As with any team, the CliqueClack writers’ team has its interpersonal dynamics. Usually it goes like this: Ivey has an opinion, and Kona and/or I who agree on (almost) everything, will disagree with him. Later I will check everyone else’s opinion around the internet using various fan communities, blogs, twitter, etc, and find, nine out of ten times, that people have all overwhelmingly agreed with me. I will then present this as proof to Ivey, who will take it as a badge of honor that his opinion was right because he sees above the masses, and I will take it as proof that Ivey just likes being contrary because that’s what he does. And we leave it until the next disagreement. It works well for us.
This one, though, I’m not letting go. Because I don’t just kind of disagree about the staging of a number on Glee (I agree I was wrong about the Sue Sylvester storyline, Ivey! That time was the one and only time I have been wrong, but I was so totally wrong), I vehemently and violently disagree with Ivey and the, say, 20% of you who think that the ending on last Thursday’s Bones was ridiculous, or annoying, or out of character, or could have happened any other way.
Really, you guys? You were disappointed in Brennan for not falling headlong into a relationship with Booth? You thought that would be more in-character? If so, I must quote Dr. Zach Addy. I can only conclude that you are stupid.
That, or you’ve conveniently forgotten what show you’re watching.
Guys, this is Brennan we’re talking about. For all her badmouthing Sweets’ conclusions about her fearing abandonment, they’re true. That’s why she’s complaining about them. Yes, she’s changed for Booth. And yes, she has become softer, more caring and considerate, but I doubt she realizes this.
She also doesn’t realize how in love with her Booth really is. Oh, sure, we have the luxury of knowing, but that’s because a) we’re not in the situation, and b) we get to see more of Booth than she does. She doesn’t know the extent of Booth’s former gambling problem because she didn’t see it, so she doesn’t know how massive it is that Booth stopped gambling pretty much the second he met her. He started wearing his quirky little uniform rebellions because of her. He’s become less abrasive and challenging because of her. And Brennan has no idea like we do, of course, because she only knows Booth in the context of herself, when he never had these faults.
Furthermore, what she does know of Booth isn’t the kind of thing that would lead her to trust him, romantically. Booth’s the guy who, she believes, is utterly delusional about love. Yeah, we all “aww!” when he talks about knowing the second he saw her, who believes in things like marriage which she considers antiquated, who’s all about soulmates and romance. She isn’t about that. And while that makes them perfect as a complementary couple, it means that she’s never going to fully trust a first move made by him, because she’s going to see it as one of his emotional things, not one of her rational ideas.
On top of that, if you really think this came out of nowhere, need I remind you of one of my favorite Bones episodes of all time, The Mayhem on the Cross? Remember what Gordon Gordon said: “One of them is acutely aware of that attraction and struggles with it daily.” Since Booth didn’t even realize the depth of his attraction until the beginning of the season, all signs point to the fact that Brennan knew. Brennan’s known forever. (Of course she has, she’s a smart cookie.) And if Brennan’s really been struggling on a daily basis not to jump Booth for years, she’s probably got an iron-clad arsenal of reasons she’s not doing it, and one little kiss and assurance that he’s going to love her forever from Booth is in no way going to break that down.
In the flashback, Brennan made the point to Booth that “it seems that someone like you could benefit hugely from a relationship with someone like me.” And he has. Now it’s Brennan’s turn to turn that around. She needs to see that Booth’s going to keep loving her and being openly interested, and once she feels sure, she’ll make her move. But what Sweets failed to realize is that the first move is always going to need to be Brennan’s, done at her own pace, so she feels safe and in control.
So for all these reasons and more, I’m honestly surprised that people were shocked or upset when Booth and Brennan didn’t just fall into each other’s arms. Of course they didn’t! This is television! And even if it wasn’t, it still totally wouldn’t have happened. But since this is television, they’re going to get together eventually and live happily ever after, just not yet. Wait for it. It’ll be epic when it happens.
Clacked by Julia Hass 
on Apr 15, 2010 @ 13:00 EST5EDT
For the record: I agree with you too :-)
Yes! I absolutely agree. It was completely in character for Brennan not to fall heart first into a relationship with Booth. Its not even that she doesn’t want to, its like she repeatedly said: she CANT. She’s just not ready. She needs to open up at her own pace. And while that kinda sucks for now, its completely realistic for her character. And I submit that it will only make their future pairing even more epic.
Also, I must say that Emily Deschanel’s performance in that scene was phenomenal! Both of them so perfectly displayed the emotions that their characters would be going through at that moment. Just to watch Brennan’s facial expressions was heartbreaking. I applaud both actors for bringing that scene to life.
Absolutely. Well said. What happened fits the characters perfectly. If she had fallen into his arms while mumbling “I love you”, I would have never watched another episode.
Preach it, sister! I still become an incoherent mess of emotions whenever I think about that episode. “THEY ALREADY KISSED?!?!?! BOOTH SAID HE LOVED HER?!?!?! BUT THEY’RE NOT TOGETHER?!?!?! AND THEY ALREADY KISSED?!?!?!” I think this was possibly the best episode so far, at least in terms of character development. It was so unexpected and yet, at the same time, made you realize it couldn’t have been any other way.
I agree with you one hundred percent. Brennan, as made evident throughout the whole series, is a rational thinker. She doesn’t give into her emotions like other people. She needs to see that whatever action she takes is logical and, if not permanent, concrete. Booth, however, is a whole other story. I really think he should have fought harder. he kind of dumped his feelings on her and when she couldn’t reciprocate, decided he had to move on. Give the girl some time! You said in your post that Brennan needs to see that Booth is going to continue to love her and be openly interested. Booth’s decision to move on kind of screwed that up. I just hope they get together by the end of the series. I could do with the drama until then. =]
Agree at 110 % !
Since the episode aired, I read a lot of bashing against Brennan. And it pissed me off a lot. People have to try to understand her. And grow a set ! At least, try to think with her mind. Not always easy, but still. Try to open your own mind and understand her.
We can’t say ” I would have fallen in Booth’s arms at her place “. “She’s a cold fish and selfish “. It’s totally the opposite.
She loves Booth since a long time and decided to sacrifice her happiness with him as a couple than the thought of losing him. Because she knows love always fails and she can’t risk losing him.
She was abandonned by her own family, the ones who were supposed to love her unconditionnally ! Live with that !
