3.04 'Charlie Don't Surf' L/V Thoughts
Sigh, so I Guess This Icon Wasn't a Spoiler After All :( Anyhoo, I'm trying to get my Logan/Veronica analysis done earlier and I did it this week, so yay. This is for the upcoming episode breakdown for The LoVe Shack. Enjoy.
Scene One: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
This may be the healthiest we've seen Logan ... like ever. Veronica's all worried and slightly freaking and Logan's joking and smirking in good-natured fashion, but when she continues to freak he became all mature and just awesome. His "Veronica, I'm not going to say anything bad," was just so, so awesome. Logan being reassuring? Logan being the calm, rational one? Logan? Wow! That night on the roof was not a one-shot deal (although, obviously those were much worse circumstances). Logan really has grown up a bit, his death-wish is gone and he's settling into being a pretty decent guy. Go Logan!
But, let's back up a bit to the "milky thighs" comment and just hee! All of Veronica's ranting about her nakedness which Logan has seen and touched, etc. was good for humor. But, ah, when Logan said the phrase "milky thighs," there was definitely a rise in the temperature. Suddenly, there was a whole new level of LOGANANDVERONICAAREHAVINGSEXOHMY!!!! to the mood. Sometimes it just all depends on who's saying the what. Hee.
Finally there was the moment when Veronica held out her hand for Logan to take. *Sigh* What a lovely little throwback (intentional or not) to A Trip to the Dentist when discovered by a room full of 09ers, Logan held out his hand for Veronica to take showing that he was cool with everyone knowing that she was his girlfriend. Here, Veronica held out her hand to Logan to take before sitting down for dinner with dad, essentially showing that she was cool with Logan being allowed into the Mars inner family circle. And let us take note, this is the first time we've ever seen Veronica and Keith have dinner with ANYONE! And Keith suggested it which makes one think that he knows how serious Veronica is about Logan. Squee!
Scene Two: Familial Love
I enjoyed this scene for both the surface and what's beneath. Of course, the surface level was just funny. The questions casually asked that Logan tried to answer and Veronica's nonstop interrupt-fest at just about every seemingly innocuous query was amusing. I would have liked to see the scene go along a little longer, but what we did get ... it was so much fun seeing the three of them together, interacting. And ah, it was nice seeing Keith attempting to be nice -- even if it wasn't genuine, which may not have been. Perhaps, Veronica had the right of it. I do wonder if it was more Veronica not giving him the chance to put Logan in his place, so to speak. I'm thinking this because of what happened when Keith met Troy (in The Wrath of Con). Like in this scene, Keith started out calm and interested in what the boy his daughter was seeing was all about. It was only after he had given Troy enough rope to hang himself that Keith went in for the kill and put him in his place. It was quite clear that Veronica -- judging from the many requests she gave her father to be nice -- was well aware of this little technique of Keith's. Therefore, all of her interruptions likely had nothing to do with lack of trust in Logan or fear that he would put his foot in it. She knows her father and knows that a seemingly benign question could very well be just two moves away from skewering the poor youth.
So, hee! I do think Veronica should have more faith in Logan because I like to believe that he's crafty enough that he could neatly sidestep any of Keith's verbal traps and Veronica should realize this. However, I'll definitely give her a pass because I think it wasn't so much not having faith in Logan as seeing her mighty father as impervious to even Logan's fast footwork.
There was also some lovely character movement here from Logan in how he was watching the interplay between Keith and Veronica. Logan fans have long been frustrated with Veronica's lack of reciprocal feelings for Logan (banished after the last episode -- SQUEE!) because Logan not only didn't get it from Veronica; he'd gotten it from no one else. Certainly not from his family. And to see Logan, an outsider even while sitting at their table, watching this clear family unit so filled with love and genuine affection was heartbreaking. He looked at the two with a sorta dazed, adoring wonderment. (Okay, I'm sure the "adoring" was mostly for Veronica). It was as if he was witnessing something so startling wonderful to behold; he couldn't keep the smile off his face or the sparkle from his eyes. And, of course, there is lovely resonance with this at the end of the episode. But we're not there yet.
