The beauty of procedural crime shows likeBonesis that every episode is dependent on the individual case that the characters are forced to solve. Some cases are more interesting than others, but rarely does an episode introduce a larger storyline that takes an entire season to pay off. While this makes a series likeBonesgreat for first-time viewers, as they can essentially start whenever they want, it does make it challenging for loyal viewers to feel that their years of tuning in have been building towards something. How have the characters changed over the course of ten seasons, and what events shaped them into who they are now?Bonesanswers this question throughthe introduction of Temperance Brennan’s (Emily Deschanel) father, Max Keenan, played by the greatRyan O’NealofBarry Lyndonfame. Within his limited capacity on the show, O’Neal changed the stakes of the series and offered insight into the upbringing that shaped the series’ protagonist.
F.B.I. Special Agent Seeley Booth teams up with the Jeffersonian’s top anthropologist, Dr. Temperance Brennan, to investigate cases where all that’s left of the victims are their bones.
Who Is Max Keenan on ‘Bones’?
It is revealed throughoutBonesthat Temperance Brennan’s parents, Max and his wife, Ruth, were career criminalswho went on the run after a series of bank robberies. Although Max’s skills make him dangerous, he was originally guilty of being a burglar, and not a murderer. Max and Ruth’s intentions weren’t just to line their pockets. Their series of crimes revealed a conspiracy of corruption that was related to the FBI. While Max may view himself as a Robin Hood-esque hero,his activities prevented him from staying with Brennan during her childhood. In turn,Brennan never knew the truthbehind her father’s actions, and she’s spent her entire life blaming him for being absent during her childhood.
Whatever Happened to the ‘Bones’ Spinoff?
‘The Finder’ dropped dead like a corpse on ‘Bones.’
Bonesdoes a great job at gradually revealing information surrounding Max. Brennan’s first open-hearted conversation about her father comes at a critical moment inher relationship with her partner, Agent Seeley Booth(David Boreanaz).Booth and Brennan both come from broken homes, and both have felt responsible for their younger siblings. Brennan lost contact with her brother Russ (Loren Dean) after her parents’ disappearance, and Booth has been taking care of his alcoholic brother Jared (Brendan Fehr) after he gets in trouble with the law. Booth understands how difficult it is for Brennan to acknowledge her upbringing; she can’t help but fear that she will go down the same dark path that her father did. This makes her all the more determined to use her skills for good to bringthe show’s most ruthless serial killers to justice.
Max’s Backstory on ‘Bones’ Explains Brennan’s Motivations
Max’s backstory onBonesalso reveals why Brennan is so intent on solving crimes in the first place. Above everything else,Brennan feels that the justice system failed her when she was younger, as her parents’ crimes ended up negatively affecting her development. As Brennan grows older, she realizes that her father’s actions, however misguided they may have been, were done on his part to protect her. Although Max has an odd way of showing it, he felt that he had to commit to a criminal lifestyle in order to provide for his family when he wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. This emphasizes to Brennan how important it is to know the definitive truth behind all the cases that she solves. She feels that she would have had a more positive relationship with her father if she had known the truth from the beginning. The only way to know the truth is to prove it, and Brennan’s entire career has been spent in the service ofusing scientific principles to explain human behavior.
‘Bones’ Never Should’ve Killed Off This Fan-Favorite Character
The death was a major blunder that sent the series into a downward spiral.
Althoughearlier seasons ofBoneswere more episodic, Max’s recurring appearances signified thatthe show was building towards a more important narrative conclusion. Max rarely appeared in more than a few episodes of each season, as the show stayed true to its procedural roots. Max introduced a level of moral grayness to the show that forces Brennan to reflect upon her values. She realizes that the law isn’t always right, that criminals sometimes have justified motivations, and that truth and justice aren’t necessarily the same thing. Within his limited time on the show, Max was able to question the inherent concept of the series, all whilstmaking Brennan more relatable as a character. Although Brennan’s direct-speaking nature could have made her less appealing as a protagonist, Max’s appearances show why she finds it so difficult to understand human emotions. She’s walled herself off from feelings as a result of her arrested development.
Max Appears in the Most Important ‘Bones’ Moments
Although Max wasn’t the type of character that would have worked asone ofBones’s leads, he was involved in several important storylines that changed the tone of the series. Booth arrests Max in the second season, prompting Brennan to pry deeper into her father’s backstory.Her revelations inspire both her and Booth to question the FBI’s policies. As Booth and Brennan acknowledge that sometimes a less “by-the-book” method is needed to solve crimes, Max slowly becomes their ally, even if he’s only occasionally able to interact with them.
Max’s limited appearances onBonesmade him feel more valuable; whenever he showed up, it was clear that it was for an important moment in Brennan’s life. For example, Max shows up for Brennan’s wedding with Booth, hinting that he’ll get revenge on Booth if he doesn’t take care of her. It’s the type of darkly humorous, yet touching moment thatthe series does so well. Similarly, Max’s appearance for the birth of Brennan’s daughter, Christine, is a great step forward for their relationship. The role of Max Keenan was a great part for O’Neal. O’Neal was well known for his roles in ’70s classics likeLove Story, Paper Moon, andWhat’s Up, Doc?, but his filmography after that was somewhat lacking until theactor’s death in December 2023. However, his time onBonesallowed him to play an important paternal figurewho completely changed the tone of the series.
