Veronica Mars, Season 1 - “Buffy Meets Bogart”
They said it was good, but I refused to believe. I paid little heed to its praise, and discarded it as nothing but a “teen drama meets cheesy Nancy Drew detective” show. I eventually grew interested enough, but lacked the courage to actually give it a chance. I need a little extra incentive. And so, when Loki whole.heartedly recommended it to me, I finally gave in, and decided to check out Veronica Mars. And a wise choice it was, because Veronica owns!
The show centers on Veronica Mars - Captain Obvious to the rescue! - , a 17 year old social outcast in the fictional city of Neptune, California, working part-time for her father - a private detective -, officially as an assistant, but unofficially as a investigator.
But hold on, we’re forgetting something important here, namely the background story! Because the background story practically defines the plot of the first season.
Six months prior to the premiere, Veronica Mars’ life collapsed when her best friend and daughter of the most powerful man in Neptune, is found brutally murdered. Keith Mars - local sheriff and Veronica’s father - accuses Lilly’s father of the deed, resulting in the Mars family’s near destruction. Veronica’s mother abandons them, Keith loses his job and Veronica loses her friends.
Fast-forward to present day, the supposed murderer - Abel Koontz - awaits his fate on death row, Veronica is a constant target for abuse and ridicule, and the remainders of the Mars family continues to be friendless.
Neptune appears to have moved on from the Lily Kane tragedy, but there is something rotten in the city of Neptune! New evidence begin to surface that casts doubt on the guilt of Abel Koontz. Naturally, Veronica take interest in the case, and begins to unravel all the dirty little secrets.
This is the premise of the first season of Veronica Mars.
The show focuses on Veronica’s struggles and social life at Neptune high, her investigations at her behest of her father’s, or - what remains - of - her friends, and the Lilly Kane murder mystery. The show follows a 1 case per episode pattern, with every episode - as far as I remember - tying into the overall season plot.
I compared the show’s structure to “Dexter” in this post, a comparison I still stand by. Though Veronica’s narrations are unquestionably lighter than Dexter’s.
The show can also be compared to “Buffy” - as evident from the title of this post -, in terms of main character, humour, style and dialogue.
Both shows maintains a witty dialogue, as well as a similar, very geeky humour - which I absolutely love - . Also, I somehow felt there was a tad similar dynamic amongst both main characters’ circle of friends.
The show features several interesting character, especially Veronica Mars played by Kristen Bell, who practically makes this show, and is reason enough to watch the series. She’s funny, smart, attractive and she’s got an iron will.
But don’t worry, there are other as well, such as Keith Mars portrayed by Enrico Colantoni, who - in my opinion - fits perfectly in the role of Veronica’s father. Logan Echolls is also a funny character, despite the fact that he’s a complete douche. Weevil was pretty cool as well.
I liked the concept of the medicated Duncan Kane, through the other aspects of the character was mediocre at best.
Clarence Wiedman was also pretty interesting, despite his limited screen-time.
I think the show’s main strengths is its main character, dialogue and its fast paced, often geeky humour - Which I, again, absolutely love - . That, and a strong season plot, interlinked with individual cases for each episodes.
Veronica Mars is very well produced, featuring a decent score and an intro that really got stuck in my head. Seeing as this is public television, there is no profanity, nudity or graphic violence, but these are not things I missed from this show - well, perhaps the profanity.
My main gripes with this show is my disagreement with the execution of some of the content, and a season finale that - in my opinion - somewhat that failed to satisfy.
The finale does not not weigh the show down much, though, as Veronica mars does not rely as much on the murder mystery as, say, “Dexter”. And the overall quality of the show remains very solid.
Anyway, that concludes my attempt at a review of this superb TV-show. I apologise for delaying this post, mys only excuse is that I’m a slacker of th worst sort.
And, in an attempt to rate:
9/10
Posts
That’s high praise indeed, with that rating. Not that I’m arguing. While it’s debatable is season 2 is as good, a little weaker or a little stronger, it’s surely to your liking as well if you like the first one, so you’ve got a lot to look forward to yet.
The one thing that more than anything is stuck with me from this show is Colantoni’s Keith Mars and his relationship to his daughter, so beautifully and convincingly portrayed by both actors and the writers alike. The show’s got a lot of enormous strengths, but that’s what’s made it truly Unforgettable for me.
