Pilot (Bones)

The Pilot is the first episode of the American crime procedural drama Bones, originally broadcast on September 13, 2005, on the Fox network. It introduces the main characters and establishes the central premise of the series.

The episode focuses on Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan, a forensic anthropologist and author, and Special Agent Seeley Booth, an FBI agent. Booth seeks Brennan's expertise to identify skeletal remains found at a riverbed. The remains are believed to be those of a woman named Cleo Eller, a rising star in the world of women's tennis, whose disappearance a year prior had gone cold.

The Pilot showcases Brennan's scientific approach to solving crimes, contrasting it with Booth's reliance on intuition and interrogation. It introduces the supporting characters who form Brennan's team at the Jeffersonian Institute's Medico-Legal Lab: Angela Montenegro, a forensic artist; Dr. Zack Addy, Brennan's young assistant; and Dr. Daniel Goodman, the head of the lab.

Throughout the episode, Brennan and Booth investigate the circumstances surrounding Eller's death. They examine the skeletal remains for clues, analyze evidence, and interview suspects, uncovering a complex web of secrets and lies. Ultimately, they are able to identify the victim and determine the cause of death, leading them to the killer.

The Pilot establishes the underlying tension and burgeoning professional relationship between Brennan and Booth, hinting at the romantic connection that will develop throughout the series. It also sets the tone for the show's blend of procedural crime solving, character-driven drama, and dark humor. The episode concludes with Brennan agreeing to partner with Booth on future cases, solidifying the series' premise of a forensic anthropologist and an FBI agent working together to solve crimes involving skeletal remains.