Bones 7x04: The Male in the Mail

Original Air Date: 1 December 2011

Storyline: Dismembered remains are discovered in several mailing boxes at a dead letter office, and the Jeffersonian team identifies the victim as an employee of a local Ship 'n' Print, where the staff recently split the winnings of a lottery prize. The team uncovers a complicated love triangle between two married employees and the victim, and while motive points to the husband, a critical clue leads them to solve the crime definitively. Meanwhile, Booth's grandfather breaks some unexpected news, and Special Agent Genny Shaw learns the importance of teamwork.Trivia: The episode is dedicated to the memory of Brian L. Chambers (1955-2011). He was 56 and died at his home in Sherman Oaks, California on November 11 after a 27-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Brian managed post-production at 20th Century Fox Television for all Fox-produced TV shows, including Bones.

Game 6 of the 1980 World Series did in fact take place at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, with the hometown Phillies winning the title. An 11-year old David Boreanaz was living in Philly at the time.

Best Quote:

Cam: This is certainly a first for me...
Brennan: Me too! I have never seen this part of the post office before! 
Cam: Yes, I thought they sent the dismembered bodies to a completely different place.  

Review: There was a lot of heart in this week's episode of Bones, but it wasn't about Booth and Brennan's relationship or their unborn child. Pops' return was one that brought bad news to Booth: his alcoholic father, who had abandoned him and Jared forcing Hank to step up and raise them, had died. This triggered a change in roles between Booth and Brennan - as he tried his best to avoid talking about his father's death because of unresolved issues between the two, she had to step up and be the supportive one by convincing Booth that not all the memories he had about his dad were bad ones. Surely enough, the stadium chairs, that played such an important part in bringing Booth and Brennan closer together, made a comeback along with Pops, in what was one of the most emotional episode endings this show has given us so far.

This installment was great for adding yet another layer to the onion that is Booth and Brennan's relationship. The first episodes showed us a couple that feels comfortable with one another, despite their constant disagreements on how to raise their child (and I can't wait to see them fight over baptizing her or not) and not being able to find a house yet. For the first six seasons, we've watched Booth acting as the emotional pillar of their partnership, being the one to open Brennan's eyes to more than just the rational world. This time, the parts were reversed and, as Booth tried to conceal his feelings towards his father - be these anger, disappointment or pain -, Tempe found her way to his heart by returning the support he'd given her through the years, especially when faced with the same situation, the difficult relationship with her own father and the long time it took her to forgive Max.
The episode was also a good opportunity to show that David Boreanaz can be a great actor when he wants to. He got caught up for so long in this hero act, that we sometimes forget that he can also convey emotion. This episode was as close to Angel's "I Will Remember You" as it could get and I know I shouldn't compare the two shows, especially with the circumstances being quite different, but the pain on Booth's face when he opened his father's box reminded me of the moment Angel realized he and Buffy have probably lost the only chance of ever being together. Ahh, good old times!
The crime they investigated was a gruesome as one can get on Bones: a guy murdered and chopped up with a guillotine, then professionally packed in carton boxes and shipped to an nonexistent address, so he'd end up in the dead letter office. Bringing back some more nostalgia, Veronica Mars alum Tina Majorino resumed her role as Genevieve Shaw (with a cute new haircut), the young agent who thinks Booth is the best there is and tries to impress him through any means available. Her presence also turned Booth into a mentor, as he took over the task of teaching Shaw the importance of team work.
Some other highlights: Clark was back and - as we got used to - he got right in the middle of Brennan's third trimester issues; this time, it was her ever growing boobs that got Clark's attention and made his boss say he should be more observant. Cam's dibs on the laser for being the boss, as well as Hodgins and Clark having loads of fun by testing out medieval weapons just to find out that the one used in dismembering the victim was a guillotine (which one can handily find in "room 114 - French Revolution exhibit"). And, of course, seeing 83-year old actor Ralph Waite return as Booth's grandfather was a treat of its own. My only complaint about this show is that the outside shots are mostly fake and it's very easy to see that, but I'm trying to get over this minor thing.Bones 7x03: The Prince in the Plastic Back to Season 1