Nablopomo The Killer in me
Nov. 10th, 2010 03:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mistletoeIt's a beautifully bright day with clear blue skies and a chill in the air. The boiler man came at 8.30 this morning to service the central heating and he was done in half an hour - excellent. I realised that I had somehow missed last week's Mad Men. Aaaargh! I'll have to track the episode down now.
Meanwhile, I watched The Blonde in the Game after the boiler man went and pondered what we learned about Booth in it. Shorter than normal because I'm only doing the one episode so![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
firefish would be able to stay awake!
He touched me with his creepy serial killer hands.
SEASON 2
Epps is the first serial killer they have investigated and the first returnee that Booth and Bones have to deal with. For me, he is the most satisfying villain of the whole series so far and a worthy adversary. His motives as a killer are simply to get the rush and to gain sexual gratification. When that outlet has been terminated at a personal level then he ups the ante by targeting Booth and particularly Dr Brennan to alleviate his boredom. As he said in his first outing: it's all gravy from now on. This episode is all about the gravy.
To be honest, the mind games are directed towards Brennan, for while she is not Howie's 'type' she is a woman, and as far as he is concerned, no woman is capable of besting him. So he plays his game using the others as pawns on the chess board for his zero sum strategy. As a result, Booth appears out of his depth and while he can play the dumb one in Zack's counter moves, it's not too much of a role he is playing. He really doesn't get the strategy that is going on. However, he is able to decipher the clues which ultimately lead to the checkmate. As in the best of these episodes, the team plays its part with each of them having vital input at various stages.
Booth's part is, as ever, dealing with the living. So he established a bridge of sympathy with Caroline Epps so she would look on him favourably later if needed; he overcomes his fear of nuns to establish who the latest missing girl is; he even intimidates a Dobermann to gain access to the suspect's house. In each case he uses his people (or dog) skills to get what he wants.
As a good Catholic boy he makes sure the nun will help him: I’m Catholic. I – I go to mass every Sunday. (anxiously fiddling with his hands) Well, almost every Sunday. I’m very trustworthy. As ever, Booth is anxious to appear worthy in all things and whenever he meets a person of the cloth he is deferential and respectful. Clearly, he doesn't want anything to prevent his getting into heaven.
The other thing that Booth does is get angry, and we know that when he gets angry, he gets violent. Epps, is a smug bastard in his assessment and, when they keep running into brick walls, then that pent up fury has to be released. Booth is most dangerous when he gets quiet and in your face.
BOOTH: (leans in, all casual) Hey, come here. (Epps leans in slightly, too) You know, I really enjoyed – (he reaches under the table and yanks on Epps’s body chain, forcing Howard forward until his head hits the table) – playing your game. (The side of Howard’s face is pressed against the tabletop, and Booth leans in close, starting out with a harsh whisper that elevates with his anger) Now, you know what? There is a girl out there, hanging upside down with duct tape over her mouth!
BRENNAN: Booth, let him go. (puts her hand on Booth’s shoulder, trying to reach him through his anger) Let him go!
Booth lets go and stands up in one violent action, turning to exit the room. Epps sits up slowly, at first hunched over, then nonchalantly straightening to full height in his chair. He seems more amused by Booth’s fury, not upset at all. Booth knows himself well enough to walk away, just like he did with Ortez, except this time, I don't think he would have ended with just a threat. He's probaly right, because Epps is a very dangerous, very wily individual, not a thug. He would not answer violence with violence; he is not in a position to do so.
BRENNAN: For all your … faults, Mister Epps, you were never interested in letting your victims suffer. You didn’t torture them. You’re not that kind of man. (Epps blinks but says nothing, so Brennan presses further) She’s an innocent child.
EPPS: (his face a bit more menacing now) She’s a young woman … and there’s no such thing as an innocent woman. Look within yourself. You know I’m right. You know, I’m just guessing here, you understand, but I think you’ll find that Helen Majors has less than 24 hours to live.
For Epps, the point is not that a 16 year old girl will die as a result of his game; it is that he will defeat a mere woman and the agent responsible for putting him in prison in the first place. There is no doubt that part of his motive now is revenge. Booth cannot deal with him as he would like, but he can deal with the solution to the crimes committed in Epps' name and so the end game begins.
