An Inaugural Post: Bones

The beginning of a journey, and it starts with Bones!

This show is one of many that holds a special place in my heart. I first watched Bones all the way through in 2018, just a few months after it had finished, but that was not the first time I had seen it.

Bones began as the last thing on TV before I went to bed. When I used to stay up with my dad and watch TV with him. We would record episodes of the shows we watched together, including the likes of NCIS, Medium and Criminal Minds, and when we were done always left on Fox was Bones, and so we’d watch some of that too.

You can imagine my surprise when I finally sat down to watch the pilot and well… remaining spoiler free for now, let’s just say that some people walked that I didn’t expect to, and some didn’t kiss when I had expected them to do so.

Regardless, it didn’t take long for my attention to be hooked, and before I knew it I was binging a season in a weekend and deeply invested in the lives of characters I’d only met in passing till now.

So, without further ado, let’s take a deep dive into this show I have loved so much!

An Introduction

Bones is an American Crime Drama and procedural that aired on Fox from 13th September 2005 until 28th March 2017, amassing 246 Episodes over its 12 Season run. It was created by Hart Hanson, and loosely inspired by the life and work of Kathy Reichs. Reichs is a forensic anthropologist and author, most notable of her ‘Temperance Brennan’ series of novels, of which there is currently 20. These books would, in part, form some of the inspiration for the series.

The show is a joint production between Josephson Entertainment, Far Field Productions, and 20th Century Fox Television. It would become the longest running one-hour drama series produced by Fox Television, reaching 12 million US viewers in its peak.

Credited Executive Producers include Hart Hanson and Stephen Nathan, who have both been seen to appear at panels with the cast. Both have written a variety of episodes throughout the series 12 Seasons.

Kathy Reichs is also credited as a Producer on the series, and briefly appears in Episode 211: “Judas on a Pole”, she also wrote a number of episodes throughout the shows run, occasionally in collaboration with Kerry Reichs.

Both David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel, the shows leads, are credited as Producers from Season 2 onwards. Both would also eventually take a turn in the director’s chair. Deschanel would do so only once for Episode 1201: “The Hope in the Horror”, but Boreanaz would take the role a number of times throughout the series including the shows 100th Episode: “The Parts of in the Sum of the Whole”, and the 200th Episode: “The 200th in the 10th”.

An extensive list of the show’s Writers, Producers, Directors and everyone else in between can be found at IMDb.

Over its run the show spawned one spin-off series via a backdoor pilot (Episode 619: “The Finder”), in the form of The Finder, which was also created by Hart Hanson. It only ran for a single season with 13 total episodes on Fox from 12th January 2012 to 11th May 2012.

Bones and The Finder are currently available for streaming on Disney+ in the UK.

A Summary (Spoiler Free)

Bones is the kind of procedural with a heavy focus on the personal lives of its characters. The series follows the intelligent Dr Temperance Brennan, and her FBI partner Agent Seeley Booth. The two make an eccentric pair that form the heart and soul of the show, with their partnership being one of my favourites to watch on TV. Played by Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz respectively, who each bring their own heart to their roles, and play them in such a superb manner as to make not falling in love with them the more difficult task.

They are joined by an eclectic group of equally as fantastic characters, hereby referred to as the ‘Squint Squad’. Primarily, the artistic Angela Montenegro, ‘Bug Guy’ Dr Jack Hodgins, and from Season 2 onwards Dr Camille Saroyan.

Also, in reoccurring roles are Dr Zack Addy, Dr Lance Sweets, Agent James Aubrey, and Dr Daniel Goodman, as well as an ever-growing cast of ‘Squinterns’.

More details on all to come.

Each episode has us follow Booth and the Squint Squad through a murder investigation, while often sprinkling in an aspect of their personal lives, whether that be an exploration of their pasts, or an all new thing or being in their present.

The show takes a forensic focus in its investigation of each case, as 90% of our cast are forensic specialists in one way or another, working out of the Jeffersonian Institute’s Medico-Legal Lab. Brennan, in particular, specialises in skeletons, and as such many of the remains featured on the show are degraded or rotting and have a tendency to be somewhat grotesque. Thankfully, they often become a clean set of bones before the halfway mark, making the rest of the episode a much more pleasant investigation to follow. In any event, the charming cast of characters examining the body often offset its gruesome nature with their interpersonal dynamics, and chemistry.

Booth represents the FBI, working as a liaison with the Jeffersonian, via his partnership with Brennan. He uses his gut and ability to read people to investigate each case, often interviewing suspects and witnesses, commonly with Brennan by his side, whom he educates in the topic of people.

Adjacent to the grim nature of their work, and evidence, Bones often accompanies these dark themes with a well-toned sense of humour, which compliments the characters and their relationships well, and helps define the weird sense of family that forms between the cast in spite of their sometimes difficult to manage work life.

Bones, at its core, is an exploration of these beloved characters, in the medium of a crime procedural. It is done well, and with such thought and heart that you can’t help but find yourself coming back for more.

With the show now somewhat broadly summarised spoiler free, this is your warning for the following. SPOILERS begin NOW.

I debated where to begin from here, whether to jump straight into my thoughts and opinions, to provide a deeper look at the characters and the show, and have decided to attempt to merge both paths. And so, I give you a somewhat in depth look at the characters with my own passionate musings intertwined.

A Family

I am of the opinion that it is part of her growth as a character that she stops needlessly punching suspects. I imagine throughout the first few seasons it gets her into quite a bit of a red tape with the FBI, and that while observing and learning from Booth, as she does, in her partnership with him she starts to tone it down. As fun as it is to watch her punch criminals in the face, it does make somewhat more legal sense for her not to. This does not mean she loses her cool, though it may seem like it at first. Point of fact, she is seen taking Booth down in the premiere of Season 8. She is still quite capable of her cool, she has just learnt via Booth that assault is perhaps not always the best way to get results. It’s character growth, it makes her no less awesome.

Dr Brennan is highly intelligent, a little arrogant, private, socially awkward, rational, badass, and way too full of heart for her own good. On rare occasions her attempts at socialising can create such a sense of second-hand embarrassment that I have needed to pause and take a breath. Nevertheless, I love her with all that I can, and spend much of my time watching the show wanting nothing but the best for her. Believe me, she has more than earned her happy ending.

When we meet Brennan in Season 1, she’s isolated, well-accomplished, in the top of her field, doing exceedingly well professionally, but ultimately alone. Season 1 Brennan would have you know that she does not mind being alone, that she’s used to it. That may be true, but she is not quite as alone as she would think. She has Angela, her best friend, who tries her hardest to help Brennan connect, and live a life beyond her work. She always tries to understand Brennan in ways others don’t, and that certainly makes her the kind of friend one should keep around. Then, from the Pilot, in walks this partnership with Booth. This may not be the first time the pair have met, as the Pilot implies, and the 100th tells us for sure, but it is certainly the start of this bond that will grow to mean so much to them both. Brennan trusts maybe two people throughout the series, one of those is Angela, and the other is Booth.