Also she doesn’t trust in her capacity to love and/or being loved without security. She doesn’t think she can be “the one” for Booth. She said it, “she wants to protect him”.
But love is always a risk.
So she compartimentalizes and doesn’t let herself think about a possibility. Because for now, she can’t. She doesn’t know how. She needs proofs but love is not about proofs, so she’ll need to learn how much she can’t live without Booth. How much she can live without proofs. How much she can allow him to love her unconditionnally without certainty. For now, she can’t. She is not aware. Not ready. She is too scared.
And Booth knows. He tried but he knows. And he can’t push her.
The next move will be hers.
It would have been totally out of character if she had fallen in Booth’s arms so easily. She needs time. And no, 6 years is not too long when you are someone like Brennan.
The end of the 100th was perfect. Perfectly heartcrushing.
Yes, Julia. Yes. Thanks.
Honestly, it makes perfect sense to me — what we really needed was Booth’s floodgates to break (which is what happened) in order for the issue to be actively dragged out into the open. As episode summaries are starting to confirm, the second this episode played my conclusion was that this season has been about Booth being in love with Bones, and next season is going to be about Bones being in love with Booth. It’s going to take them a long time to work out the timing, but it has to, because it’s network television.
May I also interject that Jonathan Francis Daley was frickin’ amazing in this episode (and all others)? (Can we please just have a Sweets spin-off show already?)
Final comment: Booth’s face in this episode. Oh my god. It slew me. It slew me like no face has slain a woman.
All in all, though, I’m glad that you said this. I don’t generally read internet television commentary unless I’m deeply enthralled, but I’m actually kind of surprised that people were actually expecting anything else from this. For the last time, internet, heartbreaking =/= out of character.
Couldn’t agree more w/ you! By the time I saw the episode I thought wow! this is true love and I can’t count how many times I’ve said and repeated it: Brennan is a abso-fucking-lutely wonderful woman, brillant and she surprises me every day!
This episode was mindblowing in every way….
Congrats!
1. If Sweets can see their psychological problems. then why didn’t he order them into individual counseling instead of trying to push them together? (Oh, that’s right, this is soap opera drama TV). Not a good psychologist.
2. If Booth knows pushing her will make her run, why did he remain silent all season, and then practically tackle her in the last few minutes of the 100th. And this was after she said repeatedly she didn’t love him during the episode. He ignores the problem all season, and then uses no finesse. Booth has been famous for his handling of Brennan’s emotions. There was no wooing and teasing, with logic and humor over any period of time. In other words, there was not any attempts at bringing it out in the open until he made his rash declaration. Of course, she was going to run the other way. Booth has been out of character all season.
Booth was not OOC either. He fought his feeling during the whole season 5, doubting himself, trying to be sure about him and about Brennan. He said to Gordon Gordon he thought she didn’t love him. You can’t open yourself to the woman/man of your life without being sure. Love is painful but unsaid love is worse. He tried to not rush her but after what was said during the 100th, reminding him how much he loves her from the beginning, he had to try. Once. One chance. The gambling chance. He lost.
And he didn’t push after because he knew he couldn’t anymore. She closed herself. But he now knows she did it because she loves him. And being rejected is always hard. Trust me. ;)
THANK YOU! The last scene of the 100th was completely in character for Brennan. I was so frustrated the day after the episode aired when I kept hearing everyone say how the writers weren’t staying true to her character. I kept thinking, “what show have you been watching?” It was like some viewers had decided who they wanted Brennan to be and when she didn’t live up to their ideas about her, it meant the writers had changed her. Brennan has been pretty consistent from the beginning. She has grown and learned a lot in the past five years but she definitely isn’t at the place yet where she is going to just let herself be vulnerable and fall. It is fairly obvious that at some point, closer to the end of the series she will be ready. This is television after all.
I absolutely agree with you. For Brennan to fall into Booth’s arms would be completely out of character for her. She always requires more time to consider making an emotional commitment to someone in her life. How long did it take for her to forgive her father enough to allow him some part of her life?
You are completely right about how she might consider Booth’s proposal to be his emotional response. While she trusts Booth as a friend and partner, a romantic relationship is one that is brand new to her. Yes, there was Sully, but her attachment to Booth was too great for her to commit to him.
Trust is key to Brennan and whether she will commit to Booth. And your insights are right on the money. Why people are so upset about the fact that the characters now have a starting point for really examining their relationship in the open seems odd to me. The first step is to put it out in the open. For Brennan there will be many more steps before she’s ready, but at least it’s out there. Without that first step they would continue to circle one another for years with no hope in sight.
Thank you for putting into words what I have been trying to express to people! You nailed it!
Absolutely, 100% agreed! Thank you for that, it was fantastic and completely spot on. It would’ve been inconceivable if she’d just abandoned her entirely personality and belief system and fallen into his arms.
You are so totally 100% right! You’ve just written down exactly how I see the whole situation and that’s the reason why I LOVED the 100th episode… and the ending :) Thank you!
Brennan is just being her and I don’t see why anybody has a problem with that. She seems like a cold fish on the surface but true bones fans know that she is very vunerable so other people just need to realize that. Booth was being in character but he just got so worked up that he had to tell her. Even we aren’t ourselves sometimes, and Booth just had to clear the air.
I tweeted your article to Hart Hanson. He linked you ! :)
Ok you’re the queen of me and you rock. I was convinced before but your arguments are just IT!
:)
I agree with you, Julia. And I think I FINALLY figured out the truly logical reason for Brennan’s reaction and rejection. I’ve thought all along that the “Brennan can’t trust anyone” thing rings a bit false and touchy-feely for a character like her. (Especially not trusting Booth. I think she trusts him completely.) After watching the episode again, I realized – she’s never happier than when she’s working with Booth. Her first statement was about the FBI not letting them work together if they’re in a relationship. And her first question after the kiss and turning him down was a question about whether they can still work together. She looked heartbroken at the thought they they might not be able to. I think, for her, working together IS “being together.” THAT’s what makes her happy every day. She gets to use her full intellectual capacity and is with someone who loves her EVERY DAY. I believe, instinctively, she knows that, if she gets together with Booth, that ends. What’s the logical choice? Don’t date at work. Don’t risk the happiness you empirically know for a relationship that may or may not work out in the long run.