Having traced the killer to an abandoned sorting centre all that is left is to rescue Helen Majors and arrest the bad guy. He succeeds in part of that, but the villain gets the drop on him and may well have beaten him to death with a crowbar if Brennan hadn't shot him.
So who won? They saved one girl and Gil Lappin the murderer is dead. That's a win right? Not in Epps' eyes and not in Booth's.
BOOTH: Game’s over, Howie.
EPPS: (looking mildly pleased with himself) Yes. I won.
BRENNAN: Only if you wanted your accomplice dead. (she sits down warily)
EPPS: Lappin’s dead?
BOOTH: (remains standing) Shot resisting arrest.
EPPS: (has an intense look on his face) Who shot him?
BRENNAN: Hmm. (she does not immediately look Epps in the eye)
EPPS: It was you, wasn’t it? (Brennan lifts her chin in slight defiance but says nothing) You shot him? (Epps stares at her, his eyes staying on her face almost the entire time he talks) Did he take long to die? (she says nothing, clenching her jaw) Did he suffer? (Booth’s eyes narrow) This is better than I hoped. (looks to Booth) I thought it would be you. (turns back to Brennan) How did it feel? Dirty, yes? But there’s also a rush. Pleasure. (he leans forward a little) Part of you liked it.
(Booth glances at Brennan out of the corners of his eyes, checking to see if she’s okay)
BRENNAN: This whole game was to have us kill someone?
(Booth returns his focus to Epps, squinting at him, studying, silent)
EPPS: Who’s gonna tell Lappin’s mom? She loves him very much, you know. (he stares at Brennan, face devoid of any human emotion, except maybe morbid curiosity) Without her son, she’ll be completely alone in this sad world.
BOOTH: We’re done with you. You’re never gonna see us again. (looks to Brennan) Come on.
(Brennan gives Epps one last hard look before she rises from her chair)
EPPS: (eyes never leaving Brennan’s) I’m pretty sure you’re wrong about that, Agent Booth.
Yes he is. Look at how Epps twists the emotional response to suit himself. There is no doubt he enjoys the idea of Lappin's mother being alone in the world. He feels a sadistic pleasure in the suffering of others, but uses words to suggest he feels sorry for her. He doesn't. He is too busy savouring the fact that Brennan killed someone as a result of his actions. He will get off on that for some time.
Booth knows that Epps won too. He offers the truth to Brennan as she tries to come to terms with her actions and reveals more about what he feels when he kills someone.
BOOTH: You know, you’re afraid that Epps turned you into him – into a killer. You have to come to grips with the fact that you killed another human being. Because when you kill someone, you know, there’s a cost. It’s a steep cost. (he pauses, voice subdued) I know. I’ve done it.
The difference is that neither of them is a murderer like Epps. They feel the guilt and remorse for their actions, the cost, that Epps never has. For Epps, there is no cost, only pleasure.
Along the way, what do we see of Booth that we haven't yet noted? Jasper. At the beginning of the episode Booth tells Bones dogs like him and asks Brennan if she ever had a dog. She says she would rather have a pig. He makes a joke at the time about mint and honey glaze but Booth doesn't forget, telling the others that they should get Dr Brennan a pig. He asks her what she would call the pig. Eventually, when she needs to be cheered up he reveals Jasper to her: it is a toy. That thoughtfulness is a part of Booth we have seen in the way he removed her earring from a crime scene; in the way he brings her food when she is distracted; the way that he shares places that he finds relaxing. Now he has got her a gift.
He's still dressing down more than he did and his quirky ties have become more flattering and thinner.
Hope that wasn't too long, because we still have Epps to finish off in his final reappearance. That character had the most profound effect of any on Booth, even the Gravedigger. Without Epps, much of what happens in Season 2 and beyond would have never occurred.
I have had one winner watching the racing this afternoon. Not good enough!
Meanwhile, I watched The Blonde in the Game after the boiler man went and pondered what we learned about Booth in it. Shorter than normal because I'm only doing the one episode so
firefish would be able to stay awake!A BOOTH FOR ALL SEASONS
You gotta detach from this, all right? We let Epps get under our skin, it’s exactly what he wants.
He touched me with his creepy serial killer hands.
