Well, my mother loves the show, so I don't think it's just age. But I tried to get a co-worker, who is a 40-something male, to watch, and he couldn't get into it, either. There is a large male audience, but I would guess they're on the younger side. So that could be it. But, and this is what's really hard for the show, the fact remains that it's best received when watched in its entirity. These characters are people you have to grow to love. I still think the writing and acting can be appreciated without all the background, but you won't necessarily love the show just because of that. Also, last night was a very shippy episode, which is definitely allowed occasionally (and if you go by the first half of season 2, is allowed constantly...) but for someone just coming in, it may seem more like a teen drama than usual.
I disagree. I thought last night's episode was very good. What especially struck me was how Veronica Mars this season, IMHO, really seems to have the "feel" of her being on a college campus - at least as much as I remember my university days (almost 9 years ago now). Things like the battle between interest groups on campus, role of the campus radio station, football program, rich kids who just party, etc.
I actually think, with Veronica a little older and in a campus setting, her mystery solving role becomes much more believeable.
I really enjoyed the first season of Veronica Mars. I watched the reruns on weekend in late night that summer after because I didn't get UPN. Then the channel that syndicated the show chose not to air it after the summer so I never saw the show again. This show is well written, and even though I no longer watch it even though I now get it on CW, I think that it is more than deserving of the good ratings.
noelk1, I don't disagree with you that it was a great episode. I really think they're doing an amazing job pulling off the college experience. I just meant that for someone who is tuning in for the first time (or one of the few times) may think that all the show focuses on is Veronica's love life, since it was a big portion of the episode. And while I don't think the way VM handles relationships (she tracked his cell phone!) the same way teen dramas do, for an outsider, it may look like it.
I agree with JHoney. The characters grow on you. It's like how Arrested Development is funny... but it's REALLY funny when you've seen a string of episodes. Marc, if you allow it another two episodes, I think you'll find your heart ensnared
Last night was a very good Mystery of the Week story, and had a lot of teen drama to it. Veronica Mars' real power comes from its longer-arc mysteries, which wasn't really present in the episode (you neither got the emotional kick of the premiere's cliffhanger when Veronica's friend got raped and her head was shaved, nor did you truly have Veronica investigating something she believed to be related to the rapes... there was just the incidental of the campus feminist groups and the humor magazine and hearing about another rape).
Posts: 3548 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: 21 September 2006
I think Veronica Mars has the same problem like Desperate Housewives. The 1st season was magical, the 2nd one not so good and the 3rd season is back on track. Regardless of that, Marc, I would give the show a second chance (since your fellow TV critics like Michael Ausiello and Kristin Veitch are huge fans as well).
starbase - with the exception to your statement being that while DH's second season was terrible, VM's second season was only a letdown compared to the first season... it was still really good compared to most television. they were too ambitious with their storytelling and would up getting lost in a sea of red herrings and misdirection. while DH... well, it just became drek for a while.
Posts: 3548 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: 21 September 2006
Or, if Marc didn't catch the first season, I'd even consider getting it on DVD.
JHoney - point taken - seeing as I've never missed a single episode, I hadn't throught of last night's show from the perspective of someone who'd never/seen very few of the show.
As for what I like the most about season three - the fact that I'm actually able to watch it! This is the first time Veronica Mars episodes are even somewhat widely available to a Canadian audience at the same time as it airs in the US.
For season 1, VM didn't air until June 2005...and season 2 didn't come to us until July 2006 (and Canadian rights holder SunTV has yet to air the last 4 episodes of season 2!). At least for season 3, VM is on the CW which is more widely available in Canada via Chicago affiliate WGN than UPN ever was, plus on local channel SunTV in the Toronto area.
