Bones (TV Series) The He in the She (2008) User Reviews

hey, bones booth pod!

[partsofthewhole · 7/10 · 29 March 2022]

Greetings from South Africa! I hope I posted this review in time.

Where to even begin? While many people would take offence from this episode seeing as it focuses on sensitive topics such as being religious and being LGBTQ+ (specifically transgender) I personally, as a trans individual, value the episode and how the writers went about Patricia's story.

Brennan's constant support and defence of Patricia throughout the episode warmed my heart, even though it does not necessarily coincide with her views on plastic surgery. She seems to understand that that is not what transitioning is about. Booth's remarks throughout the episode however... most of them left me with a bitter taste in my mouth, specifically the remark of her not being a real woman. Just like Angela, I hope that what he said during interrogation wasn't his thoughts and was just a tactic. Personally found Booth's floundering of "man, woman, PERSON!" to be a very accurate representation of how people correct themselves around a trans person. Brennan's "I'm a genius and I'm confused"? Priceless!

One of my favourite squinterns, Mr. Vincent Nigel-Murray (Vino Delectable) has finally arrived! Full of wonderful facts and the need to prove himself to be one of Brennan's brightest grad students. By the end of the episode it's safe to say that Cam has grown fond of the guy, much like many of us fans have too. It's clear Hodgins doesn't want to get attached to any of the new interns though and we all know why. Poor guy, he'll get there eventually.

Anyway, I found Patricia's son's reaction to finding out his father was alive and living a fulfilling life as who she was inside to be beautiful. The way he corrected himself saying he wished he had met "her" instead of "him"? Kudos to the actor on a phenomenal performance. Patricia's congregation loving and accepting her for who she was? JP not caring that she was born male and wanting to be with her anyway? The actual motive for murder not being a hate crime but instead just plain jealousy? All these points are why I enjoyed the episode. The murder was not tied specifically to her being a transgender woman, although that's where the squad thought the route the case would go. For a show to be taking such an approach in the 2000's makes me appreciate Bones as a series even more.

A few favourite lines from the episode:

"Do these people believe in DNA?"

"I call you Booth and I like you just fine." "Thank you, but we're not married."

"When the butterfly emerges, does the caterpillar cease to exist?"

Also Booth saying he'd be a really hot chick... Comical.

And finally, "I believe in swimming with a buddy." Very sound advice, Bones!

Check under the tail

[ctomvelu-1 · 8/10 · 7 December 2008]

A decomposed, partial body is found in the water. Eventually, the other half turns up. Identification is difficult at first, as the deceased apparently had some serious plastic surgery. The team finally realizes this is the body of a man surgically turned into a woman, and a minister at that. Suspicion falls on his son, also a minister. The episode treads lightly on the subject of transsexuals, but it is gruesome in a way that the kiddies in the viewing audience definitely should not be watching this. Keep an eye on the actor playing the son. He undergoes his own rather remarkable transformation without benefit of surgery.

We Have Come a Ways

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 29 January 2023]

I disagree with some of the criticisms of the nomenclature of this episode. Issues of transgender are just now being dealt with and pronouns are just being used correctly. This episode came out fifteen years ago when people had to hide. As for Booth, he is a boorish lump who talks like a fourteen year old and judges people. His religion is based on lack of questioning. I think that Brennan, while intractable in her own way, makes some great points. When that woman started in on the God's image thing, Bones pointed out her plastic surgery and her died hair. There are so many religious people who only believe things when they apply to others. This is a really well crafted episode and shows growth in the series.

Our fave Bones episode deals intelligently with hot-button issues

[allworkpeace · 10/10 · 13 July 2010]

This episode is just about our favorite episode of our favorite series, because the characters have serious and intelligent discussions of a couple of our favorite subjects, religion and transgendered persons. Even more important, the scientists treat the deceased woman, who happened to be born as a man, with the utmost respect. Even the conservative Catholic Agent Booth insists that "she" will be referred to as such, because that's what she was at the time of her death. During the investigation, Brennan and Booth discuss, between themselves and with other characters, the relationship between religion and the LGBTQ community, especially regarding people with gender identity issues who choose to act on their innate tendencies. In the end, identifying the guilty party who's responsible for the woman's death becomes less important in the episode than what happens with the relationships and work that the deceased person had before her transformation and those to which she'd dedicated her life after she became the self she felt herself to be. And besides the fact that, as usual, the contrast between Brennan's atheism and Booth's mainstream faith adds a level of insight and humor, the added factor of the liberal religion of the deceased and her fellow worshipers give rise to some of the best parts of this episode. All in all, this episode gives B & B one of their best chances to do what they do very well!