A large part of Brennan’s story is her family. Specifically, the disappearance of her parents, leading to her mother’s death, and father’s reappearance. I absolutely love Max Keenan (played by Ryan O’Neal), by the way, he is an icon. Sweets will say, though, that this abandonment is why she’s isolated, as she hides behind her intelligence. He’s probably right. When Max returns it takes a lot for her to even let him back into her life, never mind trust him again, but she does. Slowly, ever so slowly, she learns to trust Max again, and Booth is no small part in helping her do so.

Early in the series Brennan decides to become a vegetarian, a remark she first makes when discovering how pigs are slaughtered during the investigation of her mother’s murder. The very same method happened to have been used on her mother. I imagine this is no small part of her reasons to become vegetarian, though the health benefits she later talks about are a nice bonus. I like that they remain consistent with her vegetarian dietary choices throughout the rest of the show.

We do meet Russ Brennan, her brother, as a part of this arc, who was 19 when their parents left. he would leave Brennan at the time, as he felt he could not adequately look after her, and that she was pushing him away. This would cause a rift between them, and they would not reconnect until the discovery of their mother in the Season 1 finale. They do, however, grow close again, with Brennan being introduced to Russ’s partner Amy, and her children, which he cares for. She at one point helps one of them receive some medical treatment. Russ’s last appearance in the series is Episode 313: “The Verdict in the Story”, their fathers trial. He, notably, does not appear at Brennan’s wedding, while her father does.

By the end of Season 12, Brennan has a family. Both in the found family sense, and literally. She shares a daughter; Christine Angela (named from Brennan’s mother, and Angela), and a son; Hank, with Booth. Max will end up a regular babysitter for their children, and the only person she trusts with them when things get too dangerous. It takes her time to learn how not to be alone, to learn that she can trust and rely on other people, but when she does, it almost always works out in the end for her. She earned this, and it makes me so glad to see her get it.

Where to next, but Supervisory Special Agent Seeley Booth.

First, the details. Booth is a former army ranger sniper, turned FBI Agent with the Major Crimes Investigation Unit, least that’s how he introduces himself in the Pilot. His wiki says that he is also associated with the Homicide Division, which would make sense as the show mostly deals with murder.

This cosmic balance that Booth tries to achieve is one of his driving forces in his line of work. On top of his desire to serve his country and protect people. As a result of all he did for his country Booth is deeply patriotic and does not relish in any instance in which his government could be seen as less than idealist. This is most obvious in such episodes like 512: “The Proof in the Pudding”, and during the conclusion of Season 9’s over-arcing plot line and the conspiracy, which rocks Booth’s internal ideals so badly it causes him to start gambling again.

Booth is a gambling addict. It’s implied his addiction is a result of the trauma and stress he suffered in the army, but is also linked to his father and brother, who are both alcoholics, and the abuse and trauma Booth suffered as a child. Booth’s mother left the abusive situation with his father, and when Hank, his grandfather, was witness to his son’s treatment of the brothers he kicked his own son out, and took to raising both Seeley, and his brother Jared (played by Brendan Fehr). Booth very much idolises Hank, naming his son after him in Season 11. This could also be seen as a small homage to the actor who played Hank, Ralph Waite, who sadly passed away in 2014.

Booth’s addiction is mentioned early on Season 1 and talked about and mentioned again whenever relevant. It is not something that is just set aside, but rather revisited, showing the effect it has on him, and how he lives his life. It goes so far as to re-emerge as a trauma response in Season 10 and have effects on his family.

Jared Booth appears a few times throughout the series, first as a member of the Navy, which allows him to aid Brennan in locating and rescuing Booth when his kidnapped by the Gravedigger, and then a few times after that, with some life decisions made post Navy and a new wife he meets in India. Of note, is the fact he also does not appear at the B&B Wedding.

As a person, Booth is protective, stubborn, caring, sensitive, deeply loving, confident. He’s the macho-man type kind of strong, and possibly a little insecure in his masculinity. He clearly likes to be a protector, a trait I think Brennan sees and understands in him. When he loves he does so intensely, this is easily shown in the way he risks everything for Brennan, again and again. He wears quirky socks, a cocky belt buckle, and colourful ties. He listens to his gut when investigating a case, which baffles Brennan. He is driven by his heart.

When we meet Booth, he’s cocky, suave, and soft. He first appears isolated, but he has an innate ability to connect that helps him in his investigations. He is quickly revealed to have a girlfriend, but he eventually stops dating all the way up until ‘the Confession’ in the 100th. He seems to distance himself from the Squint Squad, whom he refers to as ‘Squints’, with Brennan being the only one he truly deeply connects with. It’s not until Episode 109: “The Man in the Fallout Shelter” that his son; Parker, is mentioned for the first time, but once he is a part of Booth’s character he reoccurs in almost every season after that.

We always know that Booth is a family man, so it comes as no surprise to us when he consistently values Brennan, and then their children above his own life in the later seasons of the series. When we leave Booth at the end the series, he has created a wonderful family with Brennan.

So, let’s discuss their partnership.

You could write an essay on Booth and Brennan. I found it incredibly hard to talk about them as individuals sometimes. They both stand perfectly well as their separate people and identities. They are strong characters in that way, independent individuals. Nevertheless, they have such an impact on one another that to talk about them both and not comment on their partnership, friendship and subsequent relationship is not only, as it turns out, incredibly difficult, but somewhat neglectful.

Neither of them have any other connection quite as deep as theirs. I’d say over the first half of Season 1 that connection is truly being built, but by the time we’re reaching episodes where Booth is saving Brennan from kidnapping attempts, and then episodes later flying out to New Orleans for her, or the desert because she asked really hard. Yeah, by then I’m pretty convinced these guys have an impenetrable kind of bond. Nothing can break them, and good thing too because Brennan’s going to need that support when this Season Finale wraps around.

They have each other’s back then. Booth doesn’t give up on her, and she doesn’t give on him. Not when one’s buried alive, kidnapped on a ship, dying in a basement or any other life-threatening situation they’ve both come way too close to. Brennan doesn’t have faith in a lot of things outside of science, but she has faith in Booth, and he shares that same faith in her.

Their bond can be shown in the nickname: ‘Bones’. Brennan initially takes a dislike to the nickname, regularly repeating “Don’t call me Bones.”, but eventually warms up to it. By Season 2 she stops asking, and by Season 4, Episode 413: “The Fire in the Ice”, when a concussed Booth mistakenly calls someone else ‘Bones’ she responds with “But I’m Bones.”

This acceptance of the moniker is one of the earliest signs of the depth of their bond, the quiet acceptance and then claiming of the name show the special kind of partnership the two share. It is referenced a few more times down the line, later in the series Brennan states that the only nickname she’s ever had is ‘Bones’, and in Season 11 the couple are seen discussing it in the mockumentary, Episode 1118:”The Movie in the Making”.

When Sweets asks if he can call her ‘Bones’, she rejects him. Only Booth gets to. It is their thing. He calls her ‘Bones’. That’s it, no one else bar Parker.