Thank you. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! Finally someone who is on the same wavelength. Or, as you say, watching the same show that I do! I think I may actually agree with absolutely everything you said, which is rare. The Brennan-bashing over the last few seasons baffles and irritates me. Such a wonderful character! Now if we could only force-feed your post down the throats of Brennan bashers–in the least violent and most caring way possible, of course–perhaps they’d finally realize that THEY are the cold fish, not Brennan. And that 100th-episode end scene: perfect and perfectly in character.
Great article Julia! Thank you for sharing the feelings of us 80% who are not threatening to abandon our favorite show becuase it isn’t being written exactly the way we want it…(what a mess that would be). I completely agree with you, and am totally looking forward to the rest of this awesome series! <3<3<3 #BONES <3<3<3
I am SO GLAD you brought up Mayhem on a Cross! The impression *I* got from the earlier seasons is that BOOTH was the one who knew! I was so confused when Gordon Gordon implied that it was Bones. So now I can’t wait to see which it is…has Brennan really been waiting 6 years to jump Booth (as you so eloquently put it)? Or has she really been as clueless as she acts?
I followed Hart’s tweet to this. I retweeted it as well.
20 billion times THIS!!! OMG you are so in my head. However, Brennan is just as in love with Booth as he is with her and that scares the crap out of her because she’s 1) afraid of getting hurt 2) even more afraid of hurting Booth.
I was asking the same thing when I heard about the “TeamBrennan”/”TeamBooth” rift in the “Shippers” for the show. WTF?! Dudes, that was dumb when they did that on the show Gilmore Girls (the towns folks divided them selves into “pink”/Lorelai or “blue”/Luke). It was just utterly stupid.
I’m still all for Bones/Booth, but know it’s going to take Bones a while to get past her fear of abandonment. Considering how many times she’s been abandoned in her life, I’m sometimes still amazed at how close she’s let Angela and some of the others get to her.
I can not wait to be one of the ones to tell all those who are upset “HAHA I TOLD YOU!!!” when they do finally get together and she tells him why she took so long (like he doesn’t already know that though).
“That, or you’ve conveniently forgotten what show you’re watching.”
My thoughts exactly when I saw people complaining.I was like “Uhmm,guys,we’re talking about Bones here..?” Your points are spot on.And I completely agree(even though I have to admit it wasn’t so clear in my head before):it has to be Brennan’s move.She’ll go on only when she feels ready for it,and she’ll jump into it full-force;pretty much like the HotBlooded scene in S1. :) It must be a bit reassuring that Booth took the first step,but she’ll have the final word.
I agree! Thank you this was great and just what I’ve been thinking! :)
I am so glad you wrote this!! I couldn’t agree with you more!
I am really surprised that people think they would just fall into a relationship at the first real declaration of feelings! It would be a complete injustice to the show to have that happen.
Preach it, sister! This article is dead on. Thanks for writing it!
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It’s interesting that this is the second time I’ve introduced this time-line issue on a blog. Anyway, some facts to help you see why some fans are upset: In season two, Brennan gets involved with Sully. Sully says he’s in love with her, and while I don’t think she was in love with him, there’s enough for her to CONSIDER going away with him. Season THREE is where Booth gives his whole “making love” speech – and BRENNAN agrees with him. She’s already started shifting her thoughts about relationships. A Brennan coming from a season three place would make sense for the 100th episode ending. However, we’ve two more seasons to go.
In season FOUR, we open up in London, where Brennan states that pure logic can be dangerous and that in order to be successful, a scientist needs more than logic. The episode ends with Brennan NOT sleeping with the guy she finds attractive – even though he uses a logical argument as to why they should. Brennan agrees it’s logical – but chooses not to upset Booth – who doesn’t like the guy. They come back and Brennan starts dating two guys, one for sex and one for intellectual simulation. By the end of the episode, she is thinking that perhaps monogamy is best for sexual relationships, but she’s unsure if she’d ever manage it. Booth tells her, “there’s a perfect guy out there for you, you just have to be open to it.” He then takes her out to dinner. We then go to the episode where everyone is super-smart and rational, a place Brennan had years before applied to for an internship. Everyone is sleeping with everyone else – including the engaged Director. Booth is appalled; Brennan sees the logic in the behavior. The Director at one-point states, “love is beneath him.” The reason this episode is important? When the director hits on her, she turns him down flat. She may understand the logic in the behavior – but it’s not what she WANTS anymore. After that, we’re got the Cinderella in the Cardboard, Brennan admits to being jealous of ALL of her colleagues because they believe in true love, and she wants to. She wants to know what it’s like. Booth tells her she will…someday. In “the Girl in the Mask” Brennan is contemplating whether loving someone is worth it. She admits her fear to Booth, who promptly explains why it is – he talks about Parker. TWO episodes later, Brennan decides SHE wants a child. Apparently, she took Booth’s statement literally. Loving someone – a child – is worth it. Then there’s the whole brain tumor thing. Brennan writes a story about being in love with/and married to Booth. In the story, she says, “love gives you wings – to fly.” Then she deletes it. She’s just not ready to deal. ALL of this is SEASON FOUR. We haven’t even gone into five yet.
FIVE opens up with the psychic thing. Brennan is completely skeptical, until Avalon does a reading that says Brennan doesn’t know how anyone can love her, but that “He knows the truth of her and is dazzled by it.” This shakes her up. Clearly, it’s the question on her mind, and the answer she wants to believe… “Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” Brennan has no problem getting more involved with Booth and Parker. She gives them a key to her building so that Parker and Booth can use the pool. “Night at the Bones Museum” she goes out with Hacker – because she wants sex. However, when Booth makes it clear to her how special their relationship is by letting her know he tells her things he tells no one else, she dumps Hacker as her date to the museum and takes Booth. She paraphrases Booth’s words to her, “What happens between us is ours, isn’t that what you said.” They almost kiss. Then there’s the whole Christmas thing where she realizes she doesn’t want to spend her life alone and where nobody loves her. There’s more in season five, but let me just jump to the point where Brennan tells Booth, Jared, and Jared’s fiancé that because of Booth, she now believes that love is possible.
ALL of this between seasons 2-5, and at the end of the 100th, she says she doesn’t want to try having a relationship, that she’s too much of a scientist? (Yet, she’s not enough of one to date the Lab Director in season 4.) She can’t change? SHE HAS CHANGED. She doesn’t need to SEE that she’s changed, SHE IS A DIFFERENT PERSON THAN FROM SEASON ONE.
