"Bones" - the Dramatic End of the Gravedigger

Was that a collective sigh of relief with the Gravedigger (Deirdre Lovejoy) gone, and she is gone? In "The Bullet in the Brain" she didn't just get pumped in the noggin, her head was blown completely off.

After riding to her appeal in the paddy wagon, accompanied by Sweets (John Francis Daley), it didn't take long to renew our revulsion at the psychopathic Gravedigger. She has killed children, buried our heroes alive, and made a mockery of her own crime in open court. Then, in the solitude of the paddy wagon she works on Sweets. In a haughty and most evil presentation she worked on Sweets not just to make him uncomfortable, but tried to make him doubt himself. How can one so calculating and cold possess such power over the human psychic?

Sweets knew he was in the right, but the Gravedigger, Heather Taffett, was able to get inside his head only briefly, and it was briefly, for in the next few moments she emerged from the van and a sniper blew her head not wide open, but completely off. It was a horrific and shocking occurrence.

Should we be sad, or do we in the secret recesses of our hearts want to applaud the killer?

Opinions and feelings at the Jeffersonian are mixed, but nonetheless, there is now a new murder to be investigated and a murder brought to justice.

Booth (David Boreanaz) is the man for the job when it comes to narrowing down the suspects, as the suspect has to be a sniper. He is ruled out, as is Dr. Brennan's father, Max (Ryan O'Neal), who is also a skilled rifleman. It is determined that the sniper had to come from a group of the world's most elite snipers. As the clues unravel, Booth is man enough to meet his nemesis, formerly a friend and instructor, man to man. He went out into the woods alone, knowing he would confront the sniper, which could have been deadly.

The confrontation occurs, and the sniper all but admits he pulled the trigger. He runs to escape Booth, who catches him in the cross-hairs, but proving his heart and humanity are still intact Booth has no choice but to let the sniper run.

It was an intense episode, minus Hannah (Katheryn Winnick) (three cheers!), in which Temperance (Emily Deschanel) was quick to express her concern for Booth's well-being following the shooting.

But, the sniper got away. He may feel he is an instrument of justice, but now the door is open for him to have a recurring role whenever he feels the wheels of justice are moving too slowly. I believe this will ultimately end in another, this time fatal, showdown, between Seeley Booth and the intrepid sniper.

But as for the Gravedigger, as Caroline said to Sweets: "Now, who's Heather Taffet?"

Sweets: "Dead serial killer."

Caroline: "You're damn straight. Dr. Brennan has her head all rigged up spinning like a Christmas tree. It's over. "

Yeah, it's over for the Gravedigger. Bring on the sniper.

Watch "Bones" on FOX on Thursday at 9 pm.