I'm sure there's been a avalanche of fic and meta re: The Parts in the Sum of the Whole; I haven't read any of it yet. March + has been very busy here, and I've been mostly absent from all things fannish for at least a few weeks. So what I'm about to ask may have already been discussed to death. My apologies, if that's the case.
Anyway...
Is it just me, or did Booth capitulate surprisingly quickly/easily when Brennan rejected his plea to give them a chance? If you've got any thoughts on this and feel like sharing, I'd love to listen.
For now, good night. *passes out*
- Bones question
Also: he (Booth) forgot that Cam had also told him not to tell Brennan too soon....
Oy!
This. Personally I think he capitulated so quickly for a couple of reasons - mainly he realised halfway through that he was doing it all wrong and that he'd always known not to push her and that was exactly what he was doing - therefore he backed down asap so as not to do her or them further damage. Also I think he was just hurt - like
What was most telling for me was the fact that he still said they could work together, let her lean on him as they walked away - even telling her he has to move on can be seen as him providing her with a reason not to feel bad about hurting him - she will think 'it's OK, he'll be OK' (until she gets uber jealous of anyone else that turns up). Brennan's actions are also totally unselfish from a certain POV. She is terrified, yes, but she believes she hurts him less like this than breaking him somewhere down the line.
I just freaking loved the honesty in that scene. Man.
*twirls you*
Good to hear from you!! ♥
Edited at 2010-04-13 05:32 am (UTC)
Brennan's actions are also totally unselfish from a certain POV. She is terrified, yes, but she believes she hurts him less like this than breaking him somewhere down the line.
100 times, this.
also, read this by alley. She makes some amazing points regarding Brennan that I haven't seen elsewhere.
She makes a fantastic point. I always see Brennan as borderline-Aspergers. Hell,
I'm excited to think that they are approaching all of this so right for both characters. Of course Booth will lay his heart on the line, it's what he does, and of course she will have no idea what to do with it. Not yet :)
I can't wait for what's going to come. I think this is going to force Brennan to finally examine her feelings and figure things out.
I did - and it says a LOT.
I can't wait for what's going to come. I think this is going to force Brennan to finally examine her feelings and figure things out.
Me neither!! Hee!!! There's bound to be a shift in how Booth is around her (not to mention if he really does try to date someone new) and it's GOT to effect her.
This oen looks nice on the green background of this layout; *g*
Yeah it might have appeared too soon, but something was needed to break the stalemate. They so needed this kick in the pants! I look forward to Brennan realising some stuff and doing some of the chasing sometime soon :)
Yeah, I definitely thought he did. I've watched that scene a whole pile of times in the writing of our ep tag and each time I always wonder why he gave up so easily.
"I'm a scientist, I can't change."
"Okay."
What? Where did his fight go? He should have chimed in with "I can help you with that" or something similar. He put it all on the line, why did he cave so quickly? I don't get it. If I'd been writing the dialogue, I certainly would have done it differently.
Also - am saving your fic to read on the bus to work today! Eeee!
That might possibly be it. I hope that's it because other wise he really caved when he should have fought for them.
Also - am saving your fic to read on the bus to work today! Eeee!
Hope it kept you occupied while you traveled!
However, I look at it that, like a bone break, the healed spot is so much stronger than it was originally that once healed it is very unlikely to break again. I think their relationship is like this - they are "broken" but when they heal they will be unstoppable. May take Season 6 to get there though.
The way I see this scene (and I LOVED this scene - am I the only one? I thought it was perfectly done.) is that Brennan was basically saying she loves him too, but in her emotionally traumatized mind, loving him isn't a good thing. Isn't a good thing for him, because she isn't worth it. Isn't a good thing for her, because she's afraid of letting her heart out of its protective armor. And I think in that instant - Booth realized this. He knows her better than ANYONE, and I think he sensed the fear from her, but also her true feelings. So he let it go, because he still has hope that maybe NOW she'll start thinking differently. I think even though he said he'll need to "move on", part of him still plans on waiting for her to be ready.
I thought this scene was breathtakingly beautiful. It opens up a whole new set of possibilities for their relationship - and personally I think it's going to end up really well.
No no, I thought it was perfect too!
And ITA re: Booth realising all that about Brennan in that instant.
ETA: ...Yet. :-)
Edited at 2010-04-13 11:34 am (UTC)
I don't know. I've read all the commentary, I've read (almost) all the fic and I'm just waiting. Patiently. Like Booth.
Good to see you!
That makes it sound that Booth doesn't really know how he feels himself, but he does, he just doesn't know how to convince her that he is right. So he gives in. Just like that. Also telling her she is right is a trait he has to make her feel better about herself. Booth is not a loser. But he is not a winner either. Others above himself at all times so often, he has forgotten how to take something for himself.
Edited at 2010-04-13 03:02 pm (UTC)
I don't see him backing down as a sign he believes she doesn't love him (as she said in Sweets office) because her reaction in the end scene basically blew away that whole charade and showed brutal honesty from both B+B. But I do think it proved she is scared shitless of changing what they currently have (which they both enjoy) for something new and risky .. something which may not be constant .. which would risk their personal and working relationships. It's too much her and Booth see's that - hell he knew it already right ... that's why he never made a move before now!! I think if he knew if he pushed harder he'd just push her further away.
And I do not believe his half hearted moving on speech. He never said anything about him loving someone else ... just finding some one else to love him. Poor Booth.
As TT or Sarah said (I forget which) going for this using the gambler analogy was a huge mistake! Booth needed to go to her with facts and evidence of why they work, why the could be a couple, why he would love her forever ... instead he made it sound like a risk, a gamble ... not clever! Brennan was never gonna go for that. She needs evidence.
When she did reject him, it's what he half-knew would happen all along.
It could be that (as others have said) he also realized he was going about it the wrong way - after all, a plea based on emotion is going to scare Brennan.
Seriously, I think he just put it all out there and didn't have anything left to give. And I really think he thought this was the time. And in that desperate haze just decided to move on for the sake of self-preservation.
I'm right there with you on Booth's lack of fight. It's making me crazy thinking about it. What I find especially frustrating is that she all but acknowledged in words that it was a road she wanted to go down as well. He never broached the topic of their relationship because he knows that she thinks she can't change and he knows she thinks she can't love people, yet he gives up at her first protest? For the desperate, last ditch effort of a former gambler, he certainly didn't try very hard.
Of course, Brennan has to be the one to decide she can change, but an ongoing theme of this show has been each showing the other that change doesn't have to be so insurmountable. Where was that in this episode?
I understand the reasons why the show needs to keep them apart, but I don't know how many more episodes of Booth's broken-hearted face I can take. And Brennan's ridiculous attempts at liking Hacker, now that I think about it.