While it’s hard for any long-running show to sustain a consistent level of quality as it reached its later seasons, the ABC crime seriesBoneswas one of the rare programs that improved as it went along. Despite being on the air for over a decade,Bonesmanaged to keep its core audience engaged by presenting new mysteries,developing new serial killer antagonists, and changing up its core ensemble of characters. Although much of the show’s success can be attributed to its unique premise, the series managed to retain its creative juice thanks to the terrific chemistry betweenDavid BoreanazandEmily Deschanel. The authenticity that the pair brought to their performances isn’t surprising, asBoreanaz and Deschanel developed a close relationship in real life that resembled their onscreen characters.
F.B.I. Special Agent Seeley Booth teams up with the Jeffersonian’s top anthropologist, Dr. Temperance Brennan, to investigate cases where all that’s left of the victims are their bones.
How David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel Got Into Character on ‘Bones’
Bonesfollows the forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (Deschanel), a brilliant scientific mind whose knowledge of human anatomy proves to be essential in solving major criminal investigations and conspiracies. While she doesn’t necessarily consider herself to be a “social” person,Brennan finds herself leading a teamthat consists of artist Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin), entomologist Jack Hodgins (T.J. Thyne), psychologist Lance Sweets (John Francis Daley), and pathologist Camille Saroyan (Tamara Taylor). Although FBI Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) is initially skeptical of Brennan’s unique approach to solving mysteries, he finds himself impressed by her knowledge and interested in her romantically.The relationship between Brennan and Booth is the heart ofBones,as the two characters find that they are a perfect match both personally and professionally over the course of the series.
Althoughthe series took perhaps too long teasing the romancethat developed between them,the temperamental relationship between Booth and Brennan kept the show feeling exciting.While Booth’s aptitude for social situations would seemingly conflict with Brennan’s awkwardness, the two characters discover that they have much more in common with each other than they may have initially realized. Both characters deal with difficult family situations; Booth is a single dad and trying to care for his son, Parker (Ty Panitz), and Brennan has struggled with the criminal activity ofher father, Max Keenan (Ryan O’Neal). It’s only over the course of several seasons that Brennan and Booth discover that their skills complement each other. Their workplace friendliness soon turns to romance when they are faced with the possibility of spending the rest of their lives together.
‘Bones’ Best Relationship Isn’t Booth and Brennan
Sorry to say, the best couple wasn’t the one at the center of the series.
If the dynamic between Brennan and Booth felt particularly realistic, it’s becauseBoreanaz and Deschanel took time out of their shooting schedules to develop their chemistry, eventually becoming friends in real life. Boreanaz revealed thatthe pair met to rehearse every weekendfor over seven years to develop the banter that was so essential within each episode. He cited their coach,Ivana Chubbuck, a renowned acting teacher, for being “very dynamic in regards to bringing and creating that chemistry.” It’s due to the off-screen relationship that Boreanaz and Deschanel had thatBones’ most emotionally impactful moments hit so hard; events likethe death of Sweets in Season 10were devastating because the pair was able to react and respond to each other emotionally.
David Boreanaz Became a Director on ‘Bones’
In addition to bringing an aura of authenticity with his performance as Booth, Boreanaz and Deschanel were essential to the creative direction ofBones.While originally the series was conceived as a darker, morepropulsive mystery series likeThe X-Files,Boreanaz discovered through his rehearsals with Deschanel thatBoneswould work better as “a character show.”While this may have been in contrast with what the writers originally intended, Boreanaz cites the fan enthusiasm for their interpersonal storylines as significant to the show’s trajectory. His influence on the tone ofBonesis notable; while early seasons were almost exclusively focused on the mysteries themselves,Bonesbegan developing multi-season arcs and tying in its characters’ backstories and fictional histories. It’s due to this personal quality that the series was able to maintain its longevity.
Over the course of the series, Booth is granted additional responsibilities as he grows to take a leadership position within the FBI, and becomes a mentor to his new partner James Aubrey (John Boyd). This mirrored aspects of reality, asBoreanaz was assigned additional responsibilities within the production ofBonesonce he began directing episodes. Although he made his filmmaking debut directingone of the best episodes ofAngel, Boreanaz directed eleven episodes ofBonesthroughout the show’s run, which kept him engaged in the creative process. When reflecting on the end ofBones, Boreanaz said that “the show had endless possibilities” because “of the genuineness of the open-ended small arcs.”
‘Bones’ Legacy on Television Can’t Be Understated
While not everyacclaimed television series has a satisfying finale,Boneshada worthy conclusion with the last episode, “The End of An Era.”Directed by Boreanaz, the conclusive installment in the series saw the Jeffersonian team solving a mystery that linked back to the bomb maker Jeannine Kovac (Brit Shaw). By pooling the knowledge of their interns and reflecting upon their past cases, Booth and Brennan were able to convict Kovac and ensure that she was brought to justice. While the conclusion to this story arc helped wrap upBones’ loose ends, the episode was powerful because it gave the characters time to reminisce on the events that had led up to this point in the story. It served as an emotional way for theBonescast to bid farewell to the characters that they had inhabited for over a decade.
‘Bones’ Best Episode Isn’t the One You’re Thinking Of
Funny, heartfelt, and filled with mystery and gore in equal measure, this early episode is a must-watch.
Given the enthusiasm that its cast had for the material,Bonesremains a phenomenon that is unlikely to be replicated in the modern television landscape.This style of “mystery of the week” premise is rarely seen on streaming, and there haven’t been any recent procedurals that have distinguished themselves as unique in the same way thatBonesdid. While the notionof the spin-off seriesThe Finderwas briefly floated by ABC, its failure to captivate audiences served as a further example of what an anomalyBonesreally was.
