The latest episode of Bones, “The Murder of the Meninist,” has the team investigating the death of a men’s right activist, which leads to a rare moment of Brennan losing her cool. In a recent call with Bones showrunner Michael Peterson, we asked him about what inspired them to tackle that storyline, and if they were prepared for any potential negative feedback because they took on meninism.
Here’s what Peterson told us:
“We know that there’s always going to be, if you do anything that’s sensitive, you’re going to get some kickback. But “The Murder of the Meninist” was such an eye opener. When we bring up subject matter, we don’t want to go into territory that every other show has done, and so this was one that was pretty fresh to me. When I started learning more about the details of it, it was just so right for our show, where we have all these characters who have such opposing points of view, and it opens up a great conversation. I think good TV should do that. We open up interesting conversations.
“I found the whole thing fascinating, and as a man I also found it very amusing. By the time we got to the point where people are suing over being circumcised, I couldn’t stop laughing. It seemed amazing, but I thought that it was fascinating. And then [there are the] women who support the Meninist movement. You know you have a good episode on your hands when the more research that you do, the more fascinating it becomes. It [was] ripe for a Bones episode, so we ran towards it. I’m sure there will be some interesting talkback, but I love a good conversation, so we welcome any feedback that comes from it.”
Here’s the full episode description:
The team investigates a body found in a car crash, and the remains belong to a founder of a men’s rights organization who may have been the victim of domestic abuse. As Brennan learns more about the tenets of the victim’s organization, which claims middle-aged white men are oppressed and feminists are man-haters, Brennan uncharacteristically loses her cool during an interrogation and assaults the organization’s co-founder.
“The Murder of the Meninist” aired last night on FOX, and will air tonight — April 22, 2016 — on Global TV in Canada.
Photos Courtesy of FOX