(S01E05) This is where I feel comfortable saying that Buffy started to find what kinds of stories defined the series. We've got the right kind of humor, the subtle hints of what's to come, and an ending that throws you for a loop.

Do not adjust your web browser. You are now entering the Retro Squad, where we are reviewing past episodes of your favorite shows, in order, every week.

(S01E02) I neglected to mention in last week's review that this was really a two-part first episode, and we pick up from the cliffhanger of the previous week. Frequent TV Squad reader/commenter 'doc' was nice enough to send me a copy of the original unaired pilot (which, as commenter 'Sav' pointed out, can be viewed on YouTube, though in poor quality), and it's got quite a few differences from this two-parter. But I'll save that for another post.

As I touched on a little last week, this is the episode where Jessie becomes a vampire and dies at the hands of Xander (though not exactly intentionally). There aren't a whole lot of shows that will introduce what seems like a main character, only to kill them off within one of the first episodes. The only other show that did this that immediately comes to mind is The Shield with Terry Crowley, though I'm sure there are others.

When I first started watching Veronica Mars, I was confused as to why some had said it was similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In case you didn't know, I'm a big fan of the Buffy, so I knew that, eventually, I'd have to check this show out. It took me some time to figure out why people were saying the show was similar to Buffy, but I think I've got some idea. So, in no particular order, here are five ways in which Veronica Mars mirrors Buffy the Vampire Slayer.