please, slap a link (no html necessary) into the comments to this post?
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Comments {28}

Grimorie

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from: [info]grimorie
date: May. 31st, 2008 09:55 am (UTC)
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Oh, yes this episode made me, my brother and sister shout: WTF WRITERS?!?

It was just... what?

Pretty much what you said here is what I said in my reactions too.

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daredevil muffin-y genius

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from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 10:02 am (UTC)
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[info]yahtzee63 lists why the episode worked, from a clue viewpoint, and I agree that we could see where the writers come from -- but emotionally, this was too rushed, not slowly and carefully built over a season.

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Grimorie

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from: [info]grimorie
date: May. 31st, 2008 10:06 am (UTC)
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*nods* I understand what you mean. It worked plotwise within the episode but emotionally and from a character POV it doesn't work. There was no build up for us to see that Zack was really screwed-up by what happened in Iraq or any other internal conflicts. He was still Zack, although a little more emotionally stunted but not enough to hint that he'd been swayed to the dark side.

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Pfützenhüpfer

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from: [info]villainny
date: May. 31st, 2008 10:18 am (UTC)
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That's pretty much the exact conclusion that my housemate and I came to - screw the plot arc that they had planned, round it up next season. It was far too rushed and felt like such a disservice to Zack, because it could have been believable and it could have been acceptable to fans, but that wasn't the way to do it.

*fistbumps sadly*

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daredevil muffin-y genius

(no subject)

from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 10:31 am (UTC)
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it could have been believable

Exactly! Yes, I could totally see it when I squinted. *wry grin* But writers, please, can I have some MORE?

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Amireal

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from: [info]amireal
date: May. 31st, 2008 10:26 am (UTC)
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They weren't just missing 7 eps, I believe the extended order for this season had another 6 after that. So. Imagine what we missed. With all that missing I dunno why they ended it there, possibly b/c they didn't want to renegotiate a contract somewhere?

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daredevil muffin-y genius

(no subject)

from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 10:30 am (UTC)
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I believe the extended order for this season had another 6 after that.

Oh, Christ. I weep for the missed opportunities even more now!

I dunno why they ended it there, possibly b/c they didn't want to renegotiate a contract somewhere?

Perhaps it was something external like that -- but c'mon, how expensive could the actor who plays Zach have been? Could even have made it a half-season arc if you were inclined to not spend more than planned (and those original eps must have been in the budget, long before the Writers' Strike).

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Astrid

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from: [info]astridv
date: May. 31st, 2008 11:30 am (UTC)
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Yep. Word. (Here's my post on the finale.) Short version, I wasn't impressed with that whiplash-inducing turn of events. That was not so much a surprising reveal as it was character assassination. It *might* have worked if very carefully plotted and executed.

Apparently, according to a post-ep interview, Hanson is pleased with the fan reaction because people are talking, and people talking about ep = good, no matter what is actually being said. Personally, I don't subscribe to "there's no such thing as bad publicity".

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daredevil muffin-y genius

(no subject)

from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 02:02 pm (UTC)
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Nah, I didn't think it was that bad -- Zach as the Apprentice worked for me in theory, but what they did with it: disappointing. Bones had established such an exceptional level of admittedly humorous and over the top but still layered and deeply human portrayals; this came across as too hasty, roughly-sewn, not skilled & seamless as usual.

And oh, I so agree with you there. That phrase needs to disappear out of producers' heads.

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Dances With Vampires

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from: [info]yahtzee63
date: May. 31st, 2008 12:08 pm (UTC)
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http://yahtzee63.livejournal.com/361394.html#cutid1


I still feel this way -- that "Bones" supported the Zach reveal on its own terms -- but have also come to believe that, in some ways, the reveal was something that couldn't really be done on "Bones" terms, because something heavy and twisty in that way is just not in the show's usual vocabulary. I still like the episode, which has some beautiful feints and subtleties and amazing acting, but I get why the twist failed for fandom as a whole.

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daredevil muffin-y genius

(no subject)

from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 02:06 pm (UTC)
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Read it already! And I loved how you outlined the clues -- all true; I just felt it was a case of too little, too late still.

the reveal was something that couldn't really be done on "Bones" terms, because something heavy and twisty in that way is just not in the show's usual vocabulary.

Because it's, at heart, a very sweet show, you mean? For all the drama and procedure and grisly bits, there's always been this true and real connection between the core characters; I guess Season Three changed that irrevocably in some ways.