Epps is the first serial killer they have investigated and the first returnee that Booth and Bones have to deal with. For me, he is the most satisfying villain of the whole series so far and a worthy adversary. His motives as a killer are simply to get the rush and to gain sexual gratification. When that outlet has been terminated at a personal level then he ups the ante by targeting Booth and particularly Dr Brennan to alleviate his boredom. As he said in his first outing: it's all gravy from now on. This episode is all about the gravy.
To be honest, the mind games are directed towards Brennan, for while she is not Howie's 'type' she is a woman, and as far as he is concerned, no woman is capable of besting him. So he plays his game using the others as pawns on the chess board for his zero sum strategy. As a result, Booth appears out of his depth and while he can play the dumb one in Zack's counter moves, it's not too much of a role he is playing. He really doesn't get the strategy that is going on. However, he is able to decipher the clues which ultimately lead to the checkmate. As in the best of these episodes, the team plays its part with each of them having vital input at various stages.
Booth's part is, as ever, dealing with the living. So he established a bridge of sympathy with Caroline Epps so she would look on him favourably later if needed; he overcomes his fear of nuns to establish who the latest missing girl is; he even intimidates a Dobermann to gain access to the suspect's house. In each case he uses his people (or dog) skills to get what he wants.
As a good Catholic boy he makes sure the nun will help him: I’m Catholic. I – I go to mass every Sunday. (anxiously fiddling with his hands) Well, almost every Sunday. I’m very trustworthy. As ever, Booth is anxious to appear worthy in all things and whenever he meets a person of the cloth he is deferential and respectful. Clearly, he doesn't want anything to prevent his getting into heaven.
The other thing that Booth does is get angry, and we know that when he gets angry, he gets violent. Epps, is a smug bastard in his assessment and, when they keep running into brick walls, then that pent up fury has to be released. Booth is most dangerous when he gets quiet and in your face.
BOOTH: (leans in, all casual) Hey, come here. (Epps leans in slightly, too) You know, I really enjoyed – (he reaches under the table and yanks on Epps’s body chain, forcing Howard forward until his head hits the table) – playing your game. (The side of Howard’s face is pressed against the tabletop, and Booth leans in close, starting out with a harsh whisper that elevates with his anger) Now, you know what? There is a girl out there, hanging upside down with duct tape over her mouth!
BRENNAN: Booth, let him go. (puts her hand on Booth’s shoulder, trying to reach him through his anger) Let him go!
Booth lets go and stands up in one violent action, turning to exit the room. Epps sits up slowly, at first hunched over, then nonchalantly straightening to full height in his chair. He seems more amused by Booth’s fury, not upset at all. Booth knows himself well enough to walk away, just like he did with Ortez, except this time, I don't think he would have ended with just a threat. He's probaly right, because Epps is a very dangerous, very wily individual, not a thug. He would not answer violence with violence; he is not in a position to do so.
BRENNAN: For all your … faults, Mister Epps, you were never interested in letting your victims suffer. You didn’t torture them. You’re not that kind of man. (Epps blinks but says nothing, so Brennan presses further) She’s an innocent child.
EPPS: (his face a bit more menacing now) She’s a young woman … and there’s no such thing as an innocent woman. Look within yourself. You know I’m right. You know, I’m just guessing here, you understand, but I think you’ll find that Helen Majors has less than 24 hours to live.
For Epps, the point is not that a 16 year old girl will die as a result of his game; it is that he will defeat a mere woman and the agent responsible for putting him in prison in the first place. There is no doubt that part of his motive now is revenge. Booth cannot deal with him as he would like, but he can deal with the solution to the crimes committed in Epps' name and so the end game begins.
Having traced the killer to an abandoned sorting centre all that is left is to rescue Helen Majors and arrest the bad guy. He succeeds in part of that, but the villain gets the drop on him and may well have beaten him to death with a crowbar if Brennan hadn't shot him.
So who won? They saved one girl and Gil Lappin the murderer is dead. That's a win right? Not in Epps' eyes and not in Booth's.
BOOTH: Game’s over, Howie.
EPPS: (looking mildly pleased with himself) Yes. I won.
BRENNAN: Only if you wanted your accomplice dead. (she sits down warily)
EPPS: Lappin’s dead?