Before we move on I want to comment on one more aspect of this scene that is very LoVe-friendly. I mentioned above that I don't think Veronica's interruptions had anything to do with lack of faith in Logan; in fact I felt that she was trying to protect Logan. In addition, she was also happily trying to build him up for Keith as well. ("Hearst accepted him late because his scores were so high," she said proudly.) It's so very nice to see emotional continuity carried over from last week.
Scene Three: Go Get 'Em, Bobcat
Honestly the nicest thing about this scene was the comparison to the only other time we've seen Logan and Veronica in an elevator together -- this elevator, in fact, with the horrific gold, spangly decor. That would, of course, be the infamous sole LoVe scene in Donut Run, Rob Thomas' directorial debut in which we saw Logan and Veronica nastier to one another since, oh, The Pilot. Yeah, that bad.
What a difference nine months made. Just check out the pictorial evidence below:
But enough of that not-so-lovely memory, back to the present and in the present, Logan and Veronica have continued their streak of utter adorability. Veronica jokingly asked Logan if he's showing her porn (as she's leaning over to touch him), and then in true Veronica Mars fashion wondering if it has something to do with a soft, cute animal (ponies, puppies, kittens, oh my!). Alas for this cat lover -- what I wouldn't give to see Logan cuddling a kitty -- felines were not in store for the young Miss Mars. Instead it was all about the dollars, Logan explained, opening the door to his suite himself, instead of letting Veronica use her key (squee!).
Okay I lied ... at the start of this when I said that the compare/contrast is the nicest thing, nah. It's the second nicest thing. The bestest thing is the fact that we are not seeing the show play fast and loose with their relationship --Veronica is as wonderfully open as she could be and caring for Logan in episode three and then back to being emotionally withdrawn here. No, we are still getting a Veronica who loves Logan and is totally playing the supportive girlfriend. She offered the help of Keith's accountant and then simply the help of herself. Ahhh, Veronica giving of herself (and her dad's associates) to Logan. Lovely.
As for Logan, well, he just is in a much sprightlier mood than the first couple of episodes, which we can certainly choose to believe is thanks to his "Bobcat" opening up to him at last. ** Sigh **
Scene Four: My Eyes Adored You
Hee! The title pretty much sums up the entire first half of this scene because that's about all that Logan did - let his eyes adore Veronica. While Veronica was all "wtf?!" about Keith and Harmony, Logan was all about Veronica and adoring her with his eyes. Seriously. Beyond taking in the older pair when he and Veronica first walked in, his eyes were practically glued to Veronica and they were all shiny and happy and filled with schmoopy, gooey love. Hee! And what's really nice about this scene is that in her own way, Veronica showed that she's filled with as much schmoopy, gooey love. After Harmony left, and Keith told Logan about the deal with the money, Veronica was completely there! The questions that had been careening through her mind at full speed moments before about who the woman was that her daddy was being so chummy with came to a standstill once Keith brought up Logan's problem. Then she was immediately thinking of Logan, of his problems and of how he could be helped. Totally feeling for him. Man, in the world of Veronica Mars, when her brain stops mid-gear whirring over Keith of all things and parks firmly on your mystery, that's love. That is love.
Scene Five: Veronica, The Bestest Girlfriend Ever!
Okay, I cannot be the only person who flashbacked to the Hot Dogs when Veronica was checking up on Trina's "sleaze of the week" boyfriend. Ah memories. They're in a better place now, but hey, that sleuthing led to a really, really hot kiss. Oh well, can't have everything. And what we have here is Veronica really helping Logan. She's been such a concerned, supportive girlfriend … it's actually a little mind-boggling.
Scene Six: Veronica's Beau
Short and sweet, Logan tells Veronica to screw her brains out. Hee! The thing that most may remember from this scene is that after Veronica called Logan her beau (little hee!), she leaned over and kissed his cheek and as she walked away, you can see Logan wiping his cheek. I would like to point out that about five seconds before, she had just taken a big swig from her water bottle, no doubt her lips were pretty wet, thus the cheek-wipe. Logan doesn't think that Veronica has cooties!
Scene Seven: A Working Relationship
Again, as in most of this episode, there's not much to analyze. It simply comes down to one thing: For the first time since this show began we are seeing Logan and Veronica in a healthy relationship. She's open and loving as he has always been with her when things are romantic. She's supportive and concerned for him, ditto he for her. They're both there for one another, laughing together, eating together, and just simply being together. And we see that here in this scene in full force. Veronica did all that she did (and clearly spent a lot of time on it) just for Logan, no other reason. The answer to this would provide no gain to her, it was all for him. She found out where his money was going bye-bye just to help him out and without making any snide quips about his wealth, no less.