I still like the episode, which has some beautiful feints and subtleties and amazing acting

Actually, everything but the Gormagon reveal was great, I thought -- the fake funeral! The bathtub scene! Angela & Brennan! And even that part could've been good, given more time and more build-up of a character sort, perhaps not just re: Zack and how he relates to others but also by building up the villain. God, remember the times with Arvin Sloane? I'm not a J.J. Abrams fan per se, but that -- kudos. You understood why people fell for him, were fascinated, believed and trusted again and again.

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Dances With Vampires

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from: [info]yahtzee63
date: May. 31st, 2008 04:08 pm (UTC)
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For all the drama and procedure and grisly bits, there's always been this true and real connection between the core characters; I guess Season Three changed that irrevocably in some ways.

Actually, I don't think it's changed that at all -- how many shows would reveal a character to be accomplice to a serial killer and then go on to demonstrate that all the other regulars still love him terribly? Fairly few, I think; even Cam's anger clearly came from a place of pain.

JJ has the rare gift of building incredibly complex characters AND constructing the plots that will show those characters to their best advantage. The "Bones" people have created wonderfully compelling characters, but when it comes to plotting, we're watching a show where, 90% of the time, the killer is the second person Brennan and Booth talk to during questioning. The writers executed this plot turn with a lot more backup than virtually anything else they've done on the show, which ultimately wasn't enough to convince fans when it came to a beloved character.

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daredevil muffin-y genius

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from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 04:46 pm (UTC)
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how many shows would reveal a character to be accomplice to a serial killer and then go on to demonstrate that all the other regulars still love him terribly?

They love him, they really do, and your comment about Cam makes sense to me. But at the same time, I cannot imagine a group of people with such strong ties and such rigid outlooks on life not being negatively affected by the experience of someone they trusted committing or at least abetting murders -- we saw the highlights of their reactions, their shock and horror, and while that's not my way of looking at it, I'm sure there are fans who would describe this as a loss of innocence.

J.J. has the rare gift of building incredibly complex characters AND constructing the plots that will show those characters to their best advantage.

I liked J.J.'s approach in the early seasons and found his bag o' tricks both entertaining and innovative, but at the same time, he never struck me as a genius plotwriter -- he gave us a most suspenceful spy thriller, absolutely, but his storylines weren't all that layered or complex; fanfic writers did so much better with additional meta levels.

His characters, though? Absolutely; those were exceptionally well-rounded, the villains especially. So yes, I agree that his ability to match plot with character development was excellent.

but when it comes to plotting, we're watching a show where, 90% of the time, the killer is the second person Brennan and Booth talk to during questioning.

Heh. Alas, 'tis true.

The writers executed this plot turn with a lot more backup than virtually anything else they've done on the show, which ultimately wasn't enough to convince fans when it came to a beloved character.

I think the latter plays into the reaction of some fans, but as someone without any particular attachment to Zach who's been -- and seen others of that category -- less than convinced still, I doubt that's the deciding factor. And the fact that this was somewhat better executed than the usual Bad Guy reveal...well, it ain't that much. & ;-)

That said, I am very much looking forward to the next season!

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Mandy's Bitch

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from: [info]mandysbitch
date: May. 31st, 2008 12:10 pm (UTC)
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I wrote my reactions to 13, 14 and 15 here. I'm mostly in it for the eye candy - but how crazy to go from the awesomeness of "The Verdict in the Story" to that weirdness so fast.

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daredevil muffin-y genius

(no subject)

from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 02:08 pm (UTC)
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As I told Yahtzee above, not everything about the ep was bad -- quite to the contrary! But yes, the reveal was just weird.

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V.

(no subject)

from: [info]aurora_84
date: May. 31st, 2008 12:34 pm (UTC)
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I've seen shortened and less satisfying arcs in my other shows now, but boy, the Writers' Strike really made the showrunners screw up.
It really really did. :((

(My, um, reaction, which consists of 90% capslock. :|)

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daredevil muffin-y genius

(no subject)

from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 02:08 pm (UTC)
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Saw that, cheers!

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kangeiko

(no subject)

from: [info]kangeiko
date: May. 31st, 2008 12:44 pm (UTC)
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Haven't posted on it yet, mostly because I am still inarticulate with rage over them screwing it up. I mean, it could have awesome. Instead, it was half-baked, more Scooby-Doo than anything.

