Bonesis one ofthe best police procedural seriesloosely based on the life and novels written by anthropologistKathy Reichs, who was also a producer on the show. The show centers around a brilliant forensic anthropologist, Dr. Temperance Brennan A.K.A. Bones, played byEmily Deschanel, who has an uncanny ability to solve even the toughest crimes by studying and finding clues from the victim’s bones.
Since Bones' skills have proven to be effective, she often finds herself working with a former Army sniper, FBI Special Agent Seely Booth, played byDavid Boreanaz, making them an unlikely but entertaining pair. The duo is joined by a unique line-up of well-developed characters who all play a crucial part in Bones and Booth’s cases while also adding their own bit of chaos and comedy to the mix. The show ran for twelve seasons and out of its two hundred and forty-six episodes, a select few, such as Season 5, episode 16, “The Parts in the Sum of the Whole,” and Season 1, episode 22, “The Woman in Limbo,“reign as some ofBones' best episodes.
15"The Wannabe in the Weeds”
Season 3, Episode 14 (2007)
When a man’s body is found cut up in a grassy field,the crime-fighting duoBooth and Bones take on the mysterious case and eventually identify the body as an aspiring singer named Tommy Sour (Ace Young). Their investigation leads them to a local nightclub where Sour used to frequently perform and the gym where he used to work, introducing them to a series of the victim’s friends and foes who could be potentially behind the young musician’s murder.
“The Wannabe in the Weeds” is a maze of an episode featuring guest stars Young andBrandon Rogers, who were both contestants onAmerican Idolduring Seasons 5 and 6. The young singers' appearances add an authentic tone to the episode, creating a more convincing and intriguing plot for viewers.The episode takes a look into the darker side of the world of entertainmentand, while the industry itself has its pitfalls, the people who aspire to become famous are the ones who pose the most likely threat.
14"Judas on a Pole”
Season 2, Episode 11 (2006)
In Season 2, episode 11, Booth and Bones take on a grizzly case involving a former FBI agent who has been brutally murdered, and his body completely burned and hanging from a roof. As they begin their investigation into the unspeakable crime, they find themselves reopening a thirty-year-old case that links back to Bone’s father.
The episode is not only noted for hitting close to home for Brennan, but it is also directed byDavid Duchovny, who is best known for his roles inThe X-FilesandTwin Peaks. “Judas on a Pole” centers around one of the most heinous crimes ever featured on the show and while it’s a plot full of twists and turns,the episode is one of the best that reveals more about Bones and her family who are a constant enigma.
13"The Hero in the Hold"
Season 4, Episode 14 (2009)
After Bones and Jack Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) survive being buried alive by the Gravedigger, the evidence in the case mysteriously vanishes, making Bones and Hodgins the prime suspects in the loss of evidence. Meanwhile, Booth is knocked out and finds himself buried alive by the Gravedigger, forcing Bones to race against the clock to find him before it’s too late.
“The Hero in the Hold” is a highly intense and suspenseful episode that reprises the infamous Gravedigger who puts another beloved member of the team in serious jeopardy. The episode isone of few wheredetective duo Bones and Boothare not working together, allowing both characters to showcase their individual talentsand skills that ultimately make them an effective team.
12"The Man in the Cell"
Season 2, Episode 12 (2007)
When Booth and Bones are called to try and identify a badly burned corpse after a prison fire, they discover that the body is a fireman, presenting the issue of the inmate who was supposed to be in the cell having escaped. The inmate is identified as a serial killer, Howard Epps (Heath Freeman) who Bones put away years ago, leading to Epps seeking revenge against Bones and her team.
“The Man in the Cell” is a classic case of a fraudulent death, but this case has dire consequences for Bones and her team, who inevitably become Epps’s next targets. The episode is riddled with suspense and constant unpredictability that effortlessly puts viewers on edge. Unlike the majority of the other episodes,“The Man in the Cell” raises the stakes by putting Bones and other beloved characters in potential danger, making it one of the bestBonesepisodes of all time.
11"The Man in the Fallout Shelter"
Season 1, Episode 9 (2005)
When a group of construction workers discovers skeletal remains from a 1950s fallout shelter, Bones and her team are called in to remove and try and identify the remains. Unfortunately, after Zack (Eric Millegan) cuts into the bones, he accidentally releases spores of a deadly fungus, forcing the entire team to be quarantined during the Christmas holiday.
