25 Days of Crime-mas Day 18: Bones remains a series to uncover
As we get closer to Christmas, we focus on a TV series that is yet to be uncovered by some. Day 18 of the 25 Days of Crime-mas is all about Bones.
Did you know some people are still finding out about Bones? It’s one of the great things about a show that has been on the air for a long time, helping new generations to find out about it. Even though it ended in 2017, it remains as one to find thanks to streaming services.
And as we inch closer to Christmas, we’re looking at this unique TV crime drama. Day 18 of the 25 Days of Crime-mas countdown is all about Bones.
A series for the history books
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Bones did something that other shows couldn’t. It combined the TV crime drama niche with anthropology, bringing us the FBI working with civilians to solve cases. Brennan and Booth were everything we needed from two lead characters, and arguably they didn’t need to end up together, but we are certainly glad they did!
It all started with a case that would introduce us to the characters. Immediately, the show proved that it wasn’t going to be another NCIS or CSI. It developed the characters personally, as well. We got to see them routinely out of their working lives, which is something NCIS started to bring in more throughout later seasons.
The cases would also turn out to not always be recent ones. In many cases, the remains of the deceased would be found, and it would be up to our anthropology team to figure out how the victims died. It brought in something different for viewers, who were used to seeing a medical examiner with a fresh body.
Something else that makes the series stand out is that it’s loosely based on the live of Kathy Reichs, along with the novels that she wrote. Reichs was also a producer on the show, helping to bring her own characters to life. And the books/show added an element of art imitating life imitating art. In the Bones universe, Dr. Brennan is a mystery novel writer, who uses anthropologist Kathy Reichs as the main protagonist.
The Bones cast
A good show needs a good cast, and David Boreanaz would have certainly sold the show to many. He landed the series after his stint on Angel, bringing over that fanbase immediately. (And there’s no denying the same fanbase followed him onto SEAL Team.)
Agent Seeley Booth needed a strong female lead, and Emily Deschanel would be the one to take on the role of Dr. Temperance Brennan. This was Deschanel’s big break, after a series of guest star roles. She certainly made the most of it.
Michaela Conlin, Eric Millegan, T.J. Thyne, and Jonathan Adams rounded out the main cast in the first season. Over the years, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley, and John Boyd would join the main cast.
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Why Bones belongs on this list
It’s not often you’ll see a show get to more than 10 seasons. That’s certainly the case now, but even in the 2000s it was the case. When you look at the shows from 2000s that are still running today, you’ll only find a handful. NCIS, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, and Supernatural are all those that come to mind. Bones deserves a mention just for that.
The quality never suffered with the longevity. There were always ways to make the mysteries exciting, and the focus on the personal lives at times would always help to keep things interesting.
This is also a show that moved into the “Friday Night Death Slot” and survived. Sadly, it survived by moving into the competitive Thursday night slot, which would ultimately lead to a drop in live ratings and see the show come to an end. You’ve got to remember that 2016/2017 was when streaming services were only really just starting to get bigger and help to prove shows needed to be kept on the air.
When you want a procedural with something different, Bones is the show to you. Plus, being based on a real person helps to add a element of life and realism to it.
Which episodes to watch first
Considering it’s procedural set up, there are some episodes that stand out more than others. I always recommend starting with the pilot episode to get to know the characters, but with 246 episodes, where do you go after that?
The Season 9 finale, “The Recluse in the Recliner,” is certainly an episode you’ll want to pay close attention to. It’s one that Boreanaz directed personally, and sees Booth and the team investigate the death of a man who had given Booth information about a cover-up within the government. Before he could meet with the man, the man was killed, and Booth knew that more digging was necessary. The problem is it would put his job and life on the line.
“The Past in the Present” (Season 7, Episode 13) is another strong episode. Again, it was directed by Boreanaz, and sees Booth and Brennan try to prevent an evil tech genius get out on appeal. They point out to the judge that he remains a suspect in two murder cases, and it’s soon clear that he may be linked to a third. However, Brennan becomes a lead suspect in that third case.
An earlier episode to check out in Season 3, Episode 15 (“The Pain in the Heart”). This episode sees the Gormogon serial killer back in action. When the silver skeleton is taken from the basement vault, all Jeffersonian employees are suspects, including Brennan. The team realize that one of their own could be working for the serial killer.
Finally, there’s the Season 9 episode “The Woman in White.” No, this isn’t an episode of Supernatural, but the episode that sees Booth and Brennan say “I do.” It’s also the episode where Cam and Angela take on as much of the case as possible to allow Brennan to concentrate on her big day instead.
Next. 25 Days of Crime-mas: The full schedule. dark
What do you think of Bones? What are you watching to get through the winter hiatus for the shows? Let us know in the comments below.
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