I don't think that it can't be said enough how wonderful this is for those fans of Logan and Veronica who genuinely like seeing them together as a couple and aren't just into them because of the love-hate, push-pull, dramatics, bloodshed feel, angst-o-rama of what their relationship has been shown to be up until now. I'm talking about fans who like them for one or some or all of the following reasons: The dynamics of their characters, good and bad, work well together. Jason Dohring and Kristen Bell have chemistry whether they're playing out a healthy relationship or a fucked-up one. Or simply because they're pretty together. If any or all of the above apply, such viewers (and I count myself as one where all three apply) have got to love what we are seeing. They work. Logan and Veronica, in a relationship, can and DO work.
Oh, and hee! She used her bonus birthday gift.
Scene Eight: What a Suspicious Mind You Have, Veronica Mars
Not much here. Most of the action was on Logan and Fake Charlie's interaction, but it was definitely interesting how assessing Veronica's gaze was. We've ever only seen Veronica like that when (a) she's solving a case -- and as far as she's concerned at this point, this case done be solved or (b) when someone she cares about is possibly be taken for a ride. And as the last episode (and this one) have shown us, Veronica definitely cares about Logan. It's still nice see obvious proof smack us in the face. She sensed that something was not quite right with the too-perfect Charlie Stone, but like the good girlfriend she is proving herself to be, she didn't throw it in Logan's face. (Ssh! She needs to get proof first.)
And let us not fail to note that Logan introduced Veronica as his girlfriend. Which, of course, we all noted he didn't do last week when those skanks lovely young women invited him to a party. I stand by my fanwanking that he just didn't want spend too much time talking to them, here he thinks that Fake Charlie isn't fake and therefore he introduces her with due respect and obviousness because of her importance in his life. Uh huh.
Scene Nine: Charlie Do Surf ... But He's No Charlie
Why exactly did Veronica choose to out Fake Charlie in public? Other than that, I understand why Veronica did what she did and even though he didn't say anything, I'm fairly confident that Logan did too. What worked here is that again we saw a Veronica who cares about her boyfriend and it was in the little things. Veronica loves her big reveals (which could explain the why of the locale she chose), but her smug demeanor was kept to a minimum.
There is one detail in particular I'd like to mention. Some have wondered in the past if Veronica is bothered by Logan's use of force at times, but I think this again proves that while she's not hip-hip-hooray about it, she understands he's a young man and males do like to use their fists. Yes, she reacted with a jump when he punched Fake Charlie, but she didn't tell him to stop or try and keep him from doing so at any point and she certainly had the opportunity. In addition, once Fake Charlie was down, it was seemingly forgotten by Veronica as her concern was fully for Logan and apologizing for taking away Logan's "family."
And that is why she was apologizing. Yes, the guy was lying, but Logan was enjoying having him in his life; he was loving having a family member he could talk to and get along with. Although it would have come out anyway (the Vanity Fair story), had Veronica not been the one to reveal it, Logan would have had that "family" for a bit longer and Veronica wouldn't have been the one to take it away from him. And for that, she was sorry.
Scene Ten: The Girl's A'Learning
Okay, seriously, my favorite moment in this episode was right here. When Logan just ran up, ran around her, wrapping his arm around her waist, I loved it. It was a gleeful overreaction to cover his pain, but it was glee directed towards Veronica in a totally adorable way and it just made me smile. I rewound that moment about five times when I first saw it. As for the rest of the scene? See? Logan understood why she did what she did and had no problem with her doing it.
I felt rather sad for Logan that he immediately assumed the worst of Real Charlie, but I can't blame him. I just can't. Not after all of the disappointment he's had in his life and I don't think that Veronica could either. I'm stopping this train of thought now because this is the LoVe analysis, not the Logan analysis and I do have one more LoVe thing to point out. (Okay, two. The hair kissing and stroking was sweet Suh-weet. I want Logan for a boyfriend. I'm willing to risk the piano wire.) Ahem.
