DVD/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 12

 

++++Warning, this will contain spoilers from prior seasons, but no major giveaways from season 12+++++

The 12-episode 12th season of Bones aired during the winter and spring of 2017. As most know, this was the final season of Bones. It was brought back for a partial season to resolve the cliffhanger at the end of season 11 and to give the various characters a final send-off. The cliffhanger involving Zach kidnapping Brennan is resolved in the season premier, and a larger arc throughout the season revisits the original Gormagon story line, which was (in my opinion) the weakest ending to a story line that the show had. The other major story arc played out through the final 12 episodes was Booth being targeted because of a sniper mission he was involved in back in the 1990s. And of course, there are various cases of the week crimes to solve.

The show did a good job of bringing back as many characters from the past (and referencing as many prior stories) as possible. The only major characters that did not appear in person were the deceased ones (Sweets and Vincent Nigel Murray and Booth's brother) although there were references to them, Parker, Brennan's brother, and the original director of the Jeffersonian, Dr. Goodman. It would have been nice to see Sweets in person in a dream or hallucination sequence (had John Francis Daily been willing and able to do so), but the show did an excellent job paying homage to its past. It would have also been nice to get an appearance by Angela's dad to hassle Jack one last time.

The DVD set is a three-disc set. For those who get the DVDs, the set is, like it has been in prior years fairly bare-bones (pun intended). Just the episodes, and then on the final disc an approximately 20 min retrospective looking at the show over the years featuring interviews with the cast, writers, and creators of the show, and a 3 min gag reel. Okay for what is there, but not as much as was included in the prior season releases (especially the seasons that were put out on blu-ray). Of course, after season 8 the studio stopped releasing it on blu-ray, so the DVD releases end up being all there are for people who do not just want to stream the show.

Ultimately Bones was a show that ended up going much longer than almost anyone expected, which was especially surprising given Fox's notoriously quick trigger on yanking shows. Given that Bones did take a while to find its footing as a show, it is amazing it lasted as long as it did. The season ends with a very much "life will go on" feel for the various characters, and I think fans of the show will be pleased with how it is wrapped up. If you only get DVDs for the extras, no amazing content makes them a must-get vs streaming. But if you have the prior seasons already it is worth getting to complete a collection.

DVD/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 11

 

++++Warning this will contain spoilerish material from prior seasons, but no major giveaways from season 11++++

The 22-episode penultimate season of Bones aired during the 2015/2016 TV season. It takes the show back to its case-of-the-week roots and reduces the serial arcs spanning multiple episodes. Unlike the previous seasons with Pelant being an antagonist throughout the season, the story arcs involved the various character's relationships with each other more than an overarching "big bad". The only hint of that this season was a two-episode arc about a killer turning his victims into puppets, which has a tie back to earlier seasons and sets up a cliffhanger going into Season 12.

The character of Aubry continues to be incorporated into the group dynamic, not as a replacement for Sweets but as filling some of the roles as a partner for the team after Sweet's death last season. There is an accident midway through the season that affects many of the characters because of the aftermath which I think was done very well. There is also more of Booth and Brennan's family life woven into the show. The season starts off with a couple episodes of mystery involving a disappearance, and there is an excellent cross-over episode with the main characters from Sleepy Hollow about midway through the season.

While I do think an argument can be made that Bones has hung on a bit too long (and given Fox's penchant for yanking shows, I am kind of surprised it lasted as long as it has) I think the writers and actors do a good job with the characters and stories. The cast seems to have very good chemistry with each other, so fans can stay invested in the people on the show, which I think has always made the show work as well as it does. It did find a formula that works for it and has stuck to it, so you know what you are getting with it.

The DVD set is a six-disc set. As has been the case with the past couple of seasons, it is only available on DVD. There are not as many extras as in previous seasons, just a few deleted scenes and a gag reel. That is what knocks the release down a star for me.

