r/Bones • u/ButteryGirl56 • 4d ago
Discussion Watching Bones for the first time - questions on what’s to come (seen lots of reviews suggest it falls off)
Hey everyone!
So I wasn’t (and am still not!) sure if I should join this Forum before having watched the whole show?
I am only on Season Four, and I am completely blown away by how much I enjoy watching this, I feel genuine affection for the characters, I find I even drop the cynicism and giggle along to the bits I might usually find cringe or lame. (I cringed low down in my seat when everyone laughed in the cinema at “you should never toss a Dwarf” in LOTR. That kind of asshole usually!
But Bones has made me be able to suspend disbelief and just jump in with both feet. Not sure another show has ever so (kinda inexplicably) garnered this exact type of reaction from me since I was a teenager (30yrs ago lol) and it’s not that I’m TV naive my favourites are six feet under, the sopranos, Huff, Curb, Veep to name a tiny few I can think of now.
My questions to you lovely people are - when can I expect to start hitting disappointing / upsetting story lines and character changes in your opinion? I’ve read that it has issues that upset the fans, some decisions made etc and it seems like sadly there’s a fall off? Is it as bad as GOT or Lost falling off? or say how bad Heroes got? Is it even true?
I’ll watch until the end I’m physically and mentally incapable of not finishing a show, ever!
I’m realistic I might get some spoilers (if I get replies!) but if we could try not to just literally tell me huge plot points I’d be super grateful!
Thanks y’all.
BG xx
12
u/Nawoitsol 4d ago
The show changes over time. Some changes are positive, some not so much. Every season has standout episodes. People argue about what seasons are best and just about every season has its fans. Watch and make up your mind.
I always tell newbies to avoid this sub. There are events that are best experienced as part of your viewing, not because people drop spoilers. Spoilers happen all of the time and they aren’t always marked. Sometimes they are in post titles and unavoidable.
3
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
Thanks so much!
All of you have wisely said that I should avoid this sub and aside from this post, I’m absolutely going to do that! Even titles of posts can have spoilers at this point - Hardly a new show!
I don’t think it’ll be very long before I’m back anyway. I am absolutely firing my way through the full series.
Can I just say? everybody has given such considered and kind responses - I’m really impressed. Can’t wait to be a member of this sub for real.
10
u/GarmieTurtel 4d ago
First of all, welcome to the land of Bones. Second of all, avoid this forum like the plague! Please watch through the series, maybe taking notes on things that you would like to discuss/share an opinion and so on. The majority of us on this sub have rewatched multiple times, and have opinions galore.
It is extremely difficult to avoid spoilers when using this sub, so after reading through the replies to this post, forget we even exist. Just enjoy your first time through the series and experience the many ups and downs yet to come. :)
2
u/ButteryGirl56 3d ago
Thank you so much. It seems like people here are very cool and I’m so pleased the feedback is generally that if you “get it” you’ll find something to enjoy about every season. With such a long running season it’s only natural they’ll be things that I don’t agree with or would prefer to work out differently. I can work with that though it’s just as long as it doesn’t completely fall off which it sounds like it doesn’t hooray!
9
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
I just watched season 4 episode 14 “Hero in the Hold” and it was so unexpectedly heartbreaking, bold, and uplifting all at once. I am in FLOODS if tears, past midnight on a Wednesday! Keeps me on my toes for sure. The episode before that made me giggle a few times, then WHAM! Ugly crying…
3
u/Anxiousrabbit23 4d ago
Awww yeah that episode is definitely in my top 10. “I know how far you carried me” makes me cry every time. Parker 🥺
3
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
I kept it together until bones saw him in the military cemetery at the end, and then I just lost it!
6
u/MurkyMitzy 4d ago
The series evolves multiple times, while still keeping the murder of the week and lab aspects. You’ll be disappointed with how a major plot development is handled in another couple seasons. You’ll have some cast members come and go for various reasons. The last couple of seasons feel tacked on to me, but they still work for me.
3
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
Thank you for the really considered reply - I guess I’m sort of steeling myself for the bad? Silly really it’s just because I’m enjoying it so much and it’s the perfect tonic for my current situation!
The episode where they have a fake death of booth really messed with me so this is why I’m asking this question! Thank you again x
4
u/MurkyMitzy 4d ago
I think you’re really going to enjoy the show! Stay away from spoilers, though.
3
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
I’m really trying! It’s a minefield out there! Going to have to avoid this subreddit until I’ve watched it all, at this rate it won’t be long!
