Like every crime procedural TV show from the early 2000s, there's a lot to love aboutBones, as well as a lot to be critical of when revisiting the show today. It's been 20 years since this now iconic series premiered on Fox, andit's lost none of its ability to capture the audience's attention in the years since it went off the air in 2017.
Following the criminal investigations of Agent Seely Booth (David Boreanaz) and Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel),Bones was a traditional procedural in many ways, following a formula and incorporating a will-they-won't-they romance. However, though there are manycrime TV shows similar toBones, even with its flaws,there's no replacing or outdoing this landmark TV show.
10 The Series Loses Steam After Brennan & Booth Get Together
Their Will-They-Won't-They Dynamic Was One Of The Best Parts Of The Show
The romantic plotlines onBones usually take a backseat to the murder investigations, butthe relationship between Booth and Brennan is easily the most significant part of the entire series. Though the pair deny their feelings for each other for a long time, holding out until the end of season 6,Bones couldn't keep them apart forever.
However, once the tension of their will-they-won't-they dynamic evaporated,Bones had to work overtime to find drama and high-stakes events to keep the series exciting.Romance isn't everything in a crime procedural likeBones, but the chemistry between Booth and Brennan was a big part of what kept audiences interested in the series.
The audience misses out on many of the early moments of the couple's trajectory, which was a wasted opportunity for the series.
WhileBones didn't start to flag until the last few seasons,the writing was on the wall when the show jumped right into the characters having a committed relationship together. The audience misses out on many of the early moments of the couple's trajectory, which was a wasted opportunity for the series.
9 Some Of Booth’s Views Are Regressive
Booth Represents A More Dated Mindset On Bones
Boreanaz's Booth makes up one half of the dynamic duo inBones, andhe represents the more emotional, hot-blooded side of the pair,who goes with his gut, asking questions later. This complements Brennan's more cold, logical approach to the world, creating an immediate source of tension that's elevated by the actors' chemistry.
Booth isn't immune to being regressive and old-fashioned when it comes to the way he treats certain people.
However, Booth isn't immune to being regressive and old-fashioned when it comes to the way he treats certain people, as his traditional values frequently chafe against Brennan's independent lifestyle. Though he means well and his actions often come from a place of love, Booth is quick to anger when someone disagrees with him when it comes to religion or family.
Some ofDavid Boreanaz's favorite episodes ofBones saw the character be pushed out of his comfort zone and relate to people he might not immediately understand. AsBones progresses,Booth and Brennan both soften each other's more intense worldviews,with Booth coming to see how Brennan's objective view of things can end up being more empathetic than he thought.
8 Brennan Is Overtly Rude To Her Interns
Brennan Sometimes Crosses The Line With New Interns
It makes sense that Brennan would have a high standard for her interns, as she sets her own personal bar just as high, if not higher. However, it can be difficult to watch what she puts some of the grad students and interns through over the seasons, as many of them crumble under the pressure, breaking themselves down in order to impress her.
Of course, part of this stemmed from the fact that Brennan never truly recovered from the loss of Zack Addy, her intern and later colleague, who left the show.Zack got caught up in one ofBones' most notorious overarching plot lines with a cannibal who manipulates him into working alongside him, breaking Brennan's heart.
After Zack left,Bones never fully replaced him, instead opting for a revolving door of interns who come and go, some becoming recurring and others disappearing forever. Though Brennan becomes more understanding of mistakes in the later seasons,she can be a little harsh with her subordinates, which isn't always easy to watch.
7 The Team Often Makes Light Of What Happened To The Victims
These Jokes Can Get A Little Out Of Hand Throughout Bones
Dealing with death and tragedy every day would be hard on anyone, and the fact that Booth, Brennan, and their team are responsible for solving only the most gruesome crimes makes this even more difficult. All the characters must make light of some of the circumstances in the series,but the juxtaposition between the violence and comedy can sometimes feel a little overwhelming.
There are certain characters, like Angela and Booth, who push the other, more objective personalities to remember that the bodies they deal with were real people with families. However, when the characters get caught up in the science and piecing together the mystery of the murder,the shock factor can overwhelm the importance of justice for the victim.
I Love Bones, But I Always Skip These 7 Episodes On A Rewatch
Bones is one of the best crime procedural TV shows, but even a series this good is bound to have a few episodes that aren't worth watching.
Most of the time,Bones walks this tonal line well, but there are occasions when the series takes things too far, never diving into the victim and what made them unique.Some of the best episodes see the characters get deeply emotionally invested in the victims,and identify with them and their experience.
6 Bones Relies On Tropes & Gimmicks A Lot
The Many Special Episodes That Can Be Hit Or Miss For Viewers
SinceBones relies so heavily on the chemistry between Booth and Brennan, it made sense that the series would put them undercover so many times throughout the show. It's fun to watch both characters step out of their comfort zones and explore interesting new settings, but this is a marked divergence from the traditional narrative of aBones episode.
The emotional thrust of the series is as important as the comedy and offbeat adventures.
Bones is a lighthearted crime drama that doesn't take itself too seriously, but some of the more gimmick-heavy episodes lose the thread of the mystery and intrigue. The emotional thrust of the series is as important as the comedy and offbeat adventures, even if it is fun to see Booth and Brennan join everything from the circus to a ballroom dancing competition.
