The Soldier on the Grave

Season 1, Episode 21, Aired
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Episode Summary

Brennan and Booth go to investigate an apparent suicide in Arlington National Cemetery, but soon find out that it was murder and that the victim was a soldier who had served in Iraq. The investigation leads to a lot of unanswered questions about the military unit of the victim, with all clues pointing to a cover-up. Booth meanwhile recalls his shady past as a sniper in the military and the horrors of war.moreless
9.1
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Fan Episode Reviews (23)

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  • disapointed

    3.0
    "Bad"
    By Tindzoni, Jan 29, 2012 Report Abuse
    This episode was good, but the end was awful. First of all, I'm from Serbia, and all that Booth's story about Kosovo and ethnic cleaning is a BIG LIE. Kosovo is ours, teritory of our fathers and ancestors. I'm pretty much convinced that it was gave to many of the tv shows what they should be about, because many of them are humiliating our nacional history and that is nothing more than proof of a strong albanian lobby in USA. This is maybe to politicaly coloured, but I'm sick of all that disrespect that we have in your movies and tv shows. They spread wrong impression of us. I hope this will change some day and the whole world will stop watcing us as criminals, just because some big governments think that they can arrange weaker nationalities by changing their borders and history. Kosovo will always be Serbia, no matter what anybody says.moreless

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    0 2

  • Another good one

    8.5
    "Great"
    By vicky24c, May 16, 2011 Report Abuse
    In this episode of Bones, the following happens. When a body is found at a soldier's grave, the team believe at first that he committed suicide. The body has been badly burnt. We soon learn that the victim served in Iraq which the soldier, whose grave he was found on. And the Bones reveals that he wasn't killed by the fire, he was murdered first. We soon learn that the victim was killed by another soldier, as he was going to tell the truth about what happened in Iraq and the truth about how Kent (the solder whose grave he was on) really died. As the episode ends, Booth tells Bones some things that happened to him whilst he was fighting for their country, many years ago. As he starts to cry, she places her hand on his arm. The whole episode is about soldiers and what happened between a group of them in Iraq. Overall a good episode, but not as griping as the previous one was.moreless

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    1 3

  • Not my favourite

    9.3
    "Superb"
    By ferriswheel01, Apr 21, 2011 Report Abuse
    This episode was a really good episode but it wasn't my favourite. I felt like we got to know Booth a bit more and that is why I gave it the rating 9.3. The acting in this episode especially coming from David Boreanaz was spectacular. I don't think I have ever seen any programme where any of the main cast were emotionally involved and put on such an emmy award winning performance. David is one heck of an actor and this episode definitely showed that. I like that Booth and Brennan were getting close at the end of this episode. I like that he can talk to her about his past when he can't talk to others. It just goes to show they have a connection.moreless

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    1 0

  • This is exactly why I watch Bones.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By vonkie_1991, Apr 21, 2011 Report Abuse
    This episode was defiantly very well written and cleverly plotted. But the great thing about this episode has to be the interaction between Booth and Bones. That is really what makes this episode so great.

    This case really gets to Booth since a soldier had been murdered, and Booth is an ex-sniper, so he is a soldier and kind of knows what the soldiers there in Iraq go through.
    My favorite scene has the be the one at the end of this episode. We see that Booth really trusts Brennan as he tells her one of his bad experiences he had while in war, a experience he had never told anyone before. And we get to see Brennan being a great friend, and comforting Booth while he tell her this.

