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The Worst Episodes of Bones

Every episode of Bones ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Bones!

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Dr. Temperance Brennan and her colleagues at the Jeffersonian's Medico-Legal Lab assist Special Agent Seeley Booth with murder investigations when the remains are so badly decomposed, burned or destroyed that the standard identification methods are useless.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Bones Season 8 Episode 9 - The Ghost in the Machine
    6.8/10(1656 votes)

    #1 - The Ghost in the Machine

    S8:E9

    A psychic joins the investigation of a death of a little boy whose soul is believed to be still alive, prompting the team members to reflect on their beliefs of life after death.

    Director:Milan Cheylov
    Writer:Hart Hanson

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  2. Bones Season 11 Episode 12 - The Murder of the Meninist
    6.9/10(775 votes)

    #2 - The Murder of the Meninist

    S11:E12

    The team investigates a body found in a car crash, the remains of which belong to a founder of a men's rights organization who may have been the victim of domestic abuse. As Brennan learns more about the tenets of the victim's organization, which claims middle-aged white men are oppressed and feminists are man-haters, Brennan uncharacteristically loses her cool during an interrogation and assaults the organization's co-founder. Meanwhile, Angela and the team struggle to deal with Hodgins post-wheelchair bitterness and Booth is convinced Brennan is a jinx for the Philadelphia Flyers.

    Director:Ian Toynton
    Writer:Hilary Weisman Graham

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  3. Bones Season 8 Episode 10 - The Diamond in the Rough
    7.0/10(1067 votes)

    #3 - The Diamond in the Rough

    S8:E10

    The Jeffersonian team investigates the death of a professional ballroom dancer who was murdered three days before her audition on a popular dancing competition show. In order to solve the case, Brennan and Booth go undercover as dance competitors to see if they can find potential suspects.

    Director:Alex Chapple
    Writer:Nkechi Okoro Carroll

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  4. Bones Season 9 Episode 18 - The Carrot in the Kudzu
    7.0/10(794 votes)

    #4 - The Carrot in the Kudzu

    S9:E18

    When an actor known for playing a popular character on a kids' TV show is murdered, unexpected suspects are discovered; Brennan and Booth plan a party for Christine's birthday; Clark asks for opinions on his novel.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Bones Season 10 Episode 3 - The Purging of the Pundit
    7.1/10(884 votes)

    #5 - The Purging of the Pundit

    S10:E3

    The remains of a right-wing radio host are found in a storm drain, and the investigation reveals some surprising extracurricular activities that narrows the search for suspects. Meanwhile, Agent Aubrey tries to get Booth to trust him, and Brennan worries about her husband's state of mind.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Bones Season 11 Episode 16 - The Strike in the Chord
    7.1/10(781 votes)

    #6 - The Strike in the Chord

    S11:E16

    The team investigates the death of the leader of the Lynwood University male acapella singing group, "The Whippersnaps," whose body was found in the school rat lab. The victim recently kicked out Ian Jansen, one of the group's best singers, sending Booth and Aubrey to question Ian and other current members of the male group and some stars of the competing female acapella group to get a handle on the group dynamics and what could have led to the murder of one of their own. Meanwhile, surprising information about Aubrey's own college experience is brought to light, Hodgins applies for an experimental nerve regeneration study, Booth tries to plan a summer trip with Parker and a new intern joins the Jeffersonian lab.

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Yael Zinkow

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  7. Bones Season 3 Episode 3 - Death in the Saddle
    7.2/10(1233 votes)

    #7 - Death in the Saddle

    S3:E3

    Things get kinky when Booth and Brennan follow murder clues that lead to a lodge used as an S&M retreat for "jockeys" and their "horses." Meanwhile, Angela tries hypnosis in an effort to figure out her elusive husband's name so she can finally divorce him.

