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« Roush Dispatch
Finale Fever: Bones, House and More
Robert Sean Leonard in House by Greg Gayne/Fox
As the season rushes to a close, so do the fates of many characters in one wrenching season finale after another. This is the time of year when terrible things tend to happen to terrific characters, and that was certainly the case on Fox’s Monday night shows.
Starting with the best: House. Kristi Yamaguchi wasn’t the only one clocking a perfect score last night—yes, I played back Dancing With the Stars to come down off my emotional House high. House scored a “10!” (mimic Bruno’s fist pump) with this gripping two-part finale, which shockingly and movingly pulled the plug on the character of Amber, whom we will no longer refer to as Cutthroat You-Know-What. She stole Wilson’s heart, and ultimately ours, and Anne Dudek was magnificent throughout. When it was made clear that nothing could save her from the multiple traumas triggered by that bus crash that fractured House’s memories, painful goodbyes were in order for a truly memorable character. (This tragedy even prompted 13 to finally test herself for Huntington’s. The result: positive.)
Robert Sean Leonard, an often overlooked asset in the House ensemble, stepped up with his most powerful work to date: expressing anger and aggression as he argued for extreme methods (protective hypothermia) to preserve Amber’s organs so an accurate diagnosis could be made; rage and grief as he reluctantly faced the reality of her impending death; and finally, aching tenderness as he cradled Amber in his arms as he watched her slip away. When he got back home to find a note for him (with an uncharacteristic heart drawn on it) under her pillow … well, love means never having to say you’re sorry for going on a crying jag.
Hugh Laurie was also in exceptional form, allowing some cracks in House’s emotional armor as he realized the implications of this tragedy on his bro-mance with Wilson. (Ironically, a bus accident helped bring Barney and Ted back together on Monday’s How I Met Your Mother finale. Geez, there was a lot of good TV on last night.) House even shed a tear before his seizure during the brain probe. And thankfully, he even got to bring the funny momentarily, playing bathroom-stall footsie (very Larry Craig) with 13 to shake her out of her funk. All in all, an exceptional way to end a very uneven transitional season.
I wish I had as positive a reaction to the Bones finale, which got off to a good start with a fun if obvious fake-out surrounding Booth’s mock funeral, and Bones’ outrage to have been kept out of the loop. Sweets made the call on that one, and for much of the episode, seemed the most likely suspect as Gormogon’s in-house apprentice. Alas, that wasn’t the case, and that dishonor fell on Zack, the mild-mannered brainiac—delicately and winningly played by Eric Millegan—who apparently could be wooed by logic to service some anonymous cannibalistic serial killer (possibly my least favorite arc on any show this season, and certainly the least satisfyingly resolved).
There was little logic in the telling of this particular story, and the sacrifice of this engaging character (who is being moved to a psych ward, where I suppose he can be enlisted on a guest-star basis in the future—sort of a milquetoast Hannibal Lecter consultant?) seems to me just another cheap sweeps season-ending stunt. Still, kudos to the rest of the cast for keeping it as real as possible as they grieved for their fallen-from-grace comrade. They’re why I wouldn’t give up on Bones just yet.
This was far from the show’s finest hour, but few shows seem able to avoid succumbing to end-of-season sweeps-itis, and it wasn’t nearly as laughable as junk like the incoherent CSI: Miami cliffhanger, which ended with a priceless shot of a fallen Horatio framed by his broken sunglasses. Talk about characters I wouldn’t shed a tear over.
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May 20, 2008 11:13 AM
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I agree with you, Matt. I love Robert Sean Leonard. And when it is "on" (like this week), House is truly remarkable.
I also felt very let down and sad about the Bones season finale. I didn't feel it was a realistic end to the arc (which was very rushed ... why didn't they just wait until next year to deal with it?). And it certainly wasn't a realistic end to Zack's character. Have the writers even been watching their own characterization of him? Really, really bad!
