Veronica Mars is a television program on the UPN network. It premiered in North America on September 22, 2004. The series was created by Rob Thomas. The theme song for the show is "We Used to Be Friends" by The Dandy Warhols.
Summary
Set in the fictional town of Neptune, California, Veronica Mars deals with the fallout a year after the death of Lilly Kane, Veronica's best friend and sister of her ex-boyfriend, Duncan. Veronica's father, Keith, was the sheriff at the time, and went after Lilly's father, Jake Kane, who is a rich software magnate. The town backed Jake and Keith was voted out of office in a recall election. After her father's embarrassment, Veronica went to a party with the in-crowd she was now being shunned from, and was raped. Then her mom, Lianne, left home. Veronica's old life was shattered.
Now Veronica is helping with her dad's private investigator business, as well as cracking cases of her own at school. Other characters include Wallace Fennel, the new kid, who is introduced to Veronica taped to a flagpole, Eli 'Weevil' Navarro, leader of the P.C.H. Biker Gang who gives Veronica perspective as well as a few favors, and Logan Echolls, the snotty son of a famous movie actor who has his own family issues underneath his hard surface.
Ratings and Reviews
The series is in its first season, and despite low initial ratings, is receiving rave reviews. Like fellow young-girl-saves-the-world sophomore drama Joan of Arcadia, and the now retired Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars has received praise for its witty writing and strong female characters.
The show has been renewed for a second season.
Comparisons and References
- Veronica's character is often compared to Chloe Sullivan from Smallville, a similarly inquisitive girl who investigated mysterious goings on at their high school, who sports a similar hairstyle, attire, and laptop. Fans of the show dismiss this comparison as superficial.
- Lilly Kane's role is often compared to Laura Palmer of Twin Peaks, a girl who is murdered under mysterious circumstances, and whose murder investigation uncovered dark secrets in her past. Like Laura, Lilly only appears in flashbacks or dream sequences, although the show is far less mystical than Twin Peaks. There are also indications that Lilly's father may have been involved with her death; in Twin Peaks, Laura was murdered by her father while his body was under the control of another being.
- Veronica's glib wit and anti-establishment attitude draw comparisons to Buffy Summers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Characters
Main Characters
- Amanda Seyfried - Lilly Kane
- Corinne Bohrer - Lianne Mars
- Kyle Secor - Jake Kane
- Lisa Thornhill - Celeste Kane
- Michael Muhney - Sheriff Don Lamb
- Duane Daniels - Vice Principal van Clemmons
- Brandon Hillock - Deputy Sacks
- Daran Norris - Cliff McCormack
- Brad Bufanda - Felix Toombs
- Jonathan Chesner - Corny
- Patrick Wolff - Hector
- Aaron Ashmore - Troy Vandegraff
- Ryan Hansen - Dick Casablancas
- Amanda Noret - Madison Sinclair
- Paula Marshall - Rebecca James
- Harry Hamlin - Aaron Echolls
- Lisa Rinna - Lynn Echolls
- Alona Tal - Meg Manning
- Christian Clemenson - Abel Koontz
- Tina Majorino - Cindy 'Mac' MacKenzie
- Christopher B. Duncan - Clarence Wiedman
- Max Greenfield - Deputy Leo D'Amato
- Alyson Hannigan - Trina Echolls
- Lefty - Backup - The Mars' dog ("Veronica?" "Yeah, dad?" "When you go after Jake Kane, take Backup.")
Episodes
Season 1 (2004)
- "Pilot"
- "Credit Where Credit's Due"
- "Meet John Smith"
- "The Wrath of Con"
- "You Think You Know Somebody"
- "The Return of the Kane"
- "The Girl Next Door"
- "Like a Virgin"
- "Drinking the Kool-Aid"
- "An Echolls Family Christmas"
- "Silence of the Lamb"
- "Clash of the Tritons"
- "Lord of the Bling"
- "Mars vs. Mars"
- "Ruskie Business"
- "Betty and Veronica"
- "Kanes and Abel's"
- "Weapons of Class Destruction"
- "Hot Dogs"
- "M.A.D."
- "A Trip to the Dentist"
- "Leave it to Beaver"
External links
