Bones - Season 8 Premiere - Recap - The Future in the Past

Crime series Bones returned tonight with a thrilling Season 8 premiere, “The Future in the Past.”

After spending the last 3 months as a fugitive, Brennan (secretly) returned to the Jeffersonian Institute. Were they able to solve Ethan Sawyer’s murder case (to clear Brennan’s name)?

Find out here:

In Season 7, Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan was framed for the murder of her good friend, Ethan Sawyer. Christopher Pellant, a tech-savvy serial killer, manipulated the security footage to make it seem like Brennan murdered Ethan. Then, Brennan surprisingly started her life as a fugitive, and ran off with Baby Christine without telling Booth.

Season 8 kicked off with a touching moment—Brennan and Christine spent the day at the park viewing photos of Booth (Baby Christine’s dad). Christine instantly recognized her father’s face in the photos, referring to him as “dada”. Brennan’s father, Max, picked them up at the park. Brennan’s also been wearing a blonde wig in an effort to discreetly disguise her face.

At the Jeffersonian Institute, Angela has been trying to figure out how Pelant manipulated the security tapes. Hodgins—Angela’s husband—consoled her:

Angela: “I miss her (Brennan).”

Hodgins: “We all do.”

Clark Edison—the former intern for Dr. Temperance Brennan—has been named the Resident Forensic Anthropologist at the Jeffersonian Institute. (He took Brennan’s position). The head boss at the institute, Cam, had no other choice but to give Clark the position. When Angela walked into Clark’s office, they got into a heated argument about Clark’s obsession with using binders (because Brennan never used binders).

The forensic team received an anonymous tip for a murder investigation (which Max and Brennan anonymously left). During the past 3 months, Max and Brennan have been tracking down Pellant’s dirty details. The murder victim was actually Pellant’s former high school guidance counselor, Carol Morissey. Angela also found a snowdrop (a white flower) at the scene of the crime. (Brennan left this marker for Angela.)

Back at the institute, Angela revealed to Booth that she’s been secretly keeping in touch with Brennan. Angela hasn’t even told Hodgins that she’s been communicating with Brennan.

Brennan’s been watching the crime scene from a TV in her secret hotel room. This was one of the most frustrating experiences for Brennan since she wasn’t able to assist the forensic team with the remains yet. Unfortunately, Pellant’s been watching the crime investigation from his TV as well. He also recognized the snowdrop (Brennan’s marker).

Booth drove to Atlantic City to look for Brennan. He rented the car under a false name. In his hotel room, he saw a moving silhouette walking towards the front door. Not knowing the identity of the person that was entering the hotel room, Booth tackled the individual. It was Brennan! The only difference was... she’s a blonde now! Booth and Brennan engaged in a hot & steamy make-out session. Booth finally got to see Baby Christine, thereafter.

Back in the lab, Hodgins revealed that the victim’s skull was fractured by a Red Aggregate rock. Also: Dr. Sweets, the Resident FBI Psychologist at the Jeffersonian Institute, revealed to the Resident Prosecutor—Caroline—that Carol (Pellant’s former high school guidance counselor) wasn’t the one who wrote his college recommendations.... it was Pellant who wrote the college recommendations himself AFTER he murdered her when he was just 16 years old.

Angela asked Hodgins for a favor. She asked him to leave a couple snowdrops (Brennan’s markers/white flowers) at the cemetery. When Pellant showed up at the cemetery, Hodgins choked Pellant while saying: “I will kill you. Know that. Your brain, that’s what’s dying. That brilliant brain of yours.” Hodgins didn’t murder Pellant after all.

When Max stopped by the cemetery, Pellant was hiding behind a wall. Max let Pellant know that he was going to keep Brennan as far away from him as possible.

Back in the lab, Dr. Clark Edison believed that the victim’s throat was slit with an ax. Also: Cam informed Clark that he might be losing his job if they succeed in getting Brennan’s name cleared. Clark was well aware of that.

Hodgins asked Cam to take Clark and all of the security guards out to dinner, so that they can secretly have Brennan examine the murder victim’s remains. Cam followed through with the plan, and Brennan & Booth happily reunited with Sweets, Hodgins, and Angela in the lab. They examined the remains with all the lights turned off. Brennan discovered how the murder came about: Pellant snared his high school counselor while she was running through the woods—and she fell on a Red Aggregate rock (which caused her skull to fracture).

FBI Agents Booth and Flynn arrested Christopher Pellant for committing computer fraud (by hacking into the FBI e-mailing system).

At the Jeffersonian Institute, Angela has been attempting to crack Pellant’s triangular computer code. This triangle represents three sides to Pellant: a constant rebirth into innocence, a secret murderer persona, and a want for one of the Jeffersonian squints to take his life.

Brennan revealed that the murder weapon was not an ax, but actually a Japanese Kamikaze sword. Also: Angela was able to decipher Pellant’s triangular computer code, and she cleared Brennan from the security tapes! Pellant was put away for murder.

Resident Prosecutor Caroline mentioned that the Jeffersonian Institute was in need of two forensic anthropologists—one for strictly crime (Brennan) and one for strictly archaeological work (Clark). Clark got to keep his job!

The second to last scene took place in Booth & Brennan’s home. Brennan re-dyed her hair brown. She’s a brunette again! Brennan apologized to Booth for taking Baby Christine with her, and Booth forgave her. While they were engaging in another sexual scene (with Brennan stripping off Booth’s shirt, and Booth placing Brennan on top of the washing machine), they received a call from the Jeffersonian Institute.

Unfortunately, Pellant was released from prison. FBI Agent Flynn claimed that Pellant’s legal identity is actually “Bassam Alfayant.” Pellant headed back to his “hometown” of Egypt. His true identity (Christopher Pellant) has been completely wiped from the federal U.S. records.

Pellant handed Brennan another marker/yellow flower. This flower represented “pain and grief.” Brennan slapped Pellant silly, and Booth threw the yellow flower in the trash. The strangest part about that scene was that Agent Flynn took the flower out of the garbage bin. I think Agent Flynn is actually a spy. He was probably the person who altered Pellant’s identity.

We need to watch out for Agent Flynn. He’s not trustworthy. At all. I have a very strong inkling that HE got Pellant out of prison.

The next episode airs Monday, 9/24, at 8pm ET on FOX. Tune in then!