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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
    6.4/10(1718 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 9 Episode 11 - The Spark in the Park
    6.4/10(1058 votes)

    #2 - The Spark in the Park

    S9:E11

    The Jeffersonian team investigates the murder of a nationally ranked gymnast, whose remains were hit by lightning and scattered throughout a public park. Although evidence points to a fellow gymnast as the key suspect, Brennan and Booth discover the victim was leading a double life. Meanwhile, Booth gets upset when Brennan shows surprising empathy for the victim's father, and Cam confronts the woman who stole her identity.

    Director:Chad Lowe
    Writer:Emily Silver

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  3. Bones Season 5 Episode 20 - The Witch in the Wardrobe
    6.5/10(1289 votes)

    #3 - The Witch in the Wardrobe

    S5:E20

    A cabin burns down in the woods revealing two bodies, one of a modern-day witch and one from the days of the Salem Witch Trials leading Booth and Brennan into the world of Wicca to find a killer. Meanwhile, when Hodgins' reckless driving gets him and Angela arrested and thrown in jail, Sweets and intern Clark Edison step into unfamiliar territory to help out the team

    Director:François Velle
    Writer:Kathy Reichs

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  4. Bones Season 9 Episode 21 - The Cold in the Case
    6.5/10(802 votes)

    #4 - The Cold in the Case

    S9:E21

    The team investigates the death of a woman whose body was cryogenically frozen before being dumped in a swamp; Cam is nervous to meet Arastoo's parents; Booth is up for a promotion.

    Director:Milan Cheylov
    Writer:Emily Silver

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  5. Bones Season 10 Episode 13 - The Baker in the Bits
    6.5/10(773 votes)

    #5 - 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:Michael Lange
    Writer:Jonathan Collier

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  6. Bones Season 8 Episode 24 - The Secret in the Siege
    6.6/10(1107 votes)

    #6 - The Secret in the Siege

    S8:E24

    When evil tech genius Christopher Pelant returns to toy with the Jeffersonian team in their newest investigation, they discover that the string of murders that have been occurring are tied to FBI agents close to Booth. Meanwhile, as the investigation unfolds, Sweets realizes that the evidence seems all too familiar to him and Brennan starts evaluating her relationship with Booth when signs begin to point to him as a potential target of Pelant's.

    Director:David Boreanaz
    Writers:Stephen Nathan, Jonathan Collier

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  7. Bones Season 9 Episode 1 - The Secrets in the Proposal
    6.6/10(1143 votes)

    #7 - The Secrets in the Proposal

    S9:E1

    The Jeffersonian team investigates the murder of Jason Siedel, an accountant for the state department, whose remains were found in a hotel air conditioning unit. When Booth finds his old army buddy and CIA agent, Danny Beck, clearing away evidence at the victim's condo, he begins to realize that Siedel's murder could yield more suspects than the team had anticipated. Booth also seeks out Aldo Clemens, his friend and an ex-priest from their military days together, to get advice on his relationship with Brennan, now that Pelant has put a wedge between them. Meanwhile, Brennan must decide whether to have faith in Booth or to end her relationship with him.

    Director:Ian Toynton
    Writers:Stephen Nathan, Hart Hanson

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  8. Bones Season 11 Episode 6 - The Senator in the Street Sweeper
    6.6/10(731 votes)

    #8 - The Senator in the Street Sweeper

    S11:E6

    A pair of funny sanitation workers discover the shredded body of a U.S. Senator in a street sweeper, which leads Brennan, Booth and the team to Capitol Hill, where they meet with U.S. Senator and majority whip Hayley Winters and the victim's chief of staff Eric Morales to get to the bottom of this political murder. Meanwhile, as Aubrey starts to develop a relationship with squintern Jessica, he looks into her past to make sure nothing will harm his dream of a future in politics

    Director:Steve Robin
    Writer:Emily Silver

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  9. Bones Season 5 Episode 9 - The Gamer in the Grease
    6.7/10(1190 votes)

    #9 - The Gamer in the Grease

    S5:E9

    When the remains of a competitive gamer are discovered in a grease truck, Brennan and Booth are called to investigate the case. The victim, Steve Rifton, is the only active player known in the gaming community to have received a perfect score on a famous video game. Steve turned his success into a lucrative partnership with a gaming referee and charged fans to play on the very machine that gave him the perfect score. But between sour business deals and bitter competitors, the team at the Jeffersonian must work to narrow down the many suspects with motive for ending Rifton’s reign as gaming king. Meanwhile, Hodgins, Sweets and Jeffersonian intern Colin Fischer take turns camping out for tickets to a movie premiere.

    Director:Kate Woods
    Writer:Dean Lopata

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  10. Bones Season 6 Episode 2 - The Couple in the Cave
    6.7/10(1118 votes)

    #10 - The Couple in the Cave

    S6:E2

    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

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  11. Bones Season 7 Episode 2 - The Hot Dog in the Competition
    6.7/10(1190 votes)

    #11 - The Hot Dog in the Competition

    S7:E2

    A competitive eating champion's body is found shortly before the next major competition. Following a disagreement over the baby, Booth and Brennan attempt a little role-playing. Back at the lab, Brennan's new assistant seems a mismatch, despite his genius.

