"Bones" is the nickname given to Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist with the fictitious Jeffersonian Institute, and inspired by real-life writer Kathy Reichs. Brennan is a best selling author, a tough scrapper, a dedicated scientist who does not compromise in the search for truth, an unapologetic atheist, and an apparent sufferer of Asberger's syndrome in that she cannot stop her sharp tongue from saying exactly what she thinks. Each week she is given a set of bones of a murder victim to analyze and with her FBI partner (and later lover/husband) Booth, figures out the cause of death and ultimately the culprit. She is aided in her endeavors by a gang of lab rats including the free-wheeling artist Angela, Angela's conspiracy theory boyfriend/husband Jack, their boss Cam and a rotating door of supporting interns, lawyers and psychologists.
Bones started off nearly ten years ago and has been a steady performer for Fox ever since. While much credit must go to some of the fascinating crime story lines and the associated science, a lion's share should go to the refreshing lead character and Emily Deschanel, the actress who plays her with such straight-forward no-bull delivery. David Boreanaz is a likable counterpoint as her more conventional FBI partner. And regulars Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor and T.J. Thyne deserve much credit for creating a spirit of camaraderie among the supporting players.
This is not to say that all of the show is great. In the early days, the weak link in the cast was an intern named Zach, played by Eric Millegan. Millegan did his best, but Zach was obviously supposed to be a junior Bones and his flat line readings became annoying. Even worse, the socially awkward Zach become an example of a character that could only exist in the mind of writer and it was impossible to see him functioning in real society. Mercifully, it seemed even the shows insiders realized this and rather surprisingly wrote Zach out. The far more appealing psychologist Dr. Sweets (played by John Francis Daley) was added, and a rotating roster of interns were brought in to pick up the slack. Also added on a semi-regular basis is the acerbic attorney (the priceless Patricia Belcher). The rotating interns are more hits than misses - Michael Grant Terry's likable Wendell, Carla Gallo's adorably nutty Daisy, Ryan Cartwright's babbling Brit. I have not warmed though to either Brian Klugman's obnoxious know-it-all or Luke Kleintank's simpering aw-shucks rube.
However, in recent seasons the show seems to have lost its footing on several fronts. It has not ever done sentimentality well, and episodes that require an overdose of sentiment are usually badly written misfires. A 9/11 commemorative episode from last year with the male interns giving badly written, flatly delivered endless pageants to the camera was near unendurable. I am all for a 9/11 commemorative, but did it need to be this bad? I have no problem with the creators getting Brennan and Booth together, but did they really need to be this conventional? Another episode ham-handedly included an unrelated subplot about Booth helping children with a disease, which included the cast apparently reading brochures directly to the camera in an attempt to "inform" us. And any episode where the show tries to integrate schmaltzy supernatural elements is a disaster.
Additionally, I have never seen a serious show work so hard to undermine its leading character. It started a few years ago with an episode where Booth is trapped on a ship with a "ghost". The episode barely saved face by the later revelation that Booth had a head injury. A later episode had the team commissioned to investigate what turned out to be the JFK assassination. When Brennan positively proves that it could not have gone down like the government said, she fudges her findings because it may upset Booth. No real scientist would do such a thing - and they would be fired not congratulated by their boss for this move. It had Brennan seem like a hypocritical sell-out and Booth seem like a weak man-child who cannot cope when something challenges his outlook. Subsequent bad episodes have featured a ghost haunting the lab, Cyndi Lauper as a "genuine" psychic (Lauper is actually pretty good but could they not find a better role?), and Brennan having a conversation with her dead mother. Is this a show about science set in a lab or is it Miss Cleo's hotline (or a church)? Even worse, nearly every other episode features Brennan having to subvert her views in order to prop up Booth and make him feel better...huh?! Whereas Brennan used to stand her ground on religious issues, she now blinks and submits lest Booth have a boo-boo. I am waiting for that "very special" episode where Brennan finds Jesus. The writers truly seem to be robbing her of the spirit, tenacity and off-beat views that made her interesting in some misguided attempts to have her conform to the norm - which is exactly what she should not be doing.
This can still be a wonderful show when it sticks to form, but less effort to undermine its lead would be a welcome step in the right direction.
Bones started off nearly ten years ago and has been a steady performer for Fox ever since. While much credit must go to some of the fascinating crime story lines and the associated science, a lion's share should go to the refreshing lead character and Emily Deschanel, the actress who plays her with such straight-forward no-bull delivery. David Boreanaz is a likable counterpoint as her more conventional FBI partner. And regulars Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor and T.J. Thyne deserve much credit for creating a spirit of camaraderie among the supporting players.
This is not to say that all of the show is great. In the early days, the weak link in the cast was an intern named Zach, played by Eric Millegan. Millegan did his best, but Zach was obviously supposed to be a junior Bones and his flat line readings became annoying. Even worse, the socially awkward Zach become an example of a character that could only exist in the mind of writer and it was impossible to see him functioning in real society. Mercifully, it seemed even the shows insiders realized this and rather surprisingly wrote Zach out. The far more appealing psychologist Dr. Sweets (played by John Francis Daley) was added, and a rotating roster of interns were brought in to pick up the slack. Also added on a semi-regular basis is the acerbic attorney (the priceless Patricia Belcher). The rotating interns are more hits than misses - Michael Grant Terry's likable Wendell, Carla Gallo's adorably nutty Daisy, Ryan Cartwright's babbling Brit. I have not warmed though to either Brian Klugman's obnoxious know-it-all or Luke Kleintank's simpering aw-shucks rube.
However, in recent seasons the show seems to have lost its footing on several fronts. It has not ever done sentimentality well, and episodes that require an overdose of sentiment are usually badly written misfires. A 9/11 commemorative episode from last year with the male interns giving badly written, flatly delivered endless pageants to the camera was near unendurable. I am all for a 9/11 commemorative, but did it need to be this bad? I have no problem with the creators getting Brennan and Booth together, but did they really need to be this conventional? Another episode ham-handedly included an unrelated subplot about Booth helping children with a disease, which included the cast apparently reading brochures directly to the camera in an attempt to "inform" us. And any episode where the show tries to integrate schmaltzy supernatural elements is a disaster.
Additionally, I have never seen a serious show work so hard to undermine its leading character. It started a few years ago with an episode where Booth is trapped on a ship with a "ghost". The episode barely saved face by the later revelation that Booth had a head injury. A later episode had the team commissioned to investigate what turned out to be the JFK assassination. When Brennan positively proves that it could not have gone down like the government said, she fudges her findings because it may upset Booth. No real scientist would do such a thing - and they would be fired not congratulated by their boss for this move. It had Brennan seem like a hypocritical sell-out and Booth seem like a weak man-child who cannot cope when something challenges his outlook. Subsequent bad episodes have featured a ghost haunting the lab, Cyndi Lauper as a "genuine" psychic (Lauper is actually pretty good but could they not find a better role?), and Brennan having a conversation with her dead mother. Is this a show about science set in a lab or is it Miss Cleo's hotline (or a church)? Even worse, nearly every other episode features Brennan having to subvert her views in order to prop up Booth and make him feel better...huh?! Whereas Brennan used to stand her ground on religious issues, she now blinks and submits lest Booth have a boo-boo. I am waiting for that "very special" episode where Brennan finds Jesus. The writers truly seem to be robbing her of the spirit, tenacity and off-beat views that made her interesting in some misguided attempts to have her conform to the norm - which is exactly what she should not be doing.
This can still be a wonderful show when it sticks to form, but less effort to undermine its lead would be a welcome step in the right direction.