Bones had been killed off up until the Bones season 10 premiere. Other main cast who had left the show had been written off, not killed off.

For example, Dr. Goodwin was written off in Bones season 2. And Dr. Brennan’s former assistant, Dr. Zack Addy, exited as a main cast member in Bones season 4, after it was revealed he had been recruited as the Gorgomon serial killer’s apprentice. Zack would make special guest appearances in Bones in seasons 4, 5, 11, and 12, but he was no longer a main cast member. This means the only main Bones' character ever killed off was Dr. Lance Sweets, who died in the show's season 10 premiere.

Dr. Lance Sweets' Death In Bones Was Completely Mishandled

His Murder Came Out of Nowhere And Didn’t Make Sense

Dr. Lance Sweets’ murder in the Bones season 10 premiere was an emotional gut punch, but it was completely mishandled. This was partly because Sweets’ death felt much more like an aside that the writers shoehorned into the episode rather than a proper send-off for the young psychologist. It was a little unclear why Agent James Aubrey had shown up to the parking garage where Sweets was injured, or how Bones and Booth got to Sweets before the paramedics. All the explanations were told instead of shown to the audience, making it hard to follow.

Additionally, while Bones later explained Sweets’ cause of death, it wasn't fully clear why he was dying when he was on the concrete. Sweets’ death would go on to haunt Booth, Aubrey, and the entire team at the Jeffersonian for Bones’ final few seasons, but when it happened, it felt rushed. Considering the writers knew of Sweets actor John Francis Daley’s departure during the between-seasons hiatus, it’s odd that the story wasn’t more of a swan song for the FBI profiler.

Sweets Should’ve Been Shown As The Hero Before His Death

Audiences Didn’t See The Confrontation That Led To His Death

There’s no denying that Bones mainly focuses on Booth and Brennan, but not depicting Sweets as the hero in his final moments felt like a missed opportunity. Throughout Bones season 10, episodes 1 and 2, it was said that Sweets died a hero and that they wouldn’t have been able to take down the Hoover conspiracy without him. However, these heroics were never shown on-screen. It’s known that Sweets was at least able to get a shot off and wound his assailant, but it wasn’t depicted; audiences were simply told about it.

John Francis Daley was listed in the opening credits as a series regular for Bones season 10, episode 1, but was replaced by John Boyd (James Aubrey) for season 10, episode 2.

With Bones making it clear that Sweets died a hero, it’s odd that audiences never saw it. While Sweets’ death was already tragic, it would’ve been more powerful to see him go down in a fight. Bones easily could’ve kept the same emotional weight that came from Sweets’ last interaction with Booth and Bones. However, it chose not to. Additionally, Sweets had been carrying a gun for multiple seasons at that point and had never really used it. So not seeing him in a firefight felt disingenuous. Showing Sweets’ heroics instead of telling audiences about them would’ve been more meaningful.

Why Did Bones Kill Sweets?

John Francis Daley Chose To Leave Bones

Despite the tragedy of Sweets’ death, actor John Francis Daley chose to exit Bones in order to pursue other opportunities. Having Sweets be written out of Bones in a manner similar to that of either Dr. Goodwin or Dr. Zack Addy wouldn’t have worked. Not only did Sweets have close ties with Booth and Brennan, but he also had an on-again, off-again fling with intern Daisy Wick, who was revealed to be pregnant with his child in the Bones season 10 premiere.

The only way to honor Sweets’ legacy of goodness and kindness was to kill him off.

The only way to honor Sweets’ legacy of goodness and kindness was to kill him off. In Bones seasons 10, 11, and 12, it’s clear that Booth, Brennan, the team at the Jeffersonian, and FBI Agent James Aubry held onto Sweets’ memory, and though he was gone, he certainly wasn’t forgotten by his found family. In fact, Sweets’ notes from his time as Zack Addy’s psychologist are eventually what helped exonerate him years later. Though Daley chose to move on from Sweets, it’d be great to see Daley return in a Bones revival, though hopes of that seem impossible.

What John Francis Daley Has Done Since Leaving Bones

The Actor Turned Out To Be A True Triple Threat

John Francis Daley left Bones to pursue other opportunities, but that also meant Daley was moving to be behind the camera instead of in front of it. Though Daley may be known for playing Sweets on Bones, or Sam Weir in the short-lived Freaks and Geeks, he’s now known for his writing and directing skills. Since 2011, Daley has had writing credits on films like Horrible Bosses (2011), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), The Flash (2023), and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), which he also co-directed.

Along with Dungeons & Dragons, Daley has directed the films Vacation (2015), Game Night (2018), and the Mayday, which will star Ryan Reynolds. Daley also wrote and directed an episode of the CW show In the Dark in 2019. Despite his success behind the camera, Daley still occasionally acts, most recently appearing in Drunk History, Game Night, and Fresh Off the Boat. He's also lent his voice to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Bottom's Butte.

Despite the tragic way Sweets died, it’s reassuring to know that Daley went on to have a lot of success following Bones. While fans may never get over the emotional turmoil caused by Sweets getting beat to death — ensuring that the character could never return to the show — his legacy of kindness will continue to endear audiences. Though Sweets’ death was mismanaged at the time, Sweets can still be felt throughout the rest of Bones’ run.