I loved how even though Veronica did think that Logan was assuming and possibly wrong about Charlie, she clearly took stock in his frame of mind and didn't push. Proof. She's learning that before she brings him bad news, she needs proof. Now, let's just hope that all of that learning will apply when next she thinks he's being a bad boy, mayhap she'll try and find proof before going all accusatory. Right now, she's hitting all the right cylinders and I couldn't be more proud of her. You go, Veronica!
Scene Eleven: V and Sympathy
Short, but sweet and if it doesn't quite pack the emotional punch it could have I blame it on a few shallow quirks -- but they do matter -- and sorry, Kristen Bell, and the director. First the shallow, Veronica's hair and make-up were just so blah and just wrong that it was almost striking. Maybe it was just me, but it threw me off when we saw pretty, pretty Logan (because Jason did look EXTREMELY pretty in this scene) and then Veronica looking about as blah as I've ever seen her. That's the shallow. As for Bell, it wasn't the entire scene by a long shot, just the first couple of lines. I don't know why she chose to deliver them the way she did and it's very, very possible that it was the director's call (she was ON for the rest of the episode beautifully), but those first couple of lines sounded like she was talking to a small child and trying to explain something that was possibly too difficult for him to understand. It was very odd. But again, I could just blame the director who did an overall blah job in directing, I felt. Ah, I've been very happy with Kristen Bell the last few episodes, I'll blame the director.
No even with my issues, I still enjoyed this scene because as I mentioned above, I really felt that Logan was just so touched by Keith and Veronica's interaction at dinner. He was so dazzled at the affection he witnessed between them because it was so alien to anything he'd ever experienced. So it was a lovely, lovely callback to that reaction from Logan to have him tell Veronica pretty much that (and with teary eyes, no less). What was also quite lovely was Veronica again being such a wonderful girlfriend, so very, very there for Logan. I loved her leaning into him, putting her chin on his shoulder, her arm caressing him in sympathy. It was so sweet and so loving.
I must say that I'm truly very happy that when we were given such a show as we were last week that proved that Veronica DOES love Logan, it didn't switch gears on us. This episode could NOT have aired at any point before Wichita Linebacker because the difference in Veronica in relation to her treatment/attitude towards Logan is so startling. And so wonderful in contrast. And we were, yet again, given another scene encapsulating that beautifully.
Brava.
Scene One: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
This may be the healthiest we've seen Logan ... like ever. Veronica's all worried and slightly freaking and Logan's joking and smirking in good-natured fashion, but when she continues to freak he became all mature and just awesome. His "Veronica, I'm not going to say anything bad," was just so, so awesome. Logan being reassuring? Logan being the calm, rational one? Logan? Wow! That night on the roof was not a one-shot deal (although, obviously those were much worse circumstances). Logan really has grown up a bit, his death-wish is gone and he's settling into being a pretty decent guy. Go Logan!
But, let's back up a bit to the "milky thighs" comment and just hee! All of Veronica's ranting about her nakedness which Logan has seen and touched, etc. was good for humor. But, ah, when Logan said the phrase "milky thighs," there was definitely a rise in the temperature. Suddenly, there was a whole new level of LOGANANDVERONICAAREHAVINGSEXOHMY!!!! to the mood. Sometimes it just all depends on who's saying the what. Hee.
Finally there was the moment when Veronica held out her hand for Logan to take. *Sigh* What a lovely little throwback (intentional or not) to A Trip to the Dentist when discovered by a room full of 09ers, Logan held out his hand for Veronica to take showing that he was cool with everyone knowing that she was his girlfriend. Here, Veronica held out her hand to Logan to take before sitting down for dinner with dad, essentially showing that she was cool with Logan being allowed into the Mars inner family circle. And let us take note, this is the first time we've ever seen Veronica and Keith have dinner with ANYONE! And Keith suggested it which makes one think that he knows how serious Veronica is about Logan. Squee!
