FOX Television has struck gold with the series Bones. The series stars Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel heartthrob David Boreanaz as FBI Agent Seely Booth and relative newcomer Emily Deschanel as Temperance Brennan.
The series is based on books written by real-life forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs. Reichs is also a real-life New York Times best-selling author. Viewers of the television show will quickly discover that the “Temperance Brennan” of the books is much different than the character in the television show. The literary Temperance is a divorced mother with a problematic family.
In the television show, Temperance is an orphan who was raised in foster care and has trouble relating to others on an interpersonal level. She also happens to be an author and writes about a forensic anthropologist named Kathy Reichs.
The two series, in some ways, are vastly different. But people who enjoy the show will probably enjoy the books. And people who enjoy the books, once they get over the fact that their favorite heroine isn’t presented the way she is in the novels, will have a blast with the television show.
Bones, derived from Seely Booth’s pet name for Temperance and from the fact that a forensic anthropologist usually only has skeletons to work with, is a fascinating interplay of almost-romance, outstanding characters, and nifty little puzzles dealing with murder and mayhem. The chemistry between the two stars is palpable and believable. I haven’t seen Boreanaz in anything that I haven’t liked him in. Deschanel was new to me, although I had seen her in a supporting role in Glory Road that was much different than the Temperance role.
The almost-romance shtick has gotten potentially old after playing in Moonlighting and Lois and Clark, as well as many others. In fact, long-time mystery viewers will remember a show called Remington Steele that starred Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist. After those two characters hooked up, viewer interest seemed to wane. Series developer Hart Hanson has to know he’s walking a thin line by choosing to go this route. However, it plays beautifully at present.
The second season continues much of the same tone that was set in the first season. Booth has warmed up to Brennan and her crew, although he still continues to refer to them as the Squint Squad when referring to them among his peers at the FBI. Booth and Brennan also continue to look for her father and to find out what happened to her mother after Brennan’s parents disappeared when she was just a teenager.
.jpg?t=20130517094513)
Article comments