While I’ve only seen through the season once (something I intend to rectify) I can’t say I recognise myself in your description of the season finale, though, I seem to remember finding it incredibly suspenseful and engaging. But I might be way off, it’s been a number of years now.
Thanks for checking it out. Very glad you didn’t regret it. What’s up next for you? (In the sake of fairness I’ll reveal that I’m currently finishing up on “Brisco County Jr.” during my lunch on days where I’m alone in the apartment, watching “How I Met Your Mother” season 3 when we’re having supper and also during weekend breakfasts and lunches, and, on average, catch an episode of “Dexter” every evening. The latter was finished yesterday, and I think we’ll start up on “Deadwood” tomorrow or the day after.)
8. July 2008 @ 17:53 ( Permalink )
*IF season 2 is as good, a little weaker or a little stronger, etc
8. July 2008 @ 17:54 ( Permalink )
The reason the season finale failed to satisfy me is that I felt that aspects of the revelation were not entirely believable, and that I disagreed with the execution. I felt they could’ve dropped a few subtle hints through out the season - or maybe they did, but they evaded my attention - to increase the believability.
The relationship between Veronica and Keith was an aspect of the show that I very much enjoyed. It was heart-warming, touching yet not cheesy at all.
Next on the list is probably season 4 of “Lost” or season 4 of “Battlestar Galactica”. I have Lost at the ready, and BSG is downloading as we speak, so I have not yet decided what to watch. Though I am leaning towards BSG, for obvious reasons.
I’m also waiting for the 6th and final season of “Oz” which will, hopefully, hit the shelves in 1-2 weeks or so.
I am unfamiliar with both “Brisco County Jr” and “How I met Your Mother”, though I am under the impression that the latter is a sit-com (?).
By the way, loved the ending of The Wire!
Marlo delivered perhaps his best scene in the episode “Late Editions”.
9. July 2008 @ 04:01 ( Permalink )
I believe they dropped hints (Echolls was shown to be abusive, womanizing, controlling and self-absorbed) but they dropped hints about a lot of people, and they might not have dropped any particularly stronger ones about him.
HIMYM, which both I and Amras, one of the two people talking me into checking it out, have a review of season 1 on my weblog if you’re interested, http://my.opera.com/Loki%20Aesir/blog/how-i-met-your-mother-season-1 and http://natsecorma.net/theredundantblog/2008/03/16/how-i-met-your-mother/
It is indeed a sitcom, one featuring among other Alyson Hannigan (”Buffy”’s Willow) and Neil Patrick Harris, Dr. Horrible in the upcoming “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog”. Which makes me realise you might not have heard of it, and just in case, I’ll fill you in all quickly-like. (My computer keeps crashing, so I’ll post this comment here and keep going in a new one to avoid losing all this for a second time now)
9. July 2008 @ 05:52 ( Permalink )
“Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” is a recent Whedon-project, a three-part free online musical of a less than successful super-villain in love. It’s being put up here: http://drhorrible.com/index.html where you can currently find the teaser trailer and a link to a funny free online tie-in comic about Dr. Horrible’s nemesis Captain Hammer (who’ll be played by “Firefly”’s Nathan Fillion in the movie). First part, they’ll be ten minutes each, will go up the 14th, second the 16th, third the 18th, and they’ll all disappear again midnight the 20th US time. Probably to resurface in some form of paying-format before the DVD-release (which will apparently feature a commentary track, also done as a musical…)
Just in case you haven’t heard of it, I suggest you check it out. Whedon did this during the writer’s strike partly to try and prove that the giant studios and their interfering isn’t necessary, and that distributing things online only can work. Thus, it’d be nifty if he actually managed to pay the people who made this with him.
Okay, I’m done rambling with the fanboy’y recommendations now.
9. July 2008 @ 05:57 ( Permalink )
I never liked Marlo, but he did have a neat ending, acquiring everything Stringer ever wanted and giving it all up. Don’t remember which episode “Late Editions” was or what scene he had there, though.