BOOTH: (remains standing) Shot resisting arrest.
EPPS: (has an intense look on his face) Who shot him?
BRENNAN: Hmm. (she does not immediately look Epps in the eye)
EPPS: It was you, wasn’t it? (Brennan lifts her chin in slight defiance but says nothing) You shot him? (Epps stares at her, his eyes staying on her face almost the entire time he talks) Did he take long to die? (she says nothing, clenching her jaw) Did he suffer? (Booth’s eyes narrow) This is better than I hoped. (looks to Booth) I thought it would be you. (turns back to Brennan) How did it feel? Dirty, yes? But there’s also a rush. Pleasure. (he leans forward a little) Part of you liked it.
(Booth glances at Brennan out of the corners of his eyes, checking to see if she’s okay)
BRENNAN: This whole game was to have us kill someone?
EPPS: Who’s gonna tell Lappin’s mom? She loves him very much, you know. (he stares at Brennan, face devoid of any human emotion, except maybe morbid curiosity) Without her son, she’ll be completely alone in this sad world.
BOOTH: We’re done with you. You’re never gonna see us again. (looks to Brennan) Come on.
(Brennan gives Epps one last hard look before she rises from her chair)
EPPS: (eyes never leaving Brennan’s) I’m pretty sure you’re wrong about that, Agent Booth.
Yes he is. Look at how Epps twists the emotional response to suit himself. There is no doubt he enjoys the idea of Lappin's mother being alone in the world. He feels a sadistic pleasure in the suffering of others, but uses words to suggest he feels sorry for her. He doesn't. He is too busy savouring the fact that Brennan killed someone as a result of his actions. He will get off on that for some time.
Booth knows that Epps won too. He offers the truth to Brennan as she tries to come to terms with her actions and reveals more about what he feels when he kills someone.
BOOTH: You know, you’re afraid that Epps turned you into him – into a killer. You have to come to grips with the fact that you killed another human being. Because when you kill someone, you know, there’s a cost. It’s a steep cost. (he pauses, voice subdued) I know. I’ve done it.
The difference is that neither of them is a murderer like Epps. They feel the guilt and remorse for their actions, the cost, that Epps never has. For Epps, there is no cost, only pleasure.
Along the way, what do we see of Booth that we haven't yet noted? Jasper. At the beginning of the episode Booth tells Bones dogs like him and asks Brennan if she ever had a dog. She says she would rather have a pig. He makes a joke at the time about mint and honey glaze but Booth doesn't forget, telling the others that they should get Dr Brennan a pig. He asks her what she would call the pig. Eventually, when she needs to be cheered up he reveals Jasper to her: it is a toy. That thoughtfulness is a part of Booth we have seen in the way he removed her earring from a crime scene; in the way he brings her food when she is distracted; the way that he shares places that he finds relaxing. Now he has got her a gift.
He's still dressing down more than he did and his quirky ties have become more flattering and thinner.
Hope that wasn't too long, because we still have Epps to finish off in his final reappearance. That character had the most profound effect of any on Booth, even the Gravedigger. Without Epps, much of what happens in Season 2 and beyond would have never occurred.
I have had one winner watching the racing this afternoon. Not good enough!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-10 06:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-10 07:10 pm (UTC)I'll probably fast forward through the intervening episodes to get to his last appearance where his ego finally gets the better of him.
Booth is a good listener; that's part of his charm.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 02:32 am (UTC)I did love the slow unfolding of the characters' selves. Tonight we re-watched The Woman in the Garden. Both The Spouse and I commented on how the show seems to have lost its pacing and some of its way this season --- it's not as interesting as earlier seasons.
I dearly hope HH and Co find their way - stat!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 11:40 am (UTC)Incidentally, I had one look at Brennan's office and it was too dark to make out the artifacts. I'll keep looking though.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 04:16 am (UTC)Until your examination of Booth, I'd never thought of Booth's conversation with Brennan in the same context as his conversation with her after shooting the terrorist early S 1. Yea for continuity.
And in particular, that blasted line.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 11:35 am (UTC)Absolutely!