DVD/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 10

 

++++WARNING: This will contain spoilers from the previous season and hints, but no major giveaways from this season. If you have not seen season 9 avoid the first paragraph++++

The 22-episode tenth season of Bones aired during the 2014/2015 TV season. This season shakes the show up a lot. The first handful of episodes is spent tying up the "conspiracy" storyline that ended season 9 with Booth in handcuffs. They do not draw out the story too long and end up wrapping it up within the first couple of episodes in a somewhat anti-climatic end (at least, in my opinion). Of course, as most know, there is a major death early on as a part of that story, which affects the characters throughout the remainder of the season. This season also includes the 200th episode, which was directed by David Boreanaz and imagines the team in 1950s Hollywood.

The show keeps the case of the week format tied together with larger overall arcs. The big theme for the season is the various character relationships (especially Booth and Brennan) and the next step the various characters are taking. There is a new addition to the team in the form of a new FBI agent, James Aubrey, played by John Boyd. While introducing new characters in a long-running established show is always tricky, Boyd seemed to have good chemistry with the rest of the cast, and his character was well-written, so the integration was pretty smooth. Especially after he finds his footing with the character. Toward the end of the season, there is a tie back to the Pelant storyline and the money he stole from Hodgins, and a post-death Pelant threat that may or may not tie into season 11. The team is definitely left in a state of flux at the end of the season, but not with as big a cliffhanger as season 9 ended on.

The DVD set is a six-disc set. It does include some extras, but not as much as in the prior season's physical media releases. The extras include deleted scenes for select episodes. A making of feature on the series' 200th episode, a gag reel, and a feature on the character that was killed off. It's not a ton of material, but it's good for what is there. My only real complaint is that the show stopped being released on Blu-ray after season 8 (which is more due to the studio than the show's quality). If that is a big deal to you, streaming may be how you want to go, but otherwise, we are just stuck with DVD.

DVD/Movie Review: Bones: Season 9

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from the previous seasons and hints, but no major giveaways from season 9.+++


The 24-episode ninth season of Bones aired during the 2013/2014 TV season. It is a formulaic show, for sure, but after a rough first couple of seasons, it found the formula that works and the actors and characters that make it work. If you have followed the show at all and have liked it, then chances are you will like the 9th season. It follows the story of the week format but with story arcs tied in along the way.

The major arc of the past season plus, Pelant vs the team is brought to a conclusion this season. The season begins with Booth sticking to having taken back his acceptance of Brennan's proposal because of Pelant's threat and the tension it is causing not only between the two of them, but the entire team. Once that storyline is resolved there is a major murder and corruption storyline that keeps popping up throughout the season and winds up with the cliffhanger going into season 10.

We again see the rotating interns throughout the season, but with Clark being hired on at the Jeffersonian in the anthropology department ostensibly as Brennan's equal, making room for a new intern along the regular crop we have seen the past 4 or 5 seasons.

As I said above, if you were a fan of past seasons (and did not get bored with the show), then this season will not disappoint you. If you have never liked the show, then this season is probably not going to do anything to get you to like it. Certainly, an argument can be made for it getting stale and using the same format repeatedly, but the story arcs woven into the mystery of the week format keep the show interesting enough.

As for the DVDs, the DVD set is a six-disc set with extras and episodes spread across the discs. The extras include commentary on select episodes, deleted scenes, portions of the comic-con panel, and a gag reel. My only gripe is that after having 5 seasons of blu ray releases the studio has gone to a DVD-only release. Hence my knocking it down a star.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 8

 

The 24-episode 8th season of Bones aired during the 2012/2013 TV season. It picks up down the line from the events that ended the seventh season, with Brennan on the run and the main antagonist, Pelant (played by Andrew Leeds) in custody but still making trouble for the team. The cliffhanger that ended season 7 is  resolved quickly in Season 8 so Brennan can come back to the team. Pelant, however, keeps coming back throughout the season to make the lives of the team hell. The show continues blending case-of-the-week procedural stories with the longer story arcs. This season also includes some episodes that were intended to air during season 7, but were cut due to the reduced number of episodes that resulted from Emily Deschanel's pregnancy. All the main cast members and primary recurring cast members return for this season. New recurring cast members this season include Danielle Panabaker (who would go on to star in the series Flash), Joanna Cassidy, Scott Lowell, and Danny Woodburn.

