Earth to Mars.

[rogueslayer452]

It must anniversary week, since it was brought to my attention that yesterday also marked the 20th anniversary of when Veronica Mars premiered.

This was a show I stuck around with during its original run. I remember getting into it in the middle of its first season after hearing so much about it from online friends, and let me tell you I was hooked. The show was fresh and engaging, it was bright and vibrant with color and great cinematography and stylistic choices. Veronica was such a fantastic character. I adored her sardonic dry sense of humor, how she fought for the underdogs, the relationship she had with her father along with helping him with his private detective work and doing her own investigating on the side, as well. The mystery and how it resolved was well-done, too, I liked that they didn't draw it out and had it wrapped up nicely. It was quite possibly a near-perfect first season.

Sadly, looking back the first season was probably the only good season the show had. Seasons two and three paled in comparison, and while the success of their Kickstarter was impressive, I didn't bother with the reunion movie that came out from that, and I refuse to acknowledge the fourth season revival.

Nevertheless, despite those grievances I do have fond memories with this show, and being reminded that it's been twenty years since its premiere is bringing them all back. Especially the fandom friends I made along the way with our shared love of the show at the time.

Comments

[elizalavelle]

I love that show so much! I found when I rewatched I liked seasons 2 and 3 much more than I had the first time around. Especially season 3.

The movie was a fun bit of nostalgia and I liked the books that came from it. Season 4 was... something. I'll go back to it eventually to see how it ages for me now that I know how it ends. In my head I'm already rewriting the ending into something better. I still loved the experience of watching it with a bunch of friends who were all into it. We made a full day of it and there was a lot of yelling at the TV lol

[necrophilia]

I loved Veronica Mars, especially the very strong first season. I remember thinking the concept would have been better if the series had been more of a Neptune-based anthology with revolving protagonists; the emotional component of the season one mystery wasn't replicable and that took away the impact of later seasons, in my opinion.

Fun fact: the movie Never Let Go, which just opened this weekend, has Percy Daggs III (Wallace!)'s son in one of the main roles.

I mean, I assume the relation is father-son. I can't find a corroborating source.

[rogueslayer452]

the emotional component of the season one mystery wasn't replicable and that took away the impact of later seasons, in my opinion.

Yeah, they really tried to recreate that magic from season one but it didn't work, it felt too forced.

I've thought that it should've been more of a limited series, like the first season was enough of a self-contained story as it was that we didn't need more seasons after that, however it be an anthology would've been interesting. The first season focusing on Veronica and the seasons that followed focusing on different characters trying to solve a mystery. Instead of the show being called Veronica Mars it could've simply been called Neptune, and Veronica would still be involved somehow helping these new protagonists with investigating on the side.

[pianogurl330]

I loved Veronica Mars! I agree season 1 was very strong and I like season 2 and 3 but they weren't as strong. I keep wanting to do a rewatch one of these days.

[rogueslayer452]

I definitely think season three was slightly better than season two, but neither were as strong as the first season.

It's interesting how the Veronica Mars fandom kind of drifted away after the fourth season, fans were so pissed about it. It seems to be a common thing with these revivals, they either are just okay or something fans decide to ignore.

I wasn't aware there were books written after the movie, that's interesting.

[rogueslayer452]

The only season I rewatched numerous of times in the past has been the first season. There really wasn't a skippable episode there, it was so solid. I've only watched select episodes of S2 and S3, though if I actually did a proper rewatch of those seasons maybe I'll gain a new perspective of them.

[blakmagjick]

"the first season was probably the only good season the show had"
Agreed. Tho I don't hate S2.

I don't even remember what happens in the movie, tho I was at the premiere party since friends of mine backed the Kickstarter...and I HATE how S4 ended, and haven't watched any of it again since then.

[rogueslayer452]

I haven't heard much about the movie, to be honest. It sounded like an excuse to get everyone and anyone who was involved with the show back for fanservice, and lacked kind of any plot. The fourth season revival, on the other hand, had so much backlash from fans that it was impossible to ignore the complaints and loud disappointment. Even though I was never a fan of Logan or the Logan/Veronica relationship at all, hearing about that ending was quite shocking and not in a good way. I think whatever love most of the fandom had for the show, or any continuation of it, disappeared after that.

[blakmagjick]

All of S4 wasn't amazing, but yeah, that ending...fuck it.

[silverusagi]

I really should rewatch the first season. It was so good.