Real Forensic Anthropology VS Bones (TV SHOW)?

Question

If I become a forensic anthropologist, what can I expect to be exactly like Bones shows it and what can I expect to not be as Bones incorrectly portrays it. Also, Kathy Reich's novels, how accurate are those. Will I be confined to a lab, or at least at first, or do I get to be kind of like Temperance Brennan?

Answer 1

You wouldn't get to do law enforcement field work.  That's the main difference.  You would examine remains, possibly in the area where they were found but most definitely in a lab setting.

Kathy Reichs is a real anthropologist.  Every case she writes about is either based on real life or very probable situations.

The point though, is that it's fiction.  There is no one in the world who gets to do the things that Temperance Brennan gets to do on a fictional TV show.  There is no forensic anthropologist who gets to sit in on interrogations or go track down killers or whatever.  

It'd be cool, though, right?

Answer 2

"Bones" is fiction. They do things on the show that don't happen in the real world. DNA tests take days not minutes. The cost of the team traveling, going to various places, and doing all that testing would break the budget. No doubt many of the cases would get tossed for violations of the Constitution's Bill of Rights.

Suspend belief, enjoy the show. Given the last two episodes I have no idea who is going to die next.