Bones
Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) is a brilliant, attractive forensic anthropologist skilled at reading bones and other human remains. Dealing with living, breathing people, however, tends to give the good doctor a headache. That doesn't stop former Army sniper-turned-FBI agent Seeley Booth (Angel's David Boreanaz) from tapping her on the shoulder weekly to help piece together another set of skeletal clues on Fox's Bones . After all, the brainy doc and her Jeffersonian Institute co-workers make up a Washington, D.C., forensic team to die for—and somebody always seems to be doing just that.
Based on the best-selling books by Kathy Reichs, Bones is all about cadavers and conundrums that demand lab work, footwork and at least a little teamwork. But along with scientific insight and superhero-smart solutions, parts of this hour-long show challenge our ability to suspend disbelief. For one thing, wunderkind Dr. Brennan is also a best-selling mystery novelist, a black belt in martial arts and a crack shot with a handgun. Given a little provocation, the socially shy PhD will borrow moves from Chuck Norris or Clint Eastwood, and somehow the authorities let her get away with it.
Catering to fans of CSI-style procedurals are close-ups of people digging through decaying tissue, corpses being stripped by flesh-eating beetles, and a frozen pig getting tossed into a wood chipper. A new wrinkle is the ability of Brennan's team of "squints" (so named because they squint to look at evidence) to create a holographic image of a victim from exhumed pieces of calcium.
"Eight o'clock seems too early for a show featuring long, loving shots of desiccated corpses, but network TV doesn't abide by many genteel rules or good manners anymore," said Washington Post TV critic Tom Shales. "Even adults may feel the director is way too generous with views of rotting remains. And later we are treated to a holographic reproduction of a man bashing the poor woman's skull with a sledgehammer as she lies on the ground."
In addition to violence and gore, Bones draws viewers with well-developed characters and smartly written dialogue, especially for its leads, who bring to mind opposites-attract duos from The X-Files, Moonlighting and Cheers. It has even raised spiritual questions. Booth, a Catholic, regularly bumps heads and examines faith with his atheist partner. Still, this "man of faith" has appeared bare-chested with a lover. Occasional sexual commentary, alcohol consumption and scattered foul language only add to Bones' moral osteoporosis.
Episodes Reviewed: Aug. 30 - Nov. 29, 2006