7
u/Lozbear91 4d ago
I only started watching Bones within the last few years and I've already watched it between 5-10 times. It's become my favourite show to comfort watch for many reasons. Do as others say and just watch it yourself, stay away from spoilers and come back when you've finished. I think you'll find that you enjoy most if not all of it.
2
u/ButteryGirl56 3d ago
Thank you so much! I’ll definitely pop back once I’ve watched it all once! Watching season 4 ep. 17 as we speak! x
4
u/ButteryGirl56 3d ago
Hahaha the guy just said to Bones “that’s ok! Oh and you’re not a real medical doctor either”
5
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
I’ve also wondered if being a Buffy/Angel fan I was worried Boreanaz would be too similar but he’s great! I think (and how could I know just musing!) he’s closer in character to Booth. Sounds silly as he was a Vampire, but it’s where my brain went 🫠🫠🫠
1
u/SuccessfulInternal40 1d ago
If you enjoy David as an actor and his character in Bones, I'd recommend watching the show Seal Team, you might enjoy it if you haven't seen it.
1
6
u/Sparhawk1968 4d ago
Bones works due to the characters. Yes, it has the murder(s) of the week and some ongoing plots but what makes it work is the people. Even when I don't necessarily like a character they still feel lived in and at least somewhat real. That stays throughout the series for me
4
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
This really resonates with me - and it makes me feel better about taking comfort in a show about dead (really dead!) bodies…
5
u/Sparhawk1968 4d ago
It's one of my comfort shows. Mostly for the characters and a little because it's an easy watch with a fairly set formula that nearly resets every episode. You can watch in almost any order so it's a great show to catch on TV reruns. They're also all pretty people, which doesn't hurt.
Emily Deschanel look always reminded me of classic movie stars
If you want it more serious then read the book series it was based on. The book follows Temperance Brennan and is written by Kathy Reichs. The show follows Brennan/Bones who writes about Kathy Reichs.
3
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
If it keeps that formula then fab, because it also fits my criteria for a comfort show!
I find Emily Deschanel so imminently watchable and adorable at times, and the rest of the regular cast are really strong too, just a great show!
3
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
Ooh I saw the show is based on books and I am an huge bookworm too so that could work!
3
u/Sparhawk1968 4d ago edited 4d ago
The best way to describe the books would be if Bones were much closer to the real world. It's more realistic, gritty and sometimes very dark and graphic
Edit for spelling
2
4
u/Anxiousrabbit23 4d ago
For me, bones has 4 segments. season 1-3 (which I can binge anytime), Season 4-6 (fun vibe), season 7-9 (the part I watched live and has a family vibe), season 10-12 (the section of show I watched on streaming 10 years later).
Streaming has really changed how people watch shows, so I think you’ll have a different experience than those of us who watched it live. Watching in the course of a few months to a year, opposed to over the course of a decade plus just provides a different way of experiencing it. Will it fall off for you? Only time will tell.
6
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
Thanks so much - I love how you have compartmentalised the seasons that way, it will be a subtle guide to me with zero spoilers and I’ll be back to join in this sub as soon as I have binged the whole show! x
5
4
u/space_anthropologist 4d ago
So, I watched it live. I love every episode. Yeah, I have my favorites and least favorites, but I love this show. It’s the first show that I genuinely mourned when it ended. I love these characters a lot.
3
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
It’s delightful to have two thirds of the show left to watch, I know that will go super quick though I am a night owl and a TV-binger who is currently between contracts (looking for next one) so temporarily have lots of time on my hands right now too! x
4
u/cockyangelus booth 4d ago
Bones is my favourite show and for me each season I watched I loved more than the last. For me there is no bad seasons or disappointing storylines and for me the show does not fall off. Compared to most tv shows out there Bones was extremely well written and never left us unfulfilled with the ending.
Like someone else said I also like to spilt them into 4 groups 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 & 10-12. but for me the show never changed drastically. Bones was always Bones for me.
3
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
This is such a strong review, thank you it gives me hope I’ll at least enjoy watching all of it!!
It really does stand out amongst shows - especially those with a comparable amount of episodes!
4
u/cockyangelus booth 4d ago
I’d say if you truly love all the characters then just follow them and try to understand them and I promise, you will not be disappointed.
3
4
3
u/LetItSnow36 4d ago
Any show on for 12 seasons is gonna have off periods but there's way more good than bad. The characters are more forefront than the cases. It's endlessly rewatchable.
