Bones

:

Season 1
  • Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 13, 2005
Season #: 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 29
  3. Negative: 5 out of 29
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Critic Reviews

  1. Kansas City Star
    Reviewed by: Aaron Barnhart
    20
    A flimsy little procedural that uses logical and technological leaps of faith to hide its central problem: lack of co-star chemistry.
  2. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Roger Holland
    20
    Bones is a very poor cross between the X-Files and CSI with characters stolen from NCIS, plot devices from Veronica Mars, and topicality from Law & Order.
  3. Slate
    Reviewed by: Dana Stevens
    20
    Memo to network execs planning an all-forensics programming slate for fall: Watching attractive people poke at skull fragments is not inherently interesting.
  5. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Tom Shales
    20
    The heroine, unlikely in every detail including her name, Temperance Brennan, goes about reassembling corpses and then divining how they got to be that way. It's precise, tedious work and so is watching this show.
  6. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    10
    It's as if we've all passed this way (many times) before and could write the dialogue, act the scenes, predict the outcome all in our sleep.

Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Best TV Season of 2005
10
#10 Most Discussed TV Season of 2005
19
#19 Most Shared TV Season of 2005

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 294 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 211 out of 294
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 294
  3. Negative: 63 out of 294
  1. ToyB
    Aug 28, 2006
    10
    The character dynamics hook audiences, the dark humor appeals, the cases are well-thought out, and the acting is superb on all aspects.
  2. MargoB
    Aug 28, 2006
    10
    Talented cast, great chemistry, fun dialogue, the inspiration of Reichs, the talents of Hanson, character driven as opposed to the usual Talented cast, great chemistry, fun dialogue, the inspiration of Reichs, the talents of Hanson, character driven as opposed to the usual procedural, and the Boreanaz charm and talent are all the reasons I won't miss an episode!… Full Review »
  3. Weeksie21
    Feb 14, 2013
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. This is used to be a show about scientists doing science, and Brennan's character being a believer in facts and evidence over faith in anything supernatural was central to this theme. The so-called epiphany she experiences in the latest episode (Shot in the Dark) along with the precedent of ghosts and psychics being verifiably real (Ghost in the Machine) goes against the every point of her character. More than that, it blatantly perpetrates the worst misconceptions about atheists: That not believing is the result of something 'being wrong' with the person; that atheists are cold, emotionless people who live unfulfilled lives devoid of any kind of warmth or happiness; that Brennan's non-belief has somehow limited her in her life, despite the fact that she's one of the most renowned and successful experts in her field.

    In the end, this episode, like so many before it, was nothing more than sloppy storytelling, lazy writing, and propaganda, plain and simple. And though I'm an atheist, I'm less offended by the (oh-so-common) prejudice against non-believers and more offended by the sheer absence of logical character behavior and progression.    … Full Review »
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