Bones Review: The Tutor in the Tussle (Season 12 Episode 5)

I’m starting to get worried about this last season of Bones.

While there’s nothing wrong with Bones Season 12 Episode 5, “The Tutor in the Tussle” — it’s a perfectly good episode — I’m underwhelmed by the direction the shortened final season is taking.

There are now only seven episodes left, and I just want more. The season began strong with the return of Zack, making it feel as though everything would come full circle. Even smaller details felt like a celebration of the series.

“The Tutor in the Tussle,” though, isn’t anything special. Again, it’s perfectly good. It’s interesting and has some especially fun moments for Brennan (and Cam and Hodgins, for that matter).

And it shines in its focus on Aubrey, though even that storyline and the presence of Aubrey’s father feels like it’s too rushed.

Seeing more development for Aubrey is nice to watch, and John Boyd plays the part well.

Booth’s part in this is important too. One of the reasons Aubrey joining the cast worked so nicely from the start was because of how it gave Booth an opportunity to be a mentor, which Aubrey needs now more than ever.

Booth gives sound advice, and he knows his partner well enough to understand that when Aubrey turns down cake, something is VERY wrong.

Aubrey does get the closure Booth tells him he could get — something Booth never had with his own father — but it still doesn’t feel satisfying.

Aubrey proves he’s not someone to be taken advantage of, and he decides to have his father arrested after all. It even turns out that the kid in the photo isn’t related to Aubrey’s dad at all. Read: what a freaking scum bag.

Aubrey: Oh, and one more thing. Don’t ever take credit for how I turned out, okay? Any good in me was despite having you as a father.

Luckily, Booth is there for his friend, and there’s nothing quite like seeing the look on his face when he orders Aubrey a double cheeseburger and a milkshake.

I mentioned above that Brennan is particularly great in this episode. From her determination to record audio for her book, since the original is pretty darn mediocre, to her learning of Dr. Fisher’s fan-fiction, she’s just a joy to watch. I think we’re all going to miss Dr. Brennan greatly.

Oh, and she even loses her mind over “Boner Street,” and how funny that is. Now that’s unexpected.

Brennan: The word “boner” is objectively hilarious. The human penis has no skeletal material of any kind.

Speaking of humorous moments, one of my favorite parts of this episode is Aubrey’s immediate need for a dry cleaner, and all the suggestions he gets from the rest of the team.

Who knew certain cleaners could handle blood and feces better than others?

Other Thoughts:

• The case-of-the-week is upsetting, to say the least, especially considering the killer turns out to be a teenage boy who’s angry to be losing his tutor — and more angry at being insulted by him.
• Cam is definitely going to get revenge on Hodgins for those spiders. Oh man, he’s in trouble.
• Philip Aubrey is played by John Boyd’s real-life father. If only we could have seen more of him…

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

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

Bones airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on FOX.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!