VM 3x10 Thoughts and Ramblings
I have a few thoughts on the past VM episode but first--
Happy Aussie Day!
I hope everyone had a great day :) And don't forget to tune into VM tonight on Channel Ten, it's actually the good end of season two now!
Show me the Monkey
Wow . . . that episode was fantastic. I don't think Rob Thomas was over selling it at all. If I ignore the romantic subtext at the end there (and let's face it, that's not the crux of the show and that's more of a personal preference) this is one of the best episodes since season one. Right up there with Plan B. I'd rate it that high because it went back to the light-hearted formula that Rob Thomas has been so bad at being consistent with since season one. The themes are angsty and serious, but the approach is light hearted. It had a wonderful blend of emotions, the stories flowed nicely into each other and I wasn't dying of boredom during the Keith arc for the first time this season. Also, there were so many wonderful, likable new characters introduced in one episode. None of the actors sucked so bad that they made cardboard cut outs of this section of college (and the writing didn't drive them into the wall there either). I haven't liked so many fresh characters since season one.
I loved Bronson (and God, that actor, that actor . . .where is he from???) and I loved the monkey guy too. A lot of people have been saying they don't understand why Mac wasn't with the monkey guy but this time (amazingly) I think Rob made the right choice. On paper as well as screen. I saw better chemistry with Bronson and, aside from that, I can see Mac with the leader of an animal liberation group more than I can see her with a guy who experiments on them (even if he loved the monkey so much he couldn't go through with the more barbaric side of science). I even liked the scientist looking at plants next door even if the asian actress in science is a cliche (everything is a cliche if you look too closely after all and they're normally a cliche for a reason).
I have some problems with it (naturally) but every show has a problem or two. The execution of this episode, its mystery of the week, the new characters, the presentation of Veronica's personality (symapthetically amused rather than coldly confrontational), the presentation of Logan and Veronica's very different but equally heartfelt forms of pining-while-trying-to-move-on, Dick's bubbly hedonistic humour versus Logan's dry sardonic wit ... GOLD!!! I didn't expect to like this episode so much and I do have (valid) concerns about Rob's future plans but it's safe to say this one was a keeper. This episode ten lived up to An Echolls Family Christmas' episode ten standard (while not surpassing it) in a way that One Angry Veronica utterly failed to do.
Mac and Bronson
So much Mac and so much love! I love the understated way Tina performs Mac's issues with Cassidy (oh Kyle! I miss you!). It's refreshing from the sledgehammer issues we get with KB and Jason's portrayals of the pain in their characters, and Ryan's complete lack of underlying strain in his own interpretation of Dick-post-Cassidy since the season's premiere. Not that I don't like the more obvious pain in the case of Jason and Kristen but it's nice to get a change of pace. I like that it's frozen her and she just turned off the boy side of her personality until it took several sledgehammers before she realized Bronson was smitten with her.
(Although, I have to say when Veronica knew Bronson liked her and rolled her eyes when Mac didn't get the hint . . . I just PAINLOTSOFPAIN!!!! Kristen probably shouldn't have performed it like it was so obvious because Piz's crush was way more obvious and she only got it after ten episodes! *glares* That's such a cheap way to keep his crush from causing problems in their friendship. Ergh.)
But yeah, MacandBronson! Sorry! *blushes* I liked Bronson. I like that they gave Mac a character I can see her being attracted to. There's been some commentary that Gil would be a better match but I don't see her dating a science geek who kills animals (even if he had an attack of conscience at the end). Bronson's interesting actually because he seems really shy and tentative for the leader of a political group and someone who used to be involved in Green Peace. He was so tentative and quiet especially since there were more forceful personalities there, it makes me wonder if he's got hidden talents. But I have to agree the name 'Bronson' isn't appealling to me.
But I loved the Mac/Parker/Veronica moments so much that I didn't even notice Wallace's absence for a long while. I hate that we see more of Piz than Wallace. More of Piz than Weevil. I'm glad Mac finally got a big episode of her own but I kind of hate that Piz is taking air space from my favourite characters since I don't really care about him as more than comic relief.
