Why did Sweets leave Bones?

One of the most well-received crime series in the 2000s was Bones with one of its well-loved characters Lance Sweets exiting in Season 10 – but why?

FOX aired the police procedural comedy-drama Bones in 2005 when the genre of TV was at its height of fame. It followed a group of forensic anthropologists and forensic archaeologists working with the FBI to solve crime cases. A unique take compared to other series like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Law & Order.

The series focused on the relationship between Temperance “Bones” Brennan(Emily Deschanel), a forensic anthropologist, and FBI Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz). It also focused on the lives of the scientists at the Smithsonian Institution. Including Lance Sweets (John Francis Daley), an FBI psychologist.

Fans were enamored with the character’s bright demeanor and boyish charm that carried him through the series. But Sweet saw his exit from Bones in Season 10 in a way that broke hearts. But there was a behind-the-camera reason why the character left.

John Francis Daley purposely exited Bones

The actor got a better offer outside the series in a director’s chair that could have prevented him from returning to his role as Lance Sweets. Leading the Bones executive producer Stephen Nathan to write him out.

FOX

Lance Sweets saw his heartbreaking death in the Bones Season 10 premiere. Per the episode storyline, Sweets had found crucial evidence on the Shadow Government and it put a target on his head. On his way to serve a warrant, he was fatally beaten by a Navy Seal named Kenneth Emory. Booth and Brennan are called and arrive with him barely alive.

Brennan deduces he has severe internal trauma and is bleeding out. He tells Booth, “Tell Daisy not to worry… she worries too much..” Sweet’s death was even more upsetting as he and Daisy found out they were expecting their first child together.

The death of Sweets is tagged as one of the most heartbreaking in TV history. But many wondered why such a well-loved character was killed off at the start of the season. It was revealed Bones’s executive producer made the decisions due to actor John Francis Daley’s other commitments.

According to ScreenRant, Daley decided to take up other opportunities outside of the series as a director. The executive producer worried it would lead to more and more opportunities away from Bones, and decided to write out Sweets from the series.

But there were no hard feelings on set as Nathan expressed during the premiere, “It was a complicated and very difficult decision for us…. There were a lot of tears shed on the set. We adore John. He’s an important and valued member of the family. It was really painful to lose him. Hopefully, that pain will translate into something good for the show moving forward.”

Daley has since worked on well-known works from Horrible Bosses and its sequel and the fifth installment of National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise. He also co-wrote  Spider-Man: Homecoming and co-directed Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

Bones ended its run after 12 seasons. If looking to satisfy your need for crime thrillers there are plenty of true crime documentaries coming to streaming platforms.