‘Bones’ Boss Previews the Final Season’s Resolution and Reveals Returning Favorites
When Bones showrunners Michael Peterson and Jonathan Collier plotted a final season for the long-running crime procedural, their goal was clear: “Resolve key issues for Booth and Brennan,” Peterson says.
First up: A mysterious figure from Booth’s (David Boreanaz) past returns. “It’s someone who was referenced in Season 1, from his time as a sniper,” Peterson teases. “It takes an emotional toll on Brennan [Emily Deschanel] as well. If something your spouse did before you even knew them comes back and there’s horrible reverberations, something shifts.”
Another complication? Brennan’s former boyfriend, Sully (Eddie McClintock), who resurfaces “during a very vulnerable time,” Peterson says, calling the episode a tearjerker. “It’s a beautiful resolution, but it’ll be stressful for the fans to see Brennan’s past love showing up.”
As the married couple works through their latest hurdle, there will be plenty of cases to solve: The premiere—directed by Deschanel—wraps up the Puppeteer storyline; later investigations will take the team to a retirement home, a demolition derby, a lumberjack competition and the world of low-budget genre films. Plus, former Bones guest stars, including Stephen Fry, Betty White and Cyndi Lauper, will return.
TV Insider spoke with Peterson, who previewed what else fans can expect in the emotional last year of Bones.
When the writers sat down to craft the final season, what was your biggest priority?
Last year, we went to talk to Fox and we made our pitch to get a final season. It really came down to character. Jon and I, in Season 11, we were watching a lot of old episodes. It was actually something David told us to do: go back and rewatch episodes from Seasons 1 and 2, and go back and watch the character dynamics and get some of that magic back. We realized there were a couple of storylines that were specific to Booth and Brennan that we didn’t think were resolved yet. So we pitched to Fox what we wanted to do to resolve those storylines, and because it had to do with characters, because it had to do with our leads, they said absolutely and that’s how we ended up with Season 12…[the goal is to] resolve some key issues for Booth and Brennan.
RELATED: Bones Season Premiere Preview: Zack Reveals His Plan to Booth and Brennan (VIDEO)
How did it change your mindset, even in the earlier episodes, knowing you only had these 12 hours left?
It changed it hugely. For Jon and myself, I’ve been here since Season 4, he’s been here since Season 7. We love, love, love working here. We would love to stay here until Season 20. When we were handed the keys and said, “What do you want to do?” the last thing we wanted to do was business as usual. We really wanted to put everybody through the wringer. Obviously what happened to Hodgins [with his paralysis], the new relationship for Cam [before she reunited with Arastoo], there was a lot of stuff between Booth and Brennan, the new serial killer, what happened with Zack. We wanted to amp up things as much as possible and put people in precarious situations.
This season, when we knew it was going to end, it does weigh on you. For me, it’s what’s respectful and true. It’s not so much about pushing everybody to the limits, but about being truthful. As far as that goes, we’re not going to see anybody go through what Hodgins went through [last season] when it was almost an identity shift—he became a different person after his accident. We are going to keeping moving these people forward. I think we were very careful not to do twists and turns for the sake of doing twists and turns, but it all came from the characters.
RELATED: Bones: The Hunt for Brennan’s Kidnapper is On
The first batch of episodes acknowledges the show’s past, in big ways and small. What discussions were there in the writers’ room about what fans may or may not remember? And was anything cut that you felt was too deep of a dive?
You want to make it so it works for everybody. The great Pixar movies work for the adults and the children…there are jokes that go over the kids’ heads, but it all works out in the balance. We’re trying to do something that, like, there are those references that only the die-hard fans are going to know, and for everybody else, it’s just good storytelling. Things like the resolution of what does 447 mean? Well, that’s not for everybody. That’s for a handful of amazing, diehard fans. But that’s still important to us. There will be references to things from multiple seasons, but we hope the storylines will work for everybody.
Is the 447 reveal still in Episode 11?
It’s in 11 and 12. 11 and 12 are really a two-parter.