“The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.” is a very, very strange show that I’ll probably review by Friday or on Monday. In short, it’s an oldish show starring a young Bruce Campbell (if the name doesn’t ring a bell, imdb him, I guarantee you you’ve seen him be awesome somewhere. If nothing else, then as the doorman in Spidey 2 and the head waiter in Spidey 3) in the title role. The show is primarily a western adventure show, sat at about the same time as “Deadwood”, but with heavy uses of science fiction (!), serious drama and very silly comedy. The interesting thing about it is how incredibly well it blends them all. In one episode early on, a character used almost exclusively for comic relief and boisterous behaviour until that point sang an entire verse of “Amazing Grace” (and that’s a lot of minutes of an episode, man) quite beautifully for a character he hated because that man was about do die. The show will frequently reference modern-day things or make ridiculous alliterations in the dialogue, without ever having the characters aknowledge that these things are going on. It’s not amazing or mind-bogglingly good or anything like that, it’s not a show like “The Wire” or “Battlestar Galactica” or “Veronica Mars”, but considering it’s from 1993 and a primarily light action-adventure with heavy use of comedy, it’s impressing me a lot. The structure is oftentimes crazy off what you’d expect, too, for instance the main villain of the series was defeated for good with almost ten episodes to go. It’s also relatively good on continuity, frequently bringing back characters you’d awesome to be one-offs in the episode they first appeared. Terje said it was his favourite childhood show after “Zorro” in a comment on your weblog some weeks back, and I totally see how it would be. I’d have ADORED this show growing up.
9. July 2008 @ 06:06 ( Permalink )
Oh, and since I kind of lost the thread when I started rambling about Dr. Horrible - “How I Met Your Mother” is a very funny and well-made sit-com, but it’s still a sit-com, and if you’d rather spend your time watching shows that are there primarily for story and characters rather than one where they’re secondary to the jokes, that’s an understandable choice. Still, the only comedy show I’d recommend way over it is probably the early seasons of “Scrubs”.
9. July 2008 @ 06:12 ( Permalink )
I’m apparently the only on in the entire world who doesn’t love Enrico Colantoni… Ah well, glad you liked him, I just could never get comfortable with him.
I re-read my own review of VMx1, and discovered that I’d said much of the same as you did, Shirgaal! This goes a long way in showing that you have excellent - yes, even superb! - taste in TV series.
And Kristen Bell is definitely a fantastic actor (and very cute, which always goes a long way for me). She’s pretty cool in “Heroes”, too.
9. July 2008 @ 12:22 ( Permalink )
Oh, and thanks for the add on your blogroll there. I’ll be sure to do the same.
9. July 2008 @ 12:24 ( Permalink )
The guy who played “Weevil” is actually going to be in “Heroes” next season, too. Just, random btw-like.
Oh, and even more random, the guy who played Abel Koontz was one of the only three regular characters on “Brisco County Jr.”
9. July 2008 @ 12:25 ( Permalink )
Oh, and ditto on the thanks!
9. July 2008 @ 12:32 ( Permalink )
“Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” is a recent Whedon-project, a three-part free online musical of a less than successful super-villain in love”
It both sounds and looks very interesting. Always loved humorous villains (And non humorous as well). The involvement of Nathan Fillion and Joss Whedon also sounds promising. Watched the teaser, and I just can’t place the guy playing Dr. Horrible. I know I’ve seen him somewhere before.
“I never liked Marlo, but he did have a neat ending, acquiring everything Stringer ever wanted and giving it all up. Don’t remember which episode “Late Editions” was or what scene he had there, though.”
he was never one of my favourite characters, and I’d prefer Avon over him any day. I still think it’s a pretty interesting character though. His motivations seems to differ from that Avon’s, and he’s got a very minimalistic way of talking, and acting.
“Late Editions” is the 9th episode of season 5. The scene I’m talking about is when Marlo, Chris, Monk and Cheese discuss Michael, and Marlo learns for the first time that Omar’s been openly challenging him in the streets, and calling him a punk in from of Stanfield slingers, runners and hoppers.
It’s one of the few scenes where you see a genuine Marlo, and he actually seems to be afraid of what may become of his street image.
Brisco County Jr. sounds interesting. I am familiar with Bruce Campbell from the Evil Dead series, and recognized him when watching the Spider-Man 1-2 for the first time a week ago. I’ll certainly make sure to check it out.
“I’m apparently the only on in the entire world who doesn’t love Enrico Colantoni… Ah well, glad you liked him, I just could never get comfortable with him.”
Don’t worry, I’m sure there’s an obscure, small civilization hidden within the deeps of the Amazon forest, made up by people who do not like Enrico Colantoni, where you can live amongst your own kind.
“I re-read my own review of VMx1, and discovered that I’d said much of the same as you did, Shirgaal! This goes a long way in showing that you have excellent - yes, even superb! - taste in TV series.”