Though all crime procedural TV shows rely on tropes to give the viewer easy access to the thrust of the story, no matter when they start watching the show,Bones rarely subverts these formulas. Once audiences catch on to the beats of a typical episode ofBones,it's easy to guess who the killer might be, though this can be part of the fun of watching.
5 The Science Is Typically Unrealistic
Bones Doesn't Always Adhere To Concrete Facts
Most audiences would be hard-pressed to find a procedural TV show that always uses correct science and never stretches the boundaries of what investigators can do onscreen.One ofBones' predecessors,CSI, was notorious for bending the truth and making up new sciences and technologies to suit the story.
However,Bones takes an even more intellectual and science-based approach to murder investigations, with much of the narrative typically relying on what Brennan finds on the bones. Additionally,Bones isn't afraid to explore what Hodgins, Cam, Angela, and the others can learn from the particulates, tissue, and clothing. While it's fun to watch them put the pieces together, it's not always realistic.
Title | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Bones (2005–2017) | 86% | 83% |
ThoughBones was based on the writings of the real forensic anthropologist, Kathy Reichs, the series understood that good TV and accurate science don't always go hand-in-hand. It's easy to suspend your disbelief while watchingBones, especially since Brennan is positioned as an authority on so many topics early on, as long as the viewer doesn't examine all her findings too closely.
4 Coworkers At The Jeffersonian Often Cross Each Other's Boundaries
There Should Have Been Many More Workplace Complaints
Clark Edison, one of Brennan's interns, is one of the only characters willing to speak up about how many lines are crossed on the job at the Jeffersonian. However, in his attempts to set boundaries with his co-workers,the full-time employees never waste a moment to catch him up on their love lives and interpersonal issues.
This is far from the only case of boundary-less dynamics at the Jeffersonian, as well as the FBI. The fact that Sweets takes such a personal interest in the developing romance between Booth and Brennan might be good for the plot, but it's shocking that their relationships become as intertwined as they do, withSweets moving in with the couple at one point.
The inter-workplace dating that runs rampant inBones is over the top.
Booth and Angela are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to borderline sexual harassment in the workplace. The way they behave would never be acceptable in real life, especially in a job as high-stakes as solving murders. While this slows down after they get into committed relationships, the inter-workplace dating that runs rampant inBones is over the top.
3 Bones Doesn’t Handle Religious Differences With Nuance
It Plays Into Stereotypes In An Attempt To Provide Representation
Religion is a major theme inBones, as Booth and Brennan's different takes on the spiritual aspects of their lives take center stage in many of their conflicts. However, even when Brennan pushes against Booth's singular belief system, it's clear thatBones wants to use these conversations as a source of interpersonal sparring rather than true ideological exploration.
One of the worst instances of using religion as a storytelling tool without fully understanding it comes when Arastoo is introduced as one of Brennan's new interns. As a devout Muslim man, Arastoo is pressed to justify how he balances his devotion to science and god,and even feels as though he has to fake an accent to make people understand his commitment to his faith.
It's an odd story choice that's eventually dropped, but it demonstrates howBones sometimes makes mistakes when it comes into contact with religions outside of Christianity. Though Arastoo becomes a more three-dimensional character asBones continues, and as Booth and Brennan navigate religion in their relationship, it takes a bit of a back seat.
2 The Early Seasons Have A Dated Perspective On Social Issues
As Bones Progressed, It Got More Adept At Touching Upon Nuanced Subjects
For a series that premiered in 2005,Bones is decent when it comes to representation and discussions of social issueson the show. However, it's difficult to ignore some problems, especially in the early seasons. Episodes like "The He in the She" try to engage with the experiences of transgender individuals, and significantly miss the mark.
10 Most Influential Bones Characters, Ranked by Deepest Impact On The Show
While every character on Bones shapes the episodes they're in, these people had a huge impact on the entire trajectory of the crime series.
Outside of individual episodes that touched upon intersectional ideologies and identities,Bones often placed all the burden of social justice and representation on the character Angela. It was typically through her that the other characters had their horizons broadened, andBones was able to explore some nuance in character development in terms of racial and sexual identity.
While Angela wasn't the only person of color on the show, she was one of the only characters who discussed her experience, andBones even made her bisexuality canon in season 4.As the series incorporates new characters and perspectives, some of the weight is lifted from Angela, but it's hard to ignore in the beginning.
1 Too Many Beloved Characters Were Killed Off
It Was Heartbreaking To Lose These Standout Characters
One of the most famous and heartbreaking deaths inBones happened in early season 10, when Lance Sweets was murdered before his son was born.There had been tragedy on the show before, as the series wasn't afraid to kill off additional characters like Vincent (Ryan Cartwright), at the end of season 6, which changed the story forever.
However, for a show likeBones, which typically leaned into the light-hearted aspects of the story,it was always a shock when a character would be suddenly killed off. While Vincent's passing was deeply sad, Sweets' murder stands out because it came out of nowhere and disrupted the flow of the remaining seasons.
While it makes some narrative sense that in a murder-mystery series, there would be casualties,Bones was sometimes too quick to kill characters off instead of giving them the ending they deserved. Sweets' ending was tragic, but he's far from the only character onBones who should've had a more fitting ending for his story arc.
