Plot: What’s it about?
When remains are discovered and all that is found are bones, the FBI turns to the Jefferson Institute, home to the nation’s finest forensic anthropologists. The institute is known around the world and one of the best and brightest within it is Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel). When it comes to bones, few can do what she does and she can find answers where others find dead ends and frustration. She is a brilliant woman, but she lacks some social skills, thanks to an isolated youth. She has all the answers when it comes to her science, but she would be unable to keep up in a conversation about simple American pop culture. Brennan has a hand picked, highly skilled team that works with her, but she also works often with the FBI. Her contact in such instances is special agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz), who trusts his instincts and more traditional detective work than the science behind Brannan’s methods. He refers to Brennan as Bones, a nickname she resists, but over time starts to accept, since the two work together so much. As cases come in, each works their special tactics and as a team, can almost always solve the mystery of the situation. Brennan and Booth might be from different backgrounds, but can they realize they’re stronger together, instead of opposing each other?
If you’re a fan of television shows about law enforcement, then you have a wealth of options, with shows on forensics, trials, detective work, and even beat cops. At the same time, not all of these shows are worthwhile and with each new season, a few new arrivals roll in. For every show like CSI or Law & Order, there are ones that don’t even merit a mention. Fox entered the forensic fray with Bones, which features a blend of standard detective work and forensic anthropology. So while similar to other shows out there, Bones has a unique element with the focus on, as the title would lead us to expect, bones. I found Bones to be a great show, one that provides a new spin on the forensic crime drama premise, not to mention offers a rich background. This is of course a “crime of the week” show, but there is so much more going on here, as the personal stories between the characters unfold even as cases are closed and new ones open. So there is continuity with character development and story arcs, mixed in with the demands of the genre’s crime drama elements. Both sides of the equation are well handled and for fans of programs of this kind, Bones is a real winner. The cast is good, the storylines are good, and I can’t wait to see what future seasons hold. Given the sheer volume of crime dramas out there, Bones might be overlooked, but do yourself a favor and pick up Bones: Season Eight, you won’t regret the decision.
Video: How’s it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. As expected for such a recent show, the episodes look excellent in high definition. If you watched these in HD on television, you can look forward a nice bump up over what already looked quite good, so that’s great news. The depth is superb, with fine detail in not just close ups, but most all scenes. The colors and contrast are on the mark, with no errors to speak of. In short, this is a top notch visual presentation.
Audio: How’s it sound?
This show isn’t an audio powerhouse, but the DTS HD 5.1 option provides a terrific soundtrack. The dialogue is crystal clear, with no harshness or volume issues to contend with. This is good, since the bulk of the show’s audio is dialogue intensive. The music also sounds great here, adding some presence to liven things up a little. The sound effects might not rock the house, but they’re well handled and when a little extra punch is needed, the track delivers. This release also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Like previous seasons, Bones features a sampling of supplements spaced across the five disc set.
- Deleted Scenes – Three in all from “The Party in the Pants”, “The Patriot in Purgatory” and “The Survivor in the Soap.”
- Dying to Know: Bones Answers Your Questions! – A Q & A session with the cast.
- Audio Commentary – On the episode The Future in the Past with contributing members Hart Hanson, Stephen Nathan and Ian Toynton. A bit lackluster, but better to have than have not.