As an aside, but I think Booth calls her Temperance maybe 4 times throughout the entire show, and never ‘Tempe’. Brennan calls him Seeley maybe once in 12 Seasons. Even when they’re married, he’s just always Booth, which as my brother will agree with me is a little weird, but I get it. She met him as Agent Booth, so professionally and in their subsequent friendship she just calls him Booth. If after 8 Seasons she suddenly started calling him Seeley we’d probably all be a little weirded out. Besides it’s not like they ever take each other’s surname, or even discuss it for that matter. And ‘Bones’ is a nickname! We love ‘Bones’, we wouldn’t him to stop calling her ‘Bones’ just because they’re married.

‘Bones’ is a sign of their friendship; which Sweets says is the foundation of their partnership and relationship. They complement and understand each other in ways that no one else could, in a way that would not be expected from these two personalities that feel as though they could not be more different. She is logical and rational, and he is 90% heart and gut instincts and yet… aren’t they quite a match made in heaven?

Which brings us to something beyond their bond and that is their love, which I do adore. Booth realises first. Following the Season 4 finale, Episode 426: “The End in the Beginning”, he comes to think that his feelings regarding Bones may be more than platonic, but due to concerns about this brain tumour (and no thanks to Sweets) puts them off, until Sweets forces the two of them to confront their feelings in the 100th. I vary on how much I appreciate Sweets’ persistent meddling in their relationship but considering this confession may never have happened without him, even B&B admit they may not be together without him, I’ll let this one go. The 100th of course does have Booth confess his feeling for Brennan, who rejects him stating “I can’t change.” She then realises next season, in Episode 609: “The Doctor in the Photo”, unfortunately Booth has found a new boo, and the relationship remains stagnant till the end of the season, but the realisations have been had now, it’s as if their romance is just slipping through our fingers.

Though I will say it does feel a little bit rushed towards the end of Season 6, I suspect possibly due to the rather unavoidable real-life circumstances. Their slow burn is SLOW, and paced really well for 6 LONG Seasons, but then right at the end they go from like a 1 to a 10 in about 45 minutes, for us anyways. They go from discussing it, to maybe they slept together (at an admittedly strange time to do so, but I get it, emotions run high and everything) and then it’s just ‘oh my, they’re having a baby’. We go from having next to nothing to ‘they’re a family now’. Yet I could not picture the next six seasons without Christine in it. I’ll take what I can get, and this hurdle is so minor it’s almost ineffectual, not that I wouldn’t have loved to have seen a first date, though they are very much adorable with or without that. Besides they’ve basically been dating without the intimate parts of it for the last six seasons anyways.

Following the pregnancy reveal the show skips a number of months, and then comes into Season 7, where Brennan is now quite pregnant with Christine, and the couple are semi living together. Over the course of this season they welcome the beautiful Christine, and move into the Mighty Hut, which only proceed 5 more seasons of this heart-warming and occasionally heart wrenching relationship. Including another baby, in the form of Hank, another home, too many serial killers, pain and joy, crime solving, and book publishing, a wedding and honeymoon murder, and one too many separations (goddamn, Pelant). In a world that seems to fight against them they really do fight to be together.

This love of theirs, that grows into this family, it does so much for both of them. You can see that it is good for them both, you can see it makes them happy, they are both so damn happy in it. Brennan learns not to be alone, that feelings can be forever, that other people can be relied upon to be there for you and support you. I think Booth learns to move forward, he was harbouring a lot from his past, and Brennan helps him move past it. They both support each other in all their triumphs and hardships, they protect each other, risk everything for each other, come back to each other.

Booth believes that he is damned by living with Brennan before marriage but does it anyway. He is willing to risk his very soul for her. They do get married of course later on, but that risk was still there. She allows herself to be vulnerable by opening up to these feelings, something she has not done in years, risking something she would previously never have dared to. They risk a lot for each other.

Brennan says it best: “That was before I realised that we were symbiotic. Like a clownfish and sea anemone. […] You and I, we’re bound to one another. So much so that I don’t feel that I could survive without you. You nurture me. You protect me. You are my home.”

Season 9, Episode 17: “The Repo Man in the Septic Tank” – Bones

And if not that episode, then you only have to look to their marriage vows in Episode 906: “The Woman in White”, or their realisation that they don’t care what their wedding looks like so long as the other is happy, to know that this was made to last, and makes them both so infinitely happy it couldn’t be anything less than right.

Moving on you say? Why indeed, to Angela Montenegro (played by Michaela Conlin).

Already discussed is the fact she is Brennan’s best friend. Angela, arguably, is the only meaningful relationship Brennan seems to have in the Pilot, and their friendship stays consistently supportive throughout the whole 12 Seasons, save a couple B-Plots that are an episode long and mostly needless. The 100th actually shows to us that Brennan got Angela the job at the Jeffersonian, after she asked for her help in the first case B&B worked together. Angela’s understanding of Brennan is perfect in a way that even Booth doesn’t always get, and Angela never asks her, or anyone else to change. She accepts Brennan as she is, and just takes all the sometimes-awkward comments with a reassuring smile. She pulls Brennan out of the lab and into the world and helps her navigate it. Brennan values their friendship like nothing else and tries to be there for Angela even when she doesn’t entirely understand what’s happening. Their friendships is truly one of my favourites on TV.

Part of her characterisation that I enjoy, is that Angela addresses people as “Sweetie” a lot (mostly Brennan), or something to a similar effect. It shows a softer more personal side to her than some of the others have. Angela is caring, and creative, and kind, flirty, passionate. Bisexual, in the forgotten sense that the early 2000’s cursed us with, but still she did date a woman. She has a very big heart, and a much lower tolerance for the gross nature of their work. She wants to see the world and make art of it.

I also very much like that in the early season’s Angela’s lab coats can often seen to be decorated in beautiful patterns along her collar, lapel, and cuffs of her sleeve. It added to her individuality and the way she differed from the rest of the Squint Squad. I’m a little disappointed they seemingly stopped decorating her lab coats, but I suppose that’s just a sign of her maturing, and character growth.

When we meet Angela, she hides her genius well but Booth spots it saying to her “You’re one of them, aren’t you?”, ‘them’ being the Squints. She is flirtatious, and goes out to clubs, sometimes dragging Brennan with her. She dates, and she draws and paints, creating art in between the faces she reconstructs, and identities she finds. She craves Paris but lives and loves her life as best she can where she is.

Angela has several partners throughout the series, as does Brennan and the rest, but most notably Angela dates Wendell Bray, and Roxy Lyon.

Then, there’s Jack Hodgins, who calls her “Ange” and “Angie”.

Leaving Angela, she’s settled down with the man she loves, has a child; Michael Vincent, and is expecting another. She makes her art, and faces, and computer programs. She is happy in the job where she is. She has been to Paris, she and Jack did that, came back, and this is the life they chose and loved. They went through a lot to get where they are, particularly in the last few seasons did they struggle, but they got there and that’s what matters.

Speaking of, Dr Jack Hodgins (played by T.J. Thyne).

Jack is the “Bug and Slime Guy”, holding three degrees in botany, entomology and geology. When it comes to their work, he swabs and identifies, occasionally grounds some beetles to discover what they’ve eaten, and can often give them a good approximation of time of death based on the insect activity.

