Bones

David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel start well with better than two-dimensional characters in a fresh look at a CSI type show. Based on the real-life work of forensic anthropologist and novelist Kathy Reichs, it's fun, kicky, and only occasionally too gruesome to look at. Not quite like one of Ms. Reichs' novels, it is still a pleasure for a fan (me!) to watch. Boreanaz' past work on Buffy and Angel stands in good stead here as he delivers lines that stand up to a strong female role without diminishing it. Also like Buffy, humor lends grace to embarrassing social situations that highlight common human vulnerabilities. Surrounding the 2 major players are other characters who add to the thrust of a character driven show. The writers do good work giving each character unique attributes that have nothing to do with hair color or body measurements. The entire cast does a good job presenting real, quirky individuals who don't have to rely on looks to sell the worth of their character to the viewers. That alone is something new for any CSI show. Still some rough edges in writing and delivery (Tempe's "I wish this was the worst I have seen" was painful for all the wrong reasons),"Bones" has great potential.

......which frankly started to put me in mind of a Mothercare advert. Too much goop about babies... Not at all what I was expecting having read most of Kathy Reichs' work, but enjoyable and well served by an excellent supporting cast, notably TJ Thyne and Michaela Conlin. Even the terminally irritating characters of Sweets and Daisy became less annoying with time. It's unusual to see a programme in which there are no main characters you can't connect with. In this case they are all easy to like sympathetic characters....even the interns. Good job fellas.

I didn't expect to like it as much as I liked it. In fact, it's a sure sign of cancellation how much I like this show. I never like crime shows. My mom loves them, but I find them dull, because they're about plots not characters. This is a crime show about characters (not as good as "The Closer" -- the crime show I adored this summer -- mind you), and I enjoyed it. At times, it seemed far-fetched, and the whole Senator plot-point in the pilot seemed awful easy, but the dialogue worked, the characters intrigue me, and the chemistry is great. I expect good things from it.

Alison

"Bones" is exactly the kind of show that you binge when you're home sick or the weather is bad outside, or maybe when you're cleaning the house. It's familiar, not too challenging mentally or emotionally, and the leads are really great together. They're the kind of people you don't mind having in your house, lol.

Are the cases mindblowing? No, but that's not what I want from network TV or procedurals. I want things I can watch and enjoy without hurting my head and that I can at least figure out every now and then before the show tells me. On this front, "Bones" is really top notch.

I watched the show and it did feel familiar, yet fresh also. Emily/Temperance is very convincing and the rest of the cast isn't your every day cute side kicks. They seem like real squints, and that is a whole other world they live in. A bit of a stretch on the Holographic skull and body stuff. I'll go with you there, but only if you let the squint out of the lab more.

David B is and always will be Angel to some people, watch this show and you'll come away thinking its more Angelus than Angel, the humor and comic timing between him and Emily has the makings of a Moonlighting relationship if, IF the writers want to play it out that way. All in all, a good show, directing was crisp the photography was also good.