Bones: Season 7

You get season 7 of "Bones".While the season was only 13 episodes long, because of Emily Deschanel's pregnancy and Fox's desire to test "The Finder", it managed to cram in some huge changes - and big plotlines - into that short season.With the start of the season, we saw Brennan and Booth both adjusting to their new life together, awaiting the birth of their child. We also saw them let go of the last vestiges of their single lives and find a ramshackle home (which, with Wendall's FAST off screen help!) to move into. With the birth of their daughter, Christine, came a new sense of family.For many episodes, the family angle was played up. Some might even say it was played up *too much*, but with tonight's finale, I think there was a point to it, so I can understand the reasoning, even if I felt the season was drama light. Starting with "The Crack in the Code", we meet the likely reason for the emphasis on family. His name is Christopher Pelant, a hacker who had messed with the government and ended up with an ankle monitor for his trouble. But the viewers see that is not the end of his "fun", by any means. He is, very much so, an equal to the folks at the Jeffersonian in terms of brilliance. In the first episode we meet him, he manages to murder a reporter and have the remains cremated before they can be examined by altering government red tape. He also manages to fry Angela's expensive equipment when she tries to scan the bones of another erstwhile victim of his by putting malware inside said bones.An average criminal, he clearly is not.In between the Pelant arc, the audience gets a shout-out episode - using Easter eggs and hybrid staff names - as a wink and thank you to the fans, as one of Brennan's novels gets filmed into a movie. We also see how Angela and Hodgins are, themselves, adjusting to parenthood, often with Angela using her experiences to help Brennan deal with her own worries.Maybe TPTB knew there was limited time in which to really dig deep into the drama, so the fluff was used much more prevalently, in my opinion, than in past seasons, hence four stars instead of five. I like fluff, but the show is ostensibly a dramedy and there was a bit too little "dram" versus "edy". Still, I think that was to make things easier on Ms. Deschanel, and to give the viewers a quiet reprieve from the drama of the prior season.And, naturally, to really build up the happiness before Pelant made his creepy presence felt once again - in a *big way* - for the finale. In which a parallel between Booth/Brennan and Brennan's own past is made. I will not spoil what happens but, needless to say, echoes of Brennan's past make its way into the present with some heart-wrenching choices when it seems circumstances play against her. Which puts the future of Booth, Brennan, and their baby as a family in jeopardy.And with those unanswered questions, I look forward to seeing how things resolve in Season 8, which, on the bright side, looks to be a full, regular season come fall, including four "bonus" episodes that were ordered for either the summer or for the new season; recently, it was announced these four episodes would be included in Season 8 as stand-alone episodes (versus the usual episodes that seem to have a continuing arc).So, the moral is, enjoy the fluff while it is around - even if a bit too much - because the drama will always kick back in. Hart Hanson and Company have proven it once again.ETA: 06/20/2012: Oddly, while no release date for this set is still posted here, Amazon's Canadian site, Amazon.ca, is also taking orders and has a release date now for October 9th. This should apply as Canada and the US both have Region 1 DVDs and use Region A for Blu-Ray. Also, October 9th is a Tuesday, which is typically when new releases come out in the US. So just a possible update in terms of just when this set may be released!ETA, Part 2 - 07/19/2012: As you see, the key art for the DVD/BluRay set has been released. TV Shows On DVD has the release date as October 9th, though Amazon does not have that listed yet.

As usual, with so many good reviews, it is hard to find something new to say. I think the main virtue of this shortened season (abbreviated to accommodate Emily Deschanel's real pregnancy)is that it was just the right mix of the old and the new. The old is all the original cast, but with a healthy salting of our favorite recurring characters, Caroline Julian, Max Keenan, Billy Gibbons, Hank Booth (Ralph Waite) and Colin Fisher (Joel David Moore). To this is added Brennan's pregnancy, a brand new relation between Brennan and Booth, and a new, very dangerous, serial killer. I dare not say more about that character, for fear of giving away some important spoilers. I will say that the new antagonist leads to what may be one of the series' most dramatic season cliffhanger, in a show which has had its share of better than average cliff hanger season enders.I case you did not notice, this season's set has only 13 episodes, instead of the usual 23 - 26. That was due to the hiatus added to allow for Deschanel's pregnancy. What is puzzling is that they did not add in episodes from "The Finder", a spin-off created by Hart Hanson which, as far as I can tell, only created 13 episodes. That would have created an very nice 26 episode package.The jaw-dropping final episode appears to promise that Season 8 will remain fresh, now that the event which seemed inevitable from early in the first season has finally happened, that is, Brennan and Booth become romantically linked in a substantial way, with the risk that that will dull the interchange between them, which "drives" the show (that turn of phrase was intentional, since most of their best conversations happen while they are driving, a tradition which dates back to season 1, episode 1, when they were not nearly as chummy as they are now.)