Pronoun Nightmare.

[absoluteparties · 9/10 · 22 February 2022]

Hi Bones Booth Podcast.

English Jan here.

How quickly political correctness dates. The terms used throughout this episode are loaded. I'm sure better pronouns would be used in this episode were remade today.

Putting this aside, here's my review.

Not too sure what Dr sweets were trying to achieve with the silent therapy session at the start of the episode. Clearly, both Bones and Booth had lost all interest.

Ah, the first appearance of the English intern - I'm not too happy about how the English were portrayed in Bones. But I do love Mr vino delectable himself, Mr Nigel Murry. (dippy/silly as he is.)

Likewise, I love the back and forth banter between Bone & Booth on the beach as they discuss the case. It is reminiscent of their car chats, which we see more of later in this episode.

One thing I will nitpick with this episode because it bugs me no end is Booth flip-flopping over body improvements. Come on, Booth, pick a side and stick to it. In his office talking with Sweets and Bones, he asks, "Are pastors allowed to think that God makes those kinds of mistakes?" talking about gender reassignment. "God expects us to overcome certain things." BUT later on in the interview room, Booth talks about "augmenting God's work.

Another nitpick is Why does Sweets place a bet with Booth, a guy he knows is a recovering gambling addict? This is not something a therapist would do.

As ever, the ending once again makes this episode.

"You gather your wisdom, and I'll gather mine." Booth does not try and change Bone's mind; he simply lets her be the way she is. Perfect!

Better than OK

[PartialMovieViewer · 7/10 · 14 August 2020]

Some tongue-n-cheek humor, which might be over the top and -shockingly - offensive to overly sensitive others - but that's ok, I laughed. Not really, it didn't affect me at all. Moving on: Again, the story flowed and kept in line with the strong plot, very well paced and navigating a seamless flow. They did introduce a new squint intended to take Zack's place. This guy was irritatingly irritating - why? Anyways, I liked the show, although it did weakly addressed a subject they were better off leaving alone. But that won't stop them in the future.

Yeah we get it!

[q-80847 · 1/10 · 9 April 2024]

An educated person in Bones profession with a cold detachment from phycology would not push this narrative. The episode itself is well written and obviously meant to push a narrative unnecessary in a show loved by everyone.

The religious aspects of this episode is not compatible with the actual word of Christianity. Not being religious myself I can still see how this would be highly offensive and not understand how inclusion is truly at play here. More likely meant to force people to here your one sided point of view and re-interpret Christianity to fit an agenda. Booth should of picked a side and stuck to it, not flip flopped around. This made the episode unrelateable and feel forced.

Great work! Hopefully that's were it ended.

Hey Bones Booth Pod!

[queen_of_drama-34586 · 5/10 · 23 March 2022]

Finding a body would definitely ruin a good high lol. Yay Mr. Vincent Nigel-Murray love him and his incessant fact spouting. Im with Bones on this pastors can be just as vain as everyone else. Not impressed with how they handled the subject matter and the terminology they were using. Booth was particularly problematic this episode. I just can't with people like Patricia's ex wife and son. Awwww Vino-delectable. I am happy that Ryan is becoming more open minded and a better person.

The Two Pieces in the Bay

[HiBonesBooth · 5/10 · 26 March 2022]

Everyone at the Jeffersonian needs to leave Mr. Nigel-Murray ALONE. He's adorable and the only good thing about this episode. Why do TV characters always hate the guy who's full of fun facts? Fun facts are awesome. People love fun facts.

I do not acknowledge the scene where he weirdly hits on Angela. So forced and unnecessary. But I really feel like Cam is hitting on him in his last scene, and honestly, I ship it.

Anyway, good for him for knowing his own worth and quitting at the end. Love that for him. (Btw, Jeffersonian people, if one intern left because you were all too distracted by your drama and he wanted to focus on work, and another one left because you were too focused and didn't appreciate his minor distractions, maybe YOU ARE THE PROBLEM.) Obviously the rest of this episode is garbage, but you can't expect much better from TV made in 2008. All I'll say is that if you find yourself trying to explain trans people to someone like Booth by drawing distinctions between "transgender" and "transsexual" and giving detailed explanations of gender reassignment surgery...you're doing it wrong.