Piz
I've seen a lot of comments that Piz deserves a chance with Veronica but . .. why? Because he's pined? How does that make him different than Logan? Is it just to satisfy the anticipation of the writer's presentation? How has he really earned her interest? He hasn't done more than anyone else she's asked for a favour, has done less than Wallace but I don't see a big wave of people saying Wallace deserves her love. He hasn't saved her from herself, hasn't saved her life or pushed her to think of her own safety for a change. He's just gone along with what she says like a puppy, if that means he deserves her attention well . . . clearly I'm looking for the wrong things in a soul mate/love interest.
I just don't see how Piz could challenge her in a way that Logan couldn't. He's far too soft for her and he doesn't understand who she is in the same way. It bothers me that people want this ship. I like the guy, I really do. I think he's quite nice. But he's just not for her and I will never understand the appeal of seeing Veronica with someone who just wouldn't call her on her bullshit, wouldn't challenge her, and essentially would be a 'safe' guy that she could bulldoze over in a relationship. I know we say Logan's whipped but ... he really isn't. He did dump her, he did keep bringing up what she was doing to their relationship, he did call her on her bullshit in a way no one else has all season until he finally dumped her. He was more worried about her safety than her father was, he was the only one who was so worried about her he was going crazy. He knew she was going to fly headlong into the situation and get herself in trouble like she did in season one and season two and he was the only one trying to stop it before it happened. Veronica might not want that, but she needs it because one day her luck in these situations will run out and I'll bet she would want someone who thinks ahead and knows her this well when that time comes. I like her with Logan because of the fact they challenge each other and know each other's faults so they can become better people together. I don't see Piz calling Veronica on anything which is boring to me because Veronica has issues and I hate when she's idolized like she's perfect because she isn't and there's nothing more annoying/boring to watch. I love her flaws and I don't want to see them ignored.
I don't know anything about Piz. I thought we might learn something new about him in this episode but once again they fell back on the music analogy when he talked with Veronica. Does he like anything else? I have to say I'm getting so sick of hearing Piz reference music especially when we still have no idea what his music taste is. Telling us he hates Hasslehoff doesn't really narrow it down since that shows he has ears. I just don't care and is that all there is to his personality? Give us something else, please, before I go crazy. I need to know his character has a point other than as a romantic interest for Veronica. Okay, maybe he is just a romantic interest but they could at least try to hide it better and he'd be a more convincing character if we were introduced to a vice besides hyperactivity.
What does he do when he's not in a scene with Veronica? Is he doing a media/arts degree? What's his major? All we know about him is his hyperactive, happy and uncomplicated and he has a loyal crush on Veronica that keeps him from dating anyone else. The hyperactive, happy and uncomplicated thing is what worries me...that's only entertaining when he's not with Veronica because it creates tension through his unrequited emotions. As soon as he's with Veronica, the fact their personalities don't mesh is going to bother me. And then how is he going to bring tension and drama to the show? Just, no.
Logan: To Mope or Not to Mope?
I do have several problems with Jason's performance but I don't think it's as bad as everyone makes out. One of the things that makes me prefer Logan's character to Veronica's, is the fact he grows. He's changed and it doesn't bother me, it makes him real to me. He rolls with punches and develops and alters his behaviour when he absorbs his mistakes. He told Veronica that he was sorry for what happened when they dated after season one and that if he could do it again . . . I think he kept his word. If he could do it again (and now he is), the hanging sentence was that he would do it all differently (and he is). He did tone down the darker side of his personality, he is less snarky because those vitriolic attacks largely came from anger. I don't like that they got rid of his anger to the extent they did because if Veronica is still angry . . .well, Logan should be too since he's actually been through more personal traumas recently than she has and now he's completely alone. It was a conscious decision to make Logan more 'sad' and Jason is obviously struggling over performing those scenes as they're written. He doesn't think Logan would regress to the angry jackass he was circa season one and two - he is in to character continuity and he knows Logan has come a long way and to go back to that would be a regression. Damaging to Logan's character in the same way KB's occasional Veronica regressions are damaging to Veronica's.