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May 20, 2008 11:58 AM
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I have to say, for me, the House finale suffered because of the Bones debacle that preceded it. House was dramatic and heart wrenching and everything that it should have been but Bones had me so upset that the House episode just felt too heavy.
I was actually surprised House played the whole thing that serious. I can’t remember one other “house-esque” quip in the whole episode (other than the bathroom scene you alluded to)
One thing the House episode really drove home for me (as you pointed out) was how underused Robert Sean Leonard is as the usually one note Wilson. Anne Dudek, who suffered the fate of many great guest stars in having to give her greatest performance on the way out the door, was nothing short of perfect. Together they really blew me away in the last half hour.
So for me, I can’t wait for House and I can’t trust the Bones writers enough to even watch next season. Why on earth would I allow myself to continue to be invested in the other characters if they are willing to so callously and illogically throw away Zach like that?
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May 20, 2008 12:04 PM
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I've been waiting to hear what you thought of bones. I haven't seen 1 comment or review anywhere today that was positive. I think the writers made a big mistake and they're gonna regret it. As I said in another blog, this was just change for changes sake and was completely unnecessary.
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May 20, 2008 12:15 PM
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I thought House was excellent last night. One of the best yet. Hugh Laurie, Robert Sean Leonard, and Anne Dudek did excellent jobs. That show is definetly one of the best shows on television. Each week House doesn't disappoint. Bones was disappointing.I like Bones but last nights finale was terrible. The writers really messed that episode up. I was oh so confused during the entire episode. CSI Miami that was good and I was not the least bit surprised that Ryan is a dirty cop.Can't wait for next season of House.
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May 20, 2008 12:23 PM
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Wow was that Bones finale a train wreck! It was as bad as the House finale was good. They should have ended the season with Booth getting shot. They obviously did not have the time to properly wrap up the other storyline and they just made a convoluted mess out of it. Perhaps there was a way to gradually build up to Zack being a killer, but I don't buy it. People don't suddenly become canibalistic serial killers. What at insult to the viewers.
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May 20, 2008 12:30 PM
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Ditto on the House finale. It truly rocked on all counts.
Hadn't seen the Bones episode yet, and was bummed to hear about Zach. That will hurt to watch, but watch I will.
Loved the Big Bang Theory finale with Shchrodinger's (sp?) cat.
On CSI:Mami, I have been waiting all season for that final shot of Horatio being ... well, shot. You know it's time to retire a show when people start rooting for the protagonist to buy it. I was having another Shrodinger's cat moment at the end of that show. I was hoping they'd plug Delko as well. Only people who didn't annoy me on that show were Calleigh and Frank. I'm amazed I've watched that show as long as I have. Won't be tuning in next season unless that's the new home for Alex O'Loughlin.
And to think they're keeping Miami and dumping Moonlight. The world just truly isn't fair.
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May 20, 2008 1:07 PM
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Cheers to House and Jeers to Bones. The House finale was as great as the Bones finale was horrible. I can't believe that the writers went there. I love the other characters, but I doubt I'll be back watching Bones in the Fall after what they did to Zack.
Robert Sean Leonard, Hugh Laurie and Anne Dudek deserve Emmy nods for their performances. The final two episodes were the best episodes of House since Three Stories.
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May 20, 2008 1:26 PM
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House was excellent< but I will miss Amber. I loved the House/Wilson/Amber 'love' triangle. And I am worried about the House/Wilson relationship; their humorous bantering kept me entertained.
This has not been a good season for my characters: I still miss Jorja Fox terribly, Warrick is gone, Zach is gone, Jesse Martin is gone, and now Amber. Next year I might just stick to comedies. And I agree, CSI Miami should go.