Arrived on time and looks ok, have not played any of it yet.

Obviously, this episode was polarizing, but I loved it. I thought it was *meant* to be fun and tongue-in-cheek. A nice fluffy episode before all hell breaks loose in next week's finale.From the name of the victim - Hanson Stevens - a mixture of the names of EPs Hart Hanson and Stephen Nathan, with Angela's sketch a combo of both - to movie replicas of the team to inside facts and jokes known to Bones fans...4:47, Huckleberry's donuts, it was a treat. Not just for spoofing the show and their jobs and the characters, but also a treat to get a glimpse of the very real Fox lot where "Bones" tapes. Including making fun of themselves and likely fan criticisms by stating "everybody hates Hanson", "Canadians don't gloat", and my personal favorite wink: "Hanson writes nothing but crap". I think Hart Hanson's voice may have had a cameo last night, too.Oh, another nice few touches were Fake Booth wearing a "Cooky" (versus "Cocky") belt buckle...and Real Hodgins warming to Fake Hodgins, especially once Fake Hodgins spilled Cam's secret (hysterical!) past. A nod to DB's "Angel", too, maybe? Hmmm! The end scene with the gang watching that movie was terrific. I almost wonder if that was their first time seeing it as the reactions seemed suspiciously genuine with the laughter! Nice close "family vibe" with them all there. Complete with donuts.Mr. Hanson even said this episode was a shout out to the devoted fans of the show, and with all of the in-jokes and winks, I think it did more than deliver the goods.Kudos for a fun episode. Bring on the finale!

13 episodes this time, babies a feature. Some fans have objected, but if a series runs for years and there are romances, babies surely may well result. Here they pave the way for an added dimension as characters try to cope.There is thus extra scope for deadpan comedy from one of television's most unlikely couples. Tough FBI man Booth is emotional about the imminence of new life. Humourless forensic expert Brennan insists on working to the last moment, her excitement confined to thoughts of teaching their future offspring such delights as how to dissect a frog. Meanwhile colleagues Angela and Hodgins try not to let sleepless nights with little Michael affect their work.The four stars rise to the challenge. They sparkle. They are fun.Despite such commitments, all actively set about solving yet more intriguing cases. The yuk factor abounds with corpses often in advanced stages of putrefaction (including one flattened over a long stretch of highway). Often identities of culprits genuinely surprise.As always, the likeable main cast is complemented by quirky "squinterns", Finn a most welcome addition. (More of him, please!) Booth's blunt boss Caroline remains great value. (More of her, too, would be very welcome.) Especially moving is Ep. 4, enhanced by Ralph Waite (of "The Waltons") as Booth's grandfather.Some may find Ep.12 set in Hollywood a bit silly (although the makers seem thrilled with it). Few, though, will doubt the impact of the season's finale - a ruthless serial killer running rings round the team, one of them in particular danger....Commentaries. Modest extras. A happy gag reel.Although occasionally uneven, the series has been a firm favourite from its very start. This latest season may be shorter than many would wish but still contains much to please, babies included.

I originally saw this TV series on it's TV and am so glad to finally have it on DVD. Yes, it IS a shorter series (This was due to Emily's pregnancy during the filming), but every episode is top quality and enjoyable. As part of the whole 12 series, it continues the good quality of the whole series and shouldn't be missed.

Fans waited a long time for this to finally happen. Have to admit the way they did it, is a smart one. They do not put too much attention on the whole relationship and how it develops, but more or less force them together by having her being pregant with his kid. One way of doing it. There usually is always a bit of concern about the show when two main characters get together, because usually not everyone is happy about the move. But in all fairness the producers and writers handle this fairly well in the season. It is still how it always is, the banters are cute, Booth is hot and all tough guy, Bones as always a bit clueless (but I love that about her) and everyone else is still there as well. I love that they kept the interns-idea going. I love that they have these on a rotating basis. Have to admit though, slowly the show looses its fascination for me. Maybe it is simply because it has now been 7 years.

If i could one star this i would. Was able to watch the first 12minutes before it kept stopping and going to the main menu page or flashing green. Upon closer inspection the part of the disc closest to the hole looked like it had water damage. All discs were like this but didn't even let me see any episodes on any of the discs other than the first one for the first few minutes. Tried it on 2 other dvd players and an xbox and the same thing. Faulty product and waste of money as it had to be binned.

Bones and Booth settling into 'happy families' was a bit of a different style to what 'Bones' followers have been used. Still fascinating insight into Forensic goings on supposedly at the Jeffersonian makes up for the new domesticated Bones and Booth. Whilst its supposed to reflect real life its obviously not going to be to everyone's taste and would not be a good idea if this formula was continued in later series and could lose fans ultimately. Bring back Zack and pit him and Hoskins together again would also boost what now is looking like scriptwriters stuck for ideas.