Veronica Mars is a more "characterized" character than most, which I love. She wasn't entirely made to drive the plot of the show. The plot of the show was what made her. Formerly a happy, popular high school girl - member of the pep squad, girlfriend of one of the richest, most popular boys in school - Veronica changed forever after the murder of her best friend - and the series of events that followed. Veronica's motivations - her actions, her words - are always so authentically Veronica. She doesn't change to suit a storyline or drive the plot. And, in my tv viewing world, that's the mark of a truly great character.
In a word, Veronica Mars = dichotomy.
She's a no nonsense type of gal, but deep down, she's a marshmallow. She's cynical, jaded, snarky, smart and tough, but she has a soft spot for the disenfranchised. And, despite the emotional walls and armor and scathing remarks, she loves and is loved.
There are TONS of tv shows out there. TONS. Some good, some great, some horrible. And it's unfortunate that it's not always the great ones (or even the good ones) that stick around. So, here is MY countdown of shows that were cancelled too soon.
#5
My So-Called Life
While this show is kind of...well...a downer, it was well done. Interesting. Intriguing. Somehow addictive. And I was shocked when it was cancelled after 19 episodes. Because it really seemed like the kind of show that would (and should) be around for many seasons. Now, I will admit, no matter how much I liked the show when it came out (I was 16 at the time), when I watch it now (as a 30 year old), I find myself sort of...annoyed by it (Seriously, how many times do they have to say "like" in a scripted show?!?). Perhaps that was the reason for its demise. Too small of a demographic. Still, MSCL deserved more - and, in my opinion, many shows since have "borrowed" (aka ripped off) some of MSCL's greatness and enjoyed far more success. No fair!
#4
It's Like, You Know
1999-2000
I bet none of you have even heard of this show. It was a really cute, witty sitcom in the late 90s starring Jennifer Grey (of Dirty Dancing) as herself. Basically, it was a BIT like a west coast version of Friends or How I Met Your Mother. A group of friends and their day-to-day adventures. I found it to be a bit more clever and fun than a lot of sitcoms out there. Apparently the viewing public (or netword execs, perhaps) did not agree, 'cause ILYK lasted a mere 25 episodes (though I'm not entirely sure all were aired...). The title of the show, by the way, was said in every episode by one of the characters.
Clip time! Warning - I was hesitant to post this clip, because it's a little...well...NOT indicative of the humor and feel of the show. However, it's the only clip on youtube. So, here ya go:
#3
Journeyman
2007/2008
One thing about me, I don't do sci-fi. It's just not me. But I LOVED this show. It lasted a mere 13 episodes, but it was fantastic. Family man/newspaper reporter, Dan Vasser, suddenly begins involuntarily time travelling to help people in trouble. But there's more to it than that - SO much more. It came on after Heroes - and what's insane is that Heroes was getting mad ratings even though it was positively awful (in my opinion) - and Journeyman was getting nothing, though it was actually an excellent show.
#2
Sports Night
1998-2000
GREAT show - great cast, great dialogue, great premise - just GREAT. But it only lasted 2 seasons. The producer (Aaron Sorkin) decided he'd rather devote time to his other show, The West Wing. I love the tagline on imdb.com: "It's about sports...The same way Charlie's Angels was about law enforcement."
There's no way I could make this countdown without including my all-time favorite show. VM lasted 3 seasons, but you might as well say it was cancelled after 2 - since the transition from UPN to The CW changed everything. The first 2 seasons were STRONG with excellent mystery arcs spanning the entire season. But once The CW picked it up , they did away with that formula and created merely decent mini-mystery arcs and then a crop of "un-Veronica Marsian" stand-alone episodes. And that just did not work. Another thing that didn't work - the new characters Piz and Parker as well as the exclusion of beloved originals like Wallace and Weevil. Oh, don't get me started on that. Season 3 COULD have been great, had it followed in the footsteps of seasons 1 and 2. But The CW made too many ill-advised changes and ruined an otherwise superb show. Not to say that season 3 wasn't good - it just wasn't the magic that seasons 1 and 2 were. SO, because of the lame meddling from The CW, Veronica Mars died an early death.
