The Skull in the Desert

Season 1, Episode 17, Aired
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Episode Summary

While on vacation, Angela finds a skull in the desert. She asks Brennan for help in identifying the skull because she is afraid it might be her boyfriend, who has gone missing with a local guide. The investigation leads the team through a violent boyfriend, the local sheriff and ultimately to a counterfeiting ring setup in the desert.moreless
9.2
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Fan Episode Reviews (18)

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  • While away Angela calls Bones to help her find a missing friend.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By vicky24c, May 13, 2011 Report Abuse
    In this episode of Bones, the following happens. We open with the knowledge that Angela has gone away with her boyfriend Kurk. They have gone to the desert for 3 weeks. When she contacts the lab, she looks worried and asks to speak to Brennan in private. We learn that a human skull has been found and we learn that her boyfriend went into the dessert 5 days ago with a local guide and she hasn't seen him since.
    She tells Brennan to forget about it and before we know it, Bones packs up her stuff and heads out to the desert. Bones goes to the Sheriff's office and is handed the skull. She identifies it as a man, aged between 30-35, who died from being shot. And so Bones calls Booth and asks him to come out and help her on the case. And of course he can't resist. The lab run tests on the skull, and they confirm that it is in fact that of Angela's boyfriend Kurk. And so Booth and Bones head back to see Angela and Bones breaks the news to her. Soon they discover what is left of Kurk's body in the desert. Then when they head of to search for the missing local guide, then the Sheriff gets back in his car to go and look around and doesn't come back. So Angela, Bones and Booth all start walking, with little water and the knowledge that they won't last longer than 3 days in the desert. And then all of a sudden, the Sheriff returns. As the episode ends we find the local guide and she is alive, but only just. As they pack up to leave, Angela reveals that he loved her all of the time and wanted her to marry him.moreless

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  • Another great episode!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By vonkie_1991, Aug 14, 2008 Report Abuse
    This review contains spoilers for future episodes, and even future seasons. This episode really shows the strong friendship bond that exist between Brennan and Angela, cause when Angela need help Brennan doesn't hesitate one second and hops onto a flight to get to Angela.
    I also love the scene where Brennan is still lying in bed, and Booth shows up. So she has to change and he continues to just stand there. Even just thinking about it makes me laugh.
    I felt bad for Angela though, I mean losing her 'boyfriend' like that, that is really sad. But luckily she will get another great boyfriend in her life later on; Hodgins, so we know that yes Angela you will still find your true love.moreless

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  • Amazing

    10
    "Perfect"
    By ferriswheel01, Mar 06, 2008 Report Abuse
    I just loved the personal connection that featured in this episode. Angela was amazing and handled her grief very well. I felt a little sorry for Zach in this episode. He seems to be scared of the fact that he is not going to be there at the Jefersonian forever. I enjoyed watching this episode very much and thought it was funny when Brennan was trying to get Booth to come to Dallas and he kept saying no up until the part where she told him he could go federal on their ass and he jumped at the chance. Classic Booth.moreless

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  • Angela needs Bones help to identify a skull who could be her boyfriend who went missing with the guide, Nani.

    9.9
    "Superb"
    By sharren-k, Mar 04, 2008 Report Abuse
    No. 1. Every tribe has their own culture and although Booth believes, it's the USA; Brennan knows better that indigenous people or the natives are sceptical, fearful and distrust people from the outside and with all due respect, they are entitled to it.
    No. 2. In the city, life is a buzz and we're all caught up with entertainment and everything. In the desert, you get awed by stetches and stretches of sand and shrub and beautiful landscape, the world reveals its beauty and life revolves around you (if you stand still and feel it)

    Bones id-ed the skull as Angela's sweet photographer. Booth flew in on Bones request to help secure the evidence for further analysis. They must solve the crime and find the crime scene as time is running out on Nani who is still out there. Angela was pivotal in the rescue of Nani, who had to tackle her own grief. While i personally believe in science and scientific facts i learn in school, the episode also hints at other elements in our lives such as instinct and magic that is out there.moreless

