When it comes to a great crime procedural TV show likeBones, the plots are important, but they’re made special because of the characters. WhileEmily Deschanel and David Boreanaz immediately stand out as iconic actorsinBones, as they play Temperance Brennan and Seeley Booth, they’re far from the only important individuals in the story.
All thebest crime shows likeBonesrely on their fantastic ensembles to propel the narrative forward, giving something for the audience to root for across the episodic storylines. WhileBonesdid lean further into its overarching plots as the show progressed,this wouldn’t have been possible without the impact made by the best characters.
Bonesran for twelve seasonsbecause it invested in its supporting characters, giving them lives, relationships, and development that rivaled that of Booth and Brennan at times. While some of the people who changed the shape of the show aren’t necessarily fan favorites, the effect they had on others and the direction of the series madeBonesinto the enduring addition to the genre it is.
10Daisy Wick
Played By Carla Gallo
Dr. Brennan’s revolving door of interns created opportunities for intrigue, excitement, and clashes between different personalities beginning in season 4.Daisy is one of the most significant of all of Brennan’s grad studentsto assist with the cases, as her relationship with Sweets and growth as an individual set her apart, even if she’s not always easy to be around.
The drama of her on-again-off-again romance with Sweets is a solid emotional throughlineto underscore the relationship between Brennan and Booth. Additionally, this makes her more sympathetic, as the other members of the Jeffersonian get a little annoyed by her. However, they come to love her as one of their own because she’s an ultimately good person.
Daisy looks up to Brennan and emulates her more than the other interns, unafraid to make it clear how dedicated she is to becoming the best possible forensic anthropologist. However, as the show progresses, Daisy’s priorities change, we learn more about her, and people begin to recognize thatshe’ll always have a place at the Jeffersonian.
9Max Keenan
Played By Ryan O’Neal
At the beginning ofBones, one of the biggest recurring plotlines is Brennan’s desire to find out what happened to her parents and reconnect with her past.She’s haunted by the deaths of her family,which colors her emotional state. It soon becomes clear that while her mother might have passed, her father, Max, is on the run, and not the man she thought he was.
Their early relationship is rocky, as Max is accused of murdering the man who killed Brennan’s mother, and it’s up to Booth to track Max down and bring him to justice. This creates tension between the two protagonists and sets up Booth and Max to be at odds for a significant portion of the show. However,having Max back in her life changes Brennan.
Max also proves himself to be the man Brennan hoped he would be many times throughout the show.
Max is charming, smart, and clearly adores his daughter, though he’s far from a perfect father. Despite this, seeing the pair rebuild their relationship and find a way to start fresh is a huge step for Brennan in being willing to explore deep emotional connections with others. Max also proves himself to be the man Brennan hoped he would be many times throughout the show.
8Vincent Nigel-Murray
Played By Ryan Cartwright
Of all the most important characters onBones, Vincent is on the show for the shortest amount of time. Only featured as a supporting character in seasons four through six, Vincent begins as just another sweet but quirky young intern. However, the end of season 6 sees Vincent fatally shot by a sniper targeting Booth, changing the show forever.
It’s tragic that the most narratively significant part of Vincent’s arc is his death, but it turns out that it’s the incentive Booth and Brennan need to finally act on their feelings. Realizing that life is short and precious, and with no barriers left between them, the pair get together, which culminates the years of tension and longing that have been building between them.
Not only that, but Vincent inspires Angela and Hodgins to make their son’s middle name Vincent, showcasing how deeply this loss is felt. While other characters had died inBonesand Zack had left the show tragically,Vincent’s death was a turning point for the seriesand the way it handled serious emotional moments.
7Zack Addy
Played By Eric Millegan
At the start of the series, Brennan would never say that she feels anything more than professional respect for Zack. However, it’s abundantly clear by the end of season 3 thathe will always be her favorite intern, grad student, and colleague.Zack is the little brother of the whole Jeffersonian throughout the first three seasons.
Few plot twists inBoneswill ever compare to the reveal that Zack has been working with Gormogon.
He will always hold a place in the hearts of the entire staff, even if he broke them. Few plot twists inBoneswill ever compare to the reveal that Zack has been working with Gormogon at the end of season 3, taking him away from the lab and forcing Brennan to hold her interns at arm’s length after this.
Though Zack isn’t a series regular again following the season 3 finale, “The Pain in the Heart,” he does come back a few times, getting a sentimental and poignant sendoff. While it’s sad when he leaves,adding new interns and characters did end up helpingBonesstay relevant and engaging in the later seasons.
6Jack Hodgins
Played By T.J. Thyne
While Brennan and her interns handle the bones, someone has to deal with the particulates, bugs, and slime, and Hodgins is more than happy to be that person.Characterized by his love of things others would call grossand his wild conspiracy theories, Hodgins rounds out the scientific team at the Jeffersonian. He’s also more layered than audiences might realize.
Secretly wealthy and much more generous than he lets on, Hodgins swoops in and makes a lot possible for the Jeffersonian, and is deeply affected by Zack’s betrayal and his leaving the lab. His quest to become “King of the Lab” might be a recurring joke, but it also demonstrates how much he wants to feel needed.