Now,if someone wasn’t following the story-arch, I can see that they would say that it was in character – generally speaking. However, the show has been VERY specific in building change in Brennan over the last five years. If you’ve been following that arch, the end of the 100th is disappointing, and not be in-line with what’s been built thus far. It seems contrived. Moving forward would not be Brennan falling into Booth’s arms. I’d expect her to voice her fears and doubts, but not to push Booth so completely away. I think it would be more likely she’d voice them in a way that gave Booth room to lead her slowly, because she actually wants this relationship. Booth has, over the years, come to be able to talk Brennan through her fears. It would be a true beginning of the new relationship – not more stalling of it. I was also surprised at Booth’s all-or-nothing approach – like he knew nothing about how scary this would be for her.
Like I said, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Still, you might want to listen to the rationale of the other person’s opinion before you call it stupid.
Methinks the evidence IS in the episodes. Thank you, Joy!
I agree. You said it very well. It makes the characters seem juvenile, but we know why the showrunners did it. They have to come up with something for 3 more years. I agree with you that they could have easily filled it up with Booth talking her through her fears, and Booth also has demons to face.
It is not just Brennans characterization that is bothering me. You touched on Booth’s behavior. It was strange how he went from not saying anything to her about his feelings for her, to practically tackling her with it. Then he does an about face within seconds. He used to be so in-tuned to her. Since when did he start listening to Sweets about his love life? He didn’t think it through at all, nor was he very committed to wooing her.
It is what it is, a soap opera.
But, here’s some more evidence (that Booth, himself, presents her): Brennan has a disastrous record where romantic relationships are concerned. She’s not afraid of a relationship with Booth, she’s afraid of ruining a relationship, hurting him, and then losing him entirely.
It’s not that she can’t change, or can’t love, but that she doesn’t know that she can change -enough- or love -enough- for Booth. She thinks he deserves better, and so far, from Brennan’s perspective, he’s not shown her concretely that she is good enough, or what he needs.
She would rather sacrifice her own heart than break his or lose him. And, this is something that lends to my agreeing with you that she just doesn’t realize how much she has changed.
I LOVE this. I was worried that there were people who were angry about the end of the 100th episode, and you perfectly explained why. As heartcrushing as it was, it wouldn’t have made sense to do it any other way. Thank you!
Just one little thing, it’s Zack Addy. Not Zach:)
I do agree with what your saying and yeah its gonna have to be Bren who makes the first move; but the Fangirl in me, the one who is always screaming just kiss him already is not a big fan of how it ended. But that is where fan fiction comes in as much as I want it to happen on the show I really do have to go by what Booth says. “Everything happens eventually Bones.” but until then my little fan girl heart will just make do with them being together in only fan fiction.
FINALLY! Rational commentary on the episode that’s worthy of Brennan herself!! Relationships are about the journey and I, for one, refuse to complain about the length of the trip when I’m enjoying the scenery so much.
it’s like you read my mind, unscrambled my thoughts, then constructed logical sentences. it’s what i’ve been thinking every time i read somewhere that someone hated this episode- thank you!
It sounds like you have been eavesdropping the very earnest and serious conversations I have had with my friend about this very dilemma. Both of us LOVED the 100th episode and agree it is totally in keeping with the characters. Also huge fans of the “MAYHEM” ep we spent ages theorising which of them knew.. we went to and fro but the finale and the new series made me believe it had to be her that knew and agonised over her feelings. After all she wrote the story of their alternate life together and narrated it to him for his coma dream. It might have been Hodgins saying the words but they were her thoughts
“You love someone; you open yourself up to suffering, that’s the sad truth. Maybe they’ll break your heart, maybe you’ll break their heart and never be about to look at yourself in the same way. Those are the risks.
You see two people and you think they belong together but nothing happens.
The thought of loosing so much control over personal happiness is unbearable; that’s the burden.”
She’s terrified to break his heart and not be able to live with the consequences. As much as Booths face was heartbreaking her tears as she asks pleadingly if they will still be able to work together made me feel she was just as upset as him for not to be able to say what he wanted to hear.
Unlike with other programs where I think in terms of what I think the writers are going to do, I find the realistic character dynamics in Bones mean I frequently find myself considering the characters as real people and what their motivations might be. Which means after a good episode my friend and I find ourselves discussing the characters as though they were good friends of ours who we are curious about or concerned for. Testament to the good writing and subtlety or the character development- its never in your face and you have to work to understand the characters fully. If you don’t pay attention to the interactions carefully there are many things you could easily miss- a look here, a hand touch there or a comment. Like “What’s ours is ours” in “Night at the Bones Museum” which my friend insists is a commentary on their feelings for each other and why they don’t make it more explicit. Its a shared secret between them that they know how each other feels, and like the egg story they don’t want anyone else to know, not because they would be embarrassed but because its an element in the intimacy of their relationship.
Only now do we know the full extent of the secret. That’s our shared secret now… no one else saw their conversation in the street and even though all their friends and family will keep trying to edge them closer they wont know their agonised moment when they considered a life together.
You read my mind! This is exactly what I’ve been saying. And we knew going into the ep, after months of hype and spoilers and interviews, that the odds of a happy ending then and there were slim. Anyone who gets mad now is ridiculous.
I had no problem with the choice she made. I had a problem with the way the scene was written, but I suppose that is simply a manifestation of my problem with the way that she and Booth have been written for five years. These two people are adults, and it’s a bit frustrating to watch the writers insist on having them behave like children. What two adults — experiencing that degree of attraction for FIVE YEARS (no, sorry, SIX) — would refuse to act on it? Moreover, how in the world could either one of them fail to see the depth of attraction experienced by the other during all of that time? Frankly, it’s ludicrous. Of course, those are just global complaints that serve as background for “The Scene.” After all of the hints, all of the chemistry, all of the saving each other’s lives and risking their own lives for each other (for example, taking a bullet), after Booth being kind of a jerk to Cam when he was dating her (end of Girl With the Curl, anyone?) and Brennan refusing to sail off with Sully (no, Gordon Gordon’s explanation didn’t quite wash), after Booth helped her reconcile with her father, etc. etc. etc., when the moment of truth finally arrived, we got a BS explanation from Brennan about why she won’t take the chance. If your argument is right — that she has a boatload of rational reasons explaining why she has been suppressing her attraction to Booth for years — why did she drag out the dumbest one? “Doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity?” Well, by my lights, this game of cat and mouse which they are still playing is doing the same thing over and over again. Actually taking a chance on Booth would have been something different.
