By Richard James
Finally, there’s a season of television that is actually delivering good shows to watch. For the past few seasons, the TV networks have been subjecting the viewing audience with an abundant amount of reality television waste. Thanks to the declining ratings of cosmetology carbon copies, “Apprentice”-type rip-offs, and other nonsensical forms of “reality” TV, we have been welcomed with scripted shows that actually work.
The sitcom format still needs some tinkering, but dramas are exploring originality than clichés.
The ABC shows “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives” are good examples of quality shows that just keep getting better and better. Unfortunately, for every success story there is always a casualty in the bunch. One of those near-death shows is “Veronica Mars,” which has become the most underrated show of the new season.
There are various reasons why this show is not getting the audience it deserves. One reason is the show is playing on a network that is known just for its wrestling show and insipid, urbanized minstrel-like shows. Of course, UPN is the network that is being represented here. Thankfully, to changes in management and production overview, UPN is finally taking risks with “Veronica Mars” and another good show called “Kevin Hill.”
“Kevin Hill” has nothing to worry about as far as ratings are concerned: they’re good. “Veronica Mars,” on the other hand, needs more of the viewing audience than the anemic ratings they are getting now.
The show’s premise was questionable to begin with. Sort of a Nancy Drew for the new millennium. The protagonist Veronica Mars (played by a star-in-the-making Kristen Bell) is a teenager with major issues. Thus far, she’s being alienated at her school, due to recent events that has affected her life immensely.
Veronica’s dad Keith (Enrico Colantoni) used to be the sheriff of picturesque town know as Neptune, until he went after billionaire Jake Kane (Kyle Secor) for the suspicious murder of his own daughter Lilly (Amanda Seyfried). His attempt at making Jake a suspect lead to his being fired, Veronica’s mom skipping town, and turning her from in-crowd status to loner-rebel.
Now that her father is a private investigator, Veronica’s curious nature makes her become a super sleuth in diverse cases. Not only does she have her assortment of intriguing cases to deal with, from e-mail scams and adulterers, but she has to contend with the murder of her best friend Lilly-who was the sister of her ex, Duncan (Teddy Dunn).
The looming disappearance of her mother becomes a quibble to Veronica, so are suppressive memories of a possible date rape shown in the pilot episode. Besides her father helping out, she has fellow outcast Wallace (Parcy Daggs III) playing her sometimes partner.
Creator Rob Thomas has made a rare find on television, much less film: an empowering young female that is reminiscent of the “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer” days. Veronica is not your typical rebel-without-a-cause heroine, her feelings and vulnerability comes out when she recurrently discover her own shortcomings.
The ominous presence of the mom and murder mysteries also what makes this show very addictive. It’s interesting to watch on a weekly basis to find out where exactly is it all going. The answers are not so black and white. When you thing you got a mystery figured out, another surprise come out.
What really works for the show is its actors. Bell is a real find here. Her spunkiness is just as good as her vulnerability quality. She loses herself in the role. This is a show that you might be hesitant to watch due to the whole another-high-school-show feeling, but it’s much more than that. Some of the characters may be from high school, but they are on a whole other adult planet.
Final Grade: A
Kristen Bell stars in the UPN hit series “Veronica Mars.” (Image Courtesy upn.com)