Summary

• The best episodes of Bones are those with compelling villains and unpredictable plot twists, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
• The show excels at maintaining its focus on the characters and their reactions to dangerous situations while also providing detailed forensic analysis.
• Some of the most memorable episodes involve the team becoming personally involved in the cases, facing danger and placing their own lives at risk.

Over its 12 seasons, Bones produced a whopping 246 episodes, but the best ones stand out from the crowd. Bones follows forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and F.B.I. Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) as they combine their skills to take on a new case each week. In some ways, Bones is a classic procedural drama, but the unusual relationship between the two central characters is very original. The detailed forensic analysis is a fun bonus, but the show always maintains focus on the characters and how they react to being placed in dangerous situations.

The show was so popular that even 246 episodes was not enough for some, and there has been persistent speculation about a Bones revival. If the cast and crew return, they can look back on their best episodes as a reminder of what makes the show great. Bones is at its best when the villains are just as compelling as the heroes and the show becomes hard to predict. Some of the most memorable episodes throw the team into danger as they become personally involved in the cases. Even if a reboot never materializes, the best episodes of Bones are as thrilling today as when they first aired.

10 "The Widow's Son In The Windshield"

Season 3, Episode 1

"The Widows Son in the Windshield" begins with the shocking image of a human skull dropping from an over and getting lodged in a car windshield. Eventually, the investigation uncovers that the skull belonged to a violinist who appears to have been the victim of cannibalism, and Booth finds an underground vault filled with human remains and occult artifacts. "The Widow's Son in the Windshield" first introduces the Gormogon, one of the most interesting killers in Bones, and his apprentice is a haunting window into the ritualized cannibalistic society he creates. The episode is also notable because it introduces Clark, one of Brennan's interns on Bones.

9 "The Bullet In The Brain"

Season 6, Episode 11

The Gravedigger was one of Bones' most memorable villains, burying her victims alive and demanding a ransom for their release. "The Bullet in the Brain" promises to show her in court once again, as she's set to have her final appeal after being sentenced to death. However, she is killed by a sniper on her way to the courthouse, and the team have to investigate her murder. Even though Bones deals with a lot of bodies, "The Bullet in the Brain" stands out as particularly graphic, with a woman being found in an advanced state of decomposition in a bathtub.

8 "The Man In The Morgue"

Season 1, Episode 19

In "The Man in the Morgue," Brennan travels to New Orleans to help identify victims of Hurricane Katrina. However, she finds herself at the center of a murder investigation when she wakes up in her hotel room covered in blood with no memory of the previous day. Booth comes down to assist her in the investigation, and the pair journey into the mystical world of voodoo. "The Man in the Morgue" throws the logic-driven Brennan into an environment ruled by dark sorcery and mysticism, and there are times when it becomes extremely difficult to sort facts from fiction. Even Brennan is forced to question her innocence in the case.

"The Man in the Morgue" benefits from Giancarlo Esposito's fantastic performance as Benoit, one of the worst criminals in Bones.

7 "The Pain In The Heart"

Season 3, Episode 15

"The Pain in the Heart" picks up where the previous episode leaves off, with Booth being shot in the chest. Booth fakes his own death, but this causes a rift in his relationship with Brennan. "The Pain in the Heart" brings the Gormogon back, but the investigation turns toward the team at the Jeffersonian, and nobody knows who can be trusted. Brennan and Zack's relationship is always extremely unique, as they find a lot of common ground even when others don't understand them. Therefore, Zack's betrayal marks one of the show's most emotional moments, and his loss sends shock waves through the rest of the team.

6 "The Crack In The Code"

Season 7, Episode 6

"The Crack in the Code" opens with a bloody skull and a spine being found in a museum, and a cryptic message scrawled in blood. Following one clue at a time, the team is led on a scavenger hunt by a highly intelligent killer. "The Crack in the Code" is one of the best episodes of Bones in of mystery, as the team is dragged into a chase which threatens to uncover the darkest secrets of the F.B.I. "The Crack in the Code" also introduces Christopher Pelant, who is an extremely compelling villain. The episode shows why season 7 is one of the best seasons of Bones.

5 "The Woman In Limbo"

Season 1, Episode 22

The Bones season 1 finale digs into Brennan's backstory when she discovers that her mother is dead. Booth opens up a murder investigation, and Brennan has to reckon with the truth that her parents weren't who she thought they were. She even finds out that her real name is Joy Keenan. The episode reveals a lot about Brennan's past, but it also shows how much Booth cares about her — and it hints at their future relationship together. Season 1 of Bones ends on a high, and "The Woman in Limbo" remains one of the highest-rated episodes of Bones, even after 12 seasons.

4 "The Man In The Fallout Shelter"

Season 1, Episode 9

"The Man in the Fallout Shelter" was an early indication of Bones' great potential. The Christmas episode sees the team having to quarantine together in the lab after biological contamination sets off the detectors. The team es the time by solving a case together, one about a man who was shot in a fallout shelter in the 1950s. Spending so much time in close quarters on Christmas also brings the team closer together, as they try to comfort each other. "The Man in the Fallout Shelter" offers a great mixture of crime-solving and character development. It's a very unusual Christmas episode, but it still focuses on family and kindness.

3 "The Doctor In The Photo"

Season 6, Episode 9

Brennan always approaches cases from a logical and calculated perspective, but she can't help getting emotionally invested in "The Doctor in the Photo," as she identifies with the victim. The team investigates the case of a brilliant surgeon found with multiple fractures in her skull, and each new detail about her life mirrors Brennan's experiences, including her clinical personality. "The Doctor in the Photo" is a masterful story of character development, as Brennan learns that sometimes it helps to let her emotions get involved. The team is only able to crack the case thanks to her understanding of the victim's mental state.

2 "Aliens In A Spaceship"

Season 2, Episode 9

"Aliens in a Spaceship" features one of the best cold opens in the entirety of Bones, as Brennan finds herself in a car with a badly beaten Hodgins. The episode then jumps 48 hours back in time and follows the team as they investigate the Gravedigger. "Aliens in a Spaceship" is one of the most thrilling episodes of Bones, as Brennan and Hodgins have to try and solve their own kidnapping from a grave. The pair form an intense bond when faced with their own impending deaths, but their combined brainpower is enough to help them escape.

1 "The Nightmare Within The Nightmare"

Season 11, Episode 22.

In the best episode of Bones, the team is confronted by the Puppeteer, a sadistic serial killer who lives with the dead bodies of his victims for days before disposing of them. Brennan struggles with guilt, believing she should have stopped the Puppeteer sooner, and the case takes a heavy psychological toll on her. Her constant nightmares shift the tone of the episode toward horror. The end of the episode drops a bombshell before the final season, as Zack's face peers out from the shadows, marking his first appearance since season 3. Bones probably peaked earlier than season 11, but "The Nightmare Within the Nightmare" is an undisputed classic.