History Series / Bonekickers

* AncientConspiracy: One per episode.

* ArcWords: ''Follow the gleam.''

* FourElementEnsemble: Magwilde is earth, Ben is fire, Viv is water and Dolly is air.
* FourPhilosophyEnsemble: Magwilde is the Cynic, Viv is the Optimist, Ben is the Realist and Dolly is the Apathetic.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Magwilde is Melancholic, Ben is Choleric, Dolly is Sanguine and Viv is Phlegmatic.

* SinisterMinister: Edward Laygass is a [[WeAllLiveInAmerica very American]] style [[TheFundamentalist fundamentalist televangelist]] that [[ArtisticLicenseReligion barely even exists in the UK]], and one that would probably not even get a TV show like the one he appears in. Oddly enough, if the series was made even a few years later he would seem like a blatant parody of a mainstream UKIP politician.

* NiceHat: Parton's hat is [[ShoutOut inspired by]] [[Franchise/IndianaJones Indy]]'s.

* HollywoodAtheist: Dolly considers religion just a cause for violence, and when Viv expresses some mild Christian sensibilities, Magwilde dismiss her with a crack about "God bothering parents" brainwashing her (while also sharing Dolly's opinion).

* OverarchingVillain: The aforementioned "Disciples of Good Use".

** In "Cradle Of Civilization", Magwilde claims that 4000 years ago Egyptians and Greeks were much more advanced than the people in the UK who were doing nothing but "picking their teeth." They completely failed to mention that one of the oldest known human settlements, Skara Brae, was built off the coast of Northern Scotland, is still yet standing and they had a working drainage system.

** At the beginning of "Cradle of Civilization" Magwilde outright states that the ancient Britons made nothing of any historical importance; for an archaeologist, she's remarkably ignorant of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skara_Brae Skara Brae]], an island off the coast of Scotland that contains the oldest intact human habitation in ''recorded history.'' Not to mention that anyone who thinks that only the big impressive monuments matter is not fit to ''be'' an archaeologist.

** In "Army Of God" Gillian and Dolly claim the Knights Templar had been suppressed by the Church (along with French King Philip IV) for being troublesome religious fanatics who (it's implied) advocated poverty too much for the elite's liking. However, this is far from the truth. While the Templars were sworn to poverty officially, like monastic orders generally, over time the Order acquired massive wealth due to charitable donations, noblemen joining them placing their assets in the Order's trust, them accepting fees for protecting Christian pilgrims' property while in the Holy Land, and being entirely tax exempt. The Templars grew into bankers, inventing highly innovative financial techniques and establishing what some have described as the first multinational corporation. Over time, they also acquired large tracts of land across Europe, not only churches and castles for Templar soldiers, but also fields or vineyards. As their power grew, so did distrust. Philip in fact took advantage of this because he was deeply in debt after taking out loans from the Order. He pressured Pope Clement V, who dissolved the Order after many of the Templars were arrested, then tried on charges of blasphemy, sodomy and fraudulent financial dealings (which most historians regard as wholly trumped up). So the motive in fact stemmed from the ''opposite'' of what they said here.
** In "Warriors" the characters find a slave ship that is dated about a decade after slavery was really outlawed in the British Empire.

** In "Cradle Of Civilization" Magwilde claims that 4000 years ago Egyptians and Greeks were much more advanced than the people in the UK who were doing nothing but "picking their teeth." They completely failed to mention that one of the oldest known human settlements, Skara Brae, was built off the coast of Northern Scotland, is still yet standing and they had a working drainage system.

* HollywoodAtheist: Dolly considers religion just a cause for violence, and when Viv expresses some mild Christian sensibilities Magwilde dismiss her with a crack about "God bothering parents" brainwashing her (while also sharing Dolly's opinion).

* SinisterMinister: Edward Laygass is s a [[WeAllLiveInAmerica very American]] style [[TheFundamentalist fundamentalist televangelist]] that [[ArtisticLicenseReligion barely even exists in the UK]], and one that would probably not even get a TV show like the one he appears in. Oddly enough, if the series was made even a few years later he would seem like a blatant parody of a mainstream UKIP politician.

