The Pathos in the Pathogens

Loved it. Classic bones episode. Intense moments with emotional moments. Had me actually gasp at a few points. No fluff just story

Wish they'd all been this good.

Hi Bones Booth!

This is one of my top 10 episodes of all time. I feel like its made for my specific genre of Bones obsession-- Cam and Arastoo are some of my favourite characters who are deeply underrated bt the fandom (both as individuals and as a ship), and I love, love, LOVE angst. I look at any character I love and go "give that dude an Ailment" and BOY did they ever.

Is this episode medically or scientifically accurate? Not even a little bit. But do I get excited every time it's coming up on my rewatch? ABSOLUTELY. I'm willing to suspend my disbelief as someone with at least some level of medical knowledge because the writing here is just so good. Cam's tearful confession to Arastoo, telling him everything she's ever wished she could as she realizes it might be too late for him to hear it absolutely DESTROYS me. It's a really wonderful insight into her character-- I often find Cam a little neglected by the writing, just kind of getting thrown into whatever plot works for her in the moment. But this episode shows the emotional depth that I always want Cam to have, showing how she suppresses her feelings, not wanting to seem too invested, only to realize when it's almost too late how bad that is for the people she loves.

The later seasons of this show can be more than a little bizarre at times, but I do love how much emotional character development we get, especially in relationships. Love love love this episode especially as an example of that 💗

Great Job Chad Lowe (tell your brother to bring Weekend Update to Parks & Rec cause I know he has that kind of pull) ...

After a few mediocre episodes in a row, Bones gives its fans proof that, with the right script, it's still capable of heart-stopping entertainment.

Right from the start, viewers are thrown into the chaos of a lab about to receive a potentially dangerous set of remains and director Chad Lowe amps up the tension using quick cuts and a score with a fast tempo as opposed to streams of dialogue. This pace only quickens as the episode progresses, making the final moments that much more explosive.

'The Pathos in the Pathogens' also utilizes the chemistry of the show's actors to present a solid ensemble piece. Each member of the team – from Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Angela (Michaela Conlin) in the lab to Sweets (John Francis Daley) and Booth (David Boreanaz) over at the FBI – has something vital to contribute. One of the best scenes is a small one between Hodgins (TJ Thyne) and Brennan where the forensic anthropologist stuns her colleague by offering to help find a herbal solution when modern science is failing them.

It's also the first time that the romance between Cam (Tamara Taylor) and Arastoo (Pej Vahdat) feels more organic than forced. Cam is a strong character and she manages to maintain that composure right up until the very end when it looks as if she will have to let Arastoo go. The emotions evoked are similar to an older episode, 'The Man in the Cell' (2007), in which Cam herself was the victim of an inhaled pathogen and her life depended on the team to discover the antidote.

The music is also a key player in this drama. From the up-beat montage at the beginning (depicting the team working feverishly to discern what could have killed the victim and whether or not it's an act of bio- terrorism) to the soothing notes that play over sweeping night shots of Washington once Arastoo is in the clear, the score sets the perfect tone throughout.

Another strength of this episode is Booth's presence. For far too long the writers have focused on Brennan and the squinterns that rotate in and out of the lab and one of the main characters to pay the price was Seeley Booth. Over the years, Booth slowly became more and more docile and more willing to rely on the science to solve crimes than his own gut. Not that this is inherently a bad thing, but it loses something of the original flavor of the show and the dynamic that drew people to watch in the first place.

If nothing else, this season has seen a resurgence of Booth as a man of action and a cop willing to do whatever's necessary to bring down the bad guy. It should be interesting to see how that culminates in next week's season finale.

All in all, this was yet another fine ensemble work by the cast and crew of Bones. Lowe delivers a clean, crisp story that the actors infuse with an energy and chemistry that comes from working together for so many years. Meanwhile, the score tells a magnificent story that dovetails perfectly with the many twists and turns of the plot.

This episode is proof positive that the right case can drive character development without sacrificing too much in the process. Let's hope this is also the case for the much-hyped season finale, featuring the return of serial killer Christopher Pelant (Andrew Leeds). via screenrant's Heather Donmoyer