Season 1, episode 9 puts Bones and her team in an unusual situation but also gives audiences an opportunity to learn more about the supporting characters, adding depth to the show without moving away from its traditional formula. The episode was written specifically for the Christmas holiday and even though it’s not anyone’s idea of a grand celebration,“The Man in the Fallout Shelter” featuresa distinctive plot that allows other characters to share some of the spotlight, deeming it to be a top-notchBonesepisode.
10"The Past in the Present"
Season 7, Episode 13 (2012)
In “The Past in the Present,” a suspected serial killer and tech genius, Christopher Pelant (Andrew Leeds), tries to get out on parole by discrediting Bones and her team’s findings. As Booth and Bones both try to fight to keep Pelant locked up and where he belongs, things take an unexpected turn when Bones somehow becomes a suspect.
The finale of the show’s seventh season is a suspense-filled rollercoaster ride as Bones has personal ties to Pelant, who is suspected of murdering her friend. To add insult to injury, Bones' emotions are heightened by Pelant, who tries to discredit her, which, for anyone, would hit close to home.The episode leaves audiences suspended on an intense, unpredictable cliffhangerand deems it to be one of the best episodes in the show.
9"The Signs of Silence"
Season 6, Episode 21 (2011)
Bones and Booth face a challenging mystery when a 15-year-old girl who is both hearing and speech impaired is found covered in blood in the street wielding a knife. Known as Jane Doe, Bones struggles to deal with the clearly terrified girl and has to be reminded that she is a person and not just evidence. As the team follows the clues and tests the blood on Jane Doe, they are led to a dead middle-aged man, begging the question: who is the victim in this case?
“The Signs of the Silence” is an interesting episode that serves as a reminder about how things are sometimes not always what they seem at first glance.It also sheds light on Bones and her difficult past of living in foster care as a childand what starts out as a frustrating relationship between Bones and Jane Doe, turns into one of empathy and understanding. The episode follows a series of twists and turns but also features a wholesomeside storyline about Bonesfinding common ground with a child who isn’t that much different from her.
8"The Woman in Limbo"
Season 1, Episode 22 (2006)
“The Woman in Limbo” is a highly emotional episode for Bones, who discovers the remains in the Jeffersonian storage of unidentified victims turn out to be those of her mother. While Booth opens up an official FBI investigation to try and find out who murdered Bones' mother, Bones begins to learn dark secrets hidden deep within her family that will change her life forever.
The season one finale floored fans as it sparked the search for Bones' mother’s killer, which is an ongoing storyline throughout the show.Unlike most other episodes, “The Woman in Limbo,” takes a major emotional toll on Bonesas she is forced to recall her difficult past and the events leading up to her parents' disappearance. The episode was a shocking twist to wrap up the series' first season and, despite viewers having more questions than answers at the end, it effectively leaves them anticipating the next season.
7"The Parts in the Sum of the Whole"
Season 5, Episode 16 (2010)
Season 5, episode 16 marked the show’s 100th episode and recalls the first case Booth and Bones' worked together as well as the relationships established within the Jeffersonian team. As the episode unfolds through a series of flashbacks, it is a fitting way to celebrate the show’s major milestone and also sheds light on how the lives of each character intertwine together.
Considering the significance of the episode,the showrunners do an excellent job of looking back on Bones and Booth’s initial start together while also providing insightinto the supporting characters and how they found their way to the Jeffersonian. It’s a special episode that adds more depth to the overall cast of characters, but it also steps further inBones and Booth’s relationship turning into a romanticone, which makes it a sentimental and all-around great episode.
6"The Doctor in the Photo"
Season 6, Episode 9 (2010)
In “The Doctor in the Photo,” the team finds a female body badly beaten and stuck in a tree in a rough neighborhood and is soon identified as a career-driven surgeon. Since Bones and the victim share a striking number of similarities, Bones has a difficult time separating herself from her the more she learns about her and her past.
The episode has a bit of an eerie tone to it, but the strange similarities between Bones and the victim end up paying off in a surprisingly clever way. Most investigators try not to get emotionally attached to the victims, but it does happen.In this particular episode, viewers see the rare emotional side of Bones, who usually has no problem in this area, revealing an emotional honesty about her character that is refreshing for viewers.