All the Squint Squad can get particularly excited by science, especially discoveries in their chosen field, (we do see one too many anthropologists squeal), but Jack arguably is seen to be the most excited by science. He frequently proclaims himself “King of the Lab”, a title he battles Zack out for until his departure in Season 3. Hodgins prefers to find his answers via experimentation, often messily, rather than via one of Angela’s computer programs. He does yield results, though, so you can’t blame him for enjoying the process. It does look fun, and it is certainly entertaining to watch.

Jack is a romantic, as well as intelligent, sometimes icky, and a little too excited by bugs, rich but not entitled, fighting his anger issues, and just as good hearted as the rest of them. Also, he reads about conspiracies, and believes in many of them.

His love for the romantic is most notably shown when he begins romancing Angela. Their first date is unlike one either has experienced before, and it starts one hell of a world wind romance. A breakup in Season 4 due to lost hearts, but it is remedied by the end of Season 5, when the two set sail to Paris together, newlyweds, and completely on Jack’s dime, which by the way, he sure knows how to materially flatter a girl.

When the pair return in Season 6, they’re expecting Michael Vincent, who will join them in the finale. His middle name coming from the now deceased Vincent Nigel-Murray. They settle down and live a life together, almost doing Paris again, because Jack really will do anything for the woman he loves, before they inevitably stay. Their love is more clear, and openly accepted than certain other couples on the show, and their two young hearts flutter together extremely well.

When we meet Jack, he’s got an anger problem he’s managing, good chemistry with Zack, a bit of a blunt personality, and a great sense of humour, especially of a sarcastic nature. His genius is subtle, but there, drifting the line between the Angela and Zack’s of the Squint Squad. He lives for his work, and his work lives for him. While he lets Zack stay above his very large garage, and tells no one about his very large garage.

Over the course of the Series he meets his brother, that he was unaware of from childhood. The brother suffers from schizophrenia and resides in a psychiatric hospital, which his residence at was being funded by the Cantilever Group. When that falls apart due to some of Pelant’s actions in stealing Jack’s fortune, he is contacted about his brother. Jack takes out a loan in order to keep his brother in the facility and begins a relationship with him. He is, however, scarcely mentioned again.

When we leave him, well as mentioned before he’s got his family, and is expecting another with Angela. He’s also in a wheelchair, having lost the use of his legs due to the fallout of his injuries from a bombing at a crime scene in Season 11, specifically Episode 1110: “The Doom in the Boom”. The initial loss of his legs, being as traumatic as it is, causes the resurfacing of his anger issues, with Angela taking the brunt of it for a number of episodes. By 1115: “The Fight in the Fixer”, he’s trying to patch things up, and come the mockumentary the two will be doing much better again. This is a hurdle for them to overcome, for Jack to overcome, though admittedly it is quite a large one. Though, he may never walk again, Jack does find his happiness and enthusiasm again, so by the the 12th Season, he’s all happy to be left with his family.

Next up! Dr Camille Saroyan (played by Tamara Taylor)

Previously Cam had been a coroner in New York, and she performs such a similar job at the Jeffersonian. Along with her administrative duties, Cam is also the resident pathologist, and the lab now has an Autopsy from which Cam works out of, allowing them to work on victims that have a little more flesh, usually to Brennan’s chagrin.

She has also dated Booth, a fact that no time is wasted introducing, and by the time the next Howard Epps’ episode (212: “The Man in the Cell”) rolls around they’re already rekindling that spark, before calling it a day when things get dicey.

Also, in Cam’s past is a doctor she dated, Andrew Welton, who when he turns up as a victim will leave behind a daughter; Michelle. By the end of that episode, Cam will take in Michelle, giving her a loving home. It’s a bit rocky at first, with Cam figuring out how to parent a teenager, and the pair having to reconnect when they had not spoken in many years. Eventually, though, Cam and Michelle become just like the family they once were.

It is eventually revealed that Camille has a sister; who appears maybe two or three times in the whole series. from what we see they have a typical sibling relationship of unconditional love and support, and yet also needlessly competitive. They argue as much as the get along, and you would expect nothing less from sisters.

Camille appears more fashionable than the rest of the Squint Squad, has a low tolerance for BS, and a stronger ability to navigate the sometimes-political landscape of their job. She regularly stands up for the Lab Team in the face of rude lawyers and the like, and quickly earns the respect of the lot of them. Kind, yet stubborn, she takes charge of the Medico-Legal Lab very effectively, and becomes friends with all the characters we care about. She’s personable, knows how to make connections, and work the system in ways the others are unfamiliar with.

We meet Cam in Season 2 diving straight into a case, finding her first at a crime scene, where she has comfortably taken command, and appears to have settled into her new job role. She’s friendly and appears to know some of the emergency workers at the scene. She has good chemistry with Booth already, and a little tension with Brennan, who has just met her for the first time here. At the lab we see she has a good working relationship with the rest of the Squint Squad by this point. We see the kind of calm and understanding boss she is, while also standing a hard ground and earning respect.

She at one point reveals to Booth that she took this job because it had better equipment, and a skylight. The working conditions of the Jeffersonian are significantly better to that of the basements of police departments, and you can’t fault her there.

Leaving Cam, she has started a loving relationship with Arastoo Vaziri. The couple got married in 1211: “The Day in the Life”, and are revealed to be adopting three boys and taking some time off work in the finale. Cam states early on that she doesn’t want to have children, humorously stating that she doesn’t want to give up her body for that. It’s nice to see that this decision is respected throughout the whole show, and the character never in fact has kids in the traditional sense. She has, though, taken in 4 teenagers now, and it is nice to see the different ways in which family can shape together.

Which brings us to Dr Lance Sweets (played by John Francis Daley).

His study of their partnership is with the goal of writing a book. This book is referenced a number of times, earning comments from Gordon Gordon, and being the driving force behind the 100th, as it is Brennan and Booth reading this draft that prompts them to tell Sweets about their first case, and in it Sweets concludes they are very much in love, and pushes the Confession. The book is then mentioned again in Season 10 in a heart-warming moment of acceptance and moving forward.

Lance is young, and nerdy, intelligent, understanding and compassionate. He takes a minute to mesh with the rest of the group, but he does so. He provides his insights and earns friendship with a number of the Squint Squad. Booth takes him under his wing, and routinely turns to him for help regarding parenting, and relationship issues, seeking his educated insights. We find that he enjoys action movies, and comic-con like conventions, and cares deeply about the people he is close to. He can be somewhat of a meddler, especially in the case of B&B, but the others also. He intends to help them, and does try his best to do so, but on rare occasions it doesn’t always seem that way.

Sweets certainly feels like an odd outsider when we first meet him, but he doesn’t remain that way. He is part of their mishmash of a family. So, to lose him… it’s one of the more painful of the series.

Over the course of his time on the show, we discover that Sweets childhood was not easy. Much like the main duo, he has suffered, and the three at one point attempt to bond in away, by showing each other they are not alone (prompted by Gordon Gordon). He was abused, before being adopted by a lovely elderly couple who passed before we met him.

We also watch as Sweets begins a romance with Daisy Wick. It is a rollercoaster of a relationship, that has them break up, and reconnect a number of times. Almost moving in together, before Sweets calls it off and ends up at the Mighty Hut, and a near engagement before Daisy goes to the Maluku Islands. A consistent hit and miss, but always passionate. When the Season 10 premiere comes around, they have indefinitely reconnected, and Daisy is pregnant with a young Lance, which he asks to be named Seeley, after Seeley Booth. This shows the depth of their friendship.

