The Worst Episodes of Bones
Every episode of Bones ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Bones!
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.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "Bones" is "The Ghost in the Machine", rated 6.7/10 from 1504 user votes. It was directed by Milan Cheylov and written by Hart Hanson. "The Ghost in the Machine" aired on 12/3/2012 and is rated 0.1 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "The Murder of the Meninist".
6.7/10 1,504 votes#1 - The Ghost in the Machine
Season 8 Episode 9 - Aired 12/3/2012
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
6.8/10 684 votes#2 - The Murder of the Meninist
Season 11 Episode 12 - Aired 4/21/2016
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
6.9/10 715 votes#3 - The Carrot in the Kudzu
Season 9 Episode 18 - Aired 3/24/2014
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.0/10 958 votes#4 - The Diamond in the Rough
Season 8 Episode 10 - Aired 1/14/2013
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
7.0/10 700 votes#5 - The Strike in the Chord
Season 11 Episode 16 - Aired 5/19/2016
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
7.1/10 788 votes#6 - The Purging of the Pundit
Season 10 Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2014
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/10 734 votes#7 - The Psychic in the Soup
Season 10 Episode 11 - Aired 3/26/2015
Angela’s psychic friend is enlisted when the body of a local psychic is found.
Director: N/A
Writer: Lena Waithe
7.1/10 668 votes#8 - The Baker in the Bits
Season 10 Episode 13 - Aired 4/9/2015
When the body of an ex-con is found in pieces, the Jeffersonian team investigates a local bakery known for employing former felons.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/10 660 votes#9 - The Putter in the Rough
Season 10 Episode 14 - Aired 4/16/2015
The team take a look into the death of a mini-golf superstar. Brennan is concerned about her dad.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/10 575 votes#10 - The Radioactive Panthers in the Party
Season 12 Episode 10 - Aired 3/14/2017
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
7.2/10 1,107 votes#11 - Death in the Saddle
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2007
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
7.2/10 806 votes#12 - The Maiden in the Mushrooms
Season 8 Episode 21 - Aired 4/1/2013
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
7.2/10 711 votes#13 - The Money Maker on the Merry-Go-Round
Season 10 Episode 7 - Aired 11/13/2014
The team investigate a billion dollar hedge fund company when severely damaged remains from human's are found under a merry go round.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 650 votes#14 - The Big Beef at the Royal Diner
Season 10 Episode 16 - Aired 4/30/2015
The team are called in after the remains of a celebrity chef are found in a local park.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 614 votes#15 - The Promise in the Palace
Season 11 Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/2015
The team investigates the murder of an escape artist whose body is found in the woods. They discover that the victim worked at the Magic Palace, and had some secret activities in the works that might have made him enemies in the magic community. Meanwhile, Brennan and Booth poll their friends as to whether or not the tooth fairy should visit Christine, and Angela continues to work with Sebastian Kohl on her photography.
Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Writer: Joe Hortua
7.3/10 1,628 votes#16 - The Man in the S.U.V.
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/20/2005
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
7.3/10 1,406 votes#17 - The Man in the Wall
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/15/2005
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
7.3/10 1,107 votes#18 - The Boneless Bride in the River
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 3/21/2007
The team investigate the death of an Asian woman found without any bones left in her body.
Director: Tony Wharmby
Writer: Gary Glasberg
7.3/10 1,052 votes#19 - The Man in the Outhouse
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 9/10/2008
The body of the host of a popular reality TV show is found partially decomposed in an outhouse, and Booth and Brennan must find out who the killer is. Meanwhile, Booth learns that Brennan is juggling two relationships.
Director: Steven DePaul
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 1,024 votes#20 - The Crank in the Shaft
Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 10/1/2008
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
7.3/10 1,010 votes#21 - The Beaver in the Otter
Season 4 Episode 24 - Aired 4/30/2009
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
7.3/10 971 votes#22 - The Tough Man in the Tender Chicken
Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 11/5/2009
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
7.3/10 983 votes#23 - The Rocker in the Rinse Cycle
Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 4/29/2010
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
7.3/10 962 votes#24 - The Couple in the Cave
Season 6 Episode 2 - Aired 9/30/2010
When the remains of a couple are discovered in a cave at National Park, the team must piece together the identity of the man and the woman as well as solve the crime. After interrogating two viable suspects, the team identifies the woman as a marketing executive who also served as her partner’s AA sponsor, providing clues that lead them to expose the truth. Meanwhile, Booth’s girlfriend and Afghanistan war correspondent, Hannah Burley, makes a surprise visit. After meeting Burley and sensing the couple’s genuine happiness, Brennan re-evaluates her own relationship with Booth, and he tries to teach her that love is not always logical.
Director: Milan Cheylov
Writer: Stephen Nathan
7.3/10 886 votes#25 - The Sin in the Sisterhood
Season 6 Episode 12 - Aired 2/3/2011
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