Bones: The Complete Second Season (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)FOX Television has struck gold with the series, BONES. The series stars BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and ANGEL heartthrob David Boreanaz as FBI Agent Seely Booth and relative newcomer Emily Deschanel as Temperance Brennan.
The series is based on books written by real-life forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs. Reichs is also a real-life NEW YORK TIMES best-selling author. Viewers of the television show will quickly discover that the "Temperance Brennan" of the books is much different than the character in the television show. The literary Temperance is a divorced mother with a problematic family.
In the television show, Temperance is an orphan that was raised in foster care and has trouble relating to others on an interpersonal level. She also happens to be an author and writes about a forensic anthropologist named Kathy Reichs.
The two series, in some ways, are vastly different. But people who enjoy the show will probably enjoy the books. And people enjoy the books, once they get over the fact that their favorite heroine isn't presented the way she is in the novels, will have a blast with the television show.
BONES, derived from Seely Booth's pet name for Temperance and from the fact that a forensic anthropologist usually only has skeletons to work with, is a fascinating interplay of almost-romance, outstanding characters, and nifty little puzzles dealing with murder and mayhem. The chemistry between the two stars is palpable and believable. I haven't seen Boreanaz anything that I haven't liked him in. Deschanel was new to me, although I had seen her in a supporting role in GLORY ROAD that was much different than the Temperance role.
The almost-romance shtick has gotten potentially old after playing in MOONLIGHTING and LOIS AND CLARK, as well as many others. In fact, long-time mystery viewers will remember a show called REMINGTON STEELE that starred Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist. After those two characters hooked up, viewer interest seemed to wane. Series developer Hart Hanson has to know he's walking a thin line but by choosing to go this route. However, it plays beautifully at present.
The second season continues much of the same tone that was set in the first season. Booth has warmed up to Brennan and her crew, although he still continues to refer to them as the Squint Squad when referring to them among his peers at the FBI. Booth and Brennan also continue to look for her father and to find out what happened to her mother after Brennan's parents disappeared when she was just a teenager.
While Booth's romance with Brennan continues to fizzle this season, maybe even more difficult by the addition of Doctor Camille Saroyan (Tamara Taylor), Angela (Michaela Conlin) and Jack's (T. J. Thyne) romance buds, blossoms, and almost bears fruit. As it turns out, Saroyan is a pathologist (which is a conflict in field of study to a degree to an anthropologist), is Brennan's new boss, and is one Booth's ex-lovers.
Tensions mount between Booth and Brennan as each tries to figure out where the other fits into the work and personal scenes. However, thankfully, the idea of romance is merely hinted at and flirted with rather than moved into a starring role. This is a great choice for the series at the moment, but I don't know how much longer they can successfully pull this off.
In addition to interesting leads, Booth and Brennan are backed by fantastic supporting characters who often step into the limelight of an episode. Zack and Hodges continue to bring slapstick scientific moments to the episodes. Although I really didn't think they could top running the semi-frozen pig corpse through the wood chipper last season, they blew the roof off my expectations with the season opener when they simulated a burning death of a victim using Spam lunch meat. I can always count on those two for a laugh, either through Zack's deadpan delivery or Hodges's conspiracy theories.
Angela is the heart and soul of the investigatory unit. She reminds the team and the viewer that the victims in each episode were real people. Plus, she's gotta be one of the hottest babes on television today. I will never forget how she grabbed the attention of the airline clerk in the first season opener.
Only 21 of Season Two's 22-episode run are included on this box set. One of the episodes, "Player Under Pressure," was pulled out of the lineup during the regular season. The plot line was uncomfortably close to the Virginia Tech shootings. It will be aired this year in Season Three.
There were a lot of outstanding episodes this year, and it was good to see them again in this box set. I was happy to see that this set contains six single-sided discs instead of three double-sided discs like in the last set. On double-sided discs, it gets too complicated tried to figure out which side is up. Plus, I like the cosmetic appeal of having pictures of the actors and actresses on the top of the disc. This also helps make the discs immediately recognizable.
The special features include voiceovers on select episodes, two featurettes, and a gag reel that shows viewers how much fun this series must be to work on. Although the special features are still "bare bones" compared to what viewers want, it does add up to more reasons to pick up the box set.
BONES is one of the best hours of television currently on. If you haven't discovered the series for yourself and you're looking for something to fill the gap left by the cancellation of VERONICA MARS, this series may well be what you're looking for.


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Detectives Bones and Booth create undeniable chemistry and humor while solving crimes using frequently clashing investigative styles.
Audio: English: Dolby Surround 5.1
Language: Dubbed: English / Subtitled: French & Spanish
Disc 1:
The Titan on the Tracks
Mother and Child in the BayThe Boy in the Shroud
The Blonde in the Game
Disc 2:
The Truth in the Lye
The Girl In Suite 2103
The Girl with the Curl
The Woman in the Sand
Disc 3:
Aliens in a Spaceship
The Headless Witch in the Woods
Judas on a Pole
The Man in theCell
Disc 4:
The Girl in the Gator
The Man in the Mansion
The Bodies in the Book
The Bonless Bride in the River
Disc 5:
The Priest in the Churchyard
The Killerin the Concrete
Spaceman in a Crater
The Glowing Bones in the Old Stone House
Disc 6:
Stargazer In a Puddle
With Commemtary by actors David Boranez, Emily Deschanel and director Caleb Deschanel
With Commemtary by Executive Producer Steven Nathan

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