This, though, is where we leave Sweets, not even 30 and an expectant father, Lance Sweets unfortunately dies and leaves the show at the end of the Season 10 premiere. This was prompted by the fact John Francis Daley wanted to leave to work on another project. Whether Sweets absence could have been temporary, and Daley could have returned after his other project is a topic of a little debate. I am of the opinion that considering where the story of the show was at in Season 10, the stuff that was going on, and the type of person Sweets was, he was not the kind of friend to just up and leave when Booth and the Squint Squad were going through so much. So, to stay true to his character, he leaves rather permanently. Sweets departure is one of the most heart-breaking of the series, truly saddening that he left us the way he did.

However, he is beloved. Sweets was a wonderful addition to the cast, and a missed one for the last three seasons. He was of course instrumental in the pairing of our lead couple, even Brennan admits that, and occasionally meddlesome in their relationship. He meant a great deal to the whole team throughout his time with them and is more than just missed by all when he leaves.

And where to next but the FBI Agent James Aubrey (played by John Boyd).

James is somewhat defined by his love of food. We see him a lot enjoying platefuls of the stuff, and he never passes up the chance to get more. He is good at his job, aiding Booth on many cases, and as the series goes on sometimes taking the lead. He is seen at crime scenes when Booth cannot make it, especially as the series transitions into this older age, and the characters start to have a little bit more of that work/life balance.

He can be witty, and excitable and seems to be a bit of a history buff, often lending random knowledge to investigations. He doesn’t shy away from an interest in the science, showing up at the lab occasionally, if only to observe a little, or lend as much help as he can where appropriate. He is younger than the rest of the cast and is able to offer a fresh perspective on some topics.

Over the course of his time on the series we learn about Aubrey’s father, who it would seem ran a Ponzi scheme, stealing millions from his clients. When caught, his father ran, leaving him and his mother behind. James then shares a distaste for his father, and when he re-emerges at one point in the series, James helps the FBI arrest him.

We also see Aubrey start a relationship with Jessica Warren, whom he meets at the lab. The two bond over a shared enthusiasm for learning, and their quirks. Initially starting a friendship, that sees them regularly geeking out together, and binging movies and podcasts, they awkwardly grow into something more and start dating. This unfortunately, is where we start to leave them.

When the series comes to a close, Jessica breaks up with Aubrey just before the finale, who at the time was considering moving states for a promotion. Aubrey eventually decides to stay, I do believe earning a similar promotion in DC, but it is without Jessica. He, however, in the last moments of the show can be seen heading out with Karen Delfs (played by Sara Rue). An FBI profiler, who is just as eccentric as James.

And then, Dr Zack Addy (played by Eric Millegan).

Unfortunately, Zack departs the show in the Season 3 finale, when it is revealed he aided Gormogon, the over arcing cannibal serial killer plot for the season. I suspect Season 3 was affected by the 2008 Writer’s Strikes, which would account of its season run of only 15 episodes. With this in mind, one can theorise that some development of the arc may have been lost due to the this, but regardless the final result is pretty good considering. Zack’s departure is painful to watch, as you see the whole group almost mourns his loss. He explains that Gormogon, who is never given a name beyond that, gave him rational and logical reasons for aiding him. When Brennan argues that his reasoning has a flaw, he confesses and Gormogon is caught. Zack, in the end, was manipulated. Caroline Julian (played by Patricia Belcher) ensures he is sent to a psychiatric facility rather than a prison, which is good for him as we all know he would not survive in a prison.

At the time of his arrest, Zack confesses to murdering one of the victims as he believes in giving up this victims location, he is responsible for the murder, and believes that if given the chance he would kill. In a guest appearance in Season 4 he reveals to Sweets that he didn’t actually murder the victim, just gave up the location, but swears Sweets to secrecy, who will in fact take that information to his grave.

Zack, however, re-emerges in Season 12 in a brief guest spot involving the Puppeteer Case, all indicators of the case seem to imply Zack may be the responsible party, but it is eventually revealed that the killer is actually Zack’s psychiatrist, who then attempts to kill Zack. In fighting back Zack realises he is incapable of taking a life, even to protect his own, and so confesses to Brennan and Booth that he did not in fact kill the cannibal victim from before. Throughout the following 12 episodes, Brennan, Jack and the rest of the Squint Squad work towards finding evidence to prove Zack didn’t do it, and at a hearing in the 1211: “The Day in the Life”, Zack is released. Concluding his story.

The Squinterns!

The Squinterns were an ever-rotating cast of individuals brought in to replace Zack’s role in the lab. Much like Brennan struggled to replace Zack in the Season 3 premiere, it’s as if the show struggled to replace Zack, and by proxy Brennan, for the rest of its run. Instead settling for the impermanent rotation of interns. They are a mix of people, of varying walks of life. Some are young, and working towards their first PhD in anthropology, some already have several PhD’s under their belt, others are already qualified anthropologists.

In keeping with his character, the “Squintern” nickname given to the interns comes from Booth, just as the term “Squints” comes from Booth in the Pilot.

In fulfilling the replacement role of Zack, the Squinterns can be seen doing anthropology lab work when Brennan is in the field, participating in experiments with Hodgins, and occasionally aiding Cam in autopsy.

And so below details the long list of Squinterns, in roughly order of appearance:

Dr Clark Edison (played by Eugene Byrd)

Clark is initially the only intern to already have a doctorate in anthropology, as such in instances in which Brennan is completely unavailable in the lab, he is usually called in to take over, most notably, in the Season 7 premiere, Clark has been given Dr Brennan’s job in her absence when Pelant forced her to go on the run after he framed her for murder. When Brennan returns she gets her job back, and Cam makes Clark the head of Historical Anthropology. This does result in some cases of professional jealousy in some needless B-Plots, but the two always come to an understanding, and seem to respect each other’s insights and opinions. Clark is the only intern given the high honour of being allowed to call Dr B by her first name, though he does state that it feels weird the first time.

His new job does also mean, that as Clark is technically no longer an intern, any time the show wants him to participate in a case they have to come up with a narrative excuse as to why no other interns are available, which can be a little funny from time to time.

At one point he decides to write a book, and though Cam, Angela and Jack don’t find it to be particularly good it does end up published.

Also, his middle name is stated to be ‘Thomas’ in 815, making his name Thomas Edison.

I like Clark, he’s charismatic, and gets along well with the rest of the Squint Squad. Initially he is a private person, preferring to focus on work when at work, a trait Brennan appreciates, before he starts to open up and include himself in their personal life discussions. Even he has an opinion on the Slow Burn that is the Brennan and Booth romance.

Dr Edison maintains his reoccurring role from Episode 313: “The Verdict in the Story” to Episode 1212: “The End in the End” making him the longest running intern, but to be fair to the others, he did first appear before there was an Intern position. He is part of the team of Interns that examines the remains following the explosion in the final episode. He was also in attendance at Cam and Arastoo’s wedding the episode before and aided in solving the case in the Episode 906: “The Woman in White”, allowing B&B to get married, which he also attended.

