Bones Review

The Case

Fox's Wednesday night forensic crime drama Bones is nearing the end of its second season, and considering that the show has only grown funnier, deeper, and more richly layered, I don't think anyone's surprised that it's been renewed for a third.  To put this show in context, let me just say that I've never been a big fan of crime procedurals.  Like most television viewers, I've been exposed to a large variety of these types of shows, including the mac-daddy of them all, CSI.  They're okay, but, in my opinion, they generally come off as pretty flat, and not particularly engaging.  So when I heard about Bones, I was convinced it probably wouldn't be for me.  Boy, was I wrong!

The Good

There are so many things.  Where to start...?

The Premise - When the FBI has a murder investigation that needs solving, they know who to turn to: brilliant, but socially stunted, forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan.  Brennan is a whiz when it comes to getting down to the science of a situation, but she's hopelessly lost when it comes to people who aren't dead.  Enter street-smart, saucy-tongued Special Agent Seeley Booth, who has a sixth sense about suspects.  Together, this unlikely duo, along with Brennan's crack team of 'Squints' - Booth's nickname for the geeky scientists that work in the lab (because they're always squinting at things - get it?) - succeed in solving the murders that no one else can.

Why You Should Dig Into It - The first time I watched the show, I was expecting decent characters, but I was taken aback at the depth of the performances.  Fox's last round of promos for Bones declared that 'Solving Murders Takes Chemistry,' and that tagline couldn't apply more.  I haven't seen an ensemble cast of actors light the screen this brightly since the likes of Buffy and Firefly, and the electric intensity between main leads David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel gives the smoldering heat shared by Mulder and Scully a run for its money! 

After seeing just a few episodes, you'll begin to realize that the relationship between the two main characters is really the heart of the show.  It's got the will-they, won't-they element, of course, but, as in The X-Files, it's mainly a wonderfully deep and enchantingly layered friendship.  Of course, the supporting actors are nothing to take lightly either.  As the show has evolved, many of the lesser characters have become full-fledged, with their own episodic and even seasonal arcs.  As Mr. Boreanaz says about his show, "It's driven by the characters, not the plot."

Plus, Bones is very smart.  It doesn't talk down to you, and it doesn't sacrifice the integrity of the forensic science just for the sake of drawing in the masses.  The weekly plots are original, engaging, and tightly-crafted.  Let me tell ya, they do some crazy stuff on this show, and every week they manage to pull it off.  So, for the viewers that go head over heels for the clever forensic, what-happened, who-dunnit dramas, this one definitely fits your bill!

And, if all that's not quite enough for you, be prepared for some great humor.  With Bones, I crack up a lot more than I ever expected to.  The pilot episode had me chuckling, the next few had me laughing, and by the end of the first season, I'd actually guffawed more than once.  I thought the high jinx and banter might get lost by the wayside eventually, but the humor has continued throughout, and is a big reason why the second season's been so successful.  This show is really funny!

The Bad

As with all procedurals dealing in death, Bones can get a little graphic.  If you watch it on a regular basis, you become kind of immune to the various types of decomposing corpses that they come up with, but it's definitely not a show for the younger viewers, or maybe older viewers with squeamish stomachs!  Even I had a hard time watching Dr. Brennan peel the outer skin off of a mummified, but then rehydrated, hand, inserting her own hand inside like a glove, all to get a more accurate fingerprint!

The DVDs - The first season of Bones has already been released on DVD, and for all of you DVD lovers out there who are interested, let me just warn you, the set is nothing special.  Other than the episodes themselves, and a truly hilarious audio commentary with actors Boreanaz and Deschanel, there's not much to it.  This set has basically zip in the special features department.  Also, the discs are double-sided.  I hate that!  Even though it makes the DVDs much more affordable, it also makes them much more easily damaged or scratched.  Hopefully, the second season set will be a little higher quality than the first.

The Verdict

Five stars!  Hunting for a new show to add to your television line-up?  Well, for awesome stories, fun characters, and hilarious laughs, look no further than Bones!