The show has kept the rotating interns that stemmed from the one story line from the show whose outcome I did not like, and that was having Zach written off the show. The show does a good job of actually giving them more to do that just being Brennan's sidekicks and it seems like the show is going to stick with that format for the foreseeable future. Aside from the stretches that the show makes with reality which you either accept or not, the only thing that was completely unrealistic from this season was about Hodgins money. You have to suspend your disbelief for what happens initially, but I personally think the directon the show takes the aftermath is just dumb. The rest of the season really revolves around Booth and Brennan as a couple, and as parents. I think that part of the story is well written and has done a good job of not making the relationship stale which is always the danger in bringing lead characters into a relationship.

The Blu-Ray set is a five-disc set with the episodes and bonus features spread across the five discs. The extras include deleted scenes, commentary on some episodes, an "Ask Bones" feature where cast members answer questions submitted by fans, a short ultimate fan segment, and a gag reel. Not a ton of extras but enough there if you do like going through that material. Also, the blu rays allow you to play it in season mode, so you can stop at any point and pick back up where you left off.

Chances are by now you know how you feel about Bones. If you have liked the show up to this point you will likely still enjoy this season. If you don't like it, this season will not do anything to change your mind because it really follows the same formula as it has the past few years. I think the stories are still compelling and interesting enough to keep the show fun to watch. It does a good job of blending the case of the week stories with the ongoing story arcs.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 7

 

The 13-episode seventh season of Bones aired during the 2011/2012 TV season. The season was cut short because of Emily Deschanel's real-life pregnancy. Her pregnancy was written into the show, with the character of Brennan giving birth in the latter portion of the season. The show continued to mix the case-of-the-week procedural format with a serial storyline. This season, the serial arc involves a tech genius as the season's main antagonist in a storyline that also involves the Pelant storyline from prior seasons. The season ends on a large cliffhanger to set up the 8th season.

The Blu-Ray set is a three-disc set. There are a handful of bonus features, including a commentary track on the episode "The Past in the Present," deleted scenes from a couple of episodes, a gag reel, and some behind-the-scenes material. What was included was okay, but it definitely does not have as much bonus content as the physical media releases for the prior seasons received. The show continues to be strong, following the format that has worked for it since the second season, where it found its footing. The storylines continue to be interesting, and the cast members seem to have very good chemistry with one another. The show has a good blend of drama and humor, and the writers do a good job of giving the large ensemble cast good material to work with. So, if you liked the prior seasons, this one is worth the time to watch.

 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 6

 

The 23-episode sixth season of Bones aired during the 2010/2011 TV season. All the main cast members returned for this season, and the show continued with its format as a case-of-the-week procedural mixed with serial arcs. This season's main serial arc involves a sniper named Jacob Broadsky, who starts going after the team. This season also ties up the "gravedigger" storyline, with Deirdre Lovejoy making another appearance as Heather Taffet. 

The Blu-Ray set is a four-disc set, which includes some bonus material. The extras for this release include commentary tracks on a couple of episodes, a featurette on the episode "The Blackout in the Blizzard," a featurette on the special effects, extended versions of two episodes, a gag reel, and the pilot episode of the series, The Killing.  This season includes several notable guest stars, including Michael Clarke Duncan, Saffron Burrows, and Geoff Stults, who led a spin-off series called "The Finder" that only received a 13-episode run that aired during Bones' 7th season. Ryan O'Neal also appeared as Brennan's father, Max and Billy Gibbons made another appearance as Angela's father. Arnold Vosloo (from the Mummy movies) had a significant recurring role, and all the rotating interns appeared regularly. Ultimately, the series follows the format that has made it successful. Since the show uses mainly procedural storylines, you don't necessarily have to watch the prior seasons to follow what happens in a particular episode. Still, it does help to see the character development in the earlier seasons, and some of the episodes will make more sense. If you liked the prior seasons, this is worth watching. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 5

