Friday , March 29 2024
Here's another show you should be watching.

Used To Be Friends? No, Veronica Mars, Let’s Always Be Friends!

All together now: a long time ago we used to be friends, but I haven’t thought of you lately at all. Come on now, sugar, bring it on, bring it on; yeah, just remember me when we used to be friends.      

No, not familiar? Sigh. Much like with Kidnapped, you’re missing out and it might cost TV and Film Guy another of his shows. And don’t think that’s not a serious problem. This must be why TV and Film Guy is depressed. 

Well, if I must, I must. Here I am, going out on a limb again this week.  Last week, I suggested you all take 44 minutes out of your oh-so-precious schedule in order to watch Kidnapped. I explained to you it was well worth your time. I told you the show was well-written, well-conceived, well-acted, and well-executed. Of course, no sooner did that article get published then NBC permanently pulled the plug on the show (and no, airing it on the web at some later date doesn’t count as truly airing). I’m now going to get Veronica Mars yanked from The CW by doing the exact same thing. Veronica Mars only obtained a 2.0/3 in the overnight ratings yesterday (according to the Programming Insider), but The CW isn’t the strongest network around. Will Veronica Mars get picked up for the back nine episodes this season? It’s unclear. But, I can promise you if you sit down and watch an episode or two, you’ll like it, and the show’s chances of getting the back nine will go up (more so if you have a Nielsen box). 

To begin with, the show is not just for kids; it is not a teeny-bopper program in any way. It may have some great references for that group, but it’s a very smart show. If you grew up in the 1980s, you’ll pick up on tons of references Veronica and her compadres toss out. The show has also been compared to Buffy, what with its sleuthing and its own “Scooby Gang.” It’s absolutely similar, even if it lacks that magic/wicca/demon/slayer mumbo-jumbo and, instead, places itself far closer to the real world. There’s nothing wrong with the mumbo-jumbo, I liked it, but there are many out there who wouldn’t want to give such a fantasy-based show a chance. 

Still not into the whole teen drama aspect of the deal? There’s Enrico Colantoni, he’s an adult. But, beyond the fact there are adult characters who have storylines, many of the storylines focus on far more important issues than teen angst; there’s murder and rape and all other manner of adult-sized issues. There’s stuff there for a younger crowd, too, including the aforementioned teen angst. There are also boyfriend problems, teacher problems, and questions about appropriate clothing. In short, there’s something for everyone. What’s more impressive, however, is the fact that, despite being able to please several demographics, none get short-changed. 

Perhaps most importantly, the show is smart. It's really quite clever. It's fun and serious at the same time and in almost equal measure.   

In closing, to my more puerile readers concerned about what people will think if they watch the show, Kristen Bell is 26-years old (according to IMDb). Those feelings you have are okay. In fact, they’re perfectly natural. The police are not going to come and bang down your door for having them or for googling her. It also makes all those ‘80s references much more understandable; she knows whereof she speaks. On the other side, Jason Dohring is 24, so that’s okay, too.

See? You should be watching, at least once, anyway. NBC has graciously given you back the time you could've watched Kidnapped, so take it, and use it on Veronica. It's worth the time. Really.

Got another windmill that needs some good tilting? Like my name tag says: Ask me, I’m here to help!

About Josh Lasser

Josh has deftly segued from a life of being pre-med to film school to television production to writing about the media in general. And by 'deftly' he means with agonizing second thoughts and the formation of an ulcer.

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