Read, Watch, Critique: The Gifted Person

Television Show: Bones: "The Death of the Queen Bee": Episode: Season 5, Episode 17
Director: Allan Kroeker
Original Air Date: April 14, 2010

Characteristics of a Gifted Person

Portrayal of Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan

Ø  Gifted refers to above-average endowment of intelligence ý         Falling within the 95th percentile of their peer group for intelligence or talent Ø  They are able to synthesize large amounts of diverse information into usable data Ø  They enjoy debating issues Ø  They take pleasure in working alone Ø  They may have strong decision making capabilities and leadership qualities Ø  Excellent problem solving skills Ø  Have a tendency to challenge the teacher or text book for accuracy Ø  They ask many questions which may be perceived as controversial or embarrassing Ø  May be talented at problem solving Ø  May have expectations of themselves and others that are too high and not always realistic Ø  They are inquisitive about the world around them; committed to finding out what happens when … (i.e. as in a  science experiment) Ø  Have excellent decision making capabilities and leadership qualities Ø  Students with very high IQ’s are less popular and have difficulty with peer relations than those in their age group who are perceived as ‘less intelligent’

Ø  Bones is very rational and logical Ø  She is quite exacting of herself and her colleagues – she expects them to perform on the same level she does Ø  Lacks skills in social nuances but she does try ý         Doesn’t understand common conversational ‘rules’ regarding gossip or how to engage others in a ‘normal’ interaction   Ø  Her peers considered her “creepy” as a teen, and continue to distance themselves from her and her ‘differentness’ Ø  Egotistical and rarely willing to concede that someone else may have a better idea than she does – she is convinced of her constant ‘rightness’ Ø  As a teenager, she preferred the company of the janitor to students in her own age group Ø  She speaks in technical jargon rather than on a “normal” level so others may understand Ø  Has a strong curiousity – continues to learn and excel in the field of forensics despite already being the top in her field

The portrayal of Dr. Temperance Brennan (AKA: "Bones") by Emily Deschanel is excellently rendered. The social awkardness of one who has spent their formative years being considered as 'different' is captured clearly as Bones encounters several old classmates and creates a conversational vaccuum where everyone involved feels uncomfortable and awkward as she attempts to impress them with her successes since graduating high school while all they continue to see is her 'differentness'.   Any idiosyncrasies between the portrayal of Dr. Brennan and any other gifted individual are slight. She is a talented, inquisitive and brilliant expert in the field of forensic anthropology and many associated sciences.
I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a police/crime serial, and have done so. The dynamic between Dr. Brennan and Agent Seeley Booth (an FBI agent of average intelligence) allows for some excellent byplay in dialogue and action as she is required to 'dumb down' her language on occasion for him; and he frequently acts as her teacher, showing her how to function in the 'normal' world and making her seem more 'human'. As well, the show is well written (I now know how to potentially get away with murder ;) ) and engaging. You WANT to see "Bones" begin to understand about day to day human interactions that she cannot currently comprehend.