“Bones” returns, not broken after all

‘ ‘ ‘ While last season’s writer’s strike undoubtedly affected the progress of nearly every… ‘ ‘ ‘ While last season’s writer’s strike undoubtedly affected the progress of nearly every show on television, few were more affected than ‘Bones,’ the CSI-like series based loosely on the works of bestselling novelist Kathy Reichs that managed to differentiate itself with a wonderfully morbid tone and powerful chemistry between the show’s leads. ‘ ‘ ‘ With the loss of multiple episodes and crucial developmental moments, the season ended with a random plot twist that might have been quite harmful to the series. ‘ ‘ ‘ In what seems to be a deferential nod to conditions out of the show’s control, show creater Hart Hanson decided to start the next season with a shift in setting ‘mdash; something that, after all, often helps after something unfortunate strikes. ‘ ‘ ‘ Season four opens with forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance ‘Bones’ Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and her FBI partner Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) in London as Brennan gives a somewhat dry lecture at a British university. The opening moments, in which Booth interrupts Brennan to give an inspired demonstration of how he took down a serial killer at the end of season three, are a reminder of the almost overwhelming chemistry between Booth and Brennan that makes the series great. The plot develops quickly as Booth and Brennan are asked to help in the investigation of the death of a Paris Hilton-esque expatriate with romantic connections to the British aristocracy. ‘ ‘ ‘ The rest of the Squint Squad (as Brennan’s team of professionals is called) is not forgotten, however. Resolving a story arc from last season, Angela Montenegro’s (Michaela Conlin) missing husband, who is needed to sign divorce papers so she can remarry, suddenly reappears and begins to wreak havoc on her new relationship. ‘ ‘ ‘ Meanwhile, the cloud looming over the whole cast regards the events of the previous season’s finale, when (spoiler alert!) Dr. Zack Addy (Eric Millegan) was revealed to be working with a prominent serial killer and was simultaneously injured badly in a lab explosion. There is not much direct discussion, although there are a few moments when Booth and Brennan reveal how deeply Zack’s betrayal hurt them. Replacing Zack is Clark Edison (Eugene Byrd), another of Brennan’s grad students. ‘ ‘ ‘ Clark’s addition is unfortunately the least successful part of the premiere, trying to emulate Zack’s uniquely logical and somewhat emotionally challenged personality but not quite succeeding. Clark’s imitation of Zack is so poor as to almost seem intentional, as if his presence is meant to be a constant reminder of who used to fill his role rather than a true replacement. ‘ ‘ ‘ Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the shift in setting is Booth’s and Brennan’s interactions with a pair of British counterparts, Dr. Ian Wexler (Andrew Buchan) and Inspector Cate Pritchard (Indira Varma). The gender role-reversal brings an interesting dimension to their interaction ‘mdash; Brennan quickly has to fend off Wexler’s romantic advances, while Pritchard and Booth engage in swaggering arguments over jurisdiction and gun-wielding. These interactions again bring into focus what is ultimately the most engaging feature of ‘Bones’: the sort-of-romantic-slash-work-partner relationship between Brennan and Booth. ‘ ‘ ‘ Booth warns Brennan of Wexler’s lecherous ways, but Brennan feels a strong pull toward Wexler’s affections, especially considering her emotional vulnerability because of Zack’s betrayal that is still fresh and painful. This becomes especially interesting in the second hour of the premiere, when both Wexler and Pritchard assume entirely different roles in another murder investigation headed by Booth and Brennan. ‘ ‘ ‘ While not exactly revolutionary, ‘Yanks in the UK’ is a clever palate-cleanser of a season premiere, shifting the show’s focus away from last season’s upheaval and back to what makes it interesting and unique.