Dr Daisy Wick (played by Carla Gallo)

Wick does not lack in smarts, and is incredibly passionate in regard to her work, and also in her personal life. Her excitable nature can sometimes overshadow the intelligence she holds, but her work must show it as she joins Dr Brennan on an exclusive research trip the Maluku Islands at the end of Season 5, which is just one of professional accomplishments we see Daisy achieve throughout her time on the show.

As detailed earlier she has a rollercoaster of a romance with Sweets, that results in the birth of their shared son; Seeley Wick-Sweets. The entire Squint Squad gathers around to support Daisy in her birth, showing that she has integrated in the family of the group.

Though, she may have irritated them initially she grows to be someone they love, and care for, with Daisy even being invited to Brennan’s bachelorette party in Season 9 (This Episode 910: “The Mystery in the Meat”, as a whole, by the way, is fantastic). She earns her doctorate in forensic anthropology in Season 12, as the show is saying goodbye, she asks Dr Brennan to be her reference for a prestigious job at the National Forensic Lab, her achieving of which is revealed via a surprise party Brennan holds at the end Episode 1202: “The Brain in the Bot”.

Daisy Wick maintains her role on the show from Episode 403: “The Man in the Outhouse” up until Episode 1212: “The End in the End”, joining Clark post-explosion to examine the remains. She attends both Arastoo and Cam’s wedding in 1211, and B&B’s wedding in 906.

Wendell Bray (played by Michael Grant Terry)

Wendell must be a series favourite, as he accrues the most appearances out of all the interns, at 42 total appearances. He first joins in Season 4 as part of the initial rotation of Zack replacements, and stays around for the rest of the series.

He seems to be well-liked by all members of the Squint Squad and has good chemistry with most of them. Bray is good at his job, charismatic and somewhat athletic. He’s liked by Booth, with whom he plays hockey with, making Bray one of the few Squints Booth has a friendship with beyond Brennan. When participating in experiments with Hodgins, they seem to get along well and have fun together.

During Season 5, Wendell also briefly dates Angela, during a hiatus between Jack and her, and immediately following her 6-month celibacy she started after her break-up with Jack. Though, their relationship is not all that long, it is sweet, and they break up amicably.

In Season 9 (Episode 913: “Big in the Philippines”), Wendell has a broken arm due to an injury suffered while playing hockey, when Brennan gets a look at his X-Rays she diagnoses him with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a bone cancer. She and Booth tell him despondently and offer their help with getting treatment where possible. Wendell initially decides to accept his fate and go see the world, but Booth encourages him to fight it, which he ultimately decides to do. In Season 10 (Episode 1005: “The Corpse at the Convention”) he is revealed to be in remission thanks to a clinical trial Dr Brennan helped him get into, and when he is officially declared cancer free some episodes later and the trial is over he begins dating a nurse; Andie Roberts.

I have only positive opinions of Wendell, he’s one of my favourite interns too. His presence in any episode is always welcome, which is good because he is frequently the intern of choice for some heavy hitter episodes, including a number of the Pelant arc episodes, and the Season 11 finale relating to the Puppeteer. I wish his character all the best.

He maintains his role from Episode 405: “The Perfect Pieces in the Purple Pond” until Episode 1212: “The End in the End”, in which he is part of the post bomb team. He also attended Arastoo and Cam’s wedding the episode before, as well as B&B’s wedding in Season 9.

Dr Colin Fisher (played by Joel David Moore)

Fisher joins the crew in Season 4 as one of the first Interns in rotation for Zack’s place, and his presence is at least known of for the remainder of the series.

Which, speaking of, Fisher is my favourite depressed intern, and I love him. Every time he appears you know the episode is about to be a good one. He also has a penchant for wearing black converse, and I, for unknown reasons, just really like the look of converse on whomever they appear. So, converse plus points for Fisher.

He has a good working relationship with the Squint Squad and doesn’t really clash with anyone. He does occasionally bring the room down with doomed depressed statements, but that’s all part of his charm really. He must be friends with Sweets and Jack because he at one point invites them to see the premiere of Avatar with him in the Episode 509: “The Gamer in the Grease”, which of course Joel David Moore appeared in. I can only surmise that this particular B-Plot was some paid product placement, but it does at least reveal to us two things. Fisher’s friendships within the Squint Squad, after all he is family now, and the fact that Fisher is kind of a lady’s man, as he ultimately misses the premiere to get busy with a woman in a tent outside the theatre.

Fisher appears to achieve his doctorate in anthropology off screen. As he seems to vanish following his appearance in the Season 9 finale for over a season and a half before reappearing in Episode 1117: “The Secret in the Service”, as Dr Fisher, and working as a government tutor. His only appearance after this is his final one.

So, Fisher maintains his role on the show from Episode 406: “The Crank in the Shaft” up until Episode 1205: “The Tutor in the Tussle”, in which his own experience working as a tutor informs their case. Fisher was a guest at the B&B wedding.

Vincent Nigel-Murray (played by Ryan Cartwright)

Firstly, Vincent is British. So, immediate plus points.

Vincent joins the cast in Season 4 as part of the first rotation, from a glance of this first round he appears to be one of the youngest. We are told he is one of Dr Brennan’s grad students. Brennan doesn’t initially seem to approve of using her grad students as interns, just in general, but I do believe Vincent quickly becomes one of her favourites.

Between Season 5 and Season 6, Vincent is said to have won Jeopardy and won an extraordinary amount of money, which he quickly spent on travelling, gambling and presumably alcohol. As it is such a problem that landed him in rehab for a month before the drying up of his funds found him back at the Jeffersonian. In Episode 618: “The Truth in the Myth” he follows his 12 Steps in making amends for things he did while drunk, revealing that he told a number of co-workers that he slept with Dr Brennan, Dr Saroyan, and Angela. Also, that he once wore Brennan’s iguana as a hat, to which I say: Brennan has an iguana? Because it will literally never be mentioned again, nor had it been mentioned before, but it does somehow track with her character.

Unfortunately, Vincent is the first Squintern to leave us, tragically dying in the finale of the Jacob Broadsky arc, when he is shot by Broadsky via a sniper rifle. Broadsky had intended to shoot Booth, but due to a series of factors mistakes Vincent for Booth and shoots him instead. Vincent then dies in Brennan’s arms, pleading with the universe “Please don’t make me leave.” Following this event Brennan stays at Booth’s, and this prompts their first instance of staying together. (Like I said, weird timing, but I get it.) Brennan theorises she may have done so because of Vincent when she tells Angela the following morning.

I love Vincent. Truly. From his facts, to his British heritage, to his Jeopardy win and the fallout. Vincent is a standout Squintern, and I so wish he would’ve got the chance to stick around longer. He was taken too soon, and forgotten too quickly, as he is sorely mentioned in the episodes following, though a plaque commemorating him can be seen in the background of scenes near Angela’s office. He is not mentioned again until the mockumentary episode, when Arastoo comments on the plaque and Vincent’s death.

And so, Vincent’s run begins with Episode 407: “The He in the She” and ends regrettably prematurely with Episode 622: “The Hole in the Heart”.

