I love that Bones doesn't portray Dr Brennan as a Cool Girl, nor lets her get away with dickish behaviour because she is a genius. Her flaws are always in view even as she solves case after baffling case. Same for Booth, Angela and Hodgins.

I have been thinking of Brennan &Booth as compared to Sheldon & Amy, and I find that I like Brennan far, far better.
She is a socially awkward genius, but this does not come from a feeling of superiority and misanthropy. Rather it's a sincere struggle of an academic who has lost

touch with popular culture. As such her genius also does not come off as a natural gift so much as the result of extreme hard work and dedication.

Also Brennan is quite aware of her social flaws and is constantly evolving, trying to fit in. Thus the people around her come to

genuinely care for her, and she reciprocates with sincere gestures in her own way.
I still don't know why Sheldon's friends and gf put up with him. Is it sympathy or wanting to associate with his obvious brilliance?

And finally the romance.

Bones may have stretched the sexual tension part of the romantic arc way beyond credibility, but Brennan's vulnerability and Booth's sensitivity somehow make it work.

Here too, I have no idea why Amy would put up with Sheldon and his terrible friends. Is it just because she

has never had friends before? Being with this group who never seem to feel gratitude for knowing her... Seems like a punishment rather than compensation for a lonely childhood. And Sheldon absolutely did nothing to deserve her.

Booth and Brennan otoh complement each other

so perfectly. Their differences help each other grow, gain better perspective on the world around them.
Booth is constructed as the ultimate alpha, but he has his own shortcomings, and they very much necessitate his association with Brennen.

That's another thing I love about this couple, as a romantic pair as well as work partners. Nobody is doing anybody favours, they are both highly competent adult professionals, and both totally capable of life and achievements outside of this partnership.

That is such a rare quality in romantic stories - two people who don't complete, but enhance each other.