But still, he has to watch himself, because Logan has never been a soft guy, not even when he was happy with Lilly. In a way I think season three is a huge challenge of Jason's acting talent, a constant balancing act between softening Logan gradually and keeping what fans loved about his character around. He's not soft, his underbelly is rock hard and it can go all night. That's what we loved about Logan. But we haven't seen much of this rock hard underbelly, this exoskeleton that he used to have. He punched Norman in "Charlie Don't Surf", he set up brutalizing Mercer (though we don't know what happened or if there were consequences) and that's about it. His snark is absent (but that's not Jason's fault at all) but I think he was more snarky in this episode than he's been in a while so I don't quite understand why he's been targeted on that front in this one. I loved his dialogue with Dick and the contrast between the way they snark - Logan was calling Dick stupid basically (I love how he ridiculed Dick's quote considering he uses quotes on his phone messages) and I love that he all but called that surfer chick 'cheap' but said it in such a cheeky way that it went right over her head. The snark is still there. Thank God.
What I'm worried about is not the mope, so much as the fact Logan has 'soft' moments when 'broken-hearted-mope' turns into 'out-of-character-softness'. And Logan has never been soft. The part about this episode that worried me most was when he was petting the pillow. I like that it was essentially meant to be showing him pining for Veronica because I'm guessing that's the pillow she used when she stayed over. But stroking it like a cat? It's like Jason didn't know what to do with it so he just put it in his lap. Usually when you're pining for a girl you'd be more likely to bury your head in her pillow because it would have her scent, and it would have looked less weird if he was lying down with his face buried in it rather than sitting on the couch stroking it. "Mmm, nice kitty." Just, no. It looked weird, especially the way he hesitated before putting it down like it was his woobie.
The other 'soft' moment was the ending and the ending was what bothered me most. Because Logan knows what Piz is after, has known since "Hi, Infidelity". He's also always been described as 'the jealous type'. Now, he's always considered Piz a non-entity and it's really starting to bother me. Not because he should consider Piz a threat but because he knows Veronica trusts Piz - he knows Veronica stayed with Piz (without Wallace) when they were fighting. He knows Piz was holding back a smile, relishing their breakdown when he visited. He knows they've probably hung out since. And now he's just got Veronica back. Where's the 'back off' vibe? Or, if Logan was restraining himself and not being antagonistic (even though I really miss his antagonistic side) where was the blank face? I would have taken a blank face: that look where you know what they're up to but you give nothing about your own response away. Instead we got Logan looking uncomfortable and sad for Piz, then turning and looking softly at Veronica in that concerned way he has. I was WTFing for quite a while. I expected to be throwing things because of Veronica's expression not Logan's. But KB didn't play the Piz "oh my, yay a spare boyfriend, just like Lana!" angle at all. She looked like light had finally dawned on marble head about his crush, but she didn't look like she was sad she hadn't dated Piz. I know Jason thinks Piz is a great character and guy, but Logan really, really shouldn't like this guy. The three times they've had a scene together his crush on Veronica and ulterior motives have been obvious and I wish Jason wouldn't play him so soft in these situations because he's not a soft guy. He should have no sympathy for Piz's predicament.
Keith and Veronica:
It was less forced than in Lord of the Pis but I'm still reeling from the scars that episode left on my psyche. The fact Keith didn't even seem bothered by Veronica's drugging still rings in my head and messes with my mind. I can't see them as such a close family any more even though their interraction this episode seemed much more organic and the quips much less forced.
But I did perk up with interest when Veronica asked Keith how he found her because her phone is off. I'm hoping that wasn't an empty quip and they're actually going somewhere with it. I'd love it if Keith learned his lesson about letting Veronica do things her way because she's so reckless (and yes stupid) with her own safety at the ends of cases. Instead of telling the police there was a rape occuring she called in a bomb threat. I mean ... were they meant to interpret that? Wouldn't evacuating the dorms just make it easier for the rape to occur? She didn't take Piz or Mac with her either. She just . . .when she dies it's going to be her own fault for being a stubborn, independent dumbass you can just feel it. So I hope her father has learned his lesson ("yes, daughter being drugged is cause for CONCERN") and has actually put a tracking device on something she carries around, like in her purse or on her necklace. Whatever.