His romance with Angela is also a huge part of Hodgins' character,as he is never shy about how strong his feelings for her are. Though the pair isn’t as dramatic as Booth and Brennan in their courtship, this makes for a good juxtaposition between the two couples, allowing the audience to root for the more stable Angela and Hodgins.
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5Camille Saroyan
Played by Tamara Taylor
When Cam is first hired to lead the team at the Jeffersonian at the start of season 2, she and Brennan butt heads and her past with Booth rears its head. However, these frictions mellow out very quickly, and before long, it feels as if Cam has always been a key piece of the puzzle in the forensic lab.
One of the biggest throughlines of Cam’s character is the fact thatshe has trouble balancing her career and personal life,which takes a dramatic turn when she adopts Michelle in season 4. However, this is a pivotal moment for her because it gives her something outside of work to care about and provides plenty of great opportunities for character development.
While most of the doctors and scientists at the Jeffersonian are a little eccentric and difficult to manage, Cam strikes the perfect balance between authority and interest in exploration. She’s focused on results and ensuring that the lawyers have plenty of evidence to use in their prosecution. However,she’s simultaneously well-aware of the importance of the workbeing done by her staff.
4Angela Montenegro
Played By Michaela Conlin
Though Brennan is quick to dismiss the emotional appeals of most of the people in her life, this isn’t true for Angela, her best friend and closest confidant. On paper,it might seem that Angela serves a similar purpose as Boothin helping Brennan get in touch with her emotions. However, she has a more objective and helpful perspective, rooting for Brennan’s happiness above all.
Additionally,Angela becomes much more than simply a best friend,as she becomes an essential part of the team at the Jeffersonian. Her ability to reconstruct faces and scenarios is important for the plot. However, she also serves as the voice reminding the characters that the victims they’re investigating were real people with full lives.
Angela is one of the most unabashedly romantic characters, often defined by who she’s dating, or who she isn’t, and vocally calling for everyone around her to fall in love. It’s no secret thatBonescan get a little clinical, but it’s people like Angela who ensure the characters and audience never lose perspective about why these crimes must be solved.
3Lance Sweets
Played By John Francis Daley
One of thebest characters added to the series after season 1, Lance Sweets,joins the cast in season 3 as an FBI psychologist who balances the dynamic between Booth and Brennan. Though his scientific analysis comes from a human, emotional place, it’s vital to understanding the criminals the characters are chasing, making him an invaluable addition to the team.
Sweets changes the way the investigations are conducted, making them fresh.
It could be argued thatBonesmishandled Sweets' death, as his untimely exit from the series in season 10 came as an intense shock to audiences. The characters, particularly Booth and Brennan, who saw him almost as a surrogate son, never fully recover from his loss, which defines the final two seasons of the show.
Sweets is one of the strongest voices who calls for Booth and Brennan to admit their feelings for each other, and is a big part of helping the pair overcome their hesitation. Though people look down on him at first because of his age, Sweets changes the way the investigations are conducted, making them fresh, and helps every character with sound, reasonable advice.
2Seeley Booth
Played By David Boreanaz
Seely Booth is the beating heart ofBones. Asthe emotionally intuned, faith-driven, and occasionally impulsive FBI agent, he’s the perfect foilto the clinical Dr. Brennan. Boreanaz was the ideal choice for Booth, as the actor brings plenty of jovial humor and silliness to the role without losing any of the authority or intimidation necessary to make him a believable federal agent.
Booth and Brennan both get to take on the role of fish-out-of-water throughout the story, as Brennan doesn’t know how to handle the interpersonal parts of the investigation, and Booth feels out of place in the environment of the lab. However, Booth is an easy character to like, no matter where he is or who he’s talking to, especially sincehe isn’t afraid to challenge Brennan.
The relationship between Booth and Brennan defines the show far more than any single character, but it’s safe to say that even when he’s poking fun at her,Booth never undervalues what Brennan does.What Booth does best for the show is help open Brennan up to the possibilities of love and help her let a little magic into her life.
1Temperance “Bones” Brennan
Played By Emily Deschanel
While it might have been Booth who coined the nickname “Bones,“it was the titular forensic anthropologist herself who anchored the seriesand made the story possible. Without Deschanel’s Dr. Temperance Brennan, there would be no narrative and no unique twist that makesBonesthe crime show worth watching, especially in comparison to the other great additions to the genre.
Emily Deschanel’s favoriteBonesepisodedemonstrates the intellect and intuitive nature of Brennan’s character, on which the thrust of every episode’s plot relies. As the series progresses, she evolves, but her core characteristics and importance to the fabric of the show never diminish. Letting her walls down only helps make her a better investigator and anthropologist.
Booth helps open her up, and the chemistry between them is what sets the series apart from all other crime procedurals. ThoughBoneswould suffer without Booth, and never quite be the same, the show couldn’t exist without Brennan, no matter who tried to replace her.