* SinisterMinister: Edward Laygass is s a [[WeAllLiveInAmerica very American]] style [[TheFundamentalist fundamentalist televangelist]] that [[ArtisticLicenseReligion barely even exists in the UK]], and one that would probably not even get a TV show like the one he appears in. Oddly enough SocietyMarchesOn, and if the series was made even a few years later he would seem like a blatant parody of a mainstream UKIP politician.

* MixedAncestry: Viv it turns out is half white, having a white mother ([[spoiler:shared with Magwilde]]) and black father.

* UnfortunateNames: Dr. Gillian ''Magwilde'' and Professor Gregory "Dolly" Parton.

* GenderEqualEnsemble: The team has two men (Ben, Dolly) and two women (Magwilde, Vic).
* GetOut: Magwilde tells Vic to do this and says she's fired after they have a fight.

* LongLostRelative: [[spoiler:It's revealed that Vic is Magwilde's half-sister, as they share the same birth mother. This is mostly unexplored due to the series getting cancelled]].
* MixedAncestry: Vic it turns out is half white, having a white mother ([[spoiler:shared with Magwilde]]) and black father.

* AtrociousAlias: As WebVideo/DiamandaHagan noted in her review of the final episode, the Disciples of Good Use is the "[[WorstWhateverEver worst name for an evil conspiracy EVER]]".

* SinisterMinister: Edward Laygass combines this with a plan to take over the United Kingdom and expel non-Christians. Hagan notes in her review that he's a kind of [[WeAllLiveInAmerica very American-style]] [[TheFundamentalist fundamentalist televangelist]] [[ArtisticLicenseReligion that barely even exists in the UK, and one that would probably not even get a TV show like the one he appears in]]. Oddly enough SocietyMarchesOn, and if the series was made even a few years later he would seem like a blatant parody of a mainstream UKIP politician.

%%* AudienceSurrogate: Viv.

%%* CampStraight: Daniel Mastiff.

%%* TheFaceless: Henry Timberdyne.

%%* MythArc: Involving Excalibur.
%%* NaiveNewcomer: Viv.

* LowestCosmicDenominator: Marduk and Tiamat receive this treatment in "Cradle of Civilization."

** In "Army Of God" Gillian and Dolly claim the Knights Templar had been suppressed by the Church (along with French King Philip IV) for being troublesome religious fanatics who (it's implied) advocated poverty too much for the elite's liking. However, this is far from the truth. While the Templars were sworn to poverty officially, like monastic orders generally, over time the Order acquired massive wealth due to charitable donations, noblemen joining them placing their assets in the Order's trust, them accepting fees for protecting Christian pilgrims' property while in the Holy Land, and being entirely tax exempt. The Templars grew into bankers, inventing innovating highly financial techniques and establishing what some have described as the first multinational corporation. Over time, they also acquired large tracts of land across Europe, not only churches and castle for Templar soldiers, but also fields or vineyards. As their power grew, so did distrust. Philip in fact took advantage of this because he was deeply in debt after taking out loans from the Order. He pressured Pope Clement V, who dissolved the Order after many of the Templars were arrested, then tried on charges of blasphemy, sodomy and fraudulent financial dealings (which most historians regard as wholly trumped up). So the motive in fact stemmed from the ''opposite'' than described here.

* ChurchMilitant: An evil example are the antagonists in "Army Of God", the series' pilot, a far-right Christian group who based themselves on the historical Knights Templar. They wanted to wage a new crusade against Muslims and all other people whom they considered "ungodly" in the UK. Accordingly, the members are themselves with Medieval swords and wear tabards like knights.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: They discover and subsequently destroy the true cross, along with causing the death of a leading politician/ religious leader, in just the first episode. Despite this and all their other history-shattering discoveries, it's a frequent plot point that the department has zero public awareness.

* ActorAllusion: Once again, Jeremy Bulluch plays a mysterious [[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack man in a mask]].

* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:It's revealed that Magwilde and Viv are sisters, though it's never explained whether they're biological or adoptive]].

* KnightTemplar: The first episode focuses on these guys.
* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:It's later revealed that Magwilde and Viv are sisters, though it's never explained whether they're biological or adoptive]].

* ChivalrousPervert: Dolly.