With so many characters—regular and recurring—to content with, how did you handle the goodbyes/final arcs? Were they staggered or did they mostly fall in the final couple of episodes?
We did both. We staggered a bunch of it, but at the end of the day, we also wanted 11 and 12 to be a giant party and have all of our favorite people there. It’s not quite a cast of thousands for 11 and 12, but we’re pretty darn close. We’re going to be seeing a lot of our favorite faces in these episodes. It only seemed fitting. We tried to say little goodbyes along the way so it wasn’t too jam-packed; it felt like it was a Lord of the Rings movie where they kept saying goodbye a million times over. I can’t do that. We think we figured out a way to balance it.
It’s hugely emotional. It’s saying goodbye to a lot of people. In hindsight, I haven’t been able to say goodbye to anybody: I keep saying, “We’ll work again together.” That’s the only way it feels right. With 24 having their reboot, or Prison Break or X-Files, we all know it’s possible. Who knows?
It sounds like you’re kidding, but has there even been vague discussions about keeping the universe alive, even with the squinterns? Carla Gallo’s Daisy just popped up on Rosewood…
If they have, they have not had those discussions with me. I think right now, we’re concentrating on this being the best finale possible. I try not to worry about things I have no control over. If I got a call, I would pick up the phone very quickly.
Looking to the final season, what kind of cases will the team be taking on?
Well, there’s a lot of cases. The big arc that’s going to start in this season starts in Episode 4. Somebody from Booth’s past—someone who was referenced in Season 1, from his time as a sniper and it comes back to haunt him in a very big way. It takes an emotional toll on Brennan as well. If something your spouse did before you even knew them comes back and there’s horrible reverberations, something shifts. And it’s going to affect Brennan in a way that’s going to shake her to the core. By the end of the season, she’s going to be questioning who she is. When we came up with the storyline, it was about our characters and how they identify themselves. And to put them through this last crucible and have them come out the other side.
One that David had been wanting to do for forever, we finally found a way to do it: he wanted to do demolition derby. That’s our undercover episode for the year. It’s completely and utterly insane. That’s going to be Episode 9. We had great fun with that one.
RELATED: The Bones Cast, Producers Reflect on Starting the Final Season
Another one—which I just watched the cut for—which is wonderful is Episode 10. It’s in the world of low-budget movies in the world of Sharknado. The episode is called “The Radioactive Panthers in the Party.” It is absolutely nuts and delightfully wonderful. We have David Faustino who is guest starring, and he’s hysterical. That’s also the episode with Betty White[‘s] return—so we have Betty White and radioactive panthers. I can’t say we’ve been pitching it for years, but once it was pitched, we’re like, we have to do that one.
In Episode 3, the old age home, that was one we’ve been playing around with forever. For a while, it was going to be an undercover episode where David and Emily were going to go undercover as seniors. But it was so much fun: To have a final season where you could have Hal Holbrook, June Squibb and Ed Asner in the same episode—why wouldn’t you?
Having Stephen Fry come back, that was delightful. He’s in Episode 9; he’s not in the demolition derby. Lumberjacks…competitive lumberjacking, that’s Episode 5. Those are a few of the bigger universes we had fun with.
Sully also returns this season. How does he play into the series this time around?
What’s interesting about that one is how it relates to the larger arc we’re doing, where Booth and Brennan’s relationship is tested a little bit because of what happened in Booth’s past. Eddie comes in during a very vulnerable time in Brennan’s life. It’s an odd time for him to show up, it puts a little more strain on them. It’s a beautiful resolution, but it’ll be stressful for the fans to see Brennan’s past love showing up at that key moment he does.
One of the things that made the episode so great is that Karine Rosenthal, who was with the show from the very beginning and took a little break of a couple of years until we were able to lure her back. We wanted people from the very beginning to be here to say if we do anything that is untrue for these characters, your job is to smack us in the face. Karine has always been one of the keys to the heart of the show; she taught me how to do this show in my early years. So she wrote that episode. It’s a tearjerker. It’s one that will have you reaching for the Kleenex. It’s great, because she also came in and helped in writing the [series] finale and really helping us to make sure the emotion.