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  • Review

    9.3
    "Superb"
    By cavanagh15, Apr 08, 2007 Report Abuse
    An Angela centric episode for the most part. I liked that the body was identified as her boyfriend within the first parts of the episode, that led to some great scenes between Angela and Bones. I thought the case was a little hard to follow - for example who the character "Kellog" was. I always tend to like the episodes that involve Booth and Bones away from the Jeffersonian and out and about, it usually leds to some new scenery, which in turn leds to some unique scenes. I thought the episode was very well written overall, with very few "filler" parts of the episode. I also liked the fact that Booth came down once Bones called him up, I think we are going to get something from the two of them by the end of the season. Overall, one of the seasons best episode, with solid writing and great scenes throughout.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Goof: When Booth and Brennan are driving through the desert arguing over whether or not he should take over the investigation, a mountain appears out of nowhere in the background as Booth says, "This is the United States of America." Edit
    • Goof: Booth says that everyone will take a separate compass point and walk in that direction; therefore it doesn't make sense that Brennan ran into Angela during their separate searches. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Featured Music: "Too Easy" by OneRepublic (at the end of the episode) "Rain" by Patty Griffin (near the end when Angela sees Danni) Edit
    • David Boreanaz and Clayton Rohner have also worked together in an Angel episode in 2002. Edit
    • International Air Dates: Denmark: May 30th, 2006 on TV3 Norway: Thursday October 5th, 2006 on TV3 Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • (Angela and Sheriff Dawes drive up in the middle of the desert.) Brennan: Only Angela could get a ride in the middle of nowhere. Edit
    • Angela: [...] I'm a little afraid that... I'm just afraid that I don't have a generous heart. I'm afraid that I won't have the chance that I had with Kirk ever again. Brennan: You will. Angela: How can you be so sure? Brennan: Because nothing in this universe happens just once, Angela. Nothing. Infinity goes in both directions. There's no unique event, no singular moment. Angela: (laughs) I don't know what that means. Edit
    • Brennan: It doesn't make sense that the sheriff brings us to the scene of the crime and leaves us to die. Does it? Booth: One godforsaken part of the desert is as good as another godforsaken part. We don't even know if Sheriff Dawes actually called Alex Joseph. I mean, he could've done all this himself. Brennan: Could Dawes do that, Ange? Angela: Well, I always thought Ben Dawes was a good man. It would take a lot to change my mind. Brennan: Like being left to die in the desert? Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Booth: Ok, who are you, Dr. Phil? Referring to the popular talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw. Edit
    • Engraver's plates Currency printing is a highly specialized craft. The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing prints currency on high-speed, sheet-fed rotary presses which are capable of printing over 8,000 sheets per hour. Printing plates are covered with ink and then the surface of each plate is wiped clean which allows the ink to remain in the design and letter grooves of the plates. Each sheet is then forced, under extremely heavy pressure (estimated at 20 tons), into the finely recessed lines of the printing plate to pick up the ink. The printing impression is three dimensional in effect and requires the combined handiwork of highly skilled artists, steel engravers, and plate printers. The surface of the note feels slightly raised, while the reverse side feels slightly indented. This process is called intaglio printing. Venezuela 's currency is named for Venezuelan-born Simón Bolívar, who liberated much of South America from Spanish rule in the 19th century and became one of Latin America's greatest heroes. Edit
    • Peyote The central and distinctive practice of the Native American Church is the ceremonial use of peyote, a psychoactive or entheogenic cactus (lophophora williamsii) regarded as a sacramental substance that has divine powers. It is often called "medicine," and it is believed to have powerful healing ability. Peyote use among the Huichol and other tribes goes back thousands of years in Mexico, and was first documented among the Aztecs some 400 years ago. Its history in the United States beyond its native range (restricted to the Rio Grande valley), however, is much more recent. Edit

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