Veronica Mars, "Russkie Business"

[carynb]

First up, I loved this episode.

There were a lot of things to love about this episode, actually. Aly Hannigan was cool, although her performance was strongly "Willow trying to be a bad-ass", at least for the first scene.

Good Stuff:

• That first scene between Trina, Logan, and Veronica? Wow. I loved the subtlety of Veronica's reaction to the nugget of info that Logan's been abused, but if Trina had grown up in that house, why wouldn't she believe him? I'm thinking she must have actually been raised by her mom, and not been around the Echoll's household all that much. But in that case, why would she have Lynn's clothes and old credit cards? I do have all kinds of questions about the Echolls family structure.



• Logan's slow breakdown as he walked away from Trina was really well done. Again, I loved the way Kristen Bell played Veronica's reaction to watching him crumble - the "oh, Shit" look, the slow reaching out to pat his back, and then, finally, just holding him as he cried. Wonderful.



• I'm glad that Meg showed up again, and that she's just a nice, friendly girl who likes Veronica. I'd kinda like her to have more than one friend. *g*



• The Wallace & Veronica "hangin' out" scene made me giggle.



• The "letting go of the past" theme that ran through all three plots, with different results. The Russian woman looking to find her lost love who was actually trying to find someone in Witness Protection kinda pointed out the need to let other people let go (how do detective agencies generally determine whether or not someone should be found, anyway?). Logan not being able to let go of his mother resulted in the painful realization, several weeks later, that she probably is dead. And, Yay, Veronica, for being able to move past Duncan. I was quite disappointed when she didn't tell Meg that Duncan was Meg's secret admirer when she first found out, but she did the right thing in the end. *g*

Not-So-Good Stuff:

• Y'know, I'm really not fussy on a Veronica/Leo match up. Leo's cute and all, but I keep thinking "and how old is he? Why is he dating a high school girl?" Don't you have to have a college degree these days before getting into the Police Academy, so he's probably mid-twenties at least? And this has nothing to do with my desire for a Veronica/Logan pairing *g*

The big question out of the episode: Who the hell is blackmailing/threatening Lianne Mars? Clarence Weidman was in that bar with her - protection or enforcer? He took the pictures of Veronica Lianne received, but is he the one who doctored them with the cross hairs? I keep going back to Celeste being behind this.

No new episode for 5 weeks? That sucks.

(cross-posted to veronica_mars)

Comments

[halfabee.livejournal.com]

First up, I loved this episode.

Seconded! Although, again, the case of the week, while a good twist, relegates the VM plots to the back burner.

I'm thinking she must have actually been raised by her mom, and not been around the Echoll's household all that much. But in that case, why would she have Lynn's clothes and old credit cards? I do have all kinds of questions about the Echolls family structure.

I'm with you on this one. I missed that Logan & Trina shared fathers, mothers would have made more sense to me - credit card & clothes. But then I would have expected Trina to have more, I don't know, sympathy? Yeah, Trina & Logan may have some unpleasant history, but families are for mutual support, not seeing how far you can push your step-siblings. (Although the stuff at the end was more sweet & sour that I would understand. Kinda "Drunk again, Uncle Mike (Garibaldi)?")

Logan's slow breakdown as he walked away from Trina was really well done. Again, I loved the way Kristen Bell played Veronica's reaction to watching him crumble - the "oh, Shit" look, the slow reaching out to pat his back, and then, finally, just holding him as he cried. Wonderful.

The best acted moment I have seen a long, long while. And it is so true to life. All of Logan's hope that his mother wasn't gone disappeared in an instant and everything he was holding back came crashing down.

The "so book me a room" bit made me smile. Typical Logan, very true to how I would expect him to handle it. I was only half paying attention to his answering machine message, unfortunately.

Logan is turing out to be my favorite character, maybe even more than Veronica or Keith. (Setting up the Ruskies - okay; putting yourself in a position where you might get shot - not okay.)

The Wallace & Veronica "hangin' out" scene made me giggle.

I dunno, can't agree with you there. I think Wallace is starting to chafe at being Veronica's boy Friday.

Y'know, I'm really not fussy on a Veronica/Leo match up.

Kimberley & I totally agree. He should know better than to get involved with Veronica. Too young, a protective father & a history that spells mud at work.

Clarence Weidman was in that bar with her - protection or enforcer?

Missed that.

No new episode for 5 weeks? That sucks.

Waaah!

[carynb.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on this one. I missed that Logan & Trina shared fathers, mothers would have made more sense to me - credit card & clothes.

Well, when Logan made a comment about her wearing "Mom's clothes", she very sharply corrected him with "Stepmother". I took that to mean her stepmother, but she might have meant his. So, I took them as half-siblings, with the same father. I guess she's supposed to be about 5 years older, so that works.

I think Wallace is starting to chafe at being Veronica's boy Friday.
I actually agree with you, here, but the interaction between them still amuses me.

And Logan is very much my favorite character, at this point. I like both Veronica and Keith, but Logan just...complicated, and that makes him interesting.

[halfabee.livejournal.com]

Well, when Logan made a comment about her wearing "Mom's clothes", she very sharply corrected him with "Stepmother". I took that to mean her stepmother, but she might have meant his. So, I took them as half-siblings, with the same father. I guess she's supposed to be about 5 years older, so that works.

No, his step-mother doesn't make sense unless they were both children of previous marriages. Hmm, that would make sense in a Hollywood kinda way.

[tormenta.livejournal.com]

Without reading the spoilers, I agree on the new no new ep for 5 weeks comment.

Wulfie and I watch it every week, and between the ep where she's hiding in the car listening to councilling sessions (I reallly hated that one) and the lack of new shows? We're pretty sad.

[carynb.livejournal.com]

I'll admit, I often have problems with Veronica's lack of respect for other people's privacy. I know she's supposed to be a P.I. (of sorts), but sometimes she takes it to far. Eavesdropping on the counseling session was one of those times. I liked most of that episode, though. *g*

But, I'm gonna miss it for the next few weeks. I don't think they're even showing re-runs on UPN, which might be a bad sign for renewal.

[halfabee.livejournal.com]

I'll admit, I often have problems with Veronica's lack of respect for other people's privacy.

It's the difference between could and should. I suspect Veronica has gotten so accustomed to digging into people's secrets that she has almost forgotten there are times that she shouldn't, even though she could. Even getting covered in ink hasn't changed her ways.