Why, thank you most kindly, sir. Good to know that there are like minded individuals out there.
And thanks for the add.
10. July 2008 @ 02:08 ( Permalink )
Why are some of my comments randomly “awaiting moderation”? No matter.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure there’s an obscure, small civilization hidden within the deeps of the Amazon forest, made up by people who do not like Enrico Colantoni”
Suddenly, saving the rainforest seems less than positive.
“It both sounds and looks very interesting. Always loved humorous villains (And non humorous as well). The involvement of Nathan Fillion and Joss Whedon also sounds promising. Watched the teaser, and I just can’t place the guy playing Dr. Horrible. I know I’ve seen him somewhere before.”
Well, as I said, he’s in “How I Met Your Mother”, playing the characteristic oddball-character of a sitcom (though I daresay that his Barney is many times more awesome than any other such character I’ve seen) He’s interesting in that he’s both the ensemble’s biggest dork, biggest geek, biggest womanizer, biggest jerk, most shallow, etc - roles and identities that I’ve not seen put together before. So the show’s really made me interested in the actor, he makes a very big impression, and thus I’m extra positive to his Dr. Horrible. Also, the show’s featured him singing a little a couple of times, and he really knows how.
“Brisco County Jr. sounds interesting.”
If nothing else, it’s a giant “Fuck you!” to genre conventions. WHILE being a pretty straightforward western show. I’ve no idea how it does it, but it does.
10. July 2008 @ 03:28 ( Permalink )
About the moderation, I have not idea what’s going on. Most comments slide through without the need of moderation, hile others do not. Some of the comments won’t even appear, despite the fact that I approve them.
I suspect it’s some sort of glitch, perhaps in coding?
I’m trying to figure out a way to let it automatically approve comments.
“Suddenly, saving the rainforest seems less than positive”
One shouldn’t play God, after all. At least not on week-days.
10. July 2008 @ 05:55 ( Permalink )
“One shouldn’t play God, after all. At least not on week-days.”
Hah, funny. Make that up yourself?
10. July 2008 @ 08:28 ( Permalink )
Oh, and another random tidbit of info on “Brisco County” - the shows creators were both involved with “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, one of them, Jeffrey Boam, actually having written the screenplay. And the other guy, Carlton Cuse, is currently the showrunner on “Lost”. So there’s quality there.
10. July 2008 @ 13:39 ( Permalink )
Cool, I loved the Indiana flicks, though I haven’t watched them in many years. And Lost is pretty damn great. Just started season 4 - finished BSGx4 yesterday -, and it’s so far looking to be a quality season.
Brisco County is definitely on my list. How many seasons/episodes are there?
“Hah, funny. Make that up yourself?”
As fas as I know, yeah, but it’s likely I have been inspired by something else, and then forgotten about it.
11. July 2008 @ 03:26 ( Permalink )
“How many seasons/episodes are there?”
Only one, with 27 episodes. However, the last 7 feels a little like a mini-season of its own because the main arc is wrapped up in episode 20. (Odd, huh?)
Don’t prioritize it over everything really good, though. It’s entertaining and well made, but it’s still a rather plain action-adventure show that happens to have a bucketload of odd genre-quirks and deadpan modern-day-references thrown in. In other words, it’s not as captivating or intense as shows like “Deadwood”, “Veronica Mars”, “Dexter” or “Firefly”. Though the latter has some similarities in the genre-meld.
11. July 2008 @ 04:23 ( Permalink )
“Don’t worry, I’m sure there’s an obscure, small civilization hidden within the deeps of the Amazon forest, made up by people who do not like Enrico Colantoni, where you can live amongst your own kind. :P”
Yes, and I am their leader. Together we shall set forth and conquer this pathetic thing you call Existence until all knowledge of Colantoni is vanquished.
Though, I’d imagine that the people who did the vanquishing would have to know of Colantoni, so this would all end in a mass-suicide.
But, in the words of Comic Book Guy when he saw all collection go up in flames:
“Totally worth it.”
11. July 2008 @ 12:34 ( Permalink )
“Yes, and I am their leader. Together we shall set forth and conquer this pathetic thing you call Existence until all knowledge of Colantoni is vanquished.”
Do your worst. If you strike me down, I shall grow more powerful than you can possibly imagine. Let slip the dogs of war!