Scene Two: Familial Love
I enjoyed this scene for both the surface and what's beneath. Of course, the surface level was just funny. The questions casually asked that Logan tried to answer and Veronica's nonstop interrupt-fest at just about every seemingly innocuous query was amusing. I would have liked to see the scene go along a little longer, but what we did get ... it was so much fun seeing the three of them together, interacting. And ah, it was nice seeing Keith attempting to be nice -- even if it wasn't genuine, which may not have been. Perhaps, Veronica had the right of it. I do wonder if it was more Veronica not giving him the chance to put Logan in his place, so to speak. I'm thinking this because of what happened when Keith met Troy (in The Wrath of Con). Like in this scene, Keith started out calm and interested in what the boy his daughter was seeing was all about. It was only after he had given Troy enough rope to hang himself that Keith went in for the kill and put him in his place. It was quite clear that Veronica -- judging from the many requests she gave her father to be nice -- was well aware of this little technique of Keith's. Therefore, all of her interruptions likely had nothing to do with lack of trust in Logan or fear that he would put his foot in it. She knows her father and knows that a seemingly benign question could very well be just two moves away from skewering the poor youth.
So, hee! I do think Veronica should have more faith in Logan because I like to believe that he's crafty enough that he could neatly sidestep any of Keith's verbal traps and Veronica should realize this. However, I'll definitely give her a pass because I think it wasn't so much not having faith in Logan as seeing her mighty father as impervious to even Logan's fast footwork.
There was also some lovely character movement here from Logan in how he was watching the interplay between Keith and Veronica. Logan fans have long been frustrated with Veronica's lack of reciprocal feelings for Logan (banished after the last episode -- SQUEE!) because Logan not only didn't get it from Veronica; he'd gotten it from no one else. Certainly not from his family. And to see Logan, an outsider even while sitting at their table, watching this clear family unit so filled with love and genuine affection was heartbreaking. He looked at the two with a sorta dazed, adoring wonderment. (Okay, I'm sure the "adoring" was mostly for Veronica). It was as if he was witnessing something so startling wonderful to behold; he couldn't keep the smile off his face or the sparkle from his eyes. And, of course, there is lovely resonance with this at the end of the episode. But we're not there yet.
Before we move on I want to comment on one more aspect of this scene that is very LoVe-friendly. I mentioned above that I don't think Veronica's interruptions had anything to do with lack of faith in Logan; in fact I felt that she was trying to protect Logan. In addition, she was also happily trying to build him up for Keith as well. ("Hearst accepted him late because his scores were so high," she said proudly.) It's so very nice to see emotional continuity carried over from last week.
Scene Three: Go Get 'Em, Bobcat
Honestly the nicest thing about this scene was the comparison to the only other time we've seen Logan and Veronica in an elevator together -- this elevator, in fact, with the horrific gold, spangly decor. That would, of course, be the infamous sole LoVe scene in Donut Run, Rob Thomas' directorial debut in which we saw Logan and Veronica nastier to one another since, oh, The Pilot. Yeah, that bad.
What a difference nine months made. Just check out the pictorial evidence below:
But enough of that not-so-lovely memory, back to the present and in the present, Logan and Veronica have continued their streak of utter adorability. Veronica jokingly asked Logan if he's showing her porn (as she's leaning over to touch him), and then in true Veronica Mars fashion wondering if it has something to do with a soft, cute animal (ponies, puppies, kittens, oh my!). Alas for this cat lover -- what I wouldn't give to see Logan cuddling a kitty -- felines were not in store for the young Miss Mars. Instead it was all about the dollars, Logan explained, opening the door to his suite himself, instead of letting Veronica use her key (squee!).
Okay I lied ... at the start of this when I said that the compare/contrast is the nicest thing, nah. It's the second nicest thing. The bestest thing is the fact that we are not seeing the show play fast and loose with their relationship --Veronica is as wonderfully open as she could be and caring for Logan in episode three and then back to being emotionally withdrawn here. No, we are still getting a Veronica who loves Logan and is totally playing the supportive girlfriend. She offered the help of Keith's accountant and then simply the help of herself. Ahhh, Veronica giving of herself (and her dad's associates) to Logan. Lovely.