On a side note for Keith, I like that they finally have him up against someone just-as-smart OR smarter than him investigation-wise. He underestimated a forensic psychologist (I'm guessing, since he wrote a book on profiling) that had his own spy-daughter gushing at one stage. He's not Lamb, Keith can't run rings around him. And my spidey sense went tingling when he sais he read Keith's book and knew what he looked like. I always thought it was suspicious that he didn't know who Veronica was when he must have been informed about the Echolls case being a criminology professor. And now since he put on the same performance with Keith until Keith had run his whole performance . . . I wonder if he did know who she was the entire time and just didn't bother to tell her. Keeping his cards to himself. Whether he did the crime or not, he's great at keeping secrets and I anticipate some great scenes between them.
Piz, Logan and Veronica
A lot of people are saying that Piz and Veronica made a connection. But I don't think so. She opened up and talked to him in theoretical terms because she didn't feel a connection. Veronica doesn't talk like that with people she actually has those feelings for. Not with Duncan, not with Logan. She protects herself more from people she loves. And she wasn't talking about things with him specifically, she was talking in shallow cliches about not liking the shallow dating scene "just because". Conversations like this can be had with complete strangers. There's no intimacy involved in dating preferences unless you're using it to flirt. Clearly Piz was but Veronica was venting because she was frustrated with Parker forcing her to get back on a saddle she clearly didn't want to climb on to with a stranger.
On the other hand I found their dialogue fascinating. It's a great script. Because it has a thousand different meanings and I think Logan/Veronica shippers and Piz/Veronica shippers will be able to twist the subjective lines around to equal use. On the surface, Veronica is clearly thinking what she had with Logan was "something good" and that's the reason she can't grab "just something" within ten feet (re: Piz). However you also have this interesting section:
Veronica: Like why bother with something not good just because it's something?
Piz: Especially when you know the difference. I mean, do you?
Veronica: I-I think I do.
Piz: See, I think it's like 90% of life, just knowing the difference.
On the surface, as I said, it seems like Veronica's coming to an epiphany that she does know the difference and Logan is the difference. He's special to her. But if you dig beneath the surface on Piz's lines there's something only slightly worrying. Rob and his team like to put foreshadowing into the text (like when Weevil made a joke about stealing the rims of a character that eventually sold his rims and pretended they were stolen later in the season). It's hard to tell when they're foreshadowing and when it's just an ambiguous line but this only sent off alarms because of the dreaded Piz/Veronica direction the show is taking. Rob said in an interview that both Keith and Veronica would have incorrect impressions about people this season. I just worry that this line readers like Veronica thinks she knows the difference but she really doesn't because she isn't seeing Piz yet. But that's if you dig, really deep and question future projections.
In the scene itself, it's two characters talking on a superficial level about their dating preferences and finding themselves agreeing that they don't like dating people just for the sake of dating. I couldn't agree more, I find that hard too. So I quite liked this scene. And I like it because it brought Veronica and Logan's situation into accord. Veronica has never been a character that casually dated, she's never looked for physical affection with someone she didn't like. Logan, on the other hand, has experience with both. After Lilly, subsumed in grief, Logan started shallow relationships based on sex. He dates frivolously and took solace in physical affection which he couldn't get from family or friends or meaningful relationships. Until Veronica. Then she left him for Duncan and he went back to frivolous sex, caging his heart and punishing himself and the world by outwardly not giving a fuck about anything. Then there was Hannah. Who made him feel guilty, who trusted him and thawed him out and made him start to feel something real again. Then she left and he was in the perfect vulnerable state to open up about how he felt for Veronica again. They got back together. He fell in love with her again, she seemed to fall with him this time. He dumped her this time. And now what? It was interesting that they had Logan unable to do what he did before. He wasn't even enjoying the empty sex, empty dating on the surface. That makes him completely different because Logan can fake out Dick better than a girl whose never had good sex can fake an orgasm. So really, Logan was experiencing what Piz and Veronica were discussing too. People might argue that Piz matches Veronica better than Logan because Logan clearly can date "just something" rather than wait for "something good" but that's a meaningless distinction. He didn't even bother to fake enjoying it, he clearly wants "something good" and can't go back to "just something" now that she's gone. It actually shows more self esteem that he can't go back to feeling like he deserves whatever he gets, rather than something special. Veronica and Logan went through the same journey. They tried looking elsewhere (he went further than she did obviously), but it obviously didn't work and they were unhappy.