    Director:Dwight H. Little
    Writers:Michael Peterson, Keith Foglesong

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  12. Bones Season 7 Episode 5 - The Twist in the Twister
    6.7/10(1107 votes)

    #12 - The Twist in the Twister

    S7:E5

    The team discovers the remains of a so-called "storm chaser" who seems to have died while following a tornado. But footage recorded during the storm ultimately leads them to believe he was murdered. Meanwhile, Booth becomes increasingly overprotective of Brennan both at home and in the field, and sleep-deprived Angela and Hodgins come to terms with having Angela's father and rock musician babysit their infant son.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writer:Karine Rosenthal

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  13. Bones Season 8 Episode 10 - The Diamond in the Rough
    6.7/10(1104 votes)

    #13 - 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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  14. Bones Season 9 Episode 8 - The Dude in the Dam
    6.7/10(889 votes)

    #14 - The Dude in the Dam

    S9:E8

    The team suspects that a man who made his money donating sperm was killed by a recipient who learned his records were inaccurate; Brennan enters a feud with a fellow author (Nora Dunn).

    Director:Kevin Hooks
    Writers:Kathy Reichs, Kerry Reichs

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  15. Bones Season 10 Episode 6 - The Lost Love in the Foreign Land
    6.7/10(867 votes)

    #15 - The Lost Love in the Foreign Land

    S10:E6

    The case of a maid's death turns out to be a bigger case than originally thought. Tensions are rising between Cam and Brennan.

    Directors:Dwight H. Little, Allison Liddi-Brown
    Writers:Emily Silver, Hilary Weisman Graham

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  16. Bones Season 11 Episode 15 - The Fight in the Fixer
    6.7/10(683 votes)

    #16 - The Fight in the Fixer

    S11:E15

    The team investigates the body of a private investigator who was found frozen in ice, after being dumped in the Potomac. The victim, a man with many enemies, was a "fixer" who made sure his clients' problems got "resolved." Meanwhile, Aubrey is shocked to find information tied to his father's whereabouts, Angela and Hodgins continue to work on their rocky relationship, Brennan and Booth get Christine's first report card and criminal behaviorist Karen Delfs asks Aubrey out on a date.

    Director:Silver Tree
    Writer:Joe Hortua

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  17. Bones Season 6 Episode 20 - The Pinocchio in the Planter
    6.8/10(1022 votes)

    #17 - 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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  18. Bones Season 7 Episode 8 - The Bump in the Road
    6.8/10(1067 votes)

    #18 - The Bump in the Road

    S7:E8

    With the help of Special Agent Genny Shaw, the Jeffersonian team identifies the remains of a discount shopper and “extreme couponer” who was dragged along the road by an 18-wheeler. Meanwhile, Brennan is adjusting to her first day back at work after giving birth, and Cam disapproves of her daughter’s romance with intern Finn Abernathy.

    Director:Dwight H. Little
    Writer:Keith Foglesong

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  19. Bones Season 9 Episode 4 - The Sense in the Sacrifice
    6.8/10(1140 votes)

    #19 - The Sense in the Sacrifice

    S9:E4

    The team devises a plan to use a donated cadaver to draw out Pelant; Sweets returns to work and believes Agent Flynn isn't who he seems.

    Director:Kate Woods
    Writer:Jonathan Collier

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  20. Bones Season 9 Episode 19 - The Turn in the Urn
    6.8/10(831 votes)

    #20 - The Turn in the Urn

    S9:E19

    When a wealthy artifact collector walks into his own funeral, the team must determine the real identity of the deceased; Finn's new hot sauce venture is making big money.

    Director:Tim Southam
    Writer:Pat Charles

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  21. Bones Season 10 Episode 17 - The Lost in the Found
    6.8/10(787 votes)

    #21 - The Lost in the Found

    S10:E17

    Brennan and Booth believe that bullying is behind the death of a private high school student.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writer:Emily Silver

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  22. Bones Season 12 Episode 5 - The Tutor in the Tussle
    6.8/10(668 votes)

    #22 - The Tutor in the Tussle

    S12:E5

    When a tutor of privileged students turns up dead, the team sorts through all the possible perpetrators, from disgruntled parents to the tutor's roommate with a criminal record. Meanwhile, Bones is frustrated with the voice of her audio book and tries to prove that she can record it herself.

    Director:Dwight H. Little
    Writer:Eric Randall

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  23. Bones Season 3 Episode 10 - The Man in the Mud
    6.9/10(1215 votes)

    #23 - The Man in the Mud

    S3:E10

    A body discovered in a hot spring turns out to be that of Tripp Goddard, a sexy motorcycle racer who had disappeared two weeks earlier. Sweets talks Booth and Bones into going out with him and his girlfriend.

    Director:Scott Lautanen
    Writer:Janet Tamaro

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  24. Bones Season 7 Episode 9 - The Don't in the Do
    6.9/10(1005 votes)

    #24 - The Don't in the Do

    S7:E9

    When a corpse is found at a landfill, dyed in a blue substance, intern Arastoo Vaziri discovers a method that helps eliminate postmortem damages to the corpse, which leads the team back to a hair salon where the victim worked. Meanwhile Bones is feeling uncomfortable in her post-baby body, so Booth decides to do something special to boost her self-confidence.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writer:Janet Lin

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  25. Bones Season 8 Episode 21 - The Maiden in the Mushrooms
    6.9/10(932 votes)

    #25 - 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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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Ghost in the Machine" is the worst rated episode of "Bones". It scored 6.4/10 based on 1718 votes. Directed by Milan Cheylov and written by Hart Hanson, it aired on 12/3/2012. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Spark in the Park".