Was the return of 'Bones' all that you'd hoped for? If you were expecting a birth in a manger, than I suspect so. Otherwise? Probably not so much.

Before we get into the episode, the tease was horrible! How could you do that to such a sweet kid. All she wanted was a cat! Now she is going to be scared for life. Maybe she needs to meet the kid from Big Daddy.

This episode of Bones is pretty difficult to review. The case itself was interesting enough, but only just so. The real story this week was the final days of Bones’ pregnancy and the eventual birth Christine Angela. There were parts of that story that worked very well, while others fell completely flat.

Bones is at its best when Temperance Brennan and Seeley Booth are fighting about their different worldviews. The teaser (once we were done with the unfortunate “body parts in the toilet” bit) was a perfect example of this. Bones fans everywhere surely had grins on their faces during that scene. I also appreciated that Bones was willing to compromise, and let Christine be baptized – even if she still called it mythology. There’s also the child’s name itself, both the connection to Brennan’s mother and the middle name of Angela. She has always been Bones’ best friend, and has had the most humanizing affect on her.

But that is where the positives ended for me. Bones put a little too much faith in the prisoner’s code to protect her unborn child. I understand the confidence she has in herself – and her brain – but I don’t for a second find it believable that she would walk down onto the prison floor; there were just too many unknown variables that would put her child at risk.

Finally, the circumstances surrounding the birth itself were unnecessary. What was the point of the allusions to the birth of Christ? No one seriously expects Brennan to be swayed by them, right? And considering the positive things she had to say about the prison’s medical capabilities, why get in the SUV with Booth? And the prison is close enough to the suburbs that the sewer robot can drive there without running out of batteries, yet is that far from a hospital?

I hate that I had so few positive things to say about the return, and it isn’t that I hated the whole thing. I just expected more. What about you?

Notes & Quotes:

“These are the species ailanthus altissima. It originated in China, where its called ‘Tree of Heaven,’ and here we find it blocking a sewer pipe. There’s a joke in there somewhere, if anyone wants to knock it loose.” – Hodgins

“I’ll pass.” – Cam

“I’ll pass.” – Cam “Look, I’m thinking that maybe you have some of that heavy-duty, in case of emergency shrink-stuff that you could throw out here? Look I’m desperate!” – Bones, asking Sweets for help

“Booth is pressuring me to have the baby in a hospital.” – Bones

“Well, that is not his decision.” – Angela

“Booth says that he’s worried about complications, but I’m healthy. And I don’t mean to be boastful, but mucosal plug is superb.” – Bones

“Alright, girl’s got good plug.” – Angela

“[Walking in] And now we all know.” – Cam

“Well, that is not his decision.” – Angela “Booth says that he’s worried about complications, but I’m healthy. And I don’t mean to be boastful, but mucosal plug is superb.” – Bones “Alright, girl’s got good plug.” – Angela “[Walking in] And now we all know.” – Cam “Do you think I overstepped my bounds in becoming a doula?” – Daisy

“Yes.” – Hodgins

“No, really.” – Daisy

“Yes, really.” – Hodgins

“But it was so nice of me?” – Daisy

“More creepy than nice.” – Hodgins

“You’re joking.” – Daisy

“Wish I was.” – Hodgins

Photo Credit: Patrick McElhenney/FOX