Judas on a Pole

Season 2, Episode 11, Aired
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Episode Summary

Booth and Brennan are called to the scene where a man's body was found gutted, burned, and hung like a scarecrow on the roof of a Federal Building. Evidence left on the body re-opens a 30-year-old case and links back to Brennan's father. Meanwhile, Zack must defend his dissertation to obtain his doctorate, asking help from a colleague.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (52)

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  • The episode that made me stop watching Bones.

    3.5
    "Bad"
    By AcaciaJules, Nov 10, 2011 Report Abuse
    The addition of Cam at the beginning of the season was bad enough, especially with how controlling she was. Then, slowly but surely, they began destroying Zach. This was the episode where they basically ruined his character. I'm sorry, but how hard would it be to simply inform him he needed to clean up/dress up for court dates. His hair cut was AWFUL. Then there's the issue of Brennan's family. We learn that Russ has been lying to her for years, and her father is essentially a sociopath. He kills without remorse, yet we're supposed to respect him for that? Especially with the WAY he goes about it? This show went from being an interesting, quirky, forensic show, to crud in the space of one season. Great job producers and writers. Great job.moreless

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    1 8

  • This episode not only redefined the way I look at Tempe but, I think, will redefine how she looks at herself!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By LyndaM, Aug 30, 2011 Report Abuse
    State up front, I love this show. I will not miss it for anything and tonight's episode is the best example of why.

    The "A" storyline deals with the body found on the roof and the release of an innocent man. When they find the former FBI agent at the start, we should have known that things are going to get complicated. Especially when we learn it is the roof of the FBI office (don't they ever go up there?). Anyway, when Tempe's brother comes and things start threatening, we should have clued in to the fact that their father has something to do with the case. And when Booth lost his job, "crookedness" should have reared its head but didn't. The priest was trying to warn them but didn't get through. More about this in a minute.

    The "B" storyline is about turning a young man, Zack, from a geek who looks too young to a man. Defending a dissertation is challenging in itself, but for him to be trying to keep his job is added stress. The character is one -- I can't even remember his name most of the time -- but I think tonight we see a turning point for Zack too. He gets a new look and a permanent job.

    Okay -- back to Tempe. Tonight, Tempe has to really face the ghost from her past. After finding blood and thinking her brother is dead, she turns to Booth who, for once, has no power to protect her. When she goes to meet the priest, Booth has realized who it is and tries to reach her. Booth is scared for her because he thinks the priest, who in reality is her father, might be going to kill her or make her disappear. Instead, Tempe's father has something to give her which offers protection and gets Booth's job back. That last line that Ryan O'Neal says to Booth: "Take care of her" tells us so much. He sees what neither Booth or Tempe see -- that we care for each other.

    The final scene is telling. Tempe realizes that she will always be without a family yet Booth is there to point out that she does have a family -- the people at the institute and him. The celebration for the young doctor (Zack) is a family celebration. The news Booth has -- another body on he roof who died in the same manner -- is also telling. Tempe's father sends the message by killing Booth's boss that he will always be in the background taking care of Tempe.

    I'm really still digesting this episode. I have to say I think that Tempe and Booth both grew in their characters tonight. I like the make-over. And, I hate to admit it, the addition of Ryan O'Neal as Tempe's father is a wonderful casting coup and makes me remember how good he was in his movie roles.moreless

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  • Brennan's father resurfaces, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By whiteraven2005, Aug 29, 2011 Report Abuse
    Unusual opening, starting with the crime rather than the usual beginning of the investigation.

    This is a nasty case for Brennan. When her father ordered the hit on the man who killed his wife, it was still understandable. Here he deliberately, violently and publicly executes a man who was threatening his son. There's no happily ever after here, this isn't some misunderstood criminal who's a good father and deserves forgiveness he's a cold-blooded killer and Brennan and Russ have to live with that, together with the knowledge that their father will continue to kill anyone who threatens them.

    One of the terms for a priest is 'father', the reunion with her father doesn't go exactly as planned. While it is touching, it forces Russ, Brennan and Booth to pick sides. Booth's feelings for Brennan stops him doing his job, stopping a killer. And another man dies. You can't pick your family.

    Angela does a great job on Zach's makeover, he looks very nice. They really have no right to pick on Zach about how to be an expert witness, have they forgotten just how bad Brennan is when she's testifying?!

