I know I should view Rob Thomas as the second incarnation of Whedon, but I feel he walked away from writing a kickass character in extraordinary scenarios to putting a kickbutt character in ordinary scenarios. The season two pretty girl with the rich boyfriend, and the season three Dick-befriending, anti-feminist, weren’t as interesting as the proto-feminist, covertly manipulative, blunt-haircut-wearing, punk-t-shirt-rocking gal with the goofy sidekick, biker backup and a bathroom office. While Kristen Bell can pull the character out of her ass at anytime, I don’t feel Rob Thomas ever re-captured the magic of the misfit with the anime dress-up fun.
Although I started watching during season three and loved it, after catching season one’s awesomeness and season two’s meh-ness, I understood the Piz hatred, couldn’t stand the loss of season one’s rocker punk rebel, and really wished Dick hadn’t graduated high school.
Way back in October, Carla polled the gang regarding the best TV DVD series. Of course, I couldn’t stop myself from expressing my opinion. When Veronica Mars week started, I re-polled the gang again. Below find the mash of the two.
Ivey: I really feel bad for you guys that don’t like season two/season three of Veronica Mars. Really must stink for you.
Julia: I liked season two! I was one of the few people who did. (With the exception of one or two episodes.) Season three, on the other hand … sigh. Just, sigh.
Deb: I agree. I enjoyed all of the seasons. If you’re dissing season three, then you really weren’t paying attention to the awesome relationship between the dean and Veronica. So much fun. Piz, not so much fun.
An: I equate Veronica Mars with seeing younger, hotter pictures of your significant other. When I started watching season three, I didn’t understand how I missed season one — two, viewed Piz as the hotness, and didn’t comprehend the on-line derision. However, upon watching S1 and S2 (despite warnings I should blind myself first), I discovered the utter awesomeness of the former and the utter meh of the latter. When season three returned from its winter break, the heroine struck me as a shell of her former self (kind of like Steven Seagal/Mel Gibson today compared with yesterday). So, if you’re a Veronica Mars virgin, stick to season one. Trust me, you don’t want your friends/mother/dog/rabbi saying I told you so.
Bob: I’m in a huge minority, but I didn’t hate season three. Certainly the end fizzled and I didn’t like the last chunk of episodes. I thought the mini-arcs really worked well, though, and had some nice tight storytelling. The rapist storyline to start the season is some of the strongest story telling in the series, in my opinion.
Keith: I’ll add to this saying that I saw the writing on the wall for Veronica Mars’ fate as its third season progressed. It just could not live up to the first season. Season two couldn’t live up to season one either, but it wasn’t as bad as season three. I agree with An in that I almost wish I stopped watching after season one. Kinda like the first movie of Highlander.
And did any of you see the test pilot for the Veronica Mars in the future series, with her as a fed? Yuck.
Deb: I agree with Bob. Some of my favorite Veronica Nars moments were between her and the dean of the college (and Weevil too, though not enough). Yes, we all hated Piz, but there was a lot of good to be had in season three. Season one is still my favorite far and away, but I liked the beginning of season three more than the predictable season two in some ways.
Carla: The reason people don’t like season 3 … the awful new theme song. Solved it.
So, who do you agree with? Sound off in the comments!
Clacked by An Nicholson 
on Dec 16, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
It sucked.
It had good in there, but the payoff was nothing. The rape case ended badly, the murder was very neat, but still I knew who did it right away, then the show just wondered around until it was canceled.
Here’s what I liked about season 3:
– Anything involving the dean
– The teacher from Saved by the Bell: College Years returns to play a teacher again
– Veronica, for the most part
– About half the time that Dick was on screen
Everything else was just ok or worse when compared to the earlier seasons. The college didn’t have that same feel that the high school did with all recurring characters. Logan was a shell of his former self. The new characters didn’t work, and I think Mac lost a little of her luster when we ventured into her world beyond being Veronica’s go-to tech.
And the potential S4 mini-pilot that was mentioned? BRUTAL
Forgive me An, for not adding much to the discussion, but the post title is just hilarious….I’m still rolling (LOL).
I liked Piz, especially after watching the chemistry between that actor and Kristen Bell in the DVD extras. I liked the murder mystery plotline of season 3 and the new setting with some old characters. And I totally would’ve watched a fourth season with Veronica as an FBI agent.
And I don’t have to be in the majority to be right, so nyahhh!
I just watched all of season 3 in less than a week and I have to say that it didn’t suck. I ended up watching more episodes at a time than I planned because I had to know what happened next! And, yes, I watched the show when it was first on, but I had forgotten so much it was almost like watching it for the first time.
And, by half way through the episodes, I had grown to not hate the theme song … well not as much, anyways.
Season 3 definitely was my least favorite season, but when compared to other shows out there … it was better than them. The worst season of an amazing show.
I am ready to start watching all 64 episodes again from the beginning, but I will refrain because I fear that my family and friends will institutionalize me if I do :)
The theme song was horrible when they changed it. I devoted some space in my Virgin Diary to that issue specifically.
I still think Spit and Eggs was probably the best episode of the show.
I think that as television goes, Season 3 was good – some good storytelling, good dialogue, and some interesting mysteries. The Dean was great, I loved Weevil. Honestly, some of the mysteries were better the Season 2 mini-mysteries – and at least there was no Duncan. I’m still confused about the Veronica-still-loving-Duncan thing. However, in many ways it was just painful and seriously made me queasy to watch. I physically suffered from Pizonica. I don’t think most fans of the show were happy with the ending – oh wait, what ending? Serious betrayal, there. I know Rob Thomas said he had a 5-year plan for Logan & Veronica, but possible cancellation was definitely hanging over him and really makes me wish he had had a heart and made it easier on the fans. I hated Piz’s obvious thing for Veronica at first sight even though he knows she is dating someone else. And Parker? Veronica practically got herself killed tracking down her rapist. and she turns around and dates her ex? What was that? Who does that?
Plus, I had a really hard time with the Keith-dating-a-married-woman thing. I know people make mistakes, but with his background I really struggled with him doing that.
Oh, and Veronica. She was just so critical of Logan. The WHOLE season. Why? I couldn’t figure it out. I mean, cut the guy a break. He’s not living on welfare, he’s saved your life a gazillion times and he loves you more than you deserve. Did she say anything nice to him? Ever?
Ugh. Now I’m stressed, just thinking about it :).
Season 3 wasn’t my favorite (but let’s not diss Season 2–Season 1 & 2 are really close in my book), but Season 3 still had some good episodes and moments. Without Season 3, we would have been more bitter about the ending of Veronica Mars…I think it started off fairly strong, there were moments that made you realize how much you LOVED the characters, and the last look between Logan & Veronica said a whole LOT…Would I have changed some things? Sure. Was the theme song awful? It grew on me. Did I see a different side to Veronica? Well, yes, but it was a new year, a new school. We all change a bit when we go to college, and remember Veronica Mars was a marshmallow! Just because she acted like a rock most of the time, did not mean she was a rock.
Season 3 was ok, but it completely lost the suspence when the rapist was discovered less than halfway through the season.
Season 2 was pretty good but the thing that made it so much better than season 3 was the ending; who would have EVER suspected Beaver?!