* ChurchMilitant: An evil example are the antagonists in "Army Of God", the series' pilot, a far-right Christian group who based themselves on the historical Knights Templar. They wanted to wage a new crusade against Muslims and all other people whom they considered "ungodly" in the UK.

* OverarchingVillain: The aforementioned "Disciples of Good Use."

* TooDumbToLive: The Muslim boy who goes to to meet the crazy Christian fanatic Jack alone, in a deserted place, after Jack and friend threatened him and said he wanted to start a holy war with the Muslims. Did I mention that Jack thinks he is a modern day knight and carries a broad sword around with him? Yeah, this meeting goes about as well as you think it does.

** In Episode One Gillian and Dolly claim the Knights Templar had been suppressed by the Church (along with French King Philip IV) for being troublesome religious fanatics who (it's implied) advocated poverty too much for the elite's liking. However, this is far from the truth. While the Templars were sworn to poverty officially, like monastic orders generally, over time the Order acquired massive wealth due to charitable donations, noblemen joining them placing their assets in the Order's trust, them accepting fees for protecting Christian pilgrims' property while in the Holy Land, and being entirely tax exempt. The Templars grew into bankers, inventing innovating financial techniques and establishing what some have described as the first multinational corporation. Over time, they also acquired large tracts of land across Europe, not only churches and castle for Templar soldiers, but also fields or vineyards. As their power grew, so did distrust. Philip in fact took advantage of this because he was deeply in debt after taking out loans from the Order. He pressured Pope Clement V, who dissolved the Order after many of the Templars were arrested, then tried on charges of blasphemy, sodomy and fraudulent financial dealings (which most historians regard as wholly trumped up). So the motive in fact stemmed from the ''opposite'' than described here.
** In Episode Two the characters find a slave ship that is dated about a decade after slavery was outlawed in England.[[note]]A pedant writes: slavery has never been outlawed in England as it has never been legal in the first place. Various judgments in the 17th century declared that it had been incompatible with English common law since at least before the Magna Carta. However, the slave trade (for Britain's overseas colonies) was outlawed in 1807. In 1833 slavery itself was banned in the British Empire.[[/note]]
** In Episode Four Magwilde claims that 4000 years ago Egyptians and Greeks were much more advanced than the people in the UK who were doing nothing but "picking their teeth." They completely failed to mention that one of the oldest known human settlements, Skara Brae, was built off the coast of Northern Scotland, is still standing and they had a working drainage system.
** Magwilde dismisses Stonehenge as just a bunch of rocks and ultimately unimpressive compared to things like the pyramids or Petra. Stonehenge is the center of a huge complex that was one of the greatest technical accomplishments of its era and and the stones themselves were likely a gigantic functional lithophone.

* AudienceSurrogate: Viv.

* CampStraight: Daniel Mastiff.

* ChurchMilitant: An evil example.

* TheFaceless: Henry Timberdyne.

* MythArc: Involving Excalibur.
* NaiveNewcomer: Viv.

* HollywoodAtheist: Dolly considers religion just a cause for violence, and when Viv expresses some Christian sensibilities Magwilde dismiss her with a crack about "God bothering parents" brainwashing her.

* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:It's later revealed that Magwilde and Viv are sisters. Thought it's never explained whether they're biological or adoptive]].

** In Episode two the characters find a slave ship that is dated about a decade after slavery was outlawed in England.[[note]] A pedant writes: slavery has never been outlawed in England as it has never been legal in the first place. Various judgements in the 17th century declared that it had been incompatible with English common law since at least before the Magna Carta. However, the slave trade (for Britain's overseas colonies) was outlawed in 1807. In 1833 slavery itself was banned in the British Empire.[[/note]]
** In Episode four Magwilde claims that 4000 years ago Egyptians and Greeks were much more advanced than the people in the UK who were doing nothing but "picking their teeth." They completely failed to mention that one of the oldest known human settlements, Skara Brae, was built off the coast of Northern Scotland, is still standing and they had a working drainage system.

* HollywoodAtheist: Dolly considers religion just a cause for violence, and when Viv expresses some religion sensibilities Magwilde dismiss her with a crack about "God bothering parents" brainwashing her.