My VM review for Entertaining U

Appearances can be deceiving. By all accounts Veronica Mars should have never been made. I mean, it’s a UPN show about a teen detective. Based on the premise alone, no one should be watching this show! And yet, the series has an extremely rabid fan base and enough critical acclaim to have kept it on the air for two seasons despite lackluster ratings.

Veronica Mars is about a girl (Kristen Bell; Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical) who has had a tough time in high school, but not for the reasons most of us did. During her sophomore year, Veronica’s best friend Lilly (Amanda Seyfried; TV’s Big Love) was brutally murdered, her father lost his job as the local sheriff, her mother ran out on them and the title heroine herself was drugged and raped at a party. And you thought you had problems! During season one, a year has passed and Veronica is trying to make sense of all that’s happened to her. Her father Keith (Enrico Colantoni; TV’s Just Shoot Me) is now a private investigator and, thanks to his resources, Veronica is able to conduct her own investigations which include tracking down her deadbeat mom, figuring out who raped her and looking for Lilly’s killer. By the end of season one, Veronica manages to solve all these mysteries, making some unlikely friends and ruthless enemies along the way.

Season two, which is now airing on UPN Tuesday nights at 9, brings Veronica a whole new set of mysteries including a devastating and suspicious bus crash that killed six of her classmates and the unsolved stabbing death of a local biker. And, like season one, Veronica manages to solve smaller mysteries along the way, often at the behest of her fellow classmates. Recently, for example, Veronica tracked down a person attempting to blackmail closeted gay students. These “mysteries of the week” are especially interesting to casual viewers who may not catch every episode but enjoy seeing Veronica take down a bad guy in a way only she can.

It’s a common misconception that Veronica Mars is a show for teenage girls. While at first glance it certainly fits the profile, Veronica Mars transcends the genre with it’s sly, snarky humor and it’s darker than dark storylines. Add to that the film noir element that the show’s creator Rob Thomas (not the guy from Matchbox 20) strives so hard to achieve, and Veronica Mars is a one of a kind series that draws viewers two and three times the age of the show’s main characters. Some of the show’s most famous fans are a prime example of how Veronica Mars defies the teen girl stereotype. Both Joss Whedon (creator of TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and indie trailblazer Kevin Smith (Clerks) adore the show and have even had guest starring roles this season. Earlier this year, famed horror writer Steven King absolutely gushed over the show in a column for Entertainment Weekly saying “It bears little resemblance to life as I know it, but I can't take my eyes off the damn thing.”

At this point you may be asking yourself why you haven’t heard of this show before. The answer is simple: the average Jacksonville resident doesn’t get UPN in their home, at least not at a reasonable hour. Here in J-ville, Fox 30 airs UPN shows after their regularly scheduled programming, so if you’re a fan of this amazing show you have to wait until midnight to see it (or set the old TiVo!). Those who aren’t night owls or insomniacs can still check out season one of Veronica Mars on DVD.

Veronica Mars may look like a silly teen show, but beyond the odd-sounding premise, this series is truly a gem complete with terrifically snappy writing, engaging storylines and a cast of talented young actors who are sure to have careers in the biz for years to come. I have no doubt that after one or two episodes you will be completely hooked on this phenomenal show. Get to know Veronica Mars as soon as possible. You won’t regret it!