Is there anything you can preview about the finale, “The End in the End,” this far out?
We don’t go out with a whimper. [Laughs] It is a deserving ending; it is a big ending to the show. But more than just in terms of scale, it’s emotional. There’s a huge resolution. It’s going to be just emotionally taut. You will be worried for your characters. But I think it will be resolved in a way that’s respectful. I do compare the show to a roller coaster: you do go through ups and downs, but you’ll land safely on the other end.
Is there anything else you can tease about the final season?
This is for the fans. We’re trying to do something that is such a gift to be able to give them these final 12 episodes to hopefully reflect the fans’ wishes; in a way that they may be not expecting. But we’re just so grateful to have been on as long as we have been.
Bones, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 9/8c, Fox
Conversation22 Comments
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If Brennan has an affair with Sully, or kisses him, or even THINKS about kissing him, or desires him in any way, it will absolutely assassinate her character. Peterson doesn't seem to have a problem with that, but I sure hope Hart Hanson, David, and Emily herself would not allow that to happen. I agree with most commenters...I was excited for this season but now I'm just kind of dreading it, especially the episode with Sully.
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She doesn't have that great a character to assassinate.
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I dont understand why people are getting so upset before the season starts. They are not going to have bones cheat on booth with sully that will be just stupid.Theyre trying to resolve all of the past issues and to tie up loose ends for the fans be patient.
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I don't think they would actually have her cheat on Booth, because I agree that would be incredibly stupid. It's more the way Peterson says it...wink, wink...Brennan is vulnerable, B&B are going through a stressful time, Sully reappears, and there is a beautiful resolution, but for whom? Brennan and Sully? Brennan and Booth? He just leaves that hanging , but tells us it will be stressful for the fans. He wants us to think something might happen between Brennan and Sully. Really, really good advertising Mr. Peterson...makes me want to turn off my TV. I get enough stress in real-life, thank you.
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I think it will be a resolution for the three of them sully will try to make a move on bones. Her and booth will shut that down quick and they will all move on lol
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Srsly this is just awful, Peterson never had a clue what fans wanted to see and the ratings prove that. I was excited to see HH writing the finale, then he bagged out too. If Bren cheat on Bth even emotionally or its a sad ending, I will never forgive the writers, NEVER. This show should have quit when Bren announced she was preggy and Bth was the daddy. That would have been a decent ending.
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I still don't think it will be a sad ending but apparently Peterson is distorting the truth from season one to have conflict with Booth and Brennan, which is to me just ridiculous. Brennan KNEW about his sniper past and didn't have an issue with it. But now she will and that is just wrong. Not surprised HH not writing finale since the lab gets blown up which he said wouldn't happen either. I thought Karine Rosenthal coming back was going to help but cleary Weisham Graham and Emily Silver want to ruin Brennan. There is a huge difference between learning and growing to be with another person its another to regress. Peterson says they are going forward but Brennan seems to be regressing. I really really hope I am wrong but it sure doesn't sound good right now
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I don't think it should have ended on season 6, but I agree with the rest.
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Ok Peterson be truthful. Don't have Brennan CHEAT!!!. You guys are making this season sound horrible not fun. What garbage coming from his mouth. I thought Peterson was going to be better to Booth and Brennan than Nathan was. I don't think that is going to happen. Thanks a lot for making a lot of fans NOT look forward to this season
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The way he's making it sounds it's going to be depressing mess for Booth and Brennan and has really turned my excitement for this last season down from 10 to 4. There's one thing I really don't get from this article how does what is going on in Booth's arc make Brennan question who she is? Shouldn't Booth's own arc make him question who he and not the other way around. It sounds confusing to me.
