Veronica Mars: Debasement Tapes

Veronica: "Me? I'm not ordering good boy while wishing I ordered bad boy."
Mac: "No. You gave up bad boy, but keep asking for samples of good boy."

Less than halfway through this one, I got a sinking feeling that I was in the middle of an After School Special. I thought, please don't tell me that Piz's has-been rock idol will redeem himself and Logan will learn a valuable lesson while trying to cheat on his business plan assignment.

Unfortunately, that was pretty much what happened. I could even predict Veronica realizing that Piz was a great guy and going for him again, and Mac leaving Bronson for her brilliant soulmate, Max. I saw Keith re-hiring Leo coming a mile away, too, especially after the mass firings last week. And to compound the predictability problem, the mystery plot had absolutely no teeth.

On the bright side, the dialogue on this show is still the cleverest on television, and the Paul Rudd character was very well-written. He was so funny, sad and self-destructive that I wanted to quote nearly everything he said. I also enjoyed seeing Wallace as Veronica's "girlfriend" again. I've missed Veronica's close relationship with Wallace this season.

And may I say that I actually like the idea of Vinnie Van Lowe as sheriff? Vinnie is a lot smarter than Lamb was, as well as more corrupt. He would make a terrific adversary for Keith if this show makes it to a fourth season intact. And since Vinnie is currently the only PI in Neptune now, Sheriff Van Lowe's advent would leave a big hole that only Keith could fill. Works for me.

Since I just mentioned it, I should probably weigh in on the wide variety of renewal rumors. If we get a fourth season at all, it might have a new format –Veronica, future, FBI – and the rest of the cast will go away. As much as I love Veronica herself, I also love Keith and Logan and the Neptune setting, so I find this possibility depressing. But on the other hand, the show has slowly moved away from the reasons I loved it so much in the first place: Veronica's extreme alienation and lack of friends, and her brilliance in solving season-long mysteries that had personal meaning to her. So I'm not sure I'm on board with the show the way it is now, either. Maybe changing it completely will breathe new life into it.

Bits and pieces:

— Desmond called Piz a number of things that weren't Piz, such as pez, pus, plax, and poz. And he called Veronica Monica.

— Our weekly elevator scene was again all love triangle fun.

— I'm sure Vinnie either set that robbery up specifically to make himself look good, or he was pulling a genuine robbery and changed his tack when he noticed the Keith and Leo stake-out.

— I was glad to see Leo again. I was never sure I liked him before, but I guess I do.

— Rattner the room service waiter from the Dean O'Dell mystery art returned. And he is a member of "Semites for the Savior." :)

— Dick was a lot of fun as an ass expert, or an expert ass.

Quotes:

Wallace: "You want me to have this talk? Am I a twelve-year-old girl?"
Veronica: "No. But you're drinking Fresca and watching Joan Crawford movies."

Desmond: "Anyone ever tell you look like a feisty young Barbara Eden?"

Desmond: "How old are you, Monica?"
Veronica: "Eleven."

Caller: "You just scrounge money off the memory of your dead partner. How do you live with yourself?"
Desmond: "Well, I drink heavily, and I abuse drugs."

Dick: "It's Friday night. If I walk long enough in a straight line, I'll hit a party."

Dick: "Dude, you're my idol. (pause) Who are you?"

Mac: "Sure you want to compromise the reputation of your cheating site with a link to our ass site?"

I was entertained. I was disappointed. I'm going to skip the rating,

Billie
---
Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.

• Next episode
  
• Veronica Mars season 3
  
• Veronica Mars home