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from prior seasons but does not contain any spoilers from season 5+++

The 22-episode fifth season of Bones aired during the 2009/2010 TV season and followed the same format that has made the show successful. That is, primarily being a case-of-the-week procedural crime-drama, but it also includes some larger storylines that play out throughout the season or get carried over from the prior season. In this season, one of the later examples is a continuation of the "gravedigger" storyline with the trial of Heather Taffet (played by Deirdre Lovejoy) and the team having to find concrete evidence to convict her. The season picks up with Booth returning to the FBI, trying to figure out if his feelings for Brennan are real or an after-effect of his brain injury at the end of season four. The show continues the tease of how Booth and Brennan will get together, with the writers doing everything they can to keep them apart. This includes a season finale in which a more significant time jump going into season six is teased. This season also has the milestone 100th episode (which David Boreanez directed) that looks back on the history of the team members and allows for a way to incorporate Eric Millegan into the season. 

The Blu-Ray set is a four-disc set. The show looks and sounds very good in HD. It received a nice (but not spectacular) blu-ray transfer. The 22 episodes and the various bonus features are spread across the four discs. Those include commentary tracks on two episodes, a featurette on the 100th episode, two behind-the-scenes featurettes, a gag reel, deleted scenes, and extended versions of two episodes.

Overall, the series continues to be strong. By this season, it found the formula that works and does not deviate much from that while still making the shows exciting and fresh. This season includes many good guest stars and recurring stars, including Cyndi Lauper, Ryan O'Neal, Emily's sister Zooey Deschanel, who plays Brennan's cousin in an episode, and Billy Gibbons, who again plays Angela's father. The roles of the various interns are also expanded this season, with the show continuing to rotate the characters of Clark, Daisy, Wendell, Arastoo, Colin, and Vincent throughout the season. If you have liked the show (especially from season two forward), you will also like this season.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 4

 

+++Warning, this contains the major spoiler from the prior season, but no major reveals from the fourth season+++

By the fourth season (which aired during the 2008-2009 season), Bones had really hit its stride as a show that is a mix of a case-of-the-week procedural, in which Booth (David Boreanez), Brennan (Emily Deschanel), and the team of "squints" solve a murder, while also mixing in serial arcs or at least callbacks to earlier episodes. This season also sees more cast turnover as Eric Millegan had mostly left the show, being written out as Zack being put in a psych ward after being revealed as the serial killer "Gormagon's" apprentice. There is also a callback to the Gravedigger storyline, this time putting Booth in jeopardy. We also get the rotating stable of interns (because Brennan cannot settle on just one), so Eugene Bird (who plays Clark), Ryan Cartwright (who plays Vincent Nigel Murry), Michael Grant Terry (who plays Wendell Bray), Carla Gallo (who plays Daisy Wick), Joel David Moore (who plays Colin Fisher), Pej Vadaht (who plays Arastoo Vaziri), and Michael Badaluuco (who plays Scott Starret) have recurring roles throughout the season. The season starts with a two-part episode set in London, which includes an appearance by Stephen Fry, reprising his role as Gordon Wyatt. And, Seth McFarlane makes a voice cameo appearance as Stewie from Family Guy in a funny scene with David Boreanez. The season continues with the will-they-won't-they-get-together tension between Booth and Brennan, and the season ends on a major cliffhanger that puts Booth and Brennan's personal and professional relationships up in the air going into season five.

For those who get the Blu-Ray, the show looks and sounds very good in HD. This is actually the first season that the show was released on Blu-Ray and the A/V quality is definitely an upgrade over the standard-definition DVDs. The extras include extended versions of some episodes, a gag reel, a featurette on the new interns, and an interview with Ally Maki about the character she played in one of the episodes. If you get the DVD set, the first four episodes that were broadcast as season four episodes (including the episodes in London) are not included. They were actually shot during season three and were included in the Season 3 DVD release. However, they are included on the Blu-Ray, so you get all 26 episodes that aired during season 4 if you get the Blu-Ray set. 

