Bones Review: The New Tricks in the Old Dogs (Season 12 Episode 3)
I can’t help but draw a parallel between Bones Season 12 Episode 3, “The New Tricks in the Old Dogs,” and the fact that we’re getting closer and closer to saying goodbye to the show itself.
The case of the week brings Booth and Brennan to a nursing home to investigate, where the people are “in the twilight of their lives.” Meanwhile, nearly every character is looking toward the future.
Hodgins and Angela are considering having another child, Booth and Brennan talk about whether or not to close that door, and Cam and Arastoo decide they’re going to have a family by adopting (theirs is a particularly sweet moment in this episode).
It makes me think we’re looking toward a series finale that will mean new starts for everyone. In fact, we already know that’s going to be the case for Daisy, who has landed an incredible new job.
This is generally a nice, fun episode. From Brennan exclaiming “science is cool!” to the lady in the nursing home getting fresh with Booth (and Brennan’s reaction!) there are a lot of funny, great moments. Every character is at their best, and it feels like a celebration of the show.
Yes, I said something similar last week too, and I’m betting it will continue to feel that way.
The character who shines the most in “The New Tricks in the Old Dogs” is Booth. The respect he immediately shows to Red, and then his befriending of him is indicative of the kind of man Booth is.
Booth connects with Red because of his service, but also because he reminds him of his grandfather — there’s a special connection there.
That makes it that much more heartbreaking when Booth learns that Red is actually responsible for the victim’s death.
There’s a happy ending, though. It turns out that the victim was using his money to pay for a private investigator to find Barbara’s daughter.
And by the end of the episode, the two of them have the chance to reconnect — which Booth, Brennan, and Aubrey all get the opportunity to witness.
On another note, I am a little disappointed in Booth’s reaction to getting a vasectomy. Brennan decides she wants to leave the door open to the possibility of more children after all, but I expected Booth to be a bit more receptive. (Though the sniper reference does work pretty darn well.) I’m curious now if we’ll find out before the end of the series if they’ll end up having another child.
Other Thoughts:
- Brennan knows who Iron Maiden is! I don’t know who finds this more surprising — Angela or myself.
- Aubrey’s smoothie sounds disgusting, but Booth’s description of it is worse.
- I love how happy Hodgins is now, and I’m glad he and Angela have, well, found a way to make the wheelchair work for them.
- Ed Asner makes for a very special guest star in this episode, and of course, he’s fantastic.
What did you think of this episode of Bones? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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Bones airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Fox.
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Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.