In this week’s Fandom Flashback, we take a look back at the days of Veronica Mars!

Fandom Flashbacks are a weekly Hypable feature where we revisit old shows (classic, vintage, and freshly dead), and take our readers down memory lane as we express our favorite moments, characters, and plots.

Veronica Mars is not your average high school student. The death of Lily Kane, Veronica’s best friend, turns her world upside and changes Veronica’s world forever. In the town of Neptune you are either rich and popular or not. In Veronica’s case the death of her best friend ousted her from the inner circle but didn’t break her spirit. Veronica’s father was the sheriff on Lily’s case which ended with him getting fired and the easy arrest of a crazy person.

Veronica sets her own path making friends in the most unlikely of places and solving crimes for her father’s private eye company all while navigating the social scene at Neptune High. Veronica has many issues to deal with including her on-again off-again love with Duncan Kane. Then there is Logan Echols, his bad boy best friend that seems to get in the way.

Veronica Mars aired for three season from 2004-2007. The show ended on a cliff hanger and fans were left wondering what became of the girl detective and her friends.

Veronica Mars wasn’t your typical series about high school. It was a show that dared to talk about rape, class wars, and murder in an open way. The reason the show was so successful was that viewers were invested in the characters. Veronica represented a strong female who was flawed but fought for what she believed in. She was joined by a diverse group of people like Weevil, Mac, and Wallace. Then there were the men in her life Duncan, Logan, and Piz.

Veronica Mars wasn’t just a show about solving crimes. It was about a girl finding herself, struggling through loss and change all while working as private investigator with her dad.

	Veronica Mars Veronica Mars is the sassy private investigator who stood by her father and lost her popularity. She is a loner by choice who helps those in need by solving various cases. Veronica also has some cases of her own to solve including who really killed Lilly Kane.		Keith Mars Keith Mars is Veronica’s father and one-time sheriff of Neptune. After the death of Lilly Kane, Keith becomes a pariah in the town for accusing Lilly’s father. The fall-out from the investigation leaves Keith out of a job and Veronica without any friends. Keith opens a private investigation office where Veronica helps him with cases.
	Logan Echolls Logan Echolls is a witty 09er with a famous father who abuses him. Initially, Logan is Veronica’s nemesis but before the first season is over he is her LoVe interest. Logan, often times, comes off as a spoiled brat, but as the seasons unfold we learn all the reasons Logan behaves the way he does.		Duncan Kane Duncan Kane is Lilly’s brother and Veronica’s ex-boyfriend. Duncan and Veronica split prior to Lilly’s murder because Duncan was lead to believe that he and Veronica were brother and sister. Duncan appears to be the ‘good guy’ but he tends to bury his head in the sand when things don’t go his way.
	Wallace Fennel Wallace is Veronica’s best friend. Veronica saves Wallace from embarrassment when she cuts him down from the flagpole that he was duct taped to by Weevil. Wallace becomes Veronica’s side kick in a sense, helping her obtain student files and other information from the office he works in at school.		Eli “Weevil”Navarro Weevil is the leader of the PCH Biker gang and an unlikely friend to Veronica. At first the two are advisories over Veronica helping Wallace but in the end Weevil realizes Veronica is a good friend to have. Weevil is in and out of trouble through most of the series.
	Lilly Kane Lilly Kane was Veronica’s best friend and her murder is what drives the plot of the first season. Lilly is seen in flashbacks and visions that come to Veronica. Lilly’s death is the catalyst for a series of events that change Veronica’s life. Lilly dated Logan but she also had a secret relationship with Weevil.		Cindy “Mac” Mackenzie Mac is a computer hacker that befriends Veronica after the case of the purity test gone bad. Mac’s computer skills are unparalleled and she and Veronica frequently work together to solve cases. Mac has always felt like an outsider. Mac joins Veronica at Heart College where they continue to work together.
	Stosh “Piz” Piznarski Piz is Wallace’s roommate at Hearst College. He is a laid back guy who plays the foil to the more reckless Logan. Piz and Veronica first meet when Piz’s things are stolen on move in day. Piz kisses her and the two date despite Logan still being in love with Veronica.		Dick Casablancas Dick Casablancas is an 09er that picks on Veronica just because he can. He is friends with Logan and frequently the jokester of the group. Dick lives with his younger brother Cassidy, and father. Dick often causes trouble with the PCH Bike Gang. He is also responsible for Veronica getting a drink laced with GHB at a party.
	Vinnie Van Lowe Vinnie Van Lowe is the other private investigator in Neptune. He has no morals and often takes the cases that Keith turns away. Several times throughout the series Veronica and Vinnie are at odds over a case and other times Vinnie works with Keith or Veronica.		Leo D’Amato Leo is a new sheriff’s deputy who befriends Veronica and helps her on cases sometimes without his knowledge. Leo falls for Veronica even though she has used him to get information on several occasions. They begin dating only to have it ended by Veronica’s feelings for Logan. Leo does some shady things in order to help his sister and Keith covers for him.

