I was told if I liked Buffy the Vampire Slayer — and I do — then I'd like Veronica Mars. Not knowing any details of the show beyond that, I watched the pilot episode this weekend.
A precocious teenager outwits her father, the police, and the high school bullies to solve crimes. Why didn't someone just say it's a modern Nancy Drew?
And by "modern", I mean "dark". The first episode alludes to a variety of sad truths that CSI fans may classify as entertaining, but it's hardly escapism. Before I watched Veronica Mars, I never consciously observed this trait of my viewing habits: I like shows that are fun. (Go fig.) Sure, a show's characters should be real people who face real situations — but I prefer metaphorical representations that employ vampires, aliens, and cowboys. We have enough problems in our real world that I don't need our own environment and social ailments repackaged as entertainment. Give me something I can't get on the evening news.
Ken's commented:
We have enough problems in our real world that I don't need our own environment and social ailments repackaged as entertainment. Give me something I can't get on the evening news.
I've lost count of the number of times I've expressed a similar opinion, although as usual Ken's managed to phrase it better.
My version often goes along the lines of "I like happy endings. Yes, I realise they don't always happen in real life, but that doesn't mean I want to see the alternative in entertainment — I can watch the news for that!"
I enjoy Veronica Mars. It's kind of a light crime drama. :)
While Veronica Mars is indeed dark, didn't Buffy: the Vampire Slayer and Angel also flirt with noirish themes? The snarky dialogue, young-adult melodrama, and story arcs of Mars are similar to those of Buffy, but without the fantastical elements, to be fair.
I also usually prefer lighter, more heroic fare (don't get me started about the revisionist Battlestar Galactica), but I enjoy that Nancy — er, Veronica — and friends do consistently outwit and outmaneuver their opponents, even when the odds are stacked against them.
Kristen Bell, star of the late Veronica Mars, will be joining the cast of Heroes. More at ComingSoon.net.