While most of the network TV world was salivating over the finale of ER, Bones pushed forward with what was one of the better episodes in a while. A body is found in an animal park half eaten by lions. The episode takes a serious turn as we discover Dr Saroyan once lived with the victim. Booth decides that Saroyan should be his right hand for the investigations giving her an opportunity to find some closure. Despite living together when she was young, the victim’s daughter doesn’t recognize Saroyan when she delivers the bad news. The daughter’s reaction to her father’s death is the most natural and well acted reaction to a Bones murder ever.

As the investigation unfolds, a disgruntled patient of the murder victim is hypnotized by Sweets. The scene is typical silly Bones fare as Sweets and Angela wander through an imagined cocktail party filled with animals. The eyewitness leads them to a philanthropist who was arguing with the victim at the party. In turn that leads to the philanthropist’s son who the victim denied a residency. That too turns up a dead end.

Saroyan tries to return to the victim’s daughter, pressing her about her memory. The young girl still carries anger toward for Saroyan for leaving her when she was a child. Its an excellent and powerfully emotional scene. That’s a rare feat for this show.

Undercutting this well-acted plot is Angela and her lame celibacy decision. Its a waste of screen time and our attention. It sucks up an infuriating amount of momentum away from what was a pretty compelling investigation.

As usual, Bones finds the murderer in the last possible place. A nurse who the victim was cheating on proves to be the killer. This gives Saroyan and the victim’s daughter a chance to reconcile. In the final scene, Saroyan invites the newly orphaned teenager to live with her and the two embrace.

Bones is fluff. Often what makes it fluff is the way moments as grave as death and loss are glossed over to give us close up views of corpses and jokes about horny forensic scientists. Bones didn’t lack for the gooey bodies or the silly inter-cast banter, but the addition of some believable emotions made for an episode that stood out. Bones might want to consider the trend.