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Sure does, but as far as Brennan questioning who she is that probably has to do with whatever happens with Sully but that's just a guess. I am beyond irritated that Bones is apparently re writing history to put a strain in Booth and Brennan's marriage when she knew what he did and didn't have a problem with it then. Its one thing for Sully to come back( which still isn't necessary) its another to say Booth's past would make Brennan act out in an irrational way. I am with you my excitement has gone down way down, and its a shame because these episodes only make up two or three of their shows. how about they talk about something good for a change. In my heart I know they wont screw Booth and Brennan up and I am sure the 7th episode will in the end be great( especially Emily) but the story to get there has me scratching my head
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Rewriting history it definitely what I would call it. I never liked Sully and the more they talk about him the more I'm dreading episode 7. I told a friend of mines who's not watching Bones until the 2 part series finale that I was actually thinking about skipping an episode for the first time. She said she wouldn't blame me if I did. lol She also said there's nothing like making the last season of the show sound like a depressing finale season to turn some people off.
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Yes it does but on the other hand and I am trying to be kind here is that these show runners are one being forced by FOX to do this( highly unlikely) or two they are just bad at talking about Bones. I will take the latter choice and while I wouldn't blame anyone for skipping some episodes( I might be skipping 4) I still think a lot of people will watch. I hate Sully as well but I love Booth and Brennan enough to see how" beautiful a resolution" it is so I will watch that 7th one. I have to say the interview they gave to EW was a lot better than the other ones that have come out It sounded less dire over there. I really think they should stop Peterson from talking. And of course what has really bothered me ( and this is one reason I liked the EW interview) is that Emily Deschanel's episode is being overlooked completely . EW at least asked them about her episode and how well she did. The lack of talking about this last season premiere just bothers me even if Emily hadn't directed it. It is as if the only episodes that count are after the 6th one. I really want to hold on to the belief these shows aren't as bad as they seem. Really Really hope.
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Well I hope that Peterson is right that this is " for the fans" Well sorry Peterson no one liked Sully and you didn't need him for stress between Booth and Brennan and seriously after all these years Brennan will be judgmental about his sniper past. Booth told her about that in season one Why would that affect her now? I am really worried that these episodes aren't going to be something that gets them to a better ending. I guess I am happy that Karine Rosenthal is writing that Sully episode but Peterson better not have Brennan cheat on Booth. She would NEVER EVER do that. Who wants to see that in their final season. I am beginning to wish they had ended last year. This doesn't sound fun at ALL
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That's exactly what I was thinking. If this final season is for the fans why the need to bring Sully back? I hated him since he first showed up, most of the fandom also doesn't like him, he was not needed there, no one wants him there, and the actor who plays him is also kind of a douchebag, always enticing the fandom, I have no interest in seeing anything he is on, I can't stand him. And they really are making it sound like Brennan will cheat on Booth with Sully, and I'm not here for that sh*t. Not after all they went through to get together, not after she told him once that cheating on him, destroying their relationship would be like suicide to her (or something like that), that that is something she would never do.
Booth's past as a sniper that will come up now is what, the son of the man he killed during his b'day party will try to hunt him down? I can see that having impact on Booth and his and Brennan's marriage, but I can't see Brennan judging him for what he did, she has told him before "you were doing your job, Booth", what, she's going to change her mind and have a different opinion about it now? I can't see that, sorry.