I get why she didn’t do it. She’s got major abandonment issues that she hasn’t fully addressed, and if she takes a risk with the guy who has become the most important person in her life, and if it doesn’t pan out, she’s not sure how she’d get over it. Honestly, though, couldn’t she just have said this? Couldn’t she simply have said, “I’m too scared to take the risk?” I guess not. That would have made too much sense.
All of that having been said, I realize I’m watching TV. So no, I didn’t expect them to get together. I would, however, have appreciated an explanation that wasn’t ridiculous. So before you conclude that critics of that last scene are stupid, perhaps you should consider the possibility that the scene was not the stuff of logical gold.
Yep, no matter how well acted, the last five years didn’t add up to that ending. Check out my post. ;)
Actually, Brennan, never one to mince words, did, in fact, say exactly what she feared most.
“You thought you were protecting me, but you’re the one who needs protecting … from me. I don’t have your kind of open heart.”
She’s afraid she’s unworthy of that kind of love, a love she’s only just beginning to believe even exists. She’s afraid of being less than what Booth deserves, and of failing him in a relationship and thereby losing him (an extension of her fear of abandonment, perhaps).
She told him, refutable reasons, but it’s hard to hear when your heart is breaking. In the end, it will sort itself out.
Finally someone one that knows what they are talking about. I will never work any other way.
Well-thought out article! Though not everyone will agree, you bring up some good points. I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised that such a significant number of fans didn’t really like the ending. I don’t know about them, but I’m not expecting or even wanting this amazing tension and drama to dissipate anytime soon!
You guys have brought up Brennan’s abandonment issues. I agree they’re still there, and will always be to a certain degree, but I think her struggle has less to do with abandonment and more with her fear that she’s not good enough for Booth. If I remember right, she pushed him away and yelled something to the effect of “You have an open heart and I don’t!” She admires and respects him more than anyone she’s ever met — and respect is not something someone like Brennan gives away carelessly. She sees that he has something good that she lacks, yet he loves her anyway. She KNOWS Booth will be there for her, always. She’s bragged to even total strangers about their close relationship.
Anyway, thanks for the article and the stimulating comments. It’s a sign of good writing that discussions like this even exist. :)
I was upset, not by the fact that Brennan turned him down, it is scary for her, but that he said he had to move on and see other people. How is it going to work if he does move on? Then she was right and he can’t be trusted in love. If he doesn’t then the tension should be unbearable. We see in the very next episode the tension is there. So I guess we wait to see how Hart and the writers play it out!
Yes yes yes… they stayed very true to the characters and to the last five years… get over it people.. I am worried they will drop a big bomb on us in the season finale though.. her turning him down I can tak.. one of them leaving or wondering if one of them is leaving is going to tick me off a little,,,,, I mean there is a season 6 and they are the stars so that really would not fit, I hope they do not disappoint – I predict the wedding is not sweets but Jareds… and it really throws booth for a loop – please do not leave us hanging this year too bad!!! I mean amnesia was bad enough – Zack murdering again bad bad.. but you may just kill me if one of them decides to leave the other…
I’m rather late to this TV show. I only started watching about a month ago and luckily because of netflix and some generous friends with DVR episodes (for season 5)I caught up in mere weeks. One of the many strengths of the show is the consistency in its writing. Watching it in blocks you realize how tight and well written the show is. The continuity in this show is amazing compared to most TV shows. I absolutely agree with this article.
The episode was a punch in the face but, not because I didn’t get what I wanted from the show. It was because of some damn good writing and execution of the story.
Totally agree with why Brennan would say no. She is scared beyond belief. But one problem I’ve had all this time is why Booth is so in love with a woman who’s slept with half the male population of DC?
She is completely the kind of woman he would NOT fall for. Sure, there can be a complementary thing when it comes to relationships, but how you view sex is one of the important values that you don’t make compromises about. Booth should hate her/disrespect her for how she lives her life.
The viewer can easily ignore this. The viewer can have a fantasy about how Brennan “really is a one man woman MEANT for Booth”. How romantic! Because the writers have cleverly chosen to have most of Brennan’s sexual exploits happen OFF camera. Even if the viewer HEARS the evidence – Brennan talking about sex – most people still harbour the irrational idea that “she’s just talking” – she really LOVES Booth.
Totally irrational.
If we had actually SEEN Brennan wake up with a different guy in every episode, nobody would see her as perfect for Booth. And what about Booth then? He supposedly has been in love with Brennan all this time. Okay, I can understand that he fell in love with her at first sight. Okay. But this guy, with these feelings, has been hearing her talk about all those men, for THIS MANY YEARS and he hasn’t realized what she’s like yet? In real life, if he really had the values he does, he would have moved on 10 years ago. Or at least during season 1.
But this is television. And the producers of this show can rely on the viewer being totally irrational about Brennan. As long as they don’t SHOW her changing men as often as she changes clothes the viewer will BELIEVE that she isn’t ACTUALLY sleeping with all those guys even if she says she is. The viewer will – totally irrationally – ignore the evidence in what she says.
So a show about a completely rational woman depends on the viewers being totally irrational. The heroine is rational, but the viewer is expected to be irrational.
Otherwise this show just doesn’t work.
OK, this is EXACTLY why some people LOVE the ending of the 100th. They’re STUCK in seasons 1&2! It’s also annoying that because. Brennan straight up admits that she likes sex people brand her a slut. She’s like that with everything – TRUTHFUL to a fault. I mean, come on, who doesn’t like sex? Anyway, Nicole addressed that whole double-standard hypocrisy, so I won’t go on. My point is this: her views on sex and relationship have been shifting since season two!
