Bones Review: The Day in the Life (Season 12 Episode 11)

The end is almost here.

Bones Season 12 Episode 11, “The Day in the Life,” begins to give us a glimpse of where each character will be heading by the end of the series — including Zack — while also setting up one of the most dramatic cliffhangers we’ve seen.

It begins with a celebration — Cam and Arastoo’s wedding reception — and it breaks format to allow deeper focus on each character while building suspense in perhaps the most effective way possible. It’s actually quite beautiful.

While I have to admit I’m a little disappointed in not seeing Cam and Arastoo’s actual wedding, it’s nice to see how happy these two are and to have our favorite characters in one room cutting loose and enjoying themselves before, you know, everything goes to hell.

Everyone seems truly happy. Hodgins is mixing drinks in beakers like a mad scientist, taking a little too much joy in his apparently very strong concoctions. Angela is glowing and drinking mocktails, because, thank goodness for some happy news, she’s pregnant.

Brennan is having a blast with her spreadsheet, and Booth is showing off his dance moves and is determined to keep things light. The only person giving Booth a run for his money when it comes to dance moves is Wendell. Just saying.

Throughout all of this we get snippets of everyone’s plans.

Aubrey is still planning to head to L.A., and Hodgins and Angela are preparing to bring another child into the world. Cam is taking off on a long trip with Arastoo after the wedding, and appropriately plans to give over her position to Brennan. I can think of no better ending for Brennan than to take over that position, though considering the way this episode ends, there’s no telling what’s coming next.

It’s the setup of the perfect kind of finale — one that will bring about closure while also sending the main characters on new journeys.

But that would be too easy, right?

Poor Cam and Arastoo. They can barely have their wedding night before being called back into the lab. This isn’t just any body. It’s one that is either Kovak or a man he escaped prison with. The team learns quickly that it’s the latter, which means Kovak is loose, and he’s after everyone Booth loves.

In all honesty, it’s good news Bones is ending, because Booth and Brennan really need a break from always being in grave danger.

The Kovak storyline is one I really appreciate, because it’s directly connected to Booth’s past, and to something we learned about his character early in the series. So bringing that full circle feels right for the final episodes of the series.

It also brings Booth back to the lab, which is something we haven’t seen much at all lately. Of course, his gut feeling (and a few signs) send him to want to be there with his wife, and that’s when he realizes there’s a bomb in the lab.

And sure, if you watch enough television, you’ve seen plenty of bombs like this. That doesn’t make it any less exciting to watch Booth try to defuse a bomb in a matter of seconds, only to realize there are more bombs in the building.

At that point, it’s only Booth, Brennan, Hodgins, and Angela who are trapped in the lab. Even Cam manages to make it outside just before the doors are locked shut.

As stressful as that is, it seems more significant that these are the four main characters who have been on the show since day one. The focus returns completely to these four, and by the time the episode ends, there’s no telling if all of them will come out alive.

It even feels like a bit of a callback. Remember on Bones Season 1 Episode 9, “The Man in the Fallout Shelter,” when they were all quarantined?

While I’m horrified at the idea that one of more of these characters could die or be seriously injured (will they really go there?) I can’t help but marvel at how perfect it all is.

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Of all the things to literally come to an end, the Jeffersonian lab blown up is certainly the most dramatic, and it demands that whatever happens next will be a significant change.

We’re left with a “to be continued” after a heart-stopping final few minutes of the episode. But there’s at least one thing we can feel relieved about, and that’s Zack.

So let’s back up a bit and talk about that.

Zack’s hearing goes well, even with Hodgins feeling as though Caroline has become the enemy. What he doesn’t realize, though, is that Caroline is doing exactly what she can to help matters, which is referring to the “compelling evidence” over, and over, and over.

It’s moments like that that make me realize Caroline is probably one of the most underrated characters on the show. I could probably go on about that for a while, especially if you think back to early seasons again and consider why Booth and Brennan had that first kiss under the mistletoe. But I digress.

The judge finds Zack not guilty of murder, and that’s amazing news. He does, however, still have to finish out the first sentence, which means he’ll be locked up for another thirteen months. Before the judge makes her ruling, Brennan says a few words about Zack’s character, which also feels full circle — Brennan being there to help her original squintern.

It feels a bit rushed, regardless of the fact that Hodgins and the team have been working on his case throughout the season. It’s just a shame that Zack’s hearing takes a backseat to everything else.

Overall? The penultimate episode of Bones exceeds my expectations. The storytelling is character driven and makes it feel like we’re really heading toward an ending, and we’re left with a cliffhanger that feels more than worthy of a series finale.

“The Day in the Life” even finds a place for Brennan to be alone with a set of bones, which is perhaps the last time we’ll see that from her.

Now, can someone please pass me a Kleenex?

Other Thoughts:

• Poor Aubrey. I always liked him with Jessica.
• Cam: “If we are half as happy as you and Brennan, I will consider it a success.”
• Brennan: “What is it they say? Female friendships before male romantic partners?”
• Cyndi Lauper is one of my favorite returning guest stars. How can you not love Avalon?

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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