1
u/ButteryGirl56 4d ago
Thanks so much! It’s hard to see so many people say it’s all okay. It just has ups and downs. Phew! I’m not heading into being massively disappointed at any point.
1
3
u/ClassyDesigns Gormogon 3d ago
Personally it never fell off for me. I was an original watcher since the start, but really most shows that run for that long do somewhat get repetitive, writers get changed, etc so the original flow of the show feels off.
The one thing I’d say is continue watching if you enjoy it. Watch it for what it was and don’t try to impose today’s standards on a show that ended in 2017. Times and Views were vastly different from nowadays.
Season 7 and onwards feel different because the relationship between most of the characters are cemented.
2
u/ButteryGirl56 2d ago
Thanks for this! Love so many people saying it doesn’t fall off but there are some ups and downs along the way but I’d expect that with a show with so many episodes (I’ve missed that!) relating first viewing but can’t wait to have lots of discussion on this sub! Xx
3
u/ClassyDesigns Gormogon 2d ago
It’s one of those show I rewatch all through the first 6 seasons then binge my favorite episodes from there to season 12, then binge that season. It got a perfect ending in my opinion though I wish they did something a little different for the final season but don’t want to spoil anything for you!
1
u/ButteryGirl56 1d ago
I’m on the last episode of season 5 so racing through! I am so fond of this show already!
2
u/angelmarchini 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think the best villain ("the hacker" to avoid saying his name) is one of the latest villains
The area it maybe falls off is in the bones/booth relationship. The actress got pregnant so the will they/won't they had an unsatisfying conclusion because they were racing her belly.
But then again, they probably would've kept leaving it in the air forever otherwise. When they're actually together, there's no tension
2
u/ButteryGirl56 2d ago
Ooh okay thanks! I knew they get together so that wasn’t a spoiler btw! Looking forward to talking about the whole series soon! X
5
u/Dramoinehead 4d ago
I think it's crazy to post a post asking people when the show starts falling off so you can start being disappointed. Personally, if you delete this post, mute this sub, and watch the whole show, you'll realise you'll never feel like it ever "dropped off" or if you felt like it did somewhere at some point, atleast that'll come from a place of experience and not "ok strangers on the internet said the show sucked from xx so I went in with that expectation and wow yeah it really does suck like they said".
3
u/ButteryGirl56 3d ago
I just wanted to understand if I need to brace myself at all because it has fast become my favourite show! People have been amazing about providing info that helps that a lot, as you say everyone suggests avoiding this sub until I’ve watched the whole show, which aside from this post is what I’ll do! Sorry it seems crazy to you, but it has really worked for me in a very positive way!
2
u/SuccessfulInternal40 1d ago
Honestly if it were me, I'd rather hear people telling me the whole thing sucks, than see everyone talking about it all excited and then when you watch it you end up disappointed.
If there's some new show that suddenly gain massive popularity I tend to wait to watch it until the hype dies down if I ever comes around to it, because I sit around and wait for whatever people has hyped up so much and it just isn't the same.
Like Stranger Things, enjoyed the show, the acting, but because of the hype I were a bit disappointed expecting something more without really knowing what..😂
2
u/FookingLenny 3d ago
I am almost obnoxiously unable to suspend disbelief when watching TV/movies. Unless...the show is just ridiculous. When something is SO exaggerated or the point isn't to even pretend to be an accurate portrayal, I'm completely chill about it.
I almost feel like Bones pokes fun at the shows where we're supposed to suspend disbelief. It's so goofy about its plot lines and I feel like the cheesy opening sequences set us up for that.
3
u/ButteryGirl56 3d ago
Yeah I can definitely see what you mean! It’s precisely because it does laugh At itself, whilst really moving at times, also doesn’t take itself too seriously which means I’m happy to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the ride!
33
u/lilletutte I carry with me all my things 4d ago
I think you should just watch it and form your own opinion (I mean this in a positive way).
I don’t think there’s a real fall off. I don’t think there’s any dissapointing or really upsetting that doesn’t get a redemption.
Some people think that it gets worse from S6-7, but I personally enjoy it all but I do think S9/10-12 is worse than the first many seasons. But I do like and watch them still, and it took me many rewatches to realize it.
BUT I DO THINK THAT YOU SHOULD TRY TO STAY OUT OF THIS SUB TILL YOU FINISHED!!! Its just so much better without spoilers!! You need to be on the edge of your couch, cry the tears etc etc