It starts with Sully – which was a dating relationship, one which she actually cared enough about the man to actually CONSIDER going away for a year with him. Season three she agrees with Booth’s views about making love. I always suspected her relationship with Sully contributed to that shift – it seemed like he was the first man to say he was in love with her. I mean, her intro to sex – AT 23 – was her slick, charming, “I’ll see you when I see you” professor. Remember him, Michael? (At least he waited until she wasn’t in his class anymore.) For Peter, his being with Brennan was all about the sex. So, until Sully, she didn’t HAVE any other experience of sex being anything but a fun, physical thing that had nothing to do with love, or even attachment. (actually her question to Booth in New Orleans is heartbreaking if you think about it. She asked him “why are you nice to me?” Apparently she’s not used to a man being nice and NOT asking for sex.) Her agreeing with Booth shows a MAJOR shift. In 4, she turns down sex with the guy in London because Booth doesn’t like him. So, then she tries the experiment of dating one guy for sex , the other for “intellectual stimulation” (she IS a scientist.l) She isn’t the first woman to think if you could just combine two different men you’d have the perfect man. The conclusion she comes to is that monogamy is a better choice. Later that season she solidifies that descion when they investigate that scientific think-tank where she once applied. Everyone is sleeping wit h everyone else. Yeah, she understands it – gets the “logic” – but it’s not for her anymore. She turns the professor – and that lifestyle down cold. She actually says that she’d thought about it – what it would mean for hed to become involved with the man – and had decided if he asked she would say no.
From here on in she working on understanding how this “love” thing works. THAT, is what she was working out in her story at the end of 4. She deletes it because it terrifies her, but all through season 5 s he’s let herself get closer and closer to Booth. So, yes, her reaction to Booth saying they should give them a shot did not make sense to me in the context of who she’s become over five years. Falling in his arms kind of yes? No. But this, “I’m a scientist who doesn’t know how to change bull – please. She knows that she’s changed, changed her thinking about love being more than chemistry, changed in wanting to have people in her life. The whole Christmas thing, and finally understanding why it was important was all about the realization and acceptance of needing people in her life – and sharing who she was with the people in her life.
As for why Booth fell for Brennan? He saw she had heart. Without even looking at info from the 100th, he’s admired her commitment to truth, her passion for justice, her overall spunk. He also saw the deep feelings of compassion buried under the scientific veener. That’s how come when she’s failing in her testimony opposite her slimeball ex, Michael, Booth tells the prosecuter to ask her why she became a forensic anthropologist. HE knows she sess more than bones, feels pain for every victim, and doesn’t want anyone to suffer the not knowing what happened to someone they loved. That’s in season 1. Every season since he’s learned more and more of her depth of heart. Booth fell in love with Brennan for the same reasons a lot of Bones fans have. She’s a unique and amazing character.
Yes, you’re right…And I’d add one more reason why Brennan is so afraid of getting into the relationship. It’s because she’s got asperger’s, I think it’s obviously described all though the episodes.
she knows it herself, so she can’t read others mind including Booth’s. She’s still not sure if Booth really means it or not. It should be so scary to risk her most valuable thing(current happy relationship with Booth) upon such an uncertain non-logical evidence.
I think you’re absolutely right. And while Brennan may be more into the whole concept of love. She isn’t so sure that she deserves to be loved, especially not by someone she holds to such a high standard! She was in foster care, she had foster parents lock her in the trunk of a car, treating her like she wasn’t worth anything. She may seem like she has a big ego (from time to time) and to her the parts that mattered being successful & smart are qualities she possesses. But the qualities she thinks Booth is looking for & deserves (the qualities she’s starting to open to & give credit to), are qualities she THINKS she doesn’t possess.
By the way RE: Brennan sleeping with half the population. You can’t help who you fall in love with. And while yes Brennan has totally different believes, the amount of men isn’t that big and she hasn’t been bragging about it all that much. What also counts is that she has changed during the seasons, gradually she changed.. She accepted Booths view of making love, she has been celibate since she dated those two guys in season 4 (she said so herself in a recent episode). And I think Booth knows that it’s all a front it’s the way she validates herself or validated herself.
Brennan has issues and Booth who has just as much or maybe even more issues, accepts and understands that like no other.
But there’s a willingness to learn from both sides and that’s, in my opinion, why it’s believable that these two are in love.
How shrewd, I agree with you. Definitely Brennan thinks she doesn’t deserve Booth. And yes, she’s got very low self-esteem deep in her heart contrary to her appearance.
Girls who has low self-esteem tend to have sex without thinking much, as they don’t have enough dignity of themselves..But Brennan has been changed, as you mentioned. Now she respects the way Booth thinks about love. She’s trying to see the world through Booth’s eyes. This is called love, I think.
Marine, what exploits on or off camera? Why can’t she talk freely about her views of sex? Should we stuff Booth’s mouth when he talks about lovemaking?
Brennan has slept with Peter(ex in pilot), Cult guy(two bodies), Sully, and Mark. Booth has slept with Tessa, Rebecca, and Cam. She slept with one more person than Booth. I guess since Brennan doesn’t feel that sex means love, Booth should have moved on. Please…Booth sleeping with Cam and Rebecca had nothing to do with lovemaking but biological urges. We saw both of those “exploits”. Should we chalk that up to irrational TV viewers not wanting to see the truth?
Booth isn’t the almighty, flawless God that Brennan has somehow corrupted.
I’m sorry but your math is a bit wrong. Also, what I tried to say was that if we had SEEN her sex life as she describes it when she talks about sex, we would feel very differently about her being “meant” for Booth.
And since Brennan doesn’t feel that sex means love, but he does, not only SHOULD Booth move on – he WOULD HAVE long ago.
Personally I’m looking forward to Booth dating Rena Sofer’s character.
I loved the episode, thought it was perfect, and I love the way you presented your case. Let Ivey be contrary, you get to be right! ;)
Um, Marina, I don’t actually think Booth equates sex with love, nor does he condemn it. His making love speech talks about fetish stuff being “crappy sex”, but is very compassionate about sex in general. He says some people may have given up on finding love, or be looking in the wrong places, but everyone, whether they know it or not, is using sex to find connection; “because every once in a while, every once in a twhile, there’s that spark” – the spark that leads to making love as opposed to just sex.
Now, certainly, Booth PREFERS making love, but that scene with his ex was NOT about that. LOL! He’s a romantic, but not a monk. Remember his shock that Brennan was 23 when she lost her virginity? Judging from some of his reactions in episodes dealing with high school, and college aged guys, I don’t get he’s lived whole life ALWAYS “making love.” HE was MORE than willing to have sex with Brennan that night. He thought she was HOT. He liked her. Brennan’s standards haven’t been that different than his -chemistry and liking the person. Brennan’s just been blunt about it. Her bluntness makes him uncomfortable – in part because he was raised Catholic boy, and more likely, because he’s attracted to her and when she talks about sex he thinks about what sex would be like with her. LOL!