    Director:Craig Ross Jr.
    Writer:Josh Berman

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  8. Bones Season 8 Episode 21 - The Maiden in the Mushrooms
    7.2/10(902 votes)

    #8 - The Maiden in the Mushrooms

    S8:E21

    The Jeffersonian team investigates the murder of a TV producer. Meanwhile, Brennan has trouble accepting the fact that Christine might be an "average" child, when her daughter gets accused of biting another classmate. Then, Hodgins uses all of his tools at the Jeffersonian to chemically recreate Finn's special hot sauce.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writer:Lyla Oliver

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  9. Bones Season 10 Episode 7 - The Money Maker on the Merry-Go-Round
    7.2/10(793 votes)

    #9 - The Money Maker on the Merry-Go-Round

    S10:E7

    The team investigate a billion dollar hedge fund company when severely damaged remains from human's are found under a merry go round.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Bones Season 10 Episode 11 - The Psychic in the Soup
    7.2/10(821 votes)

    #10 - The Psychic in the Soup

    S10:E11

    Angela’s psychic friend is enlisted when the body of a local psychic is found.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Lena Waithe

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  11. Bones Season 10 Episode 13 - The Baker in the Bits
    7.2/10(749 votes)

    #11 - The Baker in the Bits

    S10:E13

    When the body of an ex-con is found in pieces, the Jeffersonian team investigates a local bakery known for employing former felons.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Bones Season 10 Episode 14 - The Putter in the Rough
    7.2/10(739 votes)

    #12 - The Putter in the Rough

    S10:E14

    The team take a look into the death of a mini-golf superstar. Brennan is concerned about her dad.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Bones Season 10 Episode 16 - The Big Beef at the Royal Diner
    7.2/10(724 votes)

    #13 - The Big Beef at the Royal Diner

    S10:E16

    The team are called in after the remains of a celebrity chef are found in a local park.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Bones Season 12 Episode 10 - The Radioactive Panthers in the Party
    7.2/10(643 votes)

    #14 - The Radioactive Panthers in the Party

    S12:E10

    When the burning, bruised body of an aspiring writer/director crash-lands onto a passing car, the team investigates a series of odd locations and characters that are connected to his film. Meanwhile, Bones seeks guidance from Dr. Mayer on the meaning of passion in the work place and Booth allows Aubrey to take the reins on their current case.

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Keith Foglesong

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  15. Bones Season 1 Episode 2 - The Man in the S.U.V.
    7.3/10(1823 votes)

    #15 - The Man in the S.U.V.

    S1:E2

    When a man is killed driving an SUV registered to a Middle Eastern man, Dr. Brennan and her team find themselves tracking a terrorist.

    Director:Allan Kroeker
    Writer:Stephen Nathan

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  16. Bones Season 1 Episode 6 - The Man in the Wall
    7.3/10(1573 votes)

    #16 - The Man in the Wall

    S1:E6

    When Brennan and Angela get caught in a fight in a dance club, Brennan kicks someone into a wall, which causes the wall to break open and reveal a mummified corpse and a meth stash.

    Director:Tawnia McKiernan
    Writer:Elizabeth Benjamin

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  17. Bones Season 2 Episode 16 - The Boneless Bride in the River
    7.3/10(1235 votes)

    #17 - The Boneless Bride in the River

    S2:E16

    The team investigate the death of an Asian woman found without any bones left in her body.

    Director:Tony Wharmby
    Writer:Gary Glasberg

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  18. Bones Season 4 Episode 6 - The Crank in the Shaft
    7.3/10(1147 votes)

    #18 - The Crank in the Shaft

    S4:E6

    The remains of a despised office manager are discovered in an elevator shaft, and Booth and Brennan must figure out which employee killed him. After some investigating, they find that the manager had more than a fair share of complaints on file. Meanwhile, Angela and Hodgins try to make peace in the lab after their break-up.

    Director:Steven DePaul
    Writer:Elizabeth Benjamin

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  19. Bones Season 4 Episode 24 - The Beaver in the Otter
    7.3/10(1128 votes)

    #19 - The Beaver in the Otter

    S4:E24

    When a human body is found inside the strung up Otter mascot uniform of a rival school, Brennan and Booth investigate whether the body inside the costume was dead beforehand, or killed during a Middlesex University bonfire event. The body is identified as Jimmy “Beaver” Bouvier, a fraternity brother at Middlesex University. When Brennan and Booth question his fraternity brothers, they learn that Beaver had a money-making operation on the side and was making a killing of his own. Meanwhile, Booth offers to help his brother Jared find a new job after being dishonorably discharged from the Navy.

