Bones

Bones is a new television series on Fox. It is inspired by books by Kathy Reichs.

The Plot: Temperance "Tempe" Brennan is a forensic anthropologist and an author of mystery novels who lives in Washington DC and works for the Jeffersonian Institute. When bones are found, Tempe is the one called by the FBI to work her science to find out as much about the body as possible. Seeley Booth is the FBI Agent she works with.

The Good: This is an enjoyable crime show. Tempe is science girl, Booth is law & order guy. While Booth insists that science alone does not solve crimes, he does respect what Tempe does. He just doesn't think that science alone is what is needed and he is a tad vocal on thinking it's an overrated, yet necessary, part of an investigation. And I think Tempe might agree with him to some extent -- why else does she insist on leaving the lab and being a full partner in the investigation?

What I Liked: The FBI Agent is played by David Boreanaz of Angel. He's quite good here: a mix of charming and cool. Usually in these "odd couple" partnerings one person being super-smart means the other person must be stupid. Tempe is clearly the smart one... but just because Seeley doesn't have advanced degrees doesn't mean he's not smart. It's just smart in a different way. When Tempe goes with Seeley to break the news to grieving parents that yes, the body is their daughter, she treats the situation no different than if she were talking to colleagues at work. Seeley is the one who cuts her off and treats the parents with compassion and respect. He has a different type of "smart."

Of interest: Tempe Brennan is a character in a series of books by Kathy Reichs. The character is essentially the same in spirit, but details have changed. Like her age. And where she lives (at least in the first book).

What I don't get: Seeley as a first name? What's up with that? Talk about a mystery that needs solving.