The Bond in the Boot

The odd title comes from the fact that the episode is very James Bondian: A courier is killed for whatever is in his briefcase, which is supposed to be diamonds but is actually something else entirely. A second corpse, found in the trunk of the car that ran over the courier, turns out to be that of a CIA agent. So B&B must meet with the CIA, which makes for some zippy repartee. Back at the lab, Brennan's best intern has run out of grant money, but no one has the heart to tell him and Brennan refuses to get sentimental about it. Over at Booth's home, he has a plumbing problem that he decides to fix himself, and Brennan decides to get involved. A fun episode.

Two things going on. For one, Mr. Bray has had his scholarship cancelled due to budget cuts. Everyone dances around telling him what has happened. It's quite sad. But the principle plot is one where a man with a brief case is shot and killed, then driven over. It becomes one of the FBI vs CIA things where trying to solve a case impinges on national security. Rather than find the murderer they sit on evidence or roadblock whatever comes in. The Booth/Brennan marathon continues as Booth needs to repair some plumbing. He needs a book called Plumbing for Dummies, but Bones calls it Plumbing for Morons. The final scene is another precious moment where the two of them connect some pipes under a sink.

This episode starts with a James Bondian opening, that is great fun. They even arranged a Walter PBK and Bondian car.

The problem with the episode is a bit of scientific incompetence in the writing.

For example, Angela notes that an image file seems way too big, therefore it must contain hidden steganographic data. The whole point of steganography is to be undetectable. The images are the same size with data encoded in tiny variants in colour.

At one point the FBI comes to take away the bones and digital data. All the team need do is make backup copies of the digital data, and the FBI can take away all the files they please without denying them access.

They torment poor Wendell telling him he is fired, even though there are two multi-millionaires on the team who stall to the last minute to rescue him. There is no reason for them to dangle him that way.

Sometimes the FBI makes Temperance leave the room because she does not have clearance. Other times they let her stay. I can hardly imagine a giant bureaucracy like that being inconsistent.

There is a quite gross scene of cats eating the body a handsome Bond-like man. You literally watch them pulling off pieces of flesh and tossing them back.