I’m always intrigued by TV Guide’s choices for “Best Shows You’re Not Watching”, but for some reason I tend to stay on the ‘not watching’ list. I really should know better, because with as many of these shows having been released on DVD I’m learning that they really ARE the best shows I should have watched. A perfect case in point is the recent “Veronica Mars.” Here was a show that started off with a great premise (which I’ll get to shortly), at least as it was described in magazines, but still I didn’t watch. Then it started making news because there were rumors of its cancellation amid a flurry of fan activity. (Not the type of fan activity that initially saved “Roswell” mind you, but an outcry nonetheless.) As it turned out, the series did make it through a first and second season, and is now starting its third due to an increase in ratings (no doubt brought on by all the hullabaloo.

As usual, I waited for the first season to be released on DVD and opted to sit down and find out just what I had been missing. The series revolved around (as the title suggests) Veronica Mars, a high school girl who is reeling from the mysterious death of her best friend. The case was considered solved, but it seems that her sheriff father accused the wrong man. He loses his job and Veronica is ostracized by her upscale and popular friends. Her mother disappears and she is labeled a party girl after a drug-induced date rape at a party. They try and rebuild their lives by starting a detective agency, but it is a difficult road for both.

At first Veronica just works as a receptionist for her dad, but it turns out that she has quite the head for detective work. Soon she is solving mysteries for her classmates… but she can’t shake the thought that there is more to her friend’s death than meets the eye. It becomes her obsession.

I was completely blown away by how well written and acted this series was. I heard comments that it was a cross between “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” and “Nancy Drew”, which I found to be quite an accurate description. Kristen Bell is incredibly believable as Veronica, and carries herself well in the face of all the adversity that is thrown at her. But she is not the only one who carries the show. Her father is played by Enrico Colantoni, who used to be on “Just Shoot Me” and was the memorable Thermian Commander in “Galaxyquest.” There was no doubt that he had a flair for comedy, but here he is allowed an opportunity to play a more well-rounded character. The relationship between the two is a strong one.

Part of what I enjoyed so much about this series was that it presented each episode as a stand alone story, but the mystery and fallout of her friend’s death created a powerful back story that carried through the entire first season, and instead of carrying it over into the second season, the writers actually wrapped it up in the season finale. I was afraid as I was watching it, they would go all Laura Palmer on viewers and throw red herring after red herring in order to keep it going for however many seasons the show ran (which I hope is several seasons based on the quality of the first).

I’ll grant you that there are times the series was a little unbelievable, after all just how many mysteries can one town, let alone one high school, hold? But the show’s creators chose their plots wisely, and were careful to make sure there was enough variation to keep each one fresh. Veronica found herself investigating everything from credit card scams and long lost parents to teachers accused of sexual misconduct and secret campus societies. But no matter what she went up against, she was always a step ahead of the game and ready to solve the mystery.

Tempted as I was to start watching the second series when it aired, I instead waited for the DVD release. I just really enjoy watching these shows without commercials or those annoying little scroll and pop-up advertisements that show up while the show is on. (Hate 'em, hate 'em, hate 'em.) So, armed with the knowledge that the new season would be released this month, I eagerly awaited a copy to review.

The second season started up right where the first ended, and ties up the handful of loose ends that were left over. Then it moves into what will be the 'mystery of the season', which is a fatal bus crash that takes the life of some of the students from Veronica's high school. The plotting of the mystery being solved works much like the first season, with clues popping up from episode to episode while Veronica busies herself solving smaller mysteries and crimes for her fellow students. And this season ended up being even more personal that the first.

As far as the enhancement to the series in the second season, the character of Mac, played by Tina Majorino, was greatly increased. Majorino was one of those child stars that hit it fairly big a few years ago, and then seemed to drop out of site. Her character here is an extremely welcome addition to the show. New cast members this year included Charisma Carpenter as Kendall Casablancas, the extremely self-centered stepmom to Dick (Ryan Hansen) and Cassidy (Kyle Gallner), and Steve Guttenburg as Woody Goodman. As interested as I was to see Carpenter (who wouldn't be?), I was even more surprised to see Guttenburg, who hadn't starred in anything of note since "Three Men and a Baby." But the best had to be the extremely brief cameo appearances by director Kevin Smith and writer/director Joss Whedon, both of whom nearly steal the respective episodes the appear in.

Warner Brothers is now following up with the release of the third, and unfortunately final, season. Here the series switched gears in both tone and execution. Instead of a season long mystery to solve, Veronica faced several smaller mysteries. Most were still pretty compelling, but none reached the quality of what had been the first two seasons. Still, even with this drop "Veronica Mars" still stood head and shoulders above most of the rest of the dreck that we're given… especially when it comes to (un)reality shows.

The DVD set also makes up for any deficiencies that the third season suffered from in that the extra features offer more than any fan could ever ask for. Along with the expected deleted scenes and funny gag reel, there are a number of featurettes that focus on everything from why the main title credits changed so drastically to the overall politics of the series. You get to hear from creator Rob Thomas all about his directing experience, favorite episode moments and favorite guest stars. But the best of the featurettes is also one of the saddest. In it, we get to see the 12 minute pitch episode that was created to sell the new direction the series was going to take if it was renewed. And we're talking a WHOLE NEW direction, and one that I would have loved to see. Additionally, Thomas and supervising producer Dan Etheridge discuss this new direction and why they wanted to tackle it.

"Veronica Mars" would have made an interesting addition to television's landscape if it had made it into the fourth season, but at least we always have what we have. I recommend making "Veronica Mars" a show you DO watch, at least on DVD.

Episodes:
Welcome Wagon
My Big Fat Greek Rush Week
Wichita Linebacker
Charlie Don't Surf
President Evil
Hi, Infidelity
Of Vice and Men
Lord of the Pi's
Spit and Eggs
Show Me the Monkey
Poughkeepsie, Tramps & Thieves
There's Got to be a Morning After Pill
Postgame Mortem
Mars, Bars
Papa's Cabin
Un-American Graffiti
Debasement Tapes
I Know What You'll Do Next Summer
Weevils Wobble But They Don't Go Down
The Bitch is Back

Starring: Kristen Bell, Enrico Colantoni, Francis Capra, Jason Dohring, Kyle Gallner, Percy Daggs, Ryan Hansen, Teddy Dunn, Tessa Thompson
Specifications: Widescreen (1.78:1), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Warner Brothers
Release Date: 10/23/2007
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Veronica Mars: Season 3 an A.