It’s not hard to pick our favorite character on a show titled Veronica Mars because let’s face it the show would be nothing without her.

When we meet Veronica in season 1 she is a loner who works for her father’s private investigation firm after school. Veronica has the tough girl act down well and doesn’t let anyone get too close. That is, until she rescues Wallace from Weevil and Wallace decides for her that they will be friends.

After the death of Lilly Kane, Veronica’s best friend, Veronica has to make the tough decision to support her father or stick with her friends. Veronica chooses to support her father and loses all her friends. This is not the path most teenagers would take showing just how strong Veronica is as a character.

This decision makes Veronica’s life hard. She is constantly taunted by the 09ers at school but again she shows her strength by fighting back. Even when the taunting gets to her she never lets them see it. Veronica works for the underdogs and is constantly trying to fight the injustices of high school.

The character of Veronica was originally described as sexy, tough, and prematurely jaded. Angelina Jolie at 17.

As the series progresses, Veronica begins to accept that people do care about her. Once Lilly’s Kane’s murderer is brought to justice Veronica and her father are back in the good graces of the fine citizens of Neptune, but this doesn’t change who Veronica is at her core.

Veronica seems to struggle in her relationships and this is probably the most humanizing of her qualities. She makes mistakes when it comes to the people in her life because she isn’t willing to trust. Yes, she has good reasons for it but in the end this trait makes her life much more challenging.

We love Veronica Mars because she stands up to bullies, she says what’s on her mind, and she is an amazing representation of a strong female character. Veronica is relatable and smart. We also love her because she makes mistakes and shows her vulnerability. Veronica is by no means perfect but she slowly starts to learn from her mistakes. Veronica always remains true to herself and what she believes in even if it means losing something she really wants.

Choosing just one best episode is not easy by any means. There were so many episodes that were beautifully executed and furthered the plot in ways that we weren’t expecting. For us, the best episode comes during season 1 when Veronica finally discovers what happened at Shelly Pomroy’s party.

“A Trip to the Dentist” aired towards the end of season 1 and solves at least one mystery that Veronica had been working on — who raped her. The episode is intense as the events of Shelly Pomroy’s party are revealed through flashback.

Veronica talks to several of the students that she had incidences with throughout the season to uncover what really happened that night. Veronica is told several version of the truth depending on who she asks.

Veronica realizes that she was drugged with GHB that night, making her forget everything that happened. Several people want Veronica to forget what happened because she was all over several guys but for Veronica, it is about knowing what happened in the bedroom.

Veronica is told that Dick brought her to the bedroom for Beaver to have sex with her. Beaver insists that he didn’t touch her and left her in the bedroom. Carrie Bishop says she saw Veronica and Duncan together in the bedroom.

Veronica confronts Duncan about raping her and he tells her it was consensual. He is disturbed to think that she thought she was raped. He admits that the reason he left her was because he felt disgusted with himself. Duncan’s mother told him that he and Veronica were brother and sister. Duncan slept with Veronica because he loved her even though he knew they were related. This moment is one of the most gut wrenching of the entire series.

Veronica and Logan are exposed as a couple because Logan’s dad throws him a surprise party. Logan tells everyone that Veronica is his girlfriend and if they don’t like it they can leave. Duncan loses it when he sees them together.