So . . . then we have a first for Veronica. She came to Logan. With no sign from him that he would take her back. He'd dumped her, said they were incompatible, that she made him feel like a disappointment and that neither of them could change so it was looking hopeless. And she turns up anyway. Because she honestly doesn't want anyone else and she's miserable. We know it's not going to last and this is another one of those "ephiphanies" (Piz enduced this time) that lasts only until the next episode. But it's nice to see Veronica proactive about their relationship for the first time ever. She made herself vulnerable to him and took a chance and that's more than he's had from her since Wichita Linebacker (and we all know how long that epiphany lasted).
I liked their kiss, it would be nice to have an extended kiss ala M.A.D. but maybe the halycon days are over. Either way, this was great. Because it was all about reading each other, they moved simultaneously and then didn't break apart, not even to close the door. I loved Logan's smooth side kick to close it while they clung to each other. Sweet. They were so in tune with each other in comparison to how oblivious Veronica was when it came to Piz's BLATANTLY OBVIOUS crush. She still didn't get it for most of this episode, only seemed to get it at the end. The fact she's so oblivious to something so obvious just shows how much they don't click to me. The fact Veronica and Logan can read each other so well with absolutely no words (and it's been like that from the first kiss) makes me love them so much more and make me unable to understand the Piz/Veronica thing even more especially since people are becoming more and more excited about it. Which is just . . . ergh. I think I'm going to be sticking to private corners from now on for my posts or I'll go Pizzing crazy.
I'm just tired of seeing Veronica in the middle of triangles. I know it's an age-old formula for getting tension, I know Rob wants to see her date other people. But the fact that the guys don't get over her really bothers me, the same way it bothers me in Gilmore Girls. Since they fell for her, no one has really got over her. Troy probably came the closest but even he still had respect and like for her before she saved his ass. Can't anyone move on? I'd like them to be original just this once and have Piz get over her because I certainly wouldn't believe it if Logan got over her by the end of the season and I want to see someone do it. Just for the sake of variety not because I don't see what's great about her. I do. But I also see what's bad and let's face it, she sucks at relationships so ... I just wonder why no one has moved on. Even Leo looked like he hoped she was asking him out on a date in Look Who's Stalking. Duncan pined for over two years (and is probably still hopeleslly in love in Australia), Logan has pined ever since he kissed her without a break and now we have Piz, who's just informed the audience that he won't date someone he doesn't want. So . . . unless Piz gets over Veronica (somewhat unlikely), he's going to be pining for her. Just . . . great.
Oh and my closing thought is: somebody buy me a monkey. Really. Just like that one. I died of love at first sight, I don't care how violent it is. I want it! *pets*
Happy Aussie Day!
I hope everyone had a great day :) And don't forget to tune into VM tonight on Channel Ten, it's actually the good end of season two now!
Show me the Monkey
Wow . . . that episode was fantastic. I don't think Rob Thomas was over selling it at all. If I ignore the romantic subtext at the end there (and let's face it, that's not the crux of the show and that's more of a personal preference) this is one of the best episodes since season one. Right up there with Plan B. I'd rate it that high because it went back to the light-hearted formula that Rob Thomas has been so bad at being consistent with since season one. The themes are angsty and serious, but the approach is light hearted. It had a wonderful blend of emotions, the stories flowed nicely into each other and I wasn't dying of boredom during the Keith arc for the first time this season. Also, there were so many wonderful, likable new characters introduced in one episode. None of the actors sucked so bad that they made cardboard cut outs of this section of college (and the writing didn't drive them into the wall there either). I haven't liked so many fresh characters since season one.