Booth is totally consistent when it comes to causing someone's death. That will be considered in The Girl in the Gator LOL
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 06:06 pm (UTC)I totally agree - not just because he's the most convincing bad guy we've seen, but also - like you said - because he gets to Booth (and Brennan too, in a way) like nobody else has so far. I think the difference is that while the Gravedigger had a greater impact on what happened to B/B, Epps made them do things they found hard to live with. The Gravedigger made them her victims, which is basically a passive role, and they were finally able to overcome her, even if it was difficult. Epps forced them to actively do things that made them question themselves. Therefore, I think that in a way, Epps "won" in the end, even if it cost him his own life. I really like that the creators had the guts to do that and not just end the arc on a perfect "baddie gets what's coming to him" note.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 06:25 pm (UTC)Epps forced them to kill, feel responsible for his victims and question who they really were. I think he would definitely claimvictory in his own death. He escaped not only Booth's grasp but the executioner's.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 06:30 pm (UTC)*nods* And he even managed to make Booth feel guilty about it, so to a sadist like him, it was probabbly the way he wanted to die if he had to - by causing as much pain as he could in the process.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 06:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 06:36 pm (UTC)For me, he is the most satisfying villain of the whole series so far and a worthy adversary.
For me too. I like story arcs. The Gormogon one was cut short/collapsed because of the writers' strike and I don't like what they did with it and the Gravedigger one - which they have left a future opening for - they could have done more with.
Yes, Epps does want to get under your skin. ITA with you: Epps is a very dangerous, very wily individual, not a thug.
Brennan shooting Lappin must have pleased Epps. Booth does not want to kill people, and for someone else to have to do that, would also hurt him. He would choose to shoot Lappin himself instead of Brennan, if given a choice. Circumstances have killed two birds with one stone for Epps.
One thing I can't help wonder about with psychopaths like Epps is their enjoyment in making other people suffer. They are able to hurt people because they lack empathy, but if so, why do they so enjoy people's pain? It must be a control thing.
Yes, Booth is very thoughtful and, as GordonGordon later will remark, he dumbs himself down. He notices things and at the end of this epi he is able to offer Brennan the kind of support she needs, he has been where she is.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 06:57 pm (UTC)I didn't read LSQ's post on HH in case I got
depressedspoiled. Your dreams for tonight are mine!(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 07:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 08:10 pm (UTC)I love Wuthering Heights in parts although I always thought the opening was let down by the rest. Such is the Gothic novel.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 08:29 pm (UTC)Is she his daughter? (Girlfriend? this is Hollowood...) I can find no other explanation for it. It can't be the acting!
I love Wuthering Heights in partsLOL
I shall call you Jane Eyre from now on, she confessed to loving 'bits of it' when the odious Mr Brocklehurst asked her about the bible ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 08:48 pm (UTC)As ever, I don't think HH accepts very easily that he sometimes makes mistakes. He tends to bury his head in the sand and hope it will all go away. She needs to go away, love child or not.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 09:11 pm (UTC)And with the risk of being hit over the head for repeating myself (I can't remember where I vented about this) why would we watch five (5) seasons of B&B UST to have it turn into a series of epis with Booth and blond bimbo in domestic bliss?!!! HH is a coward. I will now try and not to sprain my ankle as I step off the soap box.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 09:20 pm (UTC)*offers cushion in case you slip*
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 09:47 pm (UTC)Sadly, I will in all likelihood never see them as LJ is (again) playing up ยง#%&!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-11 09:53 pm (UTC)Yours
Jane
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-14 06:20 pm (UTC)You know, I'd never really given too much consideration to Booth's somewhat fearful interactions with the clergy, just thought he was being a bit odd really, but now you come to mention it I think you've totally nailed it. Makes so much more sense now.
Love this whole theme. Thank you.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-14 08:13 pm (UTC)He has been consistent from the start in his attitude to the Christianity and his beliefs. That suggests a strict upbringing and a strong faith that may be shaken but never broken. I'll have to have a look at Booth and religion of course. This project could be infinite!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-15 03:22 pm (UTC)I agree that he was largely ignored during the early days, and it would be so good if we could finally get to find out more about him. I think that he's a far more complex character than Brennan on so many levels. And of course the fact that he so rarely offers up any personal infomation makes him SO intriguing, and it's also very sad. More hugging, Sigh.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-15 04:15 pm (UTC)