Of course he’s compassionate about sex – he believes in that connection (=love) which makes sex magic! The fact that he believes in love does not mean that he’s opposed to sex! I never said that!
As for the scene with his ex(es) – that whole eppy was to me Booth behaving OUT OF character. Besides, his ex is a person he once loved, right? So it’s not quite the same as just jumping into bed with someone because of their excellent muscles or what not.
And the tequila night? “HE was MORE than willing to have sex with Brennan that night.” I agree. But he was IN LOVE with her, right? Isn’t that the whole idea behind 5 seasons of Bones? That he fell for her right at the start?
Then the reactions in dealing with high school and college. I always thought that he was saying things – boasting about this and that girl – because he was trying to seem more Brennan-like. You know, she has this way of looking down on him for being more conservative than her with regards to sex – as if INTELLIGENT people see sex as a purely physical thing. So he tries to seem more okay with it byt TALKING about doing stuff in high school etc. It’s just him telling her “I’m intelligent, and I’m not as stuffy as you think”. He’s showing off, in order to look better in her eyes. Becuase he cares about what she thinks of him.
I can see that happening, a human thing. He doesn’t like her approach to sex, but he’s in love with her, so he tries to tell himself that he is somewhat okay with casual sex too – for her sake. But at the end of the day it’s always going to be an obstacle for him, that there are so many guys out there who have slept with her.
That he is never going to be to her what she would have been to him.
And at some point it’s going to bother him so much that he decides to move on. And later be relieved that he did. Because she is not the kind of woman he is looking for. And in his heart he knows that.
I didn’t say Booth was opposed to sex either. What I said was that Booth doesn’t think of sex as having to equal love. You do say that. These are your words:
You’ve really given this a great deal of thought!
Yeah, you’re probably right. And you probably nailed it at the end too, saying:
“She is very much a woman he could fall in love with, which I suspect, is probably why you can’t stand her. :)Can’t blame you: DB is sexy, and the character of Booth really is a pretty great guy. ;)”
This is of course all about my low self esteem, me being JEALOUS of Brennan. To the point where I can’t stand her.
Yes, I have a problem with Brennan, that’s very true. We’re told she is extrelemely intelligent, but the way her character is written and played she clearly is a smart woman, yes – but actually well-read rather than extremely intelligent. There is a difference.
We’re also told she is socially awkward, when her habitus clearly shows a woman who is very socially aware, and spends a great deal of time making sure her physical presentation is up to standards.
Now I know from my own personal experience that women who REALLY are extremely intelligent AND socially awkward don’t have men like Booth falling in love with them. So I guess that must be – like you suggested – why I can’t see Booth falling in love with her. And instead come up with my “obsession with Brennan’s so-called guy a night sex life:”
It’s all about my own shortcomings, – “Can’t blame you: DB is sexy, and the character of Booth really is a pretty great guy. ;)” – and you’re absolutely right. I don’t have guys like Booth, looking like DB knocking on my door.
You’re absolutely right.
It’s ok, Marina. I understand… I like Brennan because I see her as a late bloomer. The character of Brennan has amazing abilities in the area of physical observation and logic. It’s how she’s able to put a shattered skull together or look at Booth’s face and know his ancestry. Over time she’s observed what are the appropriate PHYSICAL markers for a woman to appear normal and attractive. I probably relate to Brennan because I was older than she was when I lost my virginity. It took me a long time to figure out the “appropriate physical markers” that made me look attractive and feel like I could fit into the world. I suspect we both know a lot about the downside of being super smart. Perhaps, instead of hating Brennan, use her character to realize you can learn the cues that make you feel good about yourself. Brennan reminds me that change is possible within myself – even if it takes longer than the average woman. It’s possible for you, too. :)
Thanks for your honest reply, I appreciate it.
It’s funny, lately I have been thinking a lot about these things, because of other things happening right now. And I think it’s been almost therapeutic hearing your views on Bones!
I used to relate to Brennan – when the show started I identified a lot with her character, but somewhere along the line, I think during season 2 or 3, I started getting more and more annoyed with her. Now, this can be because I project my own problems onto her, but I think it’s also because they leave out the negatives that should be part of her life, if she were real.
There is an early episode where Brennan tells Zack his intelligence is his superpower, and he replies that it isn’t – his intelligence makes others feel stupid, and then they hate him for it. I loved hearing him say that, and Millegan showed real loneliness in that scene. But Brennan – she apparently never makes anyone – other than Booth – feel stupid (and yet he loves her?), everyone is just amazed at how wonderful she is. There is no backstabbing or bullying in her world. Nobody trying to take advantage of her alleged social awkwardness either. Everybody just stands there in awe of her, and men immediately want to sleep with her. Even though in the real world, if you want sex: act stupid. Actually, not just if you want sex – in most cases it’s good to act stupid, like Zack said: people hate you for being smarter than them.
Physically Brennan is beginnning to look more and more like Emily Deschanel. Makes sense, and from a television perspective I’m sure it’s important that they make sure her hair and makeup is always perfect. After all, she’s DB’s love interest on the show. But for her character I’ve always found that odd – given that she says she never reads women’s magazines.
You, however, gave a very good explanation to this! Yes, maybe she has studied the physical markers from a scientific and anthropologic point of view! That would make sense, although I’m pretty sure that’s not the real reason for her looks – but I’ll accept it. Your explanation works. Except for one thing – she’s very COMFORTABLE wearing all those markers, the clothes, perfectly coiffed hair, gorgeous makeup, but people who are socially awkward are usually not that comfortable in that. But okay, maybe she has been doing this for a long period of time and become comfortable…. okay.
” Perhaps, instead of hating Brennan, use her character to realize you can learn the cues that make you feel good about yourself. Brennan reminds me that change is possible within myself – even if it takes longer than the average woman. It’s possible for you, too. :)”
Yes, maybe I have a lot to learn from Brennan, and if I saw it that way maybe I’d enjoy the show again the way I did in season 1. You know what, you’ve convinced me, and I think I’m going to get the DVDs out and rewatch it from a different perspective.
I also need to rethink my views regarding love and sex. I’ve been very cynical about Booth loving Brennan – possibly because I see Booth as a unique character. Which is good in a tv show – a show with extraordinary people is more interesting – but I think in real life men like him are like one in a billion. I’ve come across a man like him – able to see through the front, able to look into my heart – many, many years ago. And I lost him. Now, statistically speaking, the odds of me coming across a man like that again aren’t very good, are they?