As for Logan, well, he just is in a much sprightlier mood than the first couple of episodes, which we can certainly choose to believe is thanks to his "Bobcat" opening up to him at last. ** Sigh **
Scene Four: My Eyes Adored You
Hee! The title pretty much sums up the entire first half of this scene because that's about all that Logan did - let his eyes adore Veronica. While Veronica was all "wtf?!" about Keith and Harmony, Logan was all about Veronica and adoring her with his eyes. Seriously. Beyond taking in the older pair when he and Veronica first walked in, his eyes were practically glued to Veronica and they were all shiny and happy and filled with schmoopy, gooey love. Hee! And what's really nice about this scene is that in her own way, Veronica showed that she's filled with as much schmoopy, gooey love. After Harmony left, and Keith told Logan about the deal with the money, Veronica was completely there! The questions that had been careening through her mind at full speed moments before about who the woman was that her daddy was being so chummy with came to a standstill once Keith brought up Logan's problem. Then she was immediately thinking of Logan, of his problems and of how he could be helped. Totally feeling for him. Man, in the world of Veronica Mars, when her brain stops mid-gear whirring over Keith of all things and parks firmly on your mystery, that's love. That is love.
Scene Five: Veronica, The Bestest Girlfriend Ever!
Okay, I cannot be the only person who flashbacked to the Hot Dogs when Veronica was checking up on Trina's "sleaze of the week" boyfriend. Ah memories. They're in a better place now, but hey, that sleuthing led to a really, really hot kiss. Oh well, can't have everything. And what we have here is Veronica really helping Logan. She's been such a concerned, supportive girlfriend … it's actually a little mind-boggling.
Scene Six: Veronica's Beau
Short and sweet, Logan tells Veronica to screw her brains out. Hee! The thing that most may remember from this scene is that after Veronica called Logan her beau (little hee!), she leaned over and kissed his cheek and as she walked away, you can see Logan wiping his cheek. I would like to point out that about five seconds before, she had just taken a big swig from her water bottle, no doubt her lips were pretty wet, thus the cheek-wipe. Logan doesn't think that Veronica has cooties!
Scene Seven: A Working Relationship
Again, as in most of this episode, there's not much to analyze. It simply comes down to one thing: For the first time since this show began we are seeing Logan and Veronica in a healthy relationship. She's open and loving as he has always been with her when things are romantic. She's supportive and concerned for him, ditto he for her. They're both there for one another, laughing together, eating together, and just simply being together. And we see that here in this scene in full force. Veronica did all that she did (and clearly spent a lot of time on it) just for Logan, no other reason. The answer to this would provide no gain to her, it was all for him. She found out where his money was going bye-bye just to help him out and without making any snide quips about his wealth, no less.
I don't think that it can't be said enough how wonderful this is for those fans of Logan and Veronica who genuinely like seeing them together as a couple and aren't just into them because of the love-hate, push-pull, dramatics, bloodshed feel, angst-o-rama of what their relationship has been shown to be up until now. I'm talking about fans who like them for one or some or all of the following reasons: The dynamics of their characters, good and bad, work well together. Jason Dohring and Kristen Bell have chemistry whether they're playing out a healthy relationship or a fucked-up one. Or simply because they're pretty together. If any or all of the above apply, such viewers (and I count myself as one where all three apply) have got to love what we are seeing. They work. Logan and Veronica, in a relationship, can and DO work.
Oh, and hee! She used her bonus birthday gift.
Scene Eight: What a Suspicious Mind You Have, Veronica Mars
Not much here. Most of the action was on Logan and Fake Charlie's interaction, but it was definitely interesting how assessing Veronica's gaze was. We've ever only seen Veronica like that when (a) she's solving a case -- and as far as she's concerned at this point, this case done be solved or (b) when someone she cares about is possibly be taken for a ride. And as the last episode (and this one) have shown us, Veronica definitely cares about Logan. It's still nice see obvious proof smack us in the face. She sensed that something was not quite right with the too-perfect Charlie Stone, but like the good girlfriend she is proving herself to be, she didn't throw it in Logan's face. (Ssh! She needs to get proof first.)
And let us not fail to note that Logan introduced Veronica as his girlfriend. Which, of course, we all noted he didn't do last week when those skanks lovely young women invited him to a party. I stand by my fanwanking that he just didn't want spend too much time talking to them, here he thinks that Fake Charlie isn't fake and therefore he introduces her with due respect and obviousness because of her importance in his life. Uh huh.
Scene Nine: Charlie Do Surf ... But He's No Charlie
Why exactly did Veronica choose to out Fake Charlie in public? Other than that, I understand why Veronica did what she did and even though he didn't say anything, I'm fairly confident that Logan did too. What worked here is that again we saw a Veronica who cares about her boyfriend and it was in the little things. Veronica loves her big reveals (which could explain the why of the locale she chose), but her smug demeanor was kept to a minimum.
