Bones: The Complete First Season (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)Good to see Bones: The Complete First Season is out on dvd. I've waited for this. Debuting in September 2005 on the Fox Network, Bones very quickly garnered rave reviews and amassed a loyal following. Bones is loosely inspired by real life forensic anthropologist and author Kathy Reichs. This funny, clever, sometimes gross, and totally addictive crime drama centers around forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperence Brennan (Emily Deschanel), who toils out of the Jeffersonian Institution and, on the side, writes mysteries starring her fictional heroine (and here's the twist) Kathy Reichs. Because Brennan has an almost supernatural ability to generate accurate assumptions based on her examination of the corpse's bones, she is often consulted by the FBI on difficult, seemingly unsolvable cases. She is frequently partnered by brash wiseacre FBI Special Agent Seely Booth (David Boreanaz), who seems to hold a bias against science and those who practice in that field. It's Booth who breezily saddles Brennan with the nickname "Bones." Naturally intuitive and freewheeling, Booth immediately is at odds with the clinically analytical Brennan. But, despite their personality clashes, and with the aid of Brennan's gifted and quirky colleagues, the cases do get solved.
It's no great secret that the palpable chemistry between Deschanel and Boreanaz is what actually propels the show and is what separates it from the other, more formulaic, dispassionate crime dramas. Every week, fans tune in for the leads' deliciously caustic banter more so than for the weekly dose of mystery. You see, the mystery jones can be fixed by viewing any other one of the gazillion forensic dramas so currently prevalent on the airwaves. So the mystery is basically the MacGuffin that drives the show forward. But the cantankerous chemistry - that palpable "something" between the two leads as they hilariously bicker and wrangle - is definitely unique to this show. You won't find this sort of wicked rapport going on in any of the CSI or Law & Order shows.
Emily Deschanel is a find. I haven't seen her before but she's awfully good and ingratiating enough with her acerbic character. She imbues Brennan with a cooly detached yet vulnerable and lonely quality that intrigues and endears her to the fans. Her social awkwardness and pop culture ignorance are also quite charming. It's pretty funny that a mention made regarding a pop culture reference almost always elicits a response of "I don't know what that means" from the clueless Bones. And, of course, her expertise in the martial arts doesn't detract from her allure.
And David Boreanaz. Yeah, I found it difficult going, at first, watching him in a new role, seeing as how I'm a fan of Buffy and Angel. But it helps that Booth isn't much like our vampire with a soul. This ex-Army Ranger Special Agent is breezy, personable, and outgoing, not brooding, tortured, and introspective like Angelus (although Booth, also, is trying to atone for past actions). So, the transition, while disconcerting for me, was ultimately smooth enough. Boreanaz brings such command, self-assurance and charm to his character that I bought into it soon enough.
My favorite episodes are the pilot episode, where we are introduced to the cast; "The Man in the Fallout Shelter" - the team is quarantied together in the Jeffersonian during Christmas and we learn personal stuff about the characters; "Two Bodies in the Lab" - character development galore in this episode as Brennan dates on-line and is targeted while she works on two cases; "The Superhero in the Alley" - a decomposed body is found wearing a superhero costume; and "The Woman in Limbo" - a gripping, emotional season finale as Brennan discovers shocking facts about her parents.
Special Features contain episode commentaries on the "Pilot" (with Exec. Producer Barry Josephson & Series Creator Hart Hanson) and "Two Bodies in the Lab" (with David Boreanaz & Emily Deschanel); Disc 4 has "Squints" - an 8-minute-long behind-the-scenes look; "The Real Definition" - A "squint's" guide to forensic terminology; and "Bones: Inspired by the Life of Forensic Anthropologist and Author Kathy Reichs" (with, of course, an interview with Kathy Reichs); and character profiles.
So, to sum it up, this show has a lot to offer. It has a fabulous cast, great character development, and engrossing, well-crafted storylines. The forensic geek, the drama lover, the repartee admirer, the romantic (have patience) - all can meet here and each is guaranteed to come away with something from this intense, smart, funny series. Long live Bones, long may she "squint."
Here's a list of the 22 episodes:
1."Pilot"
2."The Man in the S.U.V."
3."A Boy in the Tree"
4."The Man in the Bear"
5."A Boy in a Bush"
6."The Man in the Wall"
7."A Man on Death Row"
8."The Girl in theFridge"
9."The Man in the Fallout Shelter"
10. "The Woman at the Airport"
11. "The Woman in the Car"
12. "The Superhero in the Alley"
13. "The Woman in the Garden"
14. "The Man on the Fairway"
15. "Two Bodies in the Lab"
16. "The Woman in the Tunnel"
17. "The Skull in the Desert"
18. "The Man with the Bone"
19. "The Man in the Morgue"
20. "The Graft in the Girl"
21. "The Soldier on the Grave"
22. "The Woman in Limbo"


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David Boreanaz (Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) stars as F.B.I. Agent Seeley Booth, who teams up with forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) to solve some of the most baffling and bizarre crimes ever. Booth depends on clues from the living, witnesses and suspects, while Brennan gathers evidence from the dead, relying on her uncanny ability to read clues left behind in the bones of the victims. Their different investigative styles cause the two to frequently clash, creating an undeniable chemistry and just the right touch of dark humor. Inspired by real-life forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs and state-of-the-art criminal investigation procedures, Bones is a compelling, cutting edge television.

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