NBC’s 6-Season Crime Procedural Is the Perfect ‘Bones’ Replacement

For 12 riveting seasons, Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz solved crimes and lit up the screen in the beloved crime show Bones. The series, which first aired back in 2005, was a true testament to the power of procedurals; a formula that works and keeps viewers locked in season after season. But before Bones ever made it to the air, there’s another series that follows a similar premise, and is equally a must-watch. Starting in 2001, NBC aired Crossing Jordan, another crime drama with a forensic pathologist at the center, and unexpected crimes and mysteries at every turn.

What Is ‘Crossing Jordan’ About?

Crossing Jordan, created by Tim Kring, follows Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh (Jill Hennessy), an unorthodox forensic pathologist in Boston who’s so determined to solve her cases, she’s not afraid to ruffle some feathers. In each episode, she launches hard-core, in-depth investigations into each crime and becomes obsessed with finding the truth. But while her determination and stubbornness make her great at her job, it often ticks off the cops or her co-workers.

Beyond the cases, Jordan has a checkered past of her own, and has walls up to protect herself from doing any more damage. In fact, her driving force in the series is the one crime she’s never been able to solve: her mother’s murder when she was a child. In addition to Jordan, the show also features her sarcastic yet disciplined boss, Chief Medical Examiner Garrett Macy (Miguel Ferrer); Assistant Medical Examiner Nigel Townsend (Steve Valentine), who is just as passionate about his job as Jordan, but with an eccentric edge; and Detective Woody Hoyt (Jerry O’Connell), a Boston PD detective who serves as the total opposite to Jordan on the field, which ends up sparking a romantic connection between them.

Crossing Jordan, much like other procedurals like Law & Order: SVU or NCIS, saw many soon-to-be Hollywood stars at the beginning of their careers. Among them were Kathryn Hahn as later recurring character Dr. Lily Lebowski, Mahershala Ali as Medical Examiner Dr. Trey Sanders, and Leslie Bibb as Detective Tallulah Simmons. Some notable guest stars throughout the seasons include Josh Duhamel, Sebastian Stan, and the late Chadwick Boseman.

‘Crossing Jordan’ Is Darker and Edgier Than ‘Bones’

While the premise alone might have viewers thinking that Crossing Jordan and Bones are shockingly similar, think again. While both TV shows have a female forensic expert in the lead, they differ in tone, focus, and narrative. For starters, while Bones, despite the crimes and dead bodies, still manages to be lighthearted, with humor and an exciting chemistry between Booth (Deschanel) and Brennan (Boreanaz), Crossing Jordan is much more somber and emotionally raw. Instead of seeing investigations as exciting puzzles, the show doesn’t shy away from portraying the reality of the deaths, and the feelings of guilt, grief, and morality that come with them.

The more realistic and less chipper tone is reflected in every aspect of the show, including the unstable dynamic between Jordan and her team. While Bones thrives by showing the forensic team as a well-oiled machine and chosen family, Crossing Jordan has the forensic team often at odds, creating friction between characters and highlighting Jordan’s emotional and biased tendencies by doing so. The same goes for Jordan’s relationship with Woody, which, instead of being Booth and Brennan’s enticing slow-burn, portrays their relationship as flawed, turbulent and divisive.

Therefore, while NBC’s Crossing Jordan is certainly a great replacement for Bones fans looking for another bingeworthy procedural, the show is singular in its own way. With an erratic and impulsive lead, the TV show follows crimes and investigations with a twist, seeing the protagonist work through her own struggles, move past her mistakes and find the truth, no matter how much it costs her. Crossing Jordan has a darker edge to the classic procedural, but it’s well worth the watch.

Release Date

2001 – 2007-00-00

Directors

Allan Arkush, Roxann Dawson, Michael Gershman, Donna Deitch, Bethany Rooney, Ian Toynton, Stephen Williams, Arvin Brown, Jesús Salvador Treviño, Miguel Ferrer, John Badham, Michael Zinberg, Tim Hunter, Aaron Lipstadt, Alex Zakrzewski, Andy Wolk, Craig Ross Jr., Curtis A. Schnell, Dianne Houston, Dick Lowry, Ernest R. Dickerson, Jill Hennessy, Jonathan Kaplan, Joyce Chopra

Writers

Tim Kring, Kathy McCormick, Damon Lindelof, Gary Glasberg, Linda Gase, Melissa R. Byer, Treena Hancock, Aron Eli Coleite, Andi Bushell, David Amann, Diane Ademu-John, Elizabeth Sarnoff, Ian Biederman, Scott Williams, Jim Praytor, Lynne E. Litt, Ashley Gable, Rob Wright, Kira Arne’ Verica, Brian L. Ross, Christopher Barbour, Jill E. Blotevogel, Lawrence Meyers, Samantha Corbin-Miller, Jon Cowan, Robert Rovner

Cast

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  Jill Hennessy

  Jordan Cavanaugh

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  Steve Valentine

  Nigel Townsend

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  Ravi Kapoor

  Mahesh ‘Bug’ Vijay

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