Liking a show, or not, is always very subjective. Bones is definitely not a show that will appeal to everyone, but I would say that if you liked the prior three seasons, you will probably like this one (unless Zack was your favorite character). The cast seems to get along very well and has great on-screen chemistry. This season sees the first appearance of Booth and Brennan's undercover characters, Wanda and Buck, who are hilarious, mostly because of Emily Deschanel. The writers do a good job balancing the large ensemble cast, even giving the interns some valuable screen time. While you can mostly just jump into the show and follow along without watching the prior seasons, I do think watching it from the beginning to see the character development is best. 

DVD/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 3

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from the prior season, but no major season three spoilers+++

The third season of Bones aired in the 2007-2008 television season and was shortened (to just 15 episodes) as a result of the writer's strike and a bit rearranged due to the Virginia Tech mass shooting because one of the episodes dealt with a murder on a college campus and was set to air in season two just after the VT incident was repackaged and aired in season three. The season also included what was, for me anyway, the show's most controversial storyline, that of a cannibalistic serial killer called Gormagon. It is really the only longer story arc the show had that I was underwhelmed about how it was resolved. All of the main cast members from season two returned for season three, and there was also a new addition to the cast, a new FBI psychologist named Lance Sweets, played by John Francis Daley (from Freaks & Geeks). 

Again the show was a blend of procedural case-of-the-week stories and the longer Gormagon serial killer arc, that had a few twists and turns as it played out. The show also continues the story of Brennan's father, Max (played again by Ryan O'Neal) who allowed himself to be arrested by Booth at the end of the prior season. The season also continues Hodgens' and Angela's unlikely relationship. This season also sees Brennan looking for new interns (since Zack graduated last season) and introduces the character of Clark Edison (played by Eugene Bryd) and expands the recurring role of prosecutor Caroline Julian (played by Patricia Belcher). 

The DVD includes the 15 that were broadcast during season three and the first four episodes that were produced at the same time as the season three episodes but broadcast during season four, as bonus episodes. The other extras include extended versions of select episodes, a gag reel, and a handful of behind-the-scenes featurettes. 

This is the season in which I think the writers figured out the characters, and as a result, the actors had really great chemistry. Both Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz got to show off their comedic chops more this season, which was aided by the addition of the character of Sweets who actually fit into their dynamic very well. Really the only bad thing for me about this season was the way that the Gormagon story played out. Aside from that, the show continued to be great and it is definitely worth watching. 

DVD/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 2

 

+++Warning, this contains minor spoilers from season 1, but no major season two giveaways +++

The second season of Bones mostly follows the story/case-of-the-week procedural format that season one did with Booth (David Boreanaz) and Brennan (Emily Deschanel) solving some murder but also introduces a new storyline that would span multiple seasons and expanded on a couple of season one storylines. The show would also introduce a new character, Dr. Camille Saroyan, played by Tamara Taylor, who takes over as the new head of the forensic division with the departure of Jonathan Adams and his character, Dr. Goodman.

From the first season, the character of serial killer Howard Epps returns for two more episodes in season two to terrorize the team and the storyline of Brennan's parents is furthered with Ryan O'Neal joining as the recurring Max Brennan, Temperance's fugitive father. This season also establishes a new serial killer known as Gravedigger in an episode in which the team has to find two kids who have been buried alive. The season also explores the various character relationships and still develops the main characters. Thankfully, they dropped Brennan's habit from the first season of saying she does not understand some cultural reference (seemingly) every ten seconds. She still does it (or remarks that she understands a particular reference) but not nearly as much. We also get a bit more of the backgrounds of the ancillary characters, which includes a great cameo by Billy Gibbon of the band ZZ Top playing Angela's father, and the great British actor Stephen Fry playing Booth's psychiatrist.