Logan and Veronica go to the pool house for some privacy. Veronica discovers that the pool house has cameras in it. This discovery helps lead to Lilly’s killer at the end of the season. It also causes another bump in Logan and Veronica’s relationship.

How can one choose a single moment from Veronica Mars and deem it the funniest? It can’t be done. Veronica Mars is a series built on sass and witticisms.

Every single episode, even the serious ones, have something remarkably funny in them whether it be Veronica and Keith riffing on father daughter relationships or Logan and Veronica getting into a verbal sparring match, there was always something quotable and funny in each episode.

Ryan Hansen’s character, Dick Casablancas, was not originally meant to be a series regular. He was first cast for the second episode, as a nameless, rich Neptune resident with one line (“Logan!”). Hansen was cast purely for his ‘good hair.’

Here are some great lines from various characters:

Logan: You’re usually so good at pop quizzes. No, the correct answer is my car. That’s right. My Daddy took my T-Bird away. And you know what I won’t be having. Fun, fun, fun.

Keith: How’s about an early peek at one of your Christmas presents?
Veronica: What about our strict “Christmas morning only” rule?
Keith: This Christmas, we make our own rules. Follow me!
Veronica:I’m so impressed you fit a pony into my room!

Dick Casablancas: Dude, what the hell are you doing? Please tell me this is like some reality show called “My Skank.”

Check out this compilation video of some of Veronica’s most quotable moments.

Veronica Mars had almost as many emotional moments as it did funny ones. There is the scene between Duncan and Veronica we mentioned earlier, there is Logan preparing Lilly’s memorial video, Veronica fighting for her life against Lilly’s killer, and Mac finding out she was switched at birth. So picking one moment isn’t easy.

Throughout all three seasons many of the emotional moments stemmed from Logan and Veronica’s on again, off again relationship. Initially the only emotion the two shared was revulsion but over time things started to simmer below the surface leading to an epic and shocking kiss.

As the series progressed, it seemed each time something drastic happened to the Logan or Veronica the other was there to support them. When Logan mom’s died Veronica helped him investigate, when Logan was beat up on the bridge Veronica held him, when Veronica thought her dad died Logan held her and when someone releases a sex tape of Veronica and Piz Logan beats the guy up even though it is a dangerous choice.

The emotions between Veronica and Logan are intense, even when the two aren’t together the emotions still play into the story line.

The biggest twist of the series had to come at the end of season 2 when it was revealed that Cassidy ‘Beaver’ Casablancas was the killer. Even more horrifying was when he admitted to actually raping Veronica.

Throughout season 2, the big mystery was who sabotaged the bus and why. It took Veronica a long time to figure out what was really going on and once she did she was put in danger. Beaver had intentions of killing both Veronica and her father.

As Veronica confronts Beaver on the roof top of the hotel she sees an airplane blow. Beaver explains that it was the plane her father was on and Veronica breaks down. Beaver then expects Veronica to throw herself of the building to make things easier for him.

Beaver Cassablancas was introduced in the first season specifically as a set up to be the big bad of season 2.

Nothing Beaver does is excusable but at the same time he was a victim too. Veronica is struggling to fight Beaver and in the end she manages to contact Logan who helps her. In the end Beaver jumps off the roof and you feel for Dick who has no idea his family is so broken. At the same time you watch Veronica breakdown over the supposed loss of her father.

The episode was emotionally draining and shocking for so many reasons we had to name it the biggest twist of the series although a very close second would be who killed Lilly Kane.

Veronica Mars the complete series is available to stream through Amazon.com, if you are a prime member you can watch it for free. It is also available for purchase through Amazon and several other retailers.

This may be a fandom flashback but Veronica Mars fans are extremely lucky because this week the Veronica Mars Movie hits the big screen. It isn’t very often fans get a second chance to see how their favorite characters evolved after the show ended. Take a look at the opening scene from the film.

As mentioned, picking just one best for each category to fill out this post was hard! So here’s your chance to tell us which episode you thought was the best. We picked ten that pretty much make everyone’s best list in some way. If your favorite isn’t included be sure to tell us in the comments section.
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