The third episode of Bones season 8 “The Gunk in the Garage” engages viewers just from the title alone, and this week’s narrative does not disappoint. An episode where Sweets and FBI Special Agent Olivia Sparling (Danielle Panabaker) shine, it is arguably the best episode of this season dialogue-wise.

It opens with a man walking to his car in the hotel garage when he sees a soda on top of his car. He gets the feeling that he’s being watched, when he reaches for the soda and the car blows up. Hint: Next time you think you’re being followed don’t reach for the mysterious object on your car.

Brennan wants an $800 fancy colored stroller, while Booth insists on splitting the expenses. Brennan doesn’t see the big deal in her paying for it but Booth says it will have to wait until he gets a raise.

Brennan speculates that it’s a targeted hit while Cam reveals that the man’s body parts are all over the garage. Hodgins uses his nose to smell the intestines which then fall on his face in one of the more disgusting images of the season (so far).

Angela smartly reveals the cause of death with “The cause of death was a humongous explosion.” This makes sense since the victim went through exploding, burns, lacerations, contusions, and severing of the skull.

Sweets feels he has to buy Daisy a gift as she’s gone for five days. Booth questions the need for buying a gift for only a short trip. Uh oh, trouble on the horizon for the dynamic couple.

Olivia Sparling, a new special agent, is grabbed by Caroline to accompany Sweets so he can go to the crime scene. Booth has been sequestered by Caroline for the near future, while Sparling and Sweets spar over Sweets’ profession and its usefulness to the FBI.

Booth’s unit’s budget is under investigation, which means he has to justify the expenses at the quarterly budget review in order to intimidate the higher ups. “There’s no one burlier or cuter than you,” Caroline says to entice Booth, and slips in the promise of a raise and promotion.

Cam gives Hodgins the approval to conduct explosions for the case with the condition that they occur outside the lab. Hodgins’ explosions have been missed. Where’s the Squintern to assist?

Sparling harshly questions the hotel’s security officer, Mr. Franklins, and takes him into custody after he refuses to reveal the video without consent. Brennan encourages Booth to go in the field while Booth sees the financial benefits of getting a promotion. Interesting fact: 8231 thumb drives were purchased by the FBI in one quarter alone.

After the hotel hands over the video tape, Robert Carlson, a Bethesda resident, is identified by Angela as being the victim. Booth seems to have trouble letting go of not being in the field while Sweets and Sparling go to notify the wife. After a thoughtful speech by Sweets and a freak-out by the wife, the husband Robert Carlson shows up, alive.

Booth seems to be having issues at the offices trying to decide if a bulletproof vest is a uniform or equipment, and threatens to practice on the poor company representative. Sweets is insecure over how Sparling views his job performance. Do we sense romantic tension?

Angela still believes that the victim is Carlson, while Brennan sees differences in the skull. The best friends still decide to blame Sweets for the mis-identification. When readjusted, the victim looks to be identical twins. Plot twist!

Carlson was adopted and did not know he had an identical twin. Sweets suggests that separated twins are more alike as adults than one would think. Carlson will help, but with the approval of his wife.

Cam identifies that the victim was previously hurt by a baseball bat and had damaged thumbs, making it likely the victim owed money. Hodgins finds a cockroach egg deformed by a rare insecticide, leading the team closer to the actual victim.

Angela uses Sweets’ personality and demographic points to try to find the victim, while Sparling snarkily remarks. Jerry Langella is identified as the actual victim as Sparling smiles, conceding to Sweets on this one.

Mrs. Langella also mirrors Mrs. Carlson in appearance but is not very warm or sad about her husband’s death. She was at court-ordered community service for road rage.

Hodgins replicates the bomb blasts with Dr. Brennan grinning by his side, performing an extra try just for kicks. Meanwhile, Booth is knee-deep in paperwork when Sweets calls him for advice. Booth suspects Carlson and his wife due to the similarities between twins and the tried and true Bones fact that people lie.

The demolition factory is next to where the insecticides are made, making it the place where the bomb came from. Carlson and Langella were at the hotel at the same time for the self-actualization synergy group. Angela teases Sweets on the apparent sexual tension between him and Sparling, while Sweets declares, “I’m with Daisy,” as his defense.

Sparling and Sweets question Carlson about his appearance at the hotel. He lied to hide his attendance at the conference from his wife. Carlson reveals he planned to give the self-actualization community everything and move to their community in Colorado.

Cam found male hair embedded in the victim, mostly likely the perpetrator who stayed to watch the blast. Booth calls Cam for help with bureaucracy. Booth offers to deputize Cam if she’ll run the software.

After checking Mrs. Carlson’s recent large cash withdrawals, she admits she hired a hit man to kill her husband due to his plans to withdraw all their funds and donate them to the self-actualization group. He obviously got the wrong guy. Mrs. Carlson reveals that the hit man will finish the job today. Booth faces the dilemma of whether he should try to save Mr. Carlson or if he should present to the budget review board. Booth being Booth, he picks the field and leaves Cam to present on a division she’s not even a member of.

Brennan recognizes the hit man as the foreman at the demolition company after describing his characteristics. The foreman once again attempts to kill Carlson, but Carlson is warned by Brennan and hides in time. Booth, Sparling, and Sweets surround and kill the foreman, after Sweets distracts him.

Sweets gets injured with a flesh wound and is saved by Sparling, who affectionately calls him Lance. The two share a moment, but Sweets stays faithful to Daisy, despite a kiss from Olivia.

Cam’s presentation went well and the budget is being increased. Booth is denied the promotion and gets to go around “running and shooting people,” as Caroline puts it. Booth agrees to let Brennan buy items for Christine and all is right in the Brennan-Booth household.

The relationship between Sweets and Sparling is entertaining, as is Sweets taking the lead in the field. What did you think about the episode? Do you think Daisy and Sweets will make it through the season? Do you want to see Sparling come back again? What were your favorite moments? Do you like season 8 of Bones so far? Remember to catch Bones on Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on Fox.

Best Lines of the Episode:

Sparling to Sweets: “I’m feeling a way I don’t want to feel. I’m feeling apologetic.”

Caroline to Booth: “There’s no one burlier or cuter than you.”

Angela: “The cause of death was a humongous explosion.”

Sparling to Sweets: “Are we getting married now? I didn’t know we were even partners.”

Sparling to Sweets: “I supposed I could do a lot worse than you.”

Sweets to Sparling: “I like you. You’re smart. You’re really good at your job. You shot me… I’m seeing someone. It’s serious.”

Sparling to Sweets: “Doesn’t take a psychologist to tell when a guy is taken.”

Photo Credit: Fox Broadcasting