For those who get the DVD set, there are a decent amount of extras spread across the six discs. Those include deleted scenes, a gag reel, a couple of making-of featurettes, and commentary tracks on two episodes. So, if you are one who likes watching the bonus content, what is included is good. And, thankfully, they did away with the double-sided DVDs of season 1.

To me, the show really finds its footing in the second season. While most of the characters continue as they were presented in season one, I think the tweaks to the character of Brennan, making her a little less robotic than she was in the first season worked out well. She is still quirky, but she is given more range as a character than just the ultra-logical character she was in the first season, and Emily Deschanel does a great job playing her. Boreanaz also does a great job showing the acting range he was rarely able to show playing Angel. The supporting cast members are all great, with T.J. Thyne and Michaela Conlin stealing nearly every scene they are in, as does Stephen Fry when he makes his appearances as Gordon Wyatt. Tamara Taylor also brings a bit more balance to the team of "squints" with Camille being a more normal, nonquirky character. Thyne and Eric Millegan also have really good chemistry and even though their characters are total opposites, you can buy that they are actually buddies and would totally pull some of the stunts that the characters do in the show. So, if you liked season one you will probably like season two. If you were on the fence about the show after the first season, I would advise giving season two a chance as the rough edges from season one have been smoothed out this season.

 

DVD/TV Series Review: Bones: Season 1

 

Bones was a procedural crime drama that aired on FOX starting in 2005. It starred David Boreanaz  (best known for his role as Angel on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff series Angel) as FBI Special Agent Seely Booth, and Emily Deschanel, as Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist at the Jeffersonian Institute in Washington D.C. who works with Booth to solve murders. The rest of the main cast is made up of the staff members of the Jeffersonian, whom Booth refers to as "the squints". They include Michaela Conlin, as forensic artist Angela Montenegro, Eric Millegan as Zack Addy, Dr. Brennan's grad student lab assistant, T.J. Thyne, the lab's entomologist, and Jonathan Adams, the director of the Jeffersonian.

The show is, for the most part, a case-of-the-week procedural that involves a death either occurring or being discovered in the cold open, and then Booth and Brennan investigate the case (usually with the capture of the murderer) by the end of the hour. There are some serial arcs included as well. In season one, the main serial arc was the disappearance of Brennan's parents when she was young, and clues appear throughout the season that leads to a bit of a cliffhanger in the season finale. The show is very character-based and the first season does a lot to develop the various characters. They do go a bit overboard on the character of Brennan, making too much of the fact that she does not follow pop culture and does not understand any (almost) pop culture references. The writers do a great job with Booth and Brennan's opposite personalities and give the large ensemble cast a lot to work with. Boreanaz actually gets to show off more of his comedic acting chops, which he only got to do a couple of times playing Angel. So, he is far less serious and brooding than he had to be playing Angel.

For those who get the DVD set, the original release of season one was on the dreaded dual-sided discs, so the episodes were spread over four discs instead of the usual six. There is a commentary track by the series creator Hart Hanson on the pilot episode, and a commentary track by Boreanaz and Deschanel on the episode "Two Bodies in the Lab". Then there are a series of featurettes including one on forensic anthropologist and author Kathy Reichs, on whom the character of Brennan is loosely based, a featurette on the team of squints, a featurette on the medical jargon used in the show, and character profiles.

Overall, the first season is a good start to the series, although it did take a while for the series to find its footing. Thankfully, FOX did give the show some slack and let it evolve, and by the end of the season, it had developed a tone and style that would pretty much carry throughout the rest of its run. It could get a bit gory at times with very real-looking corpses in various stages of decay which could creep and/or gross some people out. Given that it aired on Fox, however, they could not go overboard with violence, sex, or nudity, although there is some sexual banter and implied nudity that never reveals anything. So, if you like crime procedurals and have not yet seen it, this is a good series to check out.