TV Review: BONES – Season 10 – “The Life in the Light”

By RACHEL REITSLEFF / Contributing Writer

Posted: August 25th, 2015 / 09:44 AM

Stars: David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel, Michaela Conlin, TJ Thyne, Tamara Taylor, John Boyd, Michael Grant Terry
Writer: Keith Foglesong, series created by Hart Hanson, based on the life and writings of Kathy Reichs
Director: Randy Zisk
Network: Fox Network, Thursdays @ 8 PM
Airdate: June 4, 2015

Booth (David Boreanaz) and Aubrey (John Boyd) question a member of a biker gang in BONES "The Life in the Light" | © 2015 Patrick McElhenney/FOX

There’s a good procedural in the BONES Season 10 episode “The Life in the Light,” but to cut to the chase, the main thing that happens here is that Brennan (Emily Deschanel) finally lets Booth (David Boreanaz) come home after he gets his thirty-day abstention cake at his Gamblers Anonymous meeting.

Booth doesn’t want Brennan there, fearing that she’ll see an invitation as insincere pressure on his part. Brennan is at first hurt and confused that she wasn’t invited; when she shows up (Booth’s sponsor has called to ask what sort of cake Booth likes), Booth explains things to her. Brennan lets Booth come home to say goodnight to Christine, then suggests he spend the night. Brennan is finally ready for Booth to come home, since it’s clear to both of them that he wants to do so and that he knows she won’t tolerate any further lying.

The case involves a former biker who has become a yoga instructor with an open relationship. His remains are found in the aftermath of a forest fire. The biker gang the man used to ride with is violent, but his personal life is extremely complicated as well. There are all sorts of people with motives in all areas of the man’s life, but what becomes clear through the investigation is that he was a genuinely good guy. Actually, he was a little too generous. When one of his biker friends needed money for his kids, the victim thought nothing of emptying out his bank account to provide help. Problem is, it was a joint account with the victim’s life-in girlfriend, who felt far less charitable and wound up clobbering her beloved to stop him from giving their money away.

Hodgins (TJ Thyne) and Angela (Michaela Conlin) continue to ramp up their plans to move to France.

The lab assistant of the week is Wendell Bray (Michael Grant Terry), who provides respect and good cheer without getting much to do. On the one hand, there’s plenty of turmoil between the regular characters and the case of the week. On the other hand, it’s usually nice when the recurring characters get some sort of subplot, as it provides a little extra texture to the world of the series.

Even so, “The Life in the Light” is solid on all fronts.

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