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May 26, 2012

Veronica Mars: Un-American Graffiti

by Keith McDuffee, posted May 1st 2007 10:55PM

keith mars attacks!
(S03E16) First of all, I have to come out and say that I feel like an ass for not reminding readers of TV Squad that Veronica Mars was returning tonight. Unfortunately since my cable network doesn't carry The CW in HD, and since I don't watch anything else on the channel, I felt like the show's return came with very little fanfare.

The return of the show marks the beginning of the new mini-mystery-only format, though I think I can already see where they're going with things to keep fans of longer plots interested. While we didn't get the beginnings of a five-episode mystery arc, we did get a few nuggets thrown in that will more than likely last through to the season finale.

For example, the hard line Keith took with many of the deputies at the Sheriff's office. I doubt that's the last we'll see of those guys, and it's probably a catalyst for a slew of issues Keith will face in his new position. There's also the trouble he's causing with the local bars, who before now had a buddy-buddy relationship with Sheriff Lamb. I love that Lamb was on the take with these businesses, but not really.

Of course there's also the relationships that we'll see span through the rest of the season and (hopefully) beyond. How did I not see the obvious Mac/Max connection before? It's a perfect match ... unlike the vomit-inducing Piz/Veronica (Pizonica? Veroniz?) connection. We all knew it was coming, but it was painful to witness.

While I'm on the subject of relationships and barf, I have to say that a happy Logan makes a crappy Logan. When that guy's happy, there's really nothing fun about him. Even his lines take a backseat to everyone else, where in the past an angry Logan would steal the show. Thankfully what he witnessed outside the elevator may spark something once again.

As for the mystery of the episode, it was definitely complex enough. First the graffiti, then the paintballs, then the lurking boyfriend, the pictures, the graffiti again ... well done. If the series can continue to produce complex cases for Veronica to solve like this one, they may be onto something.

This was a better than average episode, if only for the fact that I really think it improved over the rest of what's been a lackluster season. I found myself once again having a hard time picking a quote of the episode, where there were episodes this season I could barely quote at all. I still need to stick this with a 5 on the TV Squad 7 scale, as the path some of the relationships are taking dragged me down but the lines and interactions between most of the main characters (they were all there tonight!) made up for that in a big way.

rating 5Quote of the episode:

Kid: "Dude ... she shot you."
Veronica: "Keep up, Towlie."

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ac

Piz is leaving for the Grey's Anatomy spin-off so their relationship will end by the season/series finale. If there is a next season there is supposed to be a time jump anyway. So dont stop watching yet, keep watching so the rating can go up and it can stay on.

May 03 2007 at 6:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Elizabeth

In response to the above post by Beth, I would argue that when it comes to emotional intelligence, Veronica lacks it far more than either Logan or Piz. Especially regarding the fact that Piz likes her. She's had that revelation umpteen times by now.

Personally, I hated the Veronica/Piz thing and found it gag-worthy as well. Enough so that I may not watch some of the upcoming episodes. Or at least tape them and fastforward.

May 03 2007 at 3:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Beth

I think Piz is just as intelligent as Veronica and will "keep up" just fine. He would balance her a little in the emotional intelligence, moreso than Logan, who seems to need more in that department.

I just hope that Veronica will keep her focus and not keep looking at Logan for support. Does he really help the whole mystery solving thing or is just a distraction? What is the deal? One word for Logan: drama.

May 03 2007 at 2:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BillS

I've never heard of it, but I guess Piz was talking about this thing (throwing spoons at the screen):
http://www.filmjunk.com/2006/05/09/so-bad-its-good-cult-classic-%20the-room/
It sounds kinda fun.

I guess the resolution was pretty lame, but I thought the mystery was pretty cool. The detour into "my parents won't accept my relationship" and the cool scene at the photo place with that comedian whose name I can never remember, and the fact that the idiot vandal wasn't quite as stupid as we assumed, that there was a tiny bit of reasoning behind his actions.

http://popculturejunk.blogspot.com/

May 03 2007 at 12:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Karen

I thought the MotW was pretty ham-handed, myself. Very PSA and "The More You Know." And having Veronica decide to help the wife when what she really should have done is kick the case to her father--we aren't really supposed to believe her taking cases is because the Sheriff's Dept. won't, are we?

I wasn't crazy about the Piz/Veronica (I hate hate hate that whole "oh, he kissed me and now I'm suddenly into him" thing--Piz must have some magic lips, dude), I wasn't crazy about Veronica even acknowledging Dick much less drinking from his flask (the guy set his brother up to rape her, fer chrissake), I wasn't crazy about Parker saying she was so happy Veronica was there and then handing her the cake with Logan's face in the middle of it (passive-aggressive, much?), and I wasn't crazy about the absence of Weevil.

I did like Mac/Logan and Mac/Max, though. And that was about it.

This show is such a weak weak shadow of its first season that it makes me want to weep.

May 02 2007 at 6:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mnm

I *think* I read somewhere that the actor who plays Piz is going to be on the Grey's Anatomy spinoff. So all you Piz + Veronica haters can settle. I, personally, like Piz and Veronica together, for awhile, but it never works if one of the pair is more in like than the other, which Piz seems to be.

May 02 2007 at 4:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kelli

Yuck - not a fan of Piz & Veronica. I guess I will always be a LoVe supporter. There is just too much chemistry between Logan and Veronica to waste. I hope Rob Thomas at least leaves us with a hint of Logan & Veronica getting back together at season's end.

May 02 2007 at 4:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Danny

"Say 'what' again, I dare you!!!!"

"What?"

bang!

:-)

May 02 2007 at 3:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris

Do They Speak English In What?

May 02 2007 at 2:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
khamel

am i in the minority thinking that its a good thing that Logan and Veronica are broken up? Logan has been my least favorite character on the show since the start and im glad hes getting less face-time now. Pez can't keep up with Veronica so theres no worry there, its just a nice change of pace.

I thought the story (mystery?) was a little boring and has been tread over and over again (even the arab/jew thing has been done way too many times) but im glad its back.

May 02 2007 at 1:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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