I loved Bronson (and God, that actor, that actor . . .where is he from???) and I loved the monkey guy too. A lot of people have been saying they don't understand why Mac wasn't with the monkey guy but this time (amazingly) I think Rob made the right choice. On paper as well as screen. I saw better chemistry with Bronson and, aside from that, I can see Mac with the leader of an animal liberation group more than I can see her with a guy who experiments on them (even if he loved the monkey so much he couldn't go through with the more barbaric side of science). I even liked the scientist looking at plants next door even if the asian actress in science is a cliche (everything is a cliche if you look too closely after all and they're normally a cliche for a reason).
I have some problems with it (naturally) but every show has a problem or two. The execution of this episode, its mystery of the week, the new characters, the presentation of Veronica's personality (symapthetically amused rather than coldly confrontational), the presentation of Logan and Veronica's very different but equally heartfelt forms of pining-while-trying-to-move-on, Dick's bubbly hedonistic humour versus Logan's dry sardonic wit ... GOLD!!! I didn't expect to like this episode so much and I do have (valid) concerns about Rob's future plans but it's safe to say this one was a keeper. This episode ten lived up to An Echolls Family Christmas' episode ten standard (while not surpassing it) in a way that One Angry Veronica utterly failed to do.
Mac and Bronson
So much Mac and so much love! I love the understated way Tina performs Mac's issues with Cassidy (oh Kyle! I miss you!). It's refreshing from the sledgehammer issues we get with KB and Jason's portrayals of the pain in their characters, and Ryan's complete lack of underlying strain in his own interpretation of Dick-post-Cassidy since the season's premiere. Not that I don't like the more obvious pain in the case of Jason and Kristen but it's nice to get a change of pace. I like that it's frozen her and she just turned off the boy side of her personality until it took several sledgehammers before she realized Bronson was smitten with her.
(Although, I have to say when Veronica knew Bronson liked her and rolled her eyes when Mac didn't get the hint . . . I just PAINLOTSOFPAIN!!!! Kristen probably shouldn't have performed it like it was so obvious because Piz's crush was way more obvious and she only got it after ten episodes! *glares* That's such a cheap way to keep his crush from causing problems in their friendship. Ergh.)
But yeah, MacandBronson! Sorry! *blushes* I liked Bronson. I like that they gave Mac a character I can see her being attracted to. There's been some commentary that Gil would be a better match but I don't see her dating a science geek who kills animals (even if he had an attack of conscience at the end). Bronson's interesting actually because he seems really shy and tentative for the leader of a political group and someone who used to be involved in Green Peace. He was so tentative and quiet especially since there were more forceful personalities there, it makes me wonder if he's got hidden talents. But I have to agree the name 'Bronson' isn't appealling to me.
But I loved the Mac/Parker/Veronica moments so much that I didn't even notice Wallace's absence for a long while. I hate that we see more of Piz than Wallace. More of Piz than Weevil. I'm glad Mac finally got a big episode of her own but I kind of hate that Piz is taking air space from my favourite characters since I don't really care about him as more than comic relief.
Piz
I've seen a lot of comments that Piz deserves a chance with Veronica but . .. why? Because he's pined? How does that make him different than Logan? Is it just to satisfy the anticipation of the writer's presentation? How has he really earned her interest? He hasn't done more than anyone else she's asked for a favour, has done less than Wallace but I don't see a big wave of people saying Wallace deserves her love. He hasn't saved her from herself, hasn't saved her life or pushed her to think of her own safety for a change. He's just gone along with what she says like a puppy, if that means he deserves her attention well . . . clearly I'm looking for the wrong things in a soul mate/love interest.
