Jen’s Ode To Veronica Mars

Blogging note– I begged, pleaded, and promised Kevin sex if he would let me post this here. And what do you know, he agreed. So, Jen, not Kevin, writes this.\
A love letter to Veronica Mars and a plea for you to watch it. Reruns of Veronica Mars will be airing starting in mid-June on UPN. I know, UPN, insert joke here. Seriously though, Veronica Mars is without a doubt the best-written and well-acted show in the last ten years.\
Veronica is a former-popular-cheerleader-turned-outcast trying to solve her best friends murder. It is a season long mystery that gives a little all along the way. I beg you, if you watch, stay away from spoilers and forums on the internet. You dont want to be spoiled about the mysteries. I was positive I knew who had done it and positive I knew who hadnt done it. Of course, I was wrong. The best part, the mysteries (there are about 5 big ones) are wrapped up by the end of the finale. It is obvious the storylines were planned before the season started, unlike some shows that make it up as they go. Because the summer season is shorter than the regular season, some of the episodes are going to be skipped. I suggest you check out the Couch Barons recaps at Television Without Pity for the episodes that are being skipped.

  • The writing:
    • Written by smart people, for smart people.
    • Nice combination of over the top (“you got a trophy for a rim job?” Yes that aired on network tv) and subtle (no example, I dont want you to be spoiled.)
    • Continuity heaven (too many examples to list, watch for them yourself.)
  • The music selection is top-notch too. It deserves its own section, but I am not gonna. Just know that it is wonderful.
  • The cast:
    • Acting is the best all around.
    • Chemistry to spare! (Check out Lamb, Logan, and Weevil in particular. Just for the record, I want to punch Lamb in the face every time I see him.)
    • Kristen Bell (Veronica) is a super star in the making.
    • Jason Dohring (Logan) absolutely deserves an Emmy.
    • Harry Hamlin (Aaron) is wonderful! Who thought they would read that ever? Every single scene he delivers the goods, baby.
    • Teddy Dunn (Duncan) has been getting a bad rap. Watch the season, then watch it again. He probably has the hardest part in the show.
    • Percy Daggs (Wallace) was strained in the beginning, but finally settled into a groove about midway through the season.
  • The extras are nice to watch also, especially in the later episodes. It is obvious they are the stars of their own life, not just backdrop. Props to whoever is in charge of them\
    While the show isn’t perfect, it is the best thing on. It took until the latter part of the season for it to become appointment television for me. So, watch it, give it some time, and then come to love it.

By Kevin Lawver

Web developer, Software Engineer @ Gusto, Co-founder @ TechSAV, husband, father, aspiring social capitalist and troublemaker.

4 comments

  1. Word! I loooove Veronica Mars! (So does fellow blogger Kevin S., btw). Any show where after 1,000 votes, the season finale still had an A+ average on TWoP has got to be doing something right!

  2. Yeah Veronica Mars!! I am embarrassed to admit how much I love this show. It’s TV *crack.* And I am well past high school age or the “target demo.” I thought the the early episodes were entertaining, but this show just kept getting better and better all season. Sometime around Feb or March, VM surpassed Lost, Alias, and the Amazing Race as the one show I could not miss every week and went to the number one spot on my TiVo season pass.
    I totally agree with everything you said about the show and the cast. Kristen Bell is going to be a huge star and we will all be able to say we remember her when. Enrico Colantoni is also very good as her dad and they are the best father/daughter team on TV. (Sorry Bristows.) Jason Dohring continued to impress all season long and did some amazing work in the final episodes, and just broke my heart.
    I haven’t loved a show this much since, well, I’m not sure ever. Maybe Buffy, or MSCL. Please, anyone who enjoys intelligent drama and complex storytelling, give this show just 3 or 4 episodes and you’ll be hooked. I know the premise sounds cheesy. I know it’s on UPN. I know it looks like Felicity at the beach. But keep and open mind and you will be pleasantly surprised.
    And for you guys, Kristen Bell is seriously gorgeous on top of being a gifted actress. And she wears very short skirts. So tune in for that if you must.

  3. VM rocks! Please spread the word that fans across the nation are working on getting DVDs of season 1 in libraries across the nation. Over 300 sets have been donated so far. More information is available at “WatchVM.net”:http://www.watchveronicamars.net if interested in seeing where sets have gone.
    Also feel free to buy some VM-inspired merchandise to help the campaign, that site is at “Cafepress”:http://www.cafepress.com/cloudwatchers
    Sorry for babbling so, but I just found this as I was Googling a VM quote (the rim job one, love it) so I thought you should know!

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