“Though, I’d imagine that the people who did the vanquishing would have to know of Colantoni, so this would all end in a mass-suicide.”
It’s the thought that counts.
@Loki
It’s strange enough with a season containing 27 episodes, but th main season arc being concluded 7 episodes before the season ends is beyond weird. It does not reduce my interest, though.
11. July 2008 @ 14:19 ( Permalink )
I wasn’t too impressed with the pilot, personally, so if you do give it a go, watch three or four episodes before making up your mind (the pilot being a double and counting as two). A thing I forgot to mention - the show makes obvious use of cliches (no accents on this keyboard, sorry about the spelling) like the genre-classic death-traps for instance. In almost every episode, there’ll be a half-way break with a cliffhanger holding the hero in some form of near-death-situation. It’s just another of the many tongue-in-cheek poking of fun at itself that’s done in the show, but maybe one of the more obvious ones.
11. July 2008 @ 15:49 ( Permalink )
So, when are you checking out season 2?
14. July 2008 @ 17:14 ( Permalink )
(And do you maybe have a MSN or email-address or something so I wouldn’t have to ask that kind of thing in the comments?
)
14. July 2008 @ 17:14 ( Permalink )
I’ll probably check it out in a week or two, bit hectic these days.
And my e-mail adress is shirgaal@hotmail.com. I am rarely on Messenger (Due to me mostly being on a computer that prohibits it), through I frequently check my inbox.
16. July 2008 @ 14:04 ( Permalink )
Aha. Thanks for your address, and sorry to hear you’re stressed.
16. July 2008 @ 18:29 ( Permalink )
Don’t worry, a few weeks of stress barely makes a dent in my overall slacker lifestyle.
17. July 2008 @ 15:41 ( Permalink )
Comforting, comforting.
18. July 2008 @ 02:49 ( Permalink )
These days of stress you had seems to have prolonged into the rest of the summer…?
(Missing some of the teased posts…)
8. August 2008 @ 08:35 ( Permalink )
I apologize for the lack of posting over the summer. I’ve spent most much of my time in the city, with a rather dodgy internet connection. But now that school has started, I can once again direct my attention to blogging.:P
And to set things right, there is a post about season 1 of The Wire. I had intended to cover all 5 seasons in 1 post, but found that it would be difficult to do each season justice that way.
1. September 2008 @ 08:28 ( Permalink )
Glorious return indeed. ^^
1. September 2008 @ 12:59 ( Permalink )
Shirgaal and Terje back in my webtown. All is well with the world.
2. September 2008 @ 11:26 ( Permalink )
I was briefly considering printing that out in a trillion copies and letting planes drop if over areas of the world with particularly high rates of violence, war, prosecution or starvation, but then I realised that’d be much meaner to the readers than to you, so I won’t.
Lucky bastard, you are.
2. September 2008 @ 12:02 ( Permalink )
“Shirgaal and Terje back in my webtown. All is well with the world.”
It’s good to be back. I - and Terje, I can imagine - aim to please.
“I was briefly considering printing that out in a trillion copies and letting planes drop if over areas of the world with particularly high rates of violence, war, prosecution or starvation, but then I realised that’d be much meaner to the readers than to you, so I won’t.”
I say go for it. The people has a right to know!
2. September 2008 @ 15:01 ( Permalink )
Will you fund the molesting of rainforests required? I’m a little short on cash…
2. September 2008 @ 15:02 ( Permalink )
Surely will. We all have to do our bit for the common good of the world.
2. September 2008 @ 15:45 ( Permalink )
I’m so glad to finally find that attitude in a fellow sapient! Operation: Inform has hereby begun.
We’ll need membership jackets, and pins!
2. September 2008 @ 16:14 ( Permalink )
What, don’t they have eBook readers? *shocked*
3. September 2008 @ 04:14 ( Permalink )
“We’ll need membership jackets, and pins!”
And headquarters and a theme song! Molesting the rainforest without a proper theme tune just won’t do!
“What, don’t they have eBook readers? *shocked*”
I think they find it emasculating.
3. September 2008 @ 09:39 ( Permalink )
Emasculating and, you know, modern. We’re trying to reach the conservative, traditionalist and reactionary crowds as well as you futuristic people. This message is for everyone!
3. September 2008 @ 11:53 ( Permalink )
AND it’s got a catchy refrain!
3. September 2008 @ 11:54 ( Permalink )