Monday, February 21, 2011

Bones is Brilliant

Bones is one of my favorite shows.  Why? The answer is simple--the writing is outstanding.  If you haven't checked it out, in my opinion, it's in its own league of crime-solving t.v. shows and stands apart from the nitty gritty drama of C.S.I. and its brooding characters.  If you haven't checked it out, I strongly suggest doing so. In particular, there are certain "Smoking Man" episodes (for you X-Filers out there) which are the real core of the show.  These feature re-occurences of the same serial killers...Gormogon, the intelligent Howard Epps, and my favorite...the Grave Digger.  Here's a photo collage I created that might help explain my love of the show:
Furthermore my friends, Bones is all about writing. The concept for the show is based on the real life of a Kathy Reichs who I guess is an amazing forensic anthropologist.  Anyway, Dr. Reichs wrote crime books featuring Dr. Temperance Brennan (the main character).  Well in the show, Dr. Brennan is also a published author but her main character in her books is a Dr. Reichs.  Kinda clever in my opinion.

Also, the dialogue for the show is really really good:

Booth: He's got no sense of discretion. That kid. Typical squint.

Brennan: I don't know what that means.

Booth: Well when the cops get stuck we bring in people like you. You know squints. You know to squint at things.

Brennan: Oh you mean people with very high IQs and basic reasoning skills.

Another example:

Sweets: Anyway, even though Daisy and I aren't dating, I've decided we can still enjoy each other's company, casually, once in a while.

Brennan: I'm not sure why I should care. Are you planning on having sex somewhere that I will witness it?

Sweets: I hope not.

Brennan: Then I definitely don't care.

I think writers that are trying to work on dialogue could learn a lot from just watching the show and seeing the banter that goes back and forth between Dr. Brennan and just about anyone that crosses her path. I also want to mention that because of this show...I know what the words "specious", "prurient", "kinesiology", and "ad nauseum" mean so its definitely a vocabulary "expander" (those are just the ones I can recall looking up that I'm remembering at the time of this blog entry).

Another thing that I love are the poweful intelligent female characters.  Dr. Brennan is an atheist so she's after my own heart from the beginning. She's almost like a super-hero solving crime with this immense brain of hers in this glamorous fictional setting.  This is way better (for me) than the weak co-dependent female characters that seem to be making their authors or movie-makers mega-millions and have a following so large it's a population almost as high as China's (I don't really understand why that is). I have to admit, there are times when watching the show that I wish my life could be this frickin' awesome...solving murders and then sitting with friends down at the local pub.  How awesome would that be?

But the real thing that got me hooked on the show were the gruesome, disgusting pictures, like the one below (insert ewwwwwww) and admit that ya can't take your eyes off of it cause ya know you want to know what's goin on there.

Is there a dermatologist in the house? I have a fungus problem.
Happy President's Day!

22 comments:

  1. I've never watched Bones but have heard it's really good. The author whose books the show is based on - Kathy Reichs - produces a lot of the episodes. She also does a full time job while writing which is absolutely admirable. I've read some of her books and yes, the dialogue is very good - snappy and to the point.

    She is an author who epitomises teeh 'write what you know' mantra, as she works with dead fossils etc. I'll have to check out the show.

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  2. The only detective show I watch is "Psych" on USA twice a year when they have new episodes.

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  3. Ok, don't throw something at me, but.. um... I've never watched an episode of Bones!
    Clearly I'm missing out!

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  4. The tanning bed soup episode coincided with my wife and me eating a batch of my homemade tomato soup. Why do I keep eating while trying to watch this show? Why?!

    I love it too. I am drawn to great dialogue and writing along with strong, intelligent female roles. That is why I also loved Firefly, Veronica Mars, and Gilmore Girls.
    Funny Stuff I Write And Draw

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  5. I watch a ton of T.V. I just kinda realized that in doing this blog lol. Charlie, the episode of Fringe I'm watching write now happens to be called "Firefly" and I wish that the series "Firefly" (as many fans also wish) had not been canceled. I know the Science channel just got rights to air the episodes and there's talk/buzz on whether or not it may be revived. Nathan Fillion said he'd come back to it if given the chance but meh...dead horse is dead.

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  6. You are a few weeks behind on Fringe. Ü I watch a lot of tv too, but it is mainly nerdy stuff that I don't feel any shame in watching.

    Firefly is so not dead! You take that back!

    http://helpnathanbuyfirefly.com/

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  7. It's just not my specific brand of TV viewing. But I did like reading your opinion.

    Kim

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  8. I love Bones! It's seriously one of the best shows that I've ever seen!

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  9. I haven't watched this one, but I'll add it to the Netflix list. I love shows with great dialogue. Sometimes I will sit and read while my husband watches TV and I can always tell when a show's dialogue is stellar because I can't read. I find myself looking at the words on the page and listening to the TV.

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  10. One of the many shows I can't watch while eating. I don't even try. If I'm planning on eating, this show gets skipped. (But I watch it later when I'm not eating.)

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  11. I'm a new follower and fellow crusader - nice to meet you.

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  12. Hi there fellow crusader. You're a fellow after my own heart! I was a fan of Bones long before it was Bones - I was a fan of the Kathy Reicks novels and she continues to write them while also being a producer on Bones.

    I agree. The characterisation is magnificient and the writing is clipped and cool. I think the most disgusting body was the one found in the airplane oven. Ssshkkkk!

    Also see you like True Grit. Did you go and see the latest movie?

    Hoping to hear more from you during this crusade.

    Denise:)

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  13. I just saw her books a little bit ago at The Used Bookstore. However, I opted to buy a copy of the Grimm Brothers work. Maybe next time.

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  14. Liz: Yeah...not for the queasy stomach ppl.

    Margo: Nice meeting you too!

    L'Aussie: I loved True Grit hehe.

    Charlie: Okay okay...I takes it back. A friend of mine saw Serenity in a special showing in Las Vegas where Josh Whedon and Summer Glau attended prior to its theatrical release. I thought I'd mention that to make you jealous :P And yeah...I'm behind on Fringe. I don't follow it as religiously as Supernatural, Being Human, and some of the other shows I watch.

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  15. Hey there! I'm a big fan of Bones too! I need an excuse to call "king of the lab". Remember the episode where Dr. Brennan dressed up as wonder woman? Lol
    I'm also a fan of Fringe. :) Good stuff.

    I love your collage too!

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  16. I've never really watched this show because forensic shows just aren't my cup of tea but I have to admit the skeleton picture has me a bit curious!

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  17. I've never watched that show but it was hilarious -- Sunday night we went out for Mexican and they were showing Bones on the TV just above us. I was thinking, as I'm eating and they're autopsying someone or whatever, "This might not be the best show for a restaurant to have on!"

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  18. Never got into Supernatural, but I've been watching Being Human. I like it, but I hope it gets better.

    I have a strong stomach. I always make it through Bones fine after the initial, "Why am I eating during this show?" Though, I am glad I didn't have tomato soup during the chocolate episode....eeewww.

    Thanks for taking it back. I love that show so much. I would pay good money to revive that dead horse.

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  19. I love Bones! Bones's social progression has been interesting. She's not as out of the loop as she was in the beginning of the show. Trying to solve the crime before the end is the best part. I agree, every episode is a learning experience.

    As an aside: I believe she wrote a YA novel. Yup. Just checked. It's called Virals.

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  20. I loooove Bones. it's totally one of my favourite shows. I LOVE how Brennan always says "I don't know what that means." Hehe

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  21. I really need to catch up on Bones. Despite my deep love for David B. I've only seen a few episodes.

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  22. We love Bones too, but why oh why am I always eating something when it comes on?

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