Bones Season Premiere Review: The Hope in the Horror (Season 12 Episode 1)

If Bones Season 12 Episode 1 is any indication, we’re in for an incredible final season.

The return of Zack Addy is going to be bringing some things full circle, and after all, his story has been left unfinished until now. I appreciate the fact that the final season of the show is going to bring some closure, and that it’s brought in a beloved character from the early seasons — but in a way we couldn’t have anticipated.

“The Hope in the Horror” puts the focus on Zack while reminding us of the details of the Gormogon case from Season 3. There was such a complexity to that storyline for Zack.

He was such a loveable character, and to imagine he could do such a horrible thing was a shock for everyone who knew him.

Zack later spoke with Sweets and revealed that he never actually killed anyone. Unfortunately, Sweets was the only person who had that information, which only makes his death more tragic.

Fast forward to Season 12, and we’re at first led to believe that Zack is prepared to harm Brennan. Meanwhile, Booth and the rest of the team do everything they can to figure out where Zack has taken her, including some fancy lab work Hodgins does that involves Brennan’s hand lotion.

I always love seeing that side of Hodgins. He’s still King of the Lab, you guys.

After that cliffhanger from last season, it’s a little disappointing how quickly they do find Brennan, though it also speaks to how well this team is able to work together. Plus, Booth is smart enough to figure out exactly where she is once they’ve narrowed it down.

But rather than spending the entire episode on a search for Brennan as we wonder whether or not Zack could actually hurt her, we see everyone struggle with their own perceptions of him. And that is infinitely more interesting.

Booth is ready to shoot Zack, but it isn’t long before he starts to re-evaluate, especially when he learns what Zack has secretly been doing for Hodgins.

Brennan wants to give him the benefit of the doubt from the beginning, and Cam compares Zack to a child in terms of how harmless he seems.

Hodgins, on the other hand, is stubborn in believing that his former friend is guilty. Period. There’s something more going on there beneath the surface — I think Hodgins feels betrayed, and maybe even more than that, abandoned. Let’s not forget what his relationship with Zack was like in early episodes.

Even Zack begins to question his own innocence after being presented with the evidence and allowed to spend some time analyzing it himself. Even though he doesn’t remember committing murder, his use of logic makes him believe he must have done it.

Watching his devastation when the evidence points to himself as the killer is heartbreaking. This poor guy has been manipulated in such horrifying ways.

And whether he did or did commit any murder, we know there’s good in Zack.

We’ve seen it before, and we see it again when Zack’s life is in danger. He can’t even kill the doctor in order to save himself. He takes a pen to the leg and is nearly killed instead, but thankfully, Booth arrives just in time. The important takeaway here? Zack can’t kill another human.

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Booth feels inclined to believe Zack is innocent — after all, Booth is a faith guy when it comes down to it — and it’s clear where the rest of the season is going to take us. They’re going to re-examine the evidence of the Gormogon case.

Opening that door feels extremely satisfying to me. The closure of it is one thing, but it feels like a way to celebrate the series as a whole. It means continuing to revisit the past and taking the time to see how much each character has changed throughout the years.

It’s also hopeful — hence the title of the episode — though that has more than one meaning here. Because while Zack has been locked away, he’s actually been sneaking out each night to do a little reading. He’s been keeping up with his friends at The Jeffersonian, and he’s even found a way to insert himself into Hodgins’ life — and to communicate with him.

Unfortunately (though fortunately for the story, if you ask me) it doesn’t look like the protocol is actually going to work. But there’s something incredibly perfect about the fact that Zack tried to cure his old friend.

There’s another layer here, and that is Zack’s feelings about Booth and his relationship with Brennan. Aubrey strikes a nerve with that wedding photo, which also makes me realize how much has happened since Zack left the show.

To only have been a regular character for three of eleven seasons and still have such a significant impact on the story and the other characters is pretty remarkable, and bringing him back for the end of the series is just such a genius move.

Other Thoughts:

• The moment Booth and Brennan have after he saves her is perfect and sweet, but Aubrey’s reaction to seeing Brennan safe is downright adorable.
• I’m glad Zack was polite enough not to open those attachments, too.
• Sara Rue guest stars in this episode once again, and she’s delightful — especially when she gets her creepy eyes going to make us think for a moment that her character is actually the killer.
• Kudos to Emily Deschanel as she makes her directing debut with this episode!
• The best quote from the season premiere comes from Zack: “It is odd, but being perceived as a murderous cannibal does have some advantages.”

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

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Bones airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Fox.

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