Dr Arastoo Vaziri (played by Pej Vahdat)

He does originate from Iran but was forced to flee when he was 18 as he began writing and publishing poetry that was not approved of by the regime, as they were about love, freedom, democracy and other 18-Year-Old ideals and fantasies. In the present he is seen to write such poems for and about Cam. His parents seem to live in the States, but he has a brother who still lives in Iran, whom he does go to visit for a time in Season 10.

In Season 8 he is seen to have started dating Camille Saroyan, their romance continues for the rest of the series eventually getting married in the penultimate episode of Season 12. In the finale Cam reveals that the couple are adopting 3 teenage boys. It is nice to see for the both of them the shape their family is taking.

Arastoo achieves his doctorate at the start of Season 11, when he is seen to have temporarily taken over the forensic anthropology duties left open by Brennan when she and Booth decided to retire at the end of last season. When Brennan returns, he ends up leaving the Jeffersonian (and for a moment Cam) in order to find a job elsewhere. Eventually though, he reappears to help on cases, and comes to re-join the Jeffersonian, and propose to Cam.

I just want to say as a side note here but do Brennan and Booth really feel like the type of people to take early retirement? I understand the real-life circumstances that forced this open ending to the season, but damn. B&B are some dedicated individuals, they are not retiring, their work means a lot to them. The way Season 12 ended up ending was so much better than this, thank god.

Coming back to Dr Vaziri. I stand neutral on Arastoo, though I do appreciate his romance with Cam, and I’m glad they both got that in their lives. Their family is non-traditional, and ultimately beautiful. I’m glad we get to see some part of it. It’s also good to see him achieve in his career and get to adorn the blue lab coat.

Arastoo begins his run in Episode 417: “The Salt in the Wounds” and stays with the show up until Episode 1212: “The End in the Beginning”, where he is a part of the post bombing Squintern Squad.

Finn Abernathy (played by Luke Kleintank)

Finn joins the show in Season 7, I suppose taking over the spot left by Vincent’s demise. He may be the youngest so far, having been recently released from juvie, where he had completed all the necessary education to get him up to this point of starting his internship and working towards his PhD in anthropology. All indicators seem to be that Finn has a high intelligence, and capacity to learn.

Distinguishing Finn is his southern accent, as he hails from North Carolina, which is presumably the location of the trouble he got into as a teen that landed him in juvie. His accent is part of the reason he initially clashes with Jack, who grows irritated by his southern colloquialisms and starts mocking them. Eventually Finn and Jack come to an understanding and proceed to call each other ‘Opie’ and ‘Thurston’, respectively.

In his youth, Finn had threatened and attacked his stepfather with a knife, when he had abused his mom, and as such found himself in juvenile detention. The stepfather would later disappear, and Finn would be suspected of it. Brennan asked him if his interest in forensic anthropology came from a plan to kill the man, to which he answered yes. When asked if he did, he said no, because he read a paper by her and knew he would not get away with it.

During Season 7, Finn also begins a relationship with Michelle, Cam’s daughter. Cam is initially somewhat uncomfortable with the concept but eventually warms to it. The relationship between the two continues for a number of seasons, before Michelle broke up with him in Season 9 when she met someone else while away at University.

In Season 8 Hodgins uses the last of Finn’s hot sauce, that had sentimental value as it was the last bottle his grandmother made. Jack spends the rest of Episode 821: “The Maiden in the Mushrooms” replicating the sauce, and at the end of the episode the pair decide to market it as ‘Opie and Thurston’s Hot Sauce’. In Season 9 the sauce is revealed to be selling well, and Finn claims he is making more money than his family has made in a year.

I don’t have any particular opinions about Finn, though I did notice when he seemed to simply vanish without a mention following his breakup with Michelle.

Regardless Finn’s stretch on the show runs from Episode 702: “The Hot Dog in the Competition” to Episode 919: “The Turn in the Urn”.

Dr Oliver Wells (played by Brian Klugman)

When he first appears, he delivers a skull to Brennan in the Royal Diner, which is one hell of a first introduction. He quickly proves himself to be of use in the lab, but his rude demeanour means he struggles to make friends in the lab. Eventually, Jack seems to start to like him as they can be seen pulling a late night in the Lab together during Brennan’s bachelorette party, and seem to enjoy each other’s company. However, in that episode he can be seen competing with Daisy and is informed by Jack that if it came down to him or Daisy, they’d pick Daisy as she is a part of their family.

We are told that he is a polymath and has a tendency to get bored. As such he has several Masters Degrees in varying topics, and is one of the few interns to already have a PhD, his in Physics, when he begins his forensic anthropology internship at the Jeffersonian.

As he is one of the interns called in to assist on the case in Episode 906: “The Woman in White”, he is a guest at B&B’s wedding. Though I will point out that in that same episode Brennan also bluntly states that no one likes Wells. It should come as no surprise that this comes from Brennan, considering her blunt nature, and tendency not sugar coat the truth. Only Fisher raises his hand to say that he kind of does like Wells.

Wells does not appear in Season 12, though a reason for his absence this season is not given. As such his time on the show begins in Episode 817: “The Fact in the Fiction” and ends at Episode 1119: “The Head in the Abutment”.

Dr Rodolfo Fuentes (played by Ignacio Serricchio)

In his initial introduction he clashes somewhat with some members of the Squint Squad, as he flirts with many of the female members of the Squad. Angela finds him charming and attractive, much to Jack’s dismay, and Fuentes outright bluntly asks Brennan if they’ll sleep together. She does, of course, turn him down, leading to her telling Booth about it followed by her “You are my home.” declaration. So, I suppose we can thank Rodolpho for that gorgeous scene.

Regardless, Fuentes is well accomplished, a little arrogant, but incredibly charismatic. He is clearly talented in his field of work, and easily makes himself useful and good to have in the lab, and as such eventually gets along well with the Squint Squad. Even at one point getting exceedingly excited with Jack at the concept of being able to use chainsaws in an experiment.

Rodolpho earns his American PhD in Forensic Anthropology in Season 12 and is presented with a blue lab coat by Cam. He is initially hesitant to wear it as it reminds him his Internship is over and he will have to move on. Eventually he can be seen wearing it, likely showing his acceptance.

His wiki page indicates that he was supposed to appear in the finale, but does not due to actor availability. As such Rodolpho’s tenure on the show begins with Episode 917: “The Repo Man in the Septic Tank” and ends with Episode 1209: “The Steal in the Wheels”.

Jessica Warren (played by Laura Spencer)

Jessica is added to the rotation in Season 9, and in my opinion, she is a very much welcomed addition. She is quirky, and eccentric and adds a new layer of joy and youth to the cast. She has the intelligence to match with the rest of the Squint Squad. I feel as though I have said someone is intelligent a lot this post, but in all cases, it is true, it is just by nature of the show that most of the cast are of a somewhat high intelligence, else they wouldn’t be the Squint Squad. Back to Jess, she is outspoken and can be seen following her gut, and speculating, which does not immediately earn her plus points with Dr B. Thankfully, her work speaks for itself and she quickly becomes a loved, and prominently reoccurring member of the Squintern rotation.

