Fact: there are a lot of good shows out there. 
Fact: Many of those shows have been running for a number of seasons, making it hard to catch up with or act like you know what you’re talking about when your friends are knee-deep in conversation about a character you’ve never heard of.
In situations like these, it’s fair to wish there was some kind of guide or shortcut for said series.
Welcome to your QuickNotes. We peg the most critical episodes you’d need to watch in order to keep up with a series without having to watch the whole thing. This week, I’ve taken the liberty of cherry-picking 8 episodes from the first five seasons of Bones to illustrate the best aspects of the show so you can jump into the current season without hesitation. If you’ve got Netflix, you’re in luck because almost all of the episodes below are available on Instant Watch.
Bones is your basic ‘solve the murder, the killer confesses in the end’ type of drama, but it’s the journey to get there that makes the show so interesting. Every character is thoroughly fleshed out and well acted. The on-screen chemistry between Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz is really what makes this series so fun to watch. Sprinkle in a few character-specific story arcs and you have a recipe for a very enjoyable hour of television.
*warning: minor plot spoilers below, but if you’re reading this you’re probably expecting that*
Season 1: Ep 1: Pilot
The first episode of the series introduces us to the brilliant, if socially awkward, forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan, ex-army ranger FBI Special Agent Seely Booth, and the various squints that assist the pair from the Jeffersonian Institute.
Season 1: Ep 22: The Woman in Limbo
In the Season 1 finale, we get a peek into the psyche and past of Dr. Brennan when her mother’s remains are discovered. Booth opens an investigation and brings in Brennan’s brother to help.
Season 2: Ep 21: Stargazer in a Puddle
Brennan’s father, Max, shows up wanting to become part of her life and Booth is forced to arrest him on outstanding warrants. At the same time the team works to solve a homicide, Hodgins and Angela prepare for their wedding and Zach debates on whether or not to serve his country in Iraq.
Season 3: Ep 1: The Widow’s Son in the Windshield
In the Season 3 premiere, the team investigates a skull that may have been a victim of cannibalism. Meanwhile, Brennan is attempting to find a replacement for Zach and Angela and Hodgins hires a private investigator to track down Angela’s ex-husband.
Season 3: Ep 15: The Pain in the Heart
When a human jawbone shows up at the Jeffersonian, Brennan and her team realize that the Gormogon serial killer is back. An explosion in the lab sends Zach to the hospital and in the confusion Gormogon’s silver skeleton goes missing, meaning that one of the Jeffersonian employees is working with the twisted killer.
Season 4: Ep 25: The Critic in the Cabernet
The team is on the case when human remains are found inside a barrel of wine during a wine tasting. Overshadowing the investigation is Brennan’s sudden decision to have a baby and her request that Booth be the father.
Season 5: Ep 16: The Parts in the Sum of the Whole
The milestone 100th episode takes viewers back in time six years as Brennan and Booth recount the first case they worked on together. With Sweets finishing his book on their partnership, Brennan and Booth take this opportunity to set the record straight by recounting their disastrous first case.
Season 5: Ep 22: The Beginning in the End
In the fifth season finale, things are not well amongst the team. Their investigation into the remains of a hoarder has everyone re-examining their own lives. When Brennan and Booth are confronted with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, these self-exploratory examinations result in tough decisions.
