(Season 1, Episodes 1-4)
I know that Veronica Mars has a very passionate cult following. With that in mind, I am taking my duty as a VM virgin very seriously. After four episodes, though, I have to admit that I’m not sold yet. I’ve been informed that I need to keep with it, and I plan to. The show is definitely enjoyable, I’m just not seeing the magic yet. Four episodes is only a taste, though, so I’m hoping that I end up digging this show as much as the rest of you.
As of now, however, I feel like I’m watching 90210, PI.
“Pilot”
Wow, there was a lot to soak in during the pilot. I get that they were setting up the big mystery of the show along with introducing all the characters, but it felt like a whole lot. Was it really necessary to put everything onto the table in the first episode? There was so much that Veronica seemed to mention her rape in passing. I would have thought it deserved a little more attention than that.
Anyway, I didn’t really mind all the set up, most pilots are just that, and I am enjoying some of the characters (most notably Veronica, Weevil, and Wallace).
“Credit Where Credit’s Due”
Paris Hilton? Really? I have to say I was a little disappointed when I saw her. Thankfully she hasn’t popped up again so I’m willing to write it off the stunt casting in an effort to boost ratings and buzz (even How I Met Your Mother did that with bringing Britney Spears on).
Otherwise, I thought the mystery of this episode was well done, and I imagine that will continue throughout the series. It wasn’t too straightforward, but not so overly complicated to move into the realm of unbelievable.
“Meet John Smith”
So… Duncan seems really annoying. I don’t think this episode needed to feature his struggles with antidepressants. It seemed a little out of place and, in my opinion, dragged the show a little too far into teenage angst. Granted, his sister was murdered only months ago, I get that. I just find him slightly annoying.
Another interesting mystery in this episode, though, with a kid looking for his lost father, only to find out that he’s undergone a gender reassignment. I didn’t really see that one coming, but I thought it worked.
“The Wrath of Con”
I have to say that I love that Veronica’s office is the ladies room in the school. The show certainly isn’t short on charm, and all the characters are beginning to grow on me (with the exception of Duncan).
I loved seeing Paula Marshall as Veronica’s guidance counselor and a potential love interest for her dad. I hope she sticks around for a while, I’ve always liked her.
I have to give props to this episode for being really clever. I thought it was a cool idea to have people hiring actors to be in a hidden camera show only to actually con them out of money without knowing it. A very clever plan, indeed.
Clacked by Bob Degon
on May 26, 2009 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
I got into Veronica Mars in season 2 and still have not seen season 1. I just cant find it anywhere. But it will be airing on thewb.com starting june 1st so I’m excited to see it then.
Don’t worry! Rob Thomas was forced to put Paris Hilton on the show by the CW, in an attempt to boost ratings, so that’s not the kind of creative decisions you have to look forward to.
Duncan on the other hand, continues to suck, but gets better later on.
It just gets SO GOOD. You’ll be hooked; I promise.
You mean WB, wasn’t only the third season on CW?
Eh. Duncan sucks, like for eternity. And stuff ;)
stick with it 100%. It becomes one of the greatest things ever on tv. i miss it so much :(
“Veronica Mars” is an example of a show that should have ended after one Season. The show became so absolutely different after the Season 1 finale that it really was like seeing two sides of the same coin. While still entertaining, they never made it back to the perfection Season 1 was. I love this show but sometimes you wish they’d just stopped right there and then. “Heroes” is another example but there it’s much worse.
AC if you really like the show even though you haven’t seen the first Season then you should really pick up the DVDs. At least rent it, watch it over the weekend and then give it back. It can’t understand how you haven’t already :-)
I just started watching VM this year myself, and I’m so sorry I wasn’t along for the ride when it was on TV. The first few episodes I thought there was alot to soak in too, and I was a little confused after watching the pilot (no comment on Paris either). But stick with it, it heats up a lot towards the end. I agree, Duncan is a dud. I think you’ll definitely be hooked by the time you get to An Echolls Family Christmas… And even if you don’t see it now, Logan just may become your favorite character (I have developed a semi-unhealthy crush on him).
Although season 2 wasn’t as good (just a lot more stuff to absorb), and season 3 is one I’d like to forget on a few levels, season 1 is definitely worth checking out. I should know, I consumed all of season 1 in about a week’s span! I finished the whole series in about 2 month’s time, and I miss the show already that I started re-watching season 1 again, just to get all of the little things I missed the first time. Seriously one of the best shows on TV, and I’m a little bitter the CW didn’t realize that.
Yes season 1 was near perfect, when season 2 is pretty silly. Season 3 is a mess. I got the whole series for $50, it’s fun, but goes downhill.
Meet John Smith is one of my favorite episodes.
I did love all the episodes you mentioned. Interestingly enough, I started with season 3 and couldn’t understand why people disliked it until I watched season 1. Regarding the rape, I like that he didn’t overtly focus on it. Too many TV shows ‘melodramatize’ the event and, therefore, weaken it. While I like that popular media portrays sexual assault and brings more attention to it, recently it has become a dramatic device and I feel that Thomas reflected how people handle it differently, which made it more realistic.