Bones (TV Series) The Soldier on the Grave (2006) User Reviews

Bones:The Soldier on the Grave

[Scarecrow-88 · 9/10 · 14 December 2010]

In this deeply emotional episode, a strong one for Boreanaz and his character of Booth, has the FBI agent, Bones and the Jeffersonian team investigating the murder of a young, traumatized black man whose remains were burned up against the tombstone of a member of the victim's unit in Iraq. What results really emotionally impacts Booth who still suffers from a past incident where he had to eliminate a Kosovo tyrant who has exterminated his own people. Furthermore, this episode addresses what war can do to those soldiers who serve and how inexperience can lead to horrifying consequences. Bones wants the remains of a potential NBA star who died under suspicious circumstances in supposed combat exhumed and all the autopsy results and crime scene photographs pertaining to his death. This opens up a whole can of worms as the Jeffersonian team find inconsistencies and problems with the evidence in front of them. Such topics as friendly fire, covering up a crime with a lie, buried torment from experiences in war, the difficulty to reintegrate back into society upon return from Iraq, and the whole meaning of serving our country and what that entails are covered in this richly layered episode. The ending gives two families closure and allows Booth to exorcise some demons by talking with Bones. Also we see how Bones' descriptions of war and the military can rub Booth the wrong way, not to mention, Hodgins' theories on invading Iraq and how such vocal feelings can polarize(particularly Angela, who he wants to impress, as they engage in a heated conversation over Iraq and the military in general).

Hey Bones Booth pod!!!

[queen_of_drama-34586 · 8/10 · 16 February 2021]

This episode was heavy and hard to watch in some moments. It'll definitely strike a chord whether you're on the side of Booth, Hodgins or somewhere in the middle. I liked that we get to see a more vulnerable side of Booth. Bones John Wayne impression was a good moment of levity. It was kinda weird seeing Jimmy smoking inside. Come on Booth i know you're going through it but you know better than to guess a woman's weight lol. Mistakes are made yes but not always covered up.

Bones & Booth were a bit irksome

[DCSassyQueen · 8/10 · 14 March 2016]

There was so many emotional and sensitive topics going on in this episode.

All I ready have to say is that I really do not like how judgey Booth can become of others.

Bones has been insensitive all season. I know people need to heard the truth, but know how to do it.

I just feel so sympathetic for the soldiers overseas. I know some of them can be corrupt, but not all of them are. It really bothered me that Bones felt that her input about soldiers was needed even though she does not have a clue as to what goes on overseas.

The episode was still a good one.

Hot topic

[mitchrmp · 8/10 · 12 July 2016]

Dealing with the war is always a hard topic. In this episode, we have people speaking on both sides. Brennan speaks on both sides, but when it all comes to it, she lands on the side of booth. The conversation at the end of the episode draws Booth and Bones closer together. We get the sensitive side of both members of the team.

This story is pretty hard to swallow. We hope things like this don't really happen, but I suspect there's are worse things we don't know about...Dr. Hodgins is rather annoying, being so against the war and not even trying to understand the whys of this. Some reviewers hate Booth because he was a sniper. Never being in this situation, and can't judge the right or wrong of it all. But his stating that everyone dies a little bit is so profound!

One of the best episode of the series

[Lythas_85 · 9/10 · 5 April 2021]

When it's an episode focuses on Booth's past in the military... it's always something good.

However I have some points to talk about.. first one was and is the constant phrasing of people who should've known better than to say that someone "won" the a medal. It isn't the Olympics so nobody wins anything.. they are awarded a medal.

The other point is that Angela is really sexist huh.. there were probably other episodes but the other one that comes to my mind is the one where Bones' professor made an appearance.. anyway, Angela is fast with her sexy remarks about men... "they are not like us. They are more fragile and needy" lol That because Booth was not cool about the whole soldier killing situation... well, I remember that episode with the boys with the foster mom and I'm sure every time there were other causes off screen with kids without parents she would become less rational and much more emotional about it just because the cases hit home, right? But somehow when it's Booth who gets emotional about it... well, it just cannot be now imagine in 2006 or even now in 2021.. if booth were to go to Hodgins and talk to him about Bones about a case regarding the killing of orphan kid and he went like "yeahh.. women are like that.. they get emotional and needy.. can't control their feelz and can't do the job proper.." Can you guys imagine what it would be like? Yep, no writer would risk going there

But anyways, I disagree with another reviewer who said booth is judgey.. he''s military and obviously he sees other military man differently and in higher regards than common people. That's to be expected... fantastic episode and the topic is relevant even 15 years later.

Refreshing to see some balance

[drecha · 7/10 · 16 April 2021]

After seeing how shows have started shoving political messages down our throats, it's nice to see a show from a different time, when there was some semblance of balance and respect for other people's views.

Good but a little confusing

[winonamoon · 7/10 · 12 August 2021]

I'm not sure if i just Missed something important but i had No idea why people thought this was initially was a suicide. The dude was all burned up... did they think he burned himself? I dunno. I'm just Guna say i missed important dialogue explaining that.

However i did Really like how Bones, tried her best to be understanding with booth, realizing that what she was saying at times could be hurtful. She's growing! Lol I liked This episode okay.

The War Episode

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 17 January 2023]

A man's charred body is found seated in front of the grave of a fellow Guardsman. The grave is that of a man who died in an assault on a group of possible enemy combatants. Booth, who is a veteran, faces off with Brennan as they spar over war and its implications. He sees her as naive and rather traitorous. She has that usual thing where she doesn't consider the human element when discussing. But it turns out that as they investigate the burn victim, there are things that get more and more mysterious about the invasion of that house. This ends up with a frank discussion where Booth reveals something that he has held inside for a long time.

I think we both wish this place were a lot smaller

[lovebonesthetvshownotactualbones · 5/10 · 3 March 2021]

This episode went pretty much how you'd expect an episode about the Iraq War that aired in 2006 to go.

War is messy and tragic and divisive. Throughout the episode we saw different perspectives about it. Hodgins spewed his conspiracies (and some truth), Bones analyzed war like an anthropologist, and Booth, as the only one who had actually served, was conflicted and empathetic. I think Angela summed it up best: "Nothing is that simple."

Similar to the last episode, solving the crime did not leave anyone satisfied. Bones touching Booth's arm at the end was the best part of the episode for me.

A line I loved: I can't believe you took the bait.

Hi the Bones Booth

A very disappointing episode

[delzog · 3/10 · 22 July 2021]

A true Ranger would never sit ideally by while his fellow soldiers are insulted. This episode portrays soldiers in the worst light and actually has the audacity to try and portray these left wingers as 'okay.' Don't be fooled by the simplistic arguments they try to pass off as 'discussions.' Of all the episodes so far, this is the worst.