Which means, that hoping to some day find a man who could LOVE me is a stupid thing to do. It can only end in tears. However, that doesn’t mean that I couldn’t have fun and exciting sex. All I need to do is learn about those markers and go out there and get laid. I mean, that’s what everybody does. Why not me too?
Hi Marina. You brought up a lot of stuff. The stuff about Brennan being accepted and not making people feel stupid was interesting. Brennan does tend to makes people with normal IQ’s feel stupid. Take her entire high school as an example. However, except for Angela, (Booth is technically FBI) no one at the Jeffersonian has a relatively average IQ. However, among other things, Angela does have an artistic gift that Brennan understands and appreciates. Angela can look at bare bones and reconstruct what a person looks like – and then draw it. Brennan can’t draw, but she “sees a face on every skull.” That shared ability and understanding is what started their friendship. Meanwhile Hodgkins has three different Ph’d’s – at one point I think Brennan says, “he’s almost as smart as me.” Smart people understand other smart people. In her acceptance pletter to Zach she said, ” I think you will find a home here. ” I pthink she’d had a lot of experience with not fitting in – and worked on it. (Those markers) Her being comfortable in her body can be attributed to having three black belts in different martial arts. It also explains her assertiveness, and confidence. Most martial arts training includes self-esteem building with mantras. I am strong! I am wise! Or “I am beautiful!” – which Brennan will say at the drop of a hat. It’s a good practice.
There also is the matter of Brennan’s heart. Her character is intrinsically good.It’s a bond she shares with Booth. When Cam was introduced (before the 100th) she wanted to shift some evidence around to make a case. Brennan was furious, and when Booth tried to calm her down, she snaps, “you would never do that.” Booth had to agree, he wouldn’t. The people she works with see her passion and commitment to finding the bad guys. They see just how much she CARES – even if she can’t verbally express it. They also know her history and are smart enough to understand why she is so guarded. Even Can lightened up on Brennen when she learned of Brennan’s foster-care history.
As for backstabbing among intellectuals – her former professor fitthat bill perfectly. She had to rework her entire case.
Finally, in terms of the rest of the ” Bones” universe – when you’re considered the best in the world at what you do, and what you do is obscure, but highly useful, people tend to cut you a lot of slack.
;)
Of course, Brennan isn’t real, but is an extremely well written and interesting character. Very few shows give this much depth – the character of “House ” comes to mind. Both those shows have great writing AND an actor who really brings it to life. Emily IS amazing, but she is an actor in Hollywood – by definition more attractive than the average American. Don’t let that discourage you. In real life, despite all the magazine images etc, I’ve discoveres most men don’t expect the perfection portrayed in the media.
The ending of your last post sounds like early Brennan logic. So here’s a thought of hope. Brennan’s thinking about relationships is evolving in the show. Eventually, she will get to a place where she knows that she, with all her quirks, is worthy of love. If you’re using that logic, you will get there also. : ) Still, Brennan had to start where she was at – we all do. Learning to like yourself enough to know you deserve great sex is a good start. : )
Thanks for the chat. Because I chose to think about these things I’ve come to see how the 100th ending makes sense. It doesn’t follow the logical conclusion of prior events. h
However, Brennan is more willing to NOT be logical. In that way, it makes sense. :)?
Hi again, Joybrennan. You’re right about the black belts, and that having impact on how she feels about herself. It certainly would! I didn’t think of that.
And yes, her high school is an example of her making others feel stupid. But that comes close to the end of the 5th season! Surely we should have seen more of that before! And the backstabbing – among intellectuals, or others, I actually meant everywhere – yeah, there’s the former professor, but that’s it. In 5 years and over 100 episodes ONE incident!
You’re also right when you said that “when you’re considered the best in the world at what you do, and what you do is obscure, but highly useful, people tend to cut you a lot of slack.;)”. Yes, but not always, and they are more likely to cut you some slack if you’re a man than if you’re a woman. So how come everybody adores her? She gets practically no animosity from anyone. Not even when she’s abrubt and rude to people?
I would agree to her character being fairly well written, but not “extremely well written”. As I pointed out in an older post we’re TOLD that she is extremely intelligent, but the way her character is written, and played by Emily Deschanel, she comes off as wellread rather than extremely intelligent. Which, btw, the whole how-many-PhD’s-someone-has debate is an example of. A person with average – or less than average – intelligence can get a PhD, it just takes a little more work than for someone intelligent. And multiple PhDs – very easy if you get them in related fields.
And there are factual mistakes, where she lectures Booth about something, and everybody stands in awe of her, when what she said was actually incorrect, and in one case urban legend – myth! -which she would have known if she had any knowledge of physics. This too makes me substitute the word “extremely” with “fairly”.
But I understand that the science isn’t the highest priority of the writers. It just makes it hard for me to watch the show, when I’m sitting there going “she says THAT and they’re all in awe of how SMART she is”???
Not to mention how Deschanel delivers the difficult scientific lingo. That’s why I miss Zack – Eric Millegan was able to deliver really complicated lines so that the technical words rolled very naturally off his tounge. TJ Thyne is pretty good at that too, but Deschanel always takes a micro pause before she delivers the line, like she was an athlete concentrating on a high jump. And her voice changes too, so that you really notice “oh, here comes the science speak”.
Okay, I’ve got to stop ranting. And move on to the end of your post. “Eventually, she will get to a place where she knows that she, with all her quirks, is worthy of love. If you’re using that logic, you will get there also. : ) Still, Brennan had to start where she was at – we all do. Learning to like yourself enough to know you deserve great sex is a good start. : )”
Well, in my case: I know I’m worthy of love, I just know – and believe – that statistically I am not likely to ever find it. Which is why I think I have to start settling for great sex. Or even average sex. Well, just any sex at all.
It has been nice to chat. You’ve opened my eyes about a lot of things. And if this helped you with the ending of the 100th eppy – I guess we’ve both benefited.
LOL! I wouldn’t catch the science errors – my gifts are language, music and analytical reasoning. Have you checked out Mensa? There’s a group where I live and I’ve met some interesting and attractive men there. Currently, the guy I’m spending time with is from my spiritual community – but I have no regrets about the mensa men. ;)
I LOVE BONES SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =]
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BY Carlita Fogo From BRAZIL!!!