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daredevil muffin-y genius

(no subject)

from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 02:08 pm (UTC)
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Agreed. Could have been awesome, made most of fandom go, UH, WHAT? *g*

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queenspanky

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from: [info]queenspanky
date: Jun. 2nd, 2008 10:25 am (UTC)
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Dude, why have we not raged about this over tea together? I was so angry I actually cried.

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12cubed

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from: [info]12_12_12
date: May. 31st, 2008 01:55 pm (UTC)
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I think the wise and sensible decision would have been to just let Gormagon be for another season -- wrap it up with a spectacular case file, only one small reminder of the cannibal case, and pick it all up again next season, with enough time to develop everything.

Ideally, this is what I would have gone for, too. I wasn't particularly invested in Zach as a character, so this didn't hit me as hard as it did many fans. But yeah, giving it about 6 more episodes for clue-building and another 6 for the emotional aftermath would have been great.

*prays for the actors' strike to be averted*

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daredevil muffin-y genius

(no subject)

from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 02:10 pm (UTC)
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It has been averted, I read!!

wasn't particularly invested in Zach as a character, so this didn't hit me as hard as it did many fans. But yeah, giving it about 6 more episodes for clue-building and another 6 for the emotional aftermath would have been great.

Yes, or they really could have shown us less aftermath...but a mid-season reveal would have worked nicely that way. Structurally interesting, almost Jossian, you know? Of course that kind of Little Bad is hard to top with a Big Bad. *g*

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12cubed

(no subject)

from: [info]12_12_12
date: May. 31st, 2008 02:17 pm (UTC)
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It has been averted, I read!!

Really? OMG YAY.

Yes, or they really could have shown us less aftermath...but a mid-season reveal would have worked nicely that way. Structurally interesting, almost Jossian, you know?

Yeah, but Bones is not exactly...structurally innovative. It's satisfying and consistent and reliably entertaining, but Jossian it is not. :D

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daredevil muffin-y genius

(no subject)

from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 02:26 pm (UTC)
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Yeah, but Bones is not exactly...structurally innovative. It's satisfying and consistent and reliably entertaining, but Jossian it is not. :D

Heh, true. & :-)

And I did read it in a link! Google?

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12cubed

(no subject)

from: [info]12_12_12
date: May. 31st, 2008 05:21 pm (UTC)
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First of all: I forgot to link to my Bones finale post here, but I think I did so in an earlier comment.

And re: the actors' strike--just Googled, and it is possible that the SAG actors (this is by far the biggest union) will strike, but less likely now that AFTRA (a smaller union) has struck a deal with the networks in the past few days.

*gnaws fingernails*

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Hermine

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from: [info]hermine
date: May. 31st, 2008 06:02 pm (UTC)
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I haven´t written about the finale because it really upset me. I´m not a huge Zach fan, but the rushed end was really at odds with the fairly good character devellopment and consistency of the show. I´m sorry, but Zach joining a mythical cannibal cult? That wasn´t convincingly plotted. While he might lack self-confidence and is easily influenced by strong personalities (Brennan!), I just can´t understand how he´d choose to become part of a secret society with a highly unsound scientific background. Meh.

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daredevil muffin-y genius

(no subject)

from: [info]monanotlisa
date: May. 31st, 2008 06:12 pm (UTC)
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part of a secret society with a highly unsound scientific background. Meh.

That was totally in need of both telling and showing, yeah -- as I said above in a comment, Gormagon would have needed to be built up as a genius supervillain (which would have been in line with the cartoon-ish touch of this show anyway) so that this appeal to Zack would've made emotional sense, yeah.

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gwyneth

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from: [info]gwyn_r
date: May. 31st, 2008 06:42 pm (UTC)
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I'm definitely not in the "it could have been done, if they'd taken the time" camp. I truly don't believe that they could have convincingly pushed Zack into such a role even if they'd had Joss on staff, not with what we do know about the way he thinks -- and feels. So my rant may not be a good read.

Maybe I've just been a writer and editor for too long, or something. It long ago affected my ability to suspend disbelief for most things, and it's hard for me to accept what I see as bad writing that could be fixed, to find any entertainment value in it. All I could think when I watched this was that the actor's long faces weren't for the storyline, weren't acting -- they were for the painfully bad writing and plot development and character assassination.

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