    This is one of those episodes that you just have to see as a Bones fan.moreless

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    2 1

  • Powerful statements

    10
    "Perfect"
    By tanargue, Apr 21, 2011 Report Abuse
    I think that this has to be one of my favourite episodes especially as it reveals so much about Booth.
    Due to his background in the military he is disturbed and angry throughout. The scriptwriters gave David Boreanaz some superb dialogue.It almost seems as though they had military backgrounds themselves.
    Case in point, when Booth explains to Brennan that when you come back from somewhere like that (Iraq) you want to be around something good and pure whereas adults always want you to recall the deeds of action etc which you are desperately trying to put out of your mind.
    We learn also that Booth has a friend, Hank now a judge, who owes his life to Booth though he was hurt and is in a wheelchair.In answer to Brennan's query as to what happened to Hank he just replies curtly 'He got hurt'.
    In addition it is revealed that Booth has a gambling problem, perhaps as his escape from the horrors of what he did. Though now it is under control and he doesn't even play Monopoly.
    The final scene when Booth unburdens himself to Brennan about his mission in Kosovo is very powerful and I must admit it always brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. David Boreanaz shows here just what a powerful actor he can be.
    Obviously Booth's background as a sniper has marked him. A similar thing happened to the character Sully in Doctor Quinn Madicine Woman.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • It is revealed that Booth used to have a gambling problem. Edit
    • The war story Booth tells Bones at the end of this episode is probably the same one mentioned in episode 1x16 "The Woman in the Tunnel". In that episode, Booth and Bones discuss a homeless leader in the Army who killed a woman holding a baby in one arm and a grenade in the other hand, and later Booth says he understands what the guy's going through. Edit
    • Goof: When Hodgins apologizes to Booth during Kent's second autopsy, he picks up a tray from the table where Kent's uniform is lying. He walks away with the tray, and when the camera pans down to the uniform, the tray is still on the table. In the immediate aerial camera shot of the lab activity, the tray is once again gone from the table and in Hodgin's hands. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • International Air Dates: Norway: June 27th, 2006 on TV3 Denmark: November 6th, 2006 on TV3 Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Brennan: This is hard for Booth, he's idealistic. Angela: Oh, it's nice to know someone who wants to keep honor and responsibility alive. Brennan: I feel like Booth thinks I'm taking that away from him. Angela: You're just doing your job. He knows that. Brennan: I guess. I tell Booth we're on the same side, I'm not the one who's disillusioning him, it's my findings. But when I look at him I - I don't know what else I can do. Angela: I do. Brennan: Ange. Angela: As a friend, Brennan. Brennan: Yeah, the whole friends with benefits thing. That's, that's not happening. Angela: I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about being there for him. Knowing when a simple touch is enough. Edit
    • Hank: Look at the two of us. You with the badge, me in the court room, both trying to find justice, ey? Booth: That's why we fought, right? Hank: That's what they told us. Booth: What, you don't believe it? Hank: Sure I do. You don't look like you do. You're not gambling again, are you? Booth: Nah, man. No, I've been good. I've been going to my meetings, haven't even played a game of monopoly. Listen, Hank, this case, Charles Kent? It's a friendly fire. Hank: God. Booth: Yeah, covered up. Two other members of the squad are dead, one murdered. You know, whatever went down must have been pretty ugly. (thoughtful and hesitant) You know, Hank, what, you know, what we did? Hank: Don't go there, Booth. Booth: Was it worth it? I mean, look at you. Hank: You saved my life! I got a great family because of you. Booth: Yeah, but I mean, why was it always a secret? Hank: We were given a choice. They always gave us a choice. Booth: Yeah, but that last time... Hank: Well, you knew what was at stake. Booth: Yeah...yeah. Hank: You never talked to anybody about it? (Booth shakes his head) You've got to. How about your girlfriend? That doctor. Booth: No, she's, you know, she's just my partner. You know, I got work, I should go. Edit
    • (Booth is looking at Kent's exhumed body) Booth: He's just a kid. Brennan: It's always the young. Anthropologists have theorized that wars break out when there's an increase in the population of unmarried men under the age of 25. (Booth looks at her very hurt, as if she just slapped him in the worst manner) I'm sorry. I need to create a distance from the victim, it's how I deal. I didn't mean - Booth: (pain written all over his face) Just...you know, do what you have to do. I'm gonna go do my thing. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Zack: I could have done better with a Crayola. Crayola is a brand of crayons and other writing and drawing utensils, such as markers, chalk, and colored pencils, invented by Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith and manufactured by Binney & Smith Inc. Edit
    • Brennan: Remember Stagecoach? Stagecoach is a 1939 John Ford western starring John Wayne, AKA the Duke. The film was nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The story is about a group of strangers who are on a stagecoach, which is attacked by Apache Indians. Edit

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