Only Four Bones Actors Have Appeared In Every Episode

One of the most popular and offbeat crime procedural series to have emerged from network TV in the 21st century, Fox's "Bones" captivated viewers and amassed a legion of fans over the course of its 12 seasons. The unusual and intriguing focus on forensics as a rich, discovery-laden field that provides the key to solving all manner of mysteries can explain a lot of that success, to be sure. But even more crucial to the appeal of "Bones" is its strong, lovingly fleshed-out (no pun intended) cast of characters.

Any fan of the show will be eager to tell you all about the thrilling, patiently developed will-they-or-won't-they relationship dynamic between protagonist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and her series-long foil, FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz). In addition to them, the ensemble of "Bones" is filled with memorable supporting characters, several of whom rotated in and out of the show throughout its many years on air. In fact, there are actually only four cast members who made an appearance on every single episode of "Bones."

"Bones" aired a total of 245 episodes between 2005 and 2017, and, thanks to its case-of-the-week format, it told a lot of distinct stories during that time. But the cases themselves were always secondary to the character-based serialized story that the show was telling. And, as far as that department is concerned, "Bones" was always the story of Dr. Temperance Brennan.

The cold-blooded, emotionally detached forensic anthropologist who gave the show its (nick)name, Dr. Brennan was one of the big factors that made "Bones" such a unique take on the procedural genre. Her abrasive, antisocial personality made her a refreshingly complex female lead at a time when those were still few and far between on network procedural TV shows, and the often gruesome and emotionally draining thanatology of the weekly cases ultimately served as a gateway into her iced-over heart. That being the case, it's no surprise that Emily Deschanel made an appearance in every single episode of the show: "Bones" without Bones would, of course, be inconceivable.

The character development of Dr. Brennan was, of course, the most vital aspect of the entire narrative arc of "Bones." But the show wouldn't be what it was without the other, some would say equally crucial half of its central dynamic duo, who also appeared in every single episode: David Boreanaz as FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth.

Boreanaz, who had ample prior experience with genre television thanks to his role as conflicted vampire heartthrob Angel on both "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and its spin-off, "Angel," brought all the charm and wit he honed in those years to the role of Booth. If Brennan's brittle eccentricity gave "Bones" its unique flair, Booth was the lovable, relatable everyman who served as an ideal foil for Brennan's personality to play off of. His endless teasing and ribbing of her as they worked together on FBI murder investigations made for some of the most blazing onscreen chemistry of the last few decades of TV.

Although "Bones" was largely centered on the interplay between Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth as they joined forces to crack each case, a large portion of the show was also devoted to the team of forensic scientists working alongside Brennan at the Jeffersonian Institute in Washington, D.C., where "Bones" was mostly set. Affectionately referred to by Booth as "squints" due to their habit of squinting at evidence, the lab rats at the Jeffersonian were the pit crew of "Bones," and, as the show dove further into serialized, character-based storytelling, their stories as supporting characters also became more and more prominent. That is especially true of Angela Montenegro.

Played by actor Michaela Conlin in all 245 episodes, Angela was Brennan's best friend, and the two had a long-established night-and-day dynamic of their own, with Angela as the sunny, free-spirited soul who understood Brennan on a deep level and pushed her to stay in touch with the world outside the lab. Working as a forensic artist and reconstructor, she was also crucial to the process of identifying the victims brought in by Booth, and her deeply empathetic outlook on the world made her the heart of the show amid its often emotionally repressed investigation processes.

A lot of the grisliness and dark humor in "Bones" comes from the show's conscious efforts to poke at the sensibilities of the squeamish viewer. At the end of the day, this was, after all, a show centered around human remains, and what was brought upon them by violence. But there was another distinct, yet not wholly separate, discipline that provided plenty of opportunities to drive up the show's squirm factor: the analysis of bodily fluids, particulates, and chemical processes. And that was the department of Dr. Jack Hodgins, the Jeffersonian's resident "bug and slime guy."

A secret millionaire who continues to devote himself to work as one of the lab's "squints" due to his sheer passion for the crafts of entomology and biochemistry, Hodgins was played by T.J. Thyne on all "Bones" episodes. The character is also well-remembered for his love of conspiracy theories and all things paranormal, as well as his relationship and eventual marriage to Angela.