In Episode 1012: “The Teacher in the Books” she helps Brennan set up a Twitter account, after Brennan’s publisher encourages her to get one, which Jess initially helps her post on and gain followers, before Angela prompts that the world is better when Brennan is posting scholarly articles rather than selfies, and so Jessica dials it back. Nevertheless, this B-Plot is a fun one, and I enjoy it, but who would’ve guessed a Twitter reference would age poorly?

In Season 10 she begins a friendship with Aubrey. The two can be seen occasionally out in the field together, when one or both parties of B&B were unavailable, or had delegated, as they tended to do a lot more so in the later seasons. Their friendship begins with a dinner at the Founding Fathers, which is denied to be a date, but does include Jessica ordering Aubrey all the food on the menu, unsure of what he liked. Food, of course, being the way to Aubrey’s heart she immediately gains him as friend. Their friendship seems to be built upon a shared love for several things, and they can be seen talking about various podcasts and such that they listen to together.

This then builds into a bit of an awkward romance in Season 11, that starts with a failed kiss at the start of Episode: 1114: “The Last Shot at a Second Chance”. However, at the end of the episode Aubrey saves her from nearly being hit by a car and they kiss on the street. Their relationship then growing and continuing from there.

James asks Jessica to move with him, when he intends to move states for a promotion, but the prospect seems to scare Jessica who tells him in 1211 that she cannot move with him and breaks up with him. Though the split is initially painful, there is no indication that either party harbour any ill-will to one another. Their relationship, at the very least, was cute while it lasted.

Jessica is one of the few interns who does not earn her Anthropology doctorate before the end of the series, but she is a lot fresher than most of the others, so we’ll let this one go. Besides, from what we’ve seen of her, we know she’s gonna get that PhD as soon as the Lab is up and running again.

Personally? Jessica is one of my favourite interns, and I look forward to her introduction every time. I’m almost disappointed it came as late in the series as it did.

And so, Jessica’s time on the show begins with Episode 923: “The Drama in the Queen.”, and ends with Episode 1212: “The End in the End”. Jessica is part of the Squintern Squad that examines remains post bombing. She is also in attendance at Arastoo and Cam’s wedding.

Dr Beth Mayer (played by Betty White!)

The most important thing here is that she is Betty White, in fact I scarcely remember what her character’s name is because I am too distracted by the fact that she is Betty White.

So, Betty White is a well accomplished Forensic Anthropologist who assists Dr Brennan for a mere one episode in Season 11, in which it is stated that she created the graphic simulator the Angelatron is based on, back when she was married to a Brinkley and went by Dr Brinkley. Just one of her *checks notes* six spouses. During this episode she also spends her spare time cataloguing bones down in Limbo, aka the Bone Storage at the Jeffersonian that houses hundreds of unidentified skeletons. She did this to create a digital database of the remains in Limbo.

As with all Betty White characters she is an absolute icon in every scene she is in. Her two brief appearances steal the show every time, and I kind of wish she was in more. Side note, but is it just me or does Betty White low-key sound like Winnie the Pooh?

Anyhow, Betty White’s stint as intern begins with Episode 1104: “The Carpals in the Coy-Wolves” and ends with Episode 1210: “The Radioactive Panthers in the Party”.

So briefly, some Notes:

There are some other guest characters throughout the series that briefly take the role of the intern for one or a few episodes, including Bunsen Jude (played by David Alan Grier), the Bones equivalent of Bill Nye; Dr Douglas Filmore (played by Scott Lowell), our favourite Canadian forensic podiatrist; as well as at least two one-time appearances of interns and a number of others.

In fact, you could even debate as to whether Betty White should be considered a Squintern, as she only appears in two total episodes, and only in one of those does she serve the role of the Intern. However, she is Betty White, so she gets a pass. She’s also included on the Squintern list on the wiki, so she’s here too.

I was going to do a section on Reoccurring Guest Stars, that would’ve included Filmore, amongst the likes of Gordon Gordon and Avalon Harmonia (played by Cyndi Lauper), but due to length elected to cut that section, and will maybe post it at a later date.

A Conclusion

I do believe an exasperated sorry is in order because, boy, did this one get away from me! Thanks for sticking with it, if you did, and I hope you enjoyed this slightly disjointed look into the world of Bones. I quite near forgot how large the cast was until I was writing about them, but that is to be expected of a show that ran for 12 Seasons.

This show has a large found family at its core, and I thought what better way to take a maiden voyage look at this show than by discovering this family in all its loving beauty. Every member of the Squint Squad earns a spot in the audiences’ heart, big or small, and so I hope I did as many of them justice here as possible.

Bones might come up again in the future, in fact it is likely to, I love this show. I hope this post functions as a sort of love letter to this show I adore. It certainly was an exploration into how these posts will take form.

I’m going to round out with a list of some of my favourite episodes, and then I do so hope you’ll join me again in two weeks for another instalment of Fortnightly Fixations!

Thank you again for reading!

A List of Favourites:

• 101: “Pilot”
• 115: “Two Bodies in the Lab”
• 119: “The Man in the Morgue”
• 122: “The Woman in Limbo”
• 209: “Aliens in a Spaceship”
• 215: “The Bodies in the Book”
• 313: “The Verdict in the Story”
• 408: “The Skull in the Sculpture”
• 410: “The Passenger in the Oven”
• 422: “The Double Death of the Dearly Departed”
• 426: “The End in the Beginning”
• 510: “The Goop in the Girl”
• 512: “The Proof in the Pudding”
• 516: “The Parts in the Sum of the Whole”
• 520: “The Witch in the Wardrobe”
• 521: “The Boy with the Answer”
• 609: “The Doctor in the Photo”
• 616: “The Blackout in the Blizzard”
• 621: “The Signs in the Silence”
• 707: “The Prisoner in the Pipe”
• 713: “The Past in the Present”
• 801: “The Future in the Past”
• 806: “The Patriot in Purgatory”
• 809: “The Ghost in the Machine”
• 815: “The Shot in the Dark”
• 824: “The Secret in the Siege”
• 901: “The Secrets in the Proposal”
• 904: “The Sense in the Sacrifice”
• 906: “The Woman in White”
• 910: “The Mystery in the Meat”
• 1010: “The 200th in the 10th”
• 1101: “The Loyalty in the Lie”
• 1102: “The Brother in the Basement”
• 1108: “High Treason in the Holiday”
• 1118: “The Movie in the Making”
• 1122: “The Nightmare in the Nightmare”
• 1207: “The Scare in the Score”
• 1208: “The Grief in the Girl”
• 1211: “The Day in the Life”
• 1212″ The End in the End”

Look, I never said it was going to be a short list and believe it or not this list is not extensive. You try pick favourites of a show you love; it is not easy! Some episodes are brilliant from start to finish, and others have such golden singular moments not including them feels like a crime. So, this is a Top 40, and a high recommendation to go watch the show yourself, whether for the 1st time or the 15th.

After writing this I kind of want to watch this again, but I will attempt to restrain myself, at least for now.

See you in a fortnight!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the images, characters or narratives present or referenced in this post. All rights belong to 20th Century Fox Television, and other relevant parties.