Drama
Bones
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Distributed By: 20th Century Fox
Reviewed by Justine Manzano
Its funny how you end up finding your favorite shows when you least expect it.
A couple of years ago when my then favorite series Angel came to an end, I never
thought I would find another favorite show to call my own. Between Buffy and
Angel I’d had eight years invested in the characters. I went a whole season
afterward before discovering that Angel, himself, David Boreanaz had found
himself a new series. When I first heard the story, I couldn’t help but think
that he had found himself in the curse that so many alumni of famous shows find
themselves in—most popularly known as “The Seinfeld Curse.” But that wasn’t the
case—I fell completely in love with this series after episode 1. If it isn’t
proof enough that I have a strange fear of skeletons (I need therapy…and I can’t
believe I just admitted my fear in a public forum) and still watch this show,
then a brief description should do.
Bones follows the adventures of forensic
anthropologist Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel), who works with the FBI to
identify bodies that are either too decomposed or burnt or in some other way
tampered with so that only the bones remain. Her FBI liaison, Seeley Booth (Boreanaz,
Angel,
The Crow: Wicked Prayer,
These Girls), who has taken to nicknaming her “Bones,” brings her numerous
cases. But Booth can be arrogant and tends to mock Bones, so she refuses to
work with him again unless she is granted access to the field investigation.
The FBI tentatively grants her the right since she is the foremost expert in the
country though they refuse to give her a gun. Though they argue, Booth and
Brennan form an unbreakable bond that leads them into deep discussions and
deeper arguments, all the while fighting crime.
Helping them with their pursuit of justice are Brennan’s team, Zack (Eric Millegan), the genius grad student that she mentors, Hodgins (T.J. Thyne), who analyzes bugs and particulates, Angela (Michaela Conlin), the graphic artist who uses the bones of a victim to digitally reconstruct them and map out possible murder scenarios, and Daniel Goodman (Jonathan Adams, American Dreams), the stern boss whose expertise in archaeology helps the team determine murder weapons and identify symbols. Together with their team, Booth and Brennan can solve almost any crime—but can they solve the crime that made Bones who she is? Can they find the parents that disappeared from her life 15 years ago?
Bones is not just any procedural drama and it is not just another CSI. It operates on three levels simultaneously and it does so seamlessly. One level is the overarching story of the disappearance of Brennan’s parents, the mystery behind it, and how it has affected her. Also there is Booth’s need to make up for the bloodshed he caused as an Army sniper. The next level is that of the case of the week, which is always an intriguing puzzle that keeps you guessing. Then there’s the most important level on which the series runs—the emotional relationships of the characters. The sexual tension and feeling behind the conversations between Booth and Bones and the familial bonding of the whole group provides a core for the show that makes you return week after week. These are characters that you can genuinely feel for.
Quirky but brilliant writing, dedicated and emotion inspiring acting performances witty dialogue, scientifically sound dialogue and plots that keep you riveted all come together to create a series you can’t ignore. The first season was recently released on DVD, and the second will be completing its mid-season hiatus with a new episode aired this Wednesday on Fox. So check out Bones, if you haven’t already gotten addicted. It has all the mystery of a great procedural series and all the drama of a character based show. You won’t be able to take your eyes away---except for when they show the icky stuff…then, if you’re a wuss like me, you’ll have to cover your eyes.
For feedback, visit our message board or e-mail the author at justine@g-pop.net.