    Director:Brad Turner
    Writer:Scott Williams

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  20. Bones Season 5 Episode 6 - The Tough Man in the Tender Chicken
    7.3/10(1093 votes)

    #20 - The Tough Man in the Tender Chicken

    S5:E6

    Remains of a chicken farmer are found on the bank of a nearby river, and Booth and Brennan are called in to investigate. The farmer, who was an animal rights activist, was about to inherit a chicken factory and had many enemies with motive to kill him – leaving the team with a lot of murder suspects to sort through.

    Director:Dwight H. Little
    Writer:Dean Lopata

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  21. Bones Season 5 Episode 19 - The Rocker in the Rinse Cycle
    7.3/10(1103 votes)

    #21 - The Rocker in the Rinse Cycle

    S5:E19

    Booth and Brennan investigate a death at a rock-n-roll fantasy camp where the murder weapon is a Gibson ‘57 Les Paul “Black Beauty.”

    Director:Jeff Woolnough
    Writer:Karine Rosenthal

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  22. Bones Season 6 Episode 12 - The Sin in the Sisterhood
    7.3/10(998 votes)

    #22 - The Sin in the Sisterhood

    S6:E12

    A body disguised as a scarecrow is found with a bullet wound in a remote cornfield, and the team is forced to work against the clock to avoid a storm and potential complications that would affect the evidence. Booth and Brennan interrogate the victim's three wives, who are also sisters, and learn that jealousy between the sisters and their desire for their husband's attention had caused a major rift in the family. Booth and Brennan also question one relative who disapproved of the victim's polygamy. Meanwhile, Cam loses confidence in her relationship with her on-call doctor boyfriend, but they both realize they need to make their relationship a priority.

    Director:Rob Hardy
    Writer:Karyn Usher

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  23. Bones Season 6 Episode 20 - The Pinocchio in the Planter
    7.3/10(984 votes)

    #23 - The Pinocchio in the Planter

    S6:E20

    The team identifies the remains of a successful ad man found in the grounds of a newly built community center playground. Upon inspecting the victim’s home and interrogating his former partner and employer, Booth and Brennan discover that the victim burned bridges by adopting an aggressive attitude toward honesty and was a member of a radical honesty support group. Meanwhile, each of the team members attempts to adopt a more honest way of communicating that doesn’t always lend itself to good relationships, and Angela urges Hodgins to confront the realities of their pregnancy

    Director:François Velle
    Writer:Keith Foglesong

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  24. Bones Season 8 Episode 13 - The Twist in the Plot
    7.3/10(911 votes)

    #24 - The Twist in the Plot

    S8:E13

    The Jeffersonian team investigates the remains of two bodies that were found at the same burial plot: one of a female cancer patient; the other, the cancer patient's "doula," who was guiding her through her grieving process with the illness. Meanwhile, with a spotlight on the case, Brennan and Booth start discussing their individual choices for after-death arrangements. Also, Daisy Wick returns for her first case after her break-up with Sweets.

    Director:Milan Cheylov
    Writer:Kim Clements

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  25. Bones Season 8 Episode 22 - The Party in the Pants
    7.3/10(911 votes)

    #25 - The Party in the Pants

    S8:E22

    The Jeffersonian team investigates the murder of Jack Spindler, a successful employee at a brokerage firm by day, but a stripper by night. When the team learns how Spindler's moonlighting affected his personal life, they start to question the people closest to him, including his stripper friend, Storm. Meanwhile, Booth's mother shows up after a 24-year absence in his life and makes a special request of him.

    Director:Reginald Hudlin
    Writers:Michael Peterson, Keith Foglesong

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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Ghost in the Machine" is the worst rated episode of "Bones". It scored 6.8/10 based on 1656 votes. Directed by Milan Cheylov and written by Hart Hanson, it aired on 12/3/2012. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Murder of the Meninist".