This is not a teen show. No way. Not that any non-viewers would know that. Sadly, it didn't get the network nor media support it needed...although it was critically acclaimed and had a following of devoted fans. This show deserved more than just 3 seasons.
In the first episode, we meet Veronica and her father, Keith Mars. Veronica is a high school student and Keith is a private investigator. He used to be the sheriff of Neptune (the town they live in - not the planet), but he was run out of office when he accused the richest, most powerful man in town - Jake Kane - of killing his own daughter - Lilly Kane. Lilly, by the way was Veronica's best friend. And Lilly's brother - Duncan - was Veronica's ex-boyfriend. Confused yet?
Following Keith's accusation and subsequent removal from office , Veronica's mother left town and everyone in Neptune turned against Veronica and Keith. Around the same time, a man named Abel Koontz stepped up and confessed to murdering Lilly, but Veronica and Keith didn't believe it.
Note: The videos within this post contain spoilers. So, if you ever plan to watch the series, skip the vids and go out and get the DVDs pronto! It will be worth it!
CONDENSED Version of Episode 1...
So, season 1 picks up from there. Veronica and Keith are the outcasts of Neptune, working together at Mars Investigations solving mysteries. But there are some personal mysteries Veronica is determined to solve...
1) Why did Duncan Kane abrubtly break up with her? 2) How did she lose her virginity? (She can't remember...) 3) Who killed Lilly Kane? (I'll tell you this much, it wasn't Abel Koontz.) 4) Where is her mother - and will she be back? (There are some shocking secrets relating to this question...)
There are "mini-mysteries" within each episode, and that's fun, but it's the major mystery arcs that really drive the show. Season 1 centered around the above-mentioned mysteries. Season 2 dealt with a horrific school bus crash and the unsolved murder of motorcycle gang member Felix Tombs. Season 3 involved a rapist at a college campus and the murder of the college dean.
There is so much more to the show than I could mention. Bottom line: It's a SMART show that more people NEED to discover!
And it is, no contest, my all-time favorite show.
MY 10 FAVORITE EPISODES:
#10 Look Who's Stalking
(season 2)
Good episode. And the alterna-prom was great! Check out a scene from that...
#9 Ruskie Business
(season 1)
A lot happens in this episode...Big stuff w/Veronica's mom, interesting turns in the character of Logan - and Duncan, very cute 80s dance at Neptune High - and a good mystery of the week w/the Russians and Tom "Cruise".
CONDENSED Version of Ruskie Business
#8 Pilot
(season 1)
This is where it all began, as described, captured and condensed in video above.
#7 Weapons of Class Destruction
(season 1)
This clip is great - it's showcasing guest star Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Home Improvement), but I love the Heathers-esque lunchtime poll :-)
And a good Veronica/Logan clip for LoVe fans:
and of course:
#6 Leave It To Beaver
(season 1)
We find out who killed Lilly...Action-packed episode...Awesome!
Original promo/preview commercial:
#5 Spit and Eggs
(season 3)
The Hearst rapist is revealed.
Original promo commercial:
#4 Not Pictured
(season 2)
The season 2 bus crash mystery is solved.
see below for video
#3 An Echolls Family Christmas
(season 1)
CONDENSED Version of An Echolls Family Christmas
#2 Normal is the Watchword
(season 2)
First episode of season 2...We find out what happened over the summer. And the new mystery of the season is revealed.
#1 A Trip to the Dentist
(season 1)
Veronica finally puts together the pieces of the night she was raped.
CONDENSED Version of A Trip to the Dentist:
CONDENSED Version of the Season 2 finale "Not Pictured"
After the show ended, I ordered a book to ease my withdrawals. The book, Neptune Noir, is a series of essays about the show. I was ecstatic to read this book of intellectual analysis. It made me appreciate the show even more than I had before. If you're a fan of the show, I urge you to check out this book!
I'm a stay at home mom who homeschools my 2 stay at home daughters. Life is what we make it - and we choose to make it a wonderful, creative, magical adventure each and every day!