I have spent over a decade, almost half of my life, as a fan of this show, I want it to end well, without unnecessary drama, and they are doing the exact opposite of that. The more I read about this new season the more unimpressed about it I am, and the more in denial about watching it I am. Seriously, these guys Hart and Nathan left in charge when they left, they have no clue what the fans want, they have no clue how to do their jobs. The most recent seasons weren't all that good, and this one is setting up to be even worse.2
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Well you are definitely making all the right points about how this season sounds. Peterson says nobody will get pushed to the edge like Hodgins did last year but that's not how it sounds like for Brennan. I have been on record about how much I disliked the 10th season and I thought last year Peterson and Collier were turning it around. But I cannot see where in Booth's past that Brennan will start judging him so badly on. They claim to have watched that episode but I don't think they did. And god bless our Emily, love what she has done with this character and I am positive her episode tomorrow will be awesome, but why did she and all the producers think we wanted to see Sully again( and FYI it would be the same had Bones gotten Katheryn Winnick as well). Booth and Brennan don't need this outsider to " test" their marriage. Peterson needs to watch The Repo Man in the Septic Tank to see how Brennan feels about infidelity and no matter her mental state she would NEVER cheat on Booth. I am sure there are good episodes coming but they aren't promoting those much now are they. All I can do is hope that they don't take Brennan to that place because five episodes cannot deal with that well. I still don't believe they will have Brennan do anything more than kiss him or want to but the sniper part of this story is ridiculous. Brennan would never judge Booth for that. We shall see. I am still looking forward to the first three episodes and their undercover one and their last two but 4 and 7 are being set up to be real clunkers
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ok he says " it puts more strain on them" and " stressful for the fans when he shows up". I am still really trying to hold on to the notion that all of this is for the fans " a love letter". What bothers me about the promotion of this episode is the suggestion that Brennan would cheat, even though it is very unlikely that will happen. Why couldn't this episode been promoted as a couple dealing with a loss and coming to grips with that loss within their relationship( which I suspect is what the episode is about) No the spoilers that have come out suggest cheating and really does anyone at FOX or Bones believe suggesting that will get viewers to tune in( hello they are up against This is us not a good move) Sully was not even remotely neede for this episode and what is worse is for those of us wanting more romance Booth and Brennan's reconciliation will happen off camera making Sully even less necessary. And of course at TV LINE Peterson says he will be curious to see what fans think. He should have known by now no one wanted Sully and if this episode goes beyond talks between Sully and Brennan that wont be a love letter to fans at all. My feeling is all this venting will be for nothing, Sully wont be anything more than a gnat at the Jeffersonian and Brennan and Booth will have a good cry and nothing more. I wish I could skip this episode( and I just might). The four episodes after this one better be really good to make up for this crap about Sully
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EPs: “It’s a love letter to the fans. Have hope. Enjoy it. Don’t be afraid. The final season is for the fans.”
People in comment sections: OMG B&B will argue, the final season already sucks. Peterson can go to hell...
Logic. Sigh.
I'm so glad I mostly stay away from comment sections. It's the same five people saying the same stuff over and over again. Luckily my circle of people are positive and excited. As I am. This sounds amazing. I'm so excited about episode 4, and I have no doubt the Sully episode will be wonderful.
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Sigh. People like you I won't missed when the show ends.
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Then it goes both ways. But I certainly won't judge or be upset about something I haven't seen yet, which is all these people here are doing. Every year, it's the same, the interviews always make things sound different then they turn out to be - Hart and Stephen's included - and people complain before they even watch something. That is absurd.
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That's nice that you have a better attitude than some of us but I will tell you right now they are going to re write Bones history in episode 4 to force feed conflict between Booth and Brennan She already knew about everything about his past as a sniper and yet somehow this episode will say that Booth hid something else from her that doesn't exist. This is a repeat story as well because Brennan viewed him in a different light after she caught him in a gambling lie. And while I initially was wary of episode 7 episode 4 is now the one I will dread. I am most certainly positive episode 7 will turn out the way they said( because we know Brennan wont cheat but she will feel guilty about whatever feelings she does have for Sully) but some of us complainers real issue is that, one Emily's episode has been COMPLETELY overlooked in favor of an episode 7 weeks away and two Bones most certainly has good episodes coming up but they aren't talking about those either. So sorry that some of us keep ranting but re writing history is not what I expected Bones to do in their last season. Re writing history to make Booth look bad and give an excuse for Brennan to be mad at her spouse is not closure, its force feeding a narrative because the writers couldn't figure what else to do. But I do hope you are right and they are making a bigger deal about these episode than there needs to be.
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The purpose of spoilers, teases and articles is to get us to watch NOT to make us turn off the series because we don't want to see the characters that we spent 12 years watching being destroyed. Amateur showrunners are the problem.
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