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May 20, 2008 1:30 PM
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I am all for taking a risk and puting forth a contraversial storyline. What they did with Zack on Bones was anything but that. It was a huge failure. Zack has become the Anakin Sykwalker of Bones with his snap of the fingers "I am now an apprentice to a canabalistic serial killer" transformation. I also do not excuse it that they were rushed do to the strike, so was Supernatural,Lost and House and they manged to come back stronger for it. It was cheaply done at the expense of the viewers.
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May 20, 2008 2:17 PM
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I wish they had held over a episode of two from this season in order to do more with Gormagon. I have a hard time believing that they HAD to do the baby episode and the IDOL episode THIS year yet. Using those "spots" to do more to set up Zac would have been great.
Their justification DOES work - a strong mind preying on a weak one - but it did feel very rushed. And as such, it almost feels as if that were all a dream - it hasn't even happened. (Kudos, though, for the gigantic red herring they flaunted in our faces, the herring named Sweets!)
I still have complete faith in the BONES team. Next to 30 ROCK and SAMANTHA WHO?, I laugh the most while watching this show. Intentionally, too! (Unlike 24 and HEROES, but that's another post...) And for the most part, it was still a good episode of BONES. But I think the producers miscalculated on the big reveal. Maybe even having the squints find out right away, so we could have a full episode to process and investigate Zac? I would have been even more happy with that.
HOUSE, however... that two-parter will be a pinnacle for the series. It will be played in "best episodes of..." marathons for decades to come, I predict. There were very few things wrong. (13's arc, for example, was not as clearly defined as the others.) There have been times when I felt like HOUSE could dissapear forever and I would be okay with it. But these episodes were some of the best hours of television EVER. And that's counting hours of THE CLOSER, LOST and THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW.
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May 20, 2008 2:20 PM
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I watched the season finale for Bones and had trouble connecting the dots on this one to explain how Zach was the apprentice to Gormagone. I knew from last season Zach was rocked emotionally by his time in Iraq but the writers did not stick to it for long through this season. If this had an impact on Zach being vulnerable to Gormagone I wish it had been addressed. Overall this was a bad finale for Bones.
Thank goodness House more than made up for a poor Bones. Both halves of the season finale worked well. Cheers to the writers and the actors for doing a great job.
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May 20, 2008 2:29 PM
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Haha I watch CSI Miami and I am still not sure what the heck happened! What a joke. 
Bones was unfulfilling, that thing in the beginning with trying to catch a killer made no sense what so ever.
I liked how they were able to convincingly point at different members of the lab to make us think they were gormagon. I wonder if we had had 3 or 4 more episodes, that this would have been better played out???
I will of course be back next year to keep watching!
House was fantastic! I cried, I laughed, I gasped in shock and then I cried some more. Alot more. Poor Wilson.. poor House! I really liked how they showed everyone 'dealing' with the loss in their own ways. I can't wait till the fall to see how this plays out with Wilson and House's friendship.
PS.. I really enjoyed CSI Vegas, I thought they did a good job and I am sure we will see more once the series starts up again in the fall.
I hope CSI NY goes down better then Miami!
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May 20, 2008 2:35 PM
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I thought both shows were pretty ridiculous and unrealistic, but the writing was better on House. I definitely called Zach being the killer, so that wasn't a shock. I dunno; I'm definitely going to be watching both shows next year, but many more episodes like this one of "bones" and I don't know what I'm gonna do. I really want to think it was a fluke; this season has been really great otherwise. The whole Gormagon thing was botched from the beginning, so I think it's actually good to get the thing over with so they can start fresh next season. You can do it, Bones! As for House, I want to see House and Cuddy get closer--I think the newfound hatred Wilson is bound to feel for House will facilitate this Also, get rid of 13--I DON'T CARE! SHE IS BORING. UGH.
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May 20, 2008 2:54 PM
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God leave Horatio alone. CSI Miami is consistanly entertaining.Over the top is why i watch tv in the first place. The ending is not what is seems anyway. I think its a set up to fool the bad guys.
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May 20, 2008 3:13 PM
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