    Great family episode, very emotional.moreless

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  • An episode that clues us in on why Bones is the way she is. And we learn that her parents may have been more than they appeared.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Drusilla15, May 27, 2011 Report Abuse
    First of all, I loved this episode. It's one of those episodes that just fits, it wasn't a filler, it had a new character who will be involved in future episodes, and we got a look into the true feelings of Temperance Brennen. For a few seconds we see that sad little girl whose parents just left on Christmas one year and never came back. It clues us in on why she acts the way she does, why she prefers science over actual emotions. We even get some cute hugging scenes from Bones and Booth, showing how much she trusts him now. My favorite part has to be when they show Max burning the guy's body on the roof, with the song that plays, it just shows how good a scene the writers and directors of Bones can be. And the fact that Bones has a Father who basically says "Stay away from my kids or I'll hunt you down" is a weird way of saying "Sorry I abandoned you when you were a kid". A great episode making us appreciate Bones just a little more.moreless

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  • this episode is awesome!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By iron-fence, Jan 05, 2011 Report Abuse
    I like this episode because its so sneaky, i really did not think that the father was the priest at first, i think they chose a really good actor, plus i love this show is awesome so yeah.... 10/10 in my opinion, i think it is kinda crappy for Brennen's brother to go with the father, which kinda screws over his family. I thought it was funny that they destroyed the lawyers car. the main thing i didn't like was Zack's 'transformation', who cares about looks if hes a genious right? but thats about it im just writing to get 100 words nowmoreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • This is the first episode when we see how the victim was killed (in this case burned) before the team discovers the remains. Edit
    • When Brennan is talking to the priest and he tells her that her father came to see him to confess, she states that her family isn't Catholic. But in the Temperance Brennan novel series written by Kathy Reichs, from which her character is based, it is stated that she is Catholic. Edit
    • Goof: While Booth calls Caroline Julian to ask her for her help with the sniper list, we can see that she has a fur on her steering wheel. After the camera cuts back to her, the fur has disappeared. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • In three different scenes throughout the episode the sound is compromised multiple times by feedback generated by electronic devices (for example, cell phones) near sound equipment. One such scene is when Brennan's father tells her and Booth to "back off." Edit
    • Actor David Duchovny (who starred as Mulder on Fox's sci-fi cult hit The X-Files) directed this episode, which is interesting since Booth and Brennan's relationship has been compared to Mulder and Scully's relationship on The X-Files. Also, the episode deals with a government conspiracy, which is the main overarching theme of The X-Files. Edit
    • International Air Dates: Denmark: March 20th, 2007 on TV3 Spain: April 20th, 2007 on FOX TV Spain Belgium: November 2nd, 2007 on RTL-TVI Germany: November 8th, 2007 on RTL Australia: January 3rd, 2008 on 7 Finland: July 18th, 2008 on Sub India: August 20th, 2008 on Star World Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Brennan: (after seeing what she thinks is Russ' blood on the floor) Oh my God. Booth! Booth: What? Brennan: Russ ... Booth: All right, just take it easy, all right? We don't know that for sure. Brennan: (scared) That's too much blood. Nobody could survive tha- that much blood loss. Nobody. (she puts her face on Booth's shoulder and hugs him) Booth: (surprised) All right, okay. (hugs her back) It's all right. Brennan: Oh my God. Edit
    • Booth: Call your brother and tell him to get out of the house. (Brennan gets the phone) Tell him to get out, now! Brennan: Why what's going on? Booth: Seconds after Caroline got this list, Kirby knew about it. Brennan: He's not answering, I don't understand, Booth. Booth: It's not us that Kirby is afraid of, it's your father. The only way to strike at him is to go through you or Russ. Kirby was the one that took a shot at Russ. Brennan: (with the phone to her ear) No answer. Edit
    • Brennan: It's against the law, us not calling it a murder. Booth: It wasn't a murder, it was a blood stain. Brennan: That much blood? It's mur- it's murder. Booth: We call it in, next thing is we find ourselves under arrest. Brennan: That had to be Russ's blood. Booth: You got a sample, alright? We'll check the DNA at the lab. Until then, you know, who's the one that always says "don't jump to conclusions"? Brennan: Yeah, you're right. Thanks. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Booth: That's the Law of the Jungle. The Law of the Jungle is generally thought to mean "survival of the fittest." But the verse from Numbers more closely resembles "blood vengeance," allowing the family of a murder victim to kill the murderer. As an anthropologist, Brennan would have understood this concept no matter the form of English. Also, the fact that Brennan asks what the Numbers verse means is out of place because many tribal laws have the concept of blood vengeance and she is constantly applying anthropological concepts to our culture. Edit
    • Title: Judas on a Pole This is an allusion to Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus as portrayed in the Catholic and Christian religions, among others. He is the one who betrays Jesus, signifying the "betrayers" in this episode that burn on the pole. Edit

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