There is one detail in particular I'd like to mention. Some have wondered in the past if Veronica is bothered by Logan's use of force at times, but I think this again proves that while she's not hip-hip-hooray about it, she understands he's a young man and males do like to use their fists. Yes, she reacted with a jump when he punched Fake Charlie, but she didn't tell him to stop or try and keep him from doing so at any point and she certainly had the opportunity. In addition, once Fake Charlie was down, it was seemingly forgotten by Veronica as her concern was fully for Logan and apologizing for taking away Logan's "family."
And that is why she was apologizing. Yes, the guy was lying, but Logan was enjoying having him in his life; he was loving having a family member he could talk to and get along with. Although it would have come out anyway (the Vanity Fair story), had Veronica not been the one to reveal it, Logan would have had that "family" for a bit longer and Veronica wouldn't have been the one to take it away from him. And for that, she was sorry.
Scene Ten: The Girl's A'Learning
Okay, seriously, my favorite moment in this episode was right here. When Logan just ran up, ran around her, wrapping his arm around her waist, I loved it. It was a gleeful overreaction to cover his pain, but it was glee directed towards Veronica in a totally adorable way and it just made me smile. I rewound that moment about five times when I first saw it. As for the rest of the scene? See? Logan understood why she did what she did and had no problem with her doing it.
I felt rather sad for Logan that he immediately assumed the worst of Real Charlie, but I can't blame him. I just can't. Not after all of the disappointment he's had in his life and I don't think that Veronica could either. I'm stopping this train of thought now because this is the LoVe analysis, not the Logan analysis and I do have one more LoVe thing to point out. (Okay, two. The hair kissing and stroking was sweet Suh-weet. I want Logan for a boyfriend. I'm willing to risk the piano wire.) Ahem.
I loved how even though Veronica did think that Logan was assuming and possibly wrong about Charlie, she clearly took stock in his frame of mind and didn't push. Proof. She's learning that before she brings him bad news, she needs proof. Now, let's just hope that all of that learning will apply when next she thinks he's being a bad boy, mayhap she'll try and find proof before going all accusatory. Right now, she's hitting all the right cylinders and I couldn't be more proud of her. You go, Veronica!
Scene Eleven: V and Sympathy
Short, but sweet and if it doesn't quite pack the emotional punch it could have I blame it on a few shallow quirks -- but they do matter -- and sorry, Kristen Bell, and the director. First the shallow, Veronica's hair and make-up were just so blah and just wrong that it was almost striking. Maybe it was just me, but it threw me off when we saw pretty, pretty Logan (because Jason did look EXTREMELY pretty in this scene) and then Veronica looking about as blah as I've ever seen her. That's the shallow. As for Bell, it wasn't the entire scene by a long shot, just the first couple of lines. I don't know why she chose to deliver them the way she did and it's very, very possible that it was the director's call (she was ON for the rest of the episode beautifully), but those first couple of lines sounded like she was talking to a small child and trying to explain something that was possibly too difficult for him to understand. It was very odd. But again, I could just blame the director who did an overall blah job in directing, I felt. Ah, I've been very happy with Kristen Bell the last few episodes, I'll blame the director.
No even with my issues, I still enjoyed this scene because as I mentioned above, I really felt that Logan was just so touched by Keith and Veronica's interaction at dinner. He was so dazzled at the affection he witnessed between them because it was so alien to anything he'd ever experienced. So it was a lovely, lovely callback to that reaction from Logan to have him tell Veronica pretty much that (and with teary eyes, no less). What was also quite lovely was Veronica again being such a wonderful girlfriend, so very, very there for Logan. I loved her leaning into him, putting her chin on his shoulder, her arm caressing him in sympathy. It was so sweet and so loving.
I must say that I'm truly very happy that when we were given such a show as we were last week that proved that Veronica DOES love Logan, it didn't switch gears on us. This episode could NOT have aired at any point before Wichita Linebacker because the difference in Veronica in relation to her treatment/attitude towards Logan is so startling. And so wonderful in contrast. And we were, yet again, given another scene encapsulating that beautifully.
Brava.