Bones Review: The Secret in the Service (Season 11 Episode 17)

This is the kind of Bones episode I really enjoy.

“The Secret in the Service” allows us to see even more depth to Booth’s character along with the perfect balance of humor and drama.

While the openers can be tiresome — with random witnesses stumbling upon bodies in ridiculous ways, at least this opener finds a way to be funny a unique. I love the 911 dispatcher’s advice for the witness to not drink any more beer.

The dead body turns out to be that of a secret service agent, making this is a case with particularly high stakes. And since Booth is a descendant of John Wilkes Booth, he has to go through a screening process before he’s even allowed to work on the case.

That’s such an interesting detail about Booth’s character that we aren’t reminded of often. In fact, there are a lot of details like that about Booth that make him incredibly complex, and I think this particular episode does a good job of showing how some of those details have formed the man he is.

Meanwhile, Brennan is home sick, which means an opportunity for some of her funniest moments of the season.

You know, like insisting she isn’t contagious and showing everyone her sputum-filled tissues to prove it.

Once she knows she isn’t contagious anymore, she insists on helping with the case for two reasons: one, the case is important. And two, she wants to be sure Booth is okay after being temporarily taken off the case because of his heritage.

While nothing else really comes of that idea, it sets a tone for Booth, who later takes some major risks to serve his country. Because, well, of course he does. He’s Seeley Booth.

If a shootout weren’t enough to add to the drama, we also get a pretty intense scare from Hodgins in this episode. Hodgins has a better attitude these days, thank goodness, but he’s also back to being the guy who will do just about anything to help solve a case.

He may not be able to use his legs, but he can be helpful by letting Aubrey and Cam lower him down a laundry shoot. He finds what he needs, but as continues to look, the hook holding him up breaks from the ceiling, and he falls.

Fortunately, he’s able to catch himself and hold on. Something that, as he tells Angela, he probably wouldn’t have been able to do before becoming paralyzed and building strength in his upper body through physical therapy.

And the fact that Hodgins is able to come to the conclusion and actually say he’s grateful for being in a wheelchair means he’s finally reaching the point of acceptance.

Other Thoughts:

• Fisher’s return is a nice touch, particularly now that he’s earned his doctorate. What’s better is Angela figuring out that his super secret job is tutor to the president’s daughter.
• Brennan has a lot of great tips for getting over colds, but you can’t deny the chance that Angela’s healer at least helped her to relax.
• Booth’s jokes are extra cheesy in this episode. “Fungi? The Stooges are fun guys!” Love it.

What did you think of this episode of Bones? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Bones airs Thursdays at 8/7c on Fox.