I just don't see how Piz could challenge her in a way that Logan couldn't. He's far too soft for her and he doesn't understand who she is in the same way. It bothers me that people want this ship. I like the guy, I really do. I think he's quite nice. But he's just not for her and I will never understand the appeal of seeing Veronica with someone who just wouldn't call her on her bullshit, wouldn't challenge her, and essentially would be a 'safe' guy that she could bulldoze over in a relationship. I know we say Logan's whipped but ... he really isn't. He did dump her, he did keep bringing up what she was doing to their relationship, he did call her on her bullshit in a way no one else has all season until he finally dumped her. He was more worried about her safety than her father was, he was the only one who was so worried about her he was going crazy. He knew she was going to fly headlong into the situation and get herself in trouble like she did in season one and season two and he was the only one trying to stop it before it happened. Veronica might not want that, but she needs it because one day her luck in these situations will run out and I'll bet she would want someone who thinks ahead and knows her this well when that time comes. I like her with Logan because of the fact they challenge each other and know each other's faults so they can become better people together. I don't see Piz calling Veronica on anything which is boring to me because Veronica has issues and I hate when she's idolized like she's perfect because she isn't and there's nothing more annoying/boring to watch. I love her flaws and I don't want to see them ignored.
I don't know anything about Piz. I thought we might learn something new about him in this episode but once again they fell back on the music analogy when he talked with Veronica. Does he like anything else? I have to say I'm getting so sick of hearing Piz reference music especially when we still have no idea what his music taste is. Telling us he hates Hasslehoff doesn't really narrow it down since that shows he has ears. I just don't care and is that all there is to his personality? Give us something else, please, before I go crazy. I need to know his character has a point other than as a romantic interest for Veronica. Okay, maybe he is just a romantic interest but they could at least try to hide it better and he'd be a more convincing character if we were introduced to a vice besides hyperactivity.
What does he do when he's not in a scene with Veronica? Is he doing a media/arts degree? What's his major? All we know about him is his hyperactive, happy and uncomplicated and he has a loyal crush on Veronica that keeps him from dating anyone else. The hyperactive, happy and uncomplicated thing is what worries me...that's only entertaining when he's not with Veronica because it creates tension through his unrequited emotions. As soon as he's with Veronica, the fact their personalities don't mesh is going to bother me. And then how is he going to bring tension and drama to the show? Just, no.
Logan: To Mope or Not to Mope?
I do have several problems with Jason's performance but I don't think it's as bad as everyone makes out. One of the things that makes me prefer Logan's character to Veronica's, is the fact he grows. He's changed and it doesn't bother me, it makes him real to me. He rolls with punches and develops and alters his behaviour when he absorbs his mistakes. He told Veronica that he was sorry for what happened when they dated after season one and that if he could do it again . . . I think he kept his word. If he could do it again (and now he is), the hanging sentence was that he would do it all differently (and he is). He did tone down the darker side of his personality, he is less snarky because those vitriolic attacks largely came from anger. I don't like that they got rid of his anger to the extent they did because if Veronica is still angry . . .well, Logan should be too since he's actually been through more personal traumas recently than she has and now he's completely alone. It was a conscious decision to make Logan more 'sad' and Jason is obviously struggling over performing those scenes as they're written. He doesn't think Logan would regress to the angry jackass he was circa season one and two - he is in to character continuity and he knows Logan has come a long way and to go back to that would be a regression. Damaging to Logan's character in the same way KB's occasional Veronica regressions are damaging to Veronica's.
But still, he has to watch himself, because Logan has never been a soft guy, not even when he was happy with Lilly. In a way I think season three is a huge challenge of Jason's acting talent, a constant balancing act between softening Logan gradually and keeping what fans loved about his character around. He's not soft, his underbelly is rock hard and it can go all night. That's what we loved about Logan. But we haven't seen much of this rock hard underbelly, this exoskeleton that he used to have. He punched Norman in "Charlie Don't Surf", he set up brutalizing Mercer (though we don't know what happened or if there were consequences) and that's about it. His snark is absent (but that's not Jason's fault at all) but I think he was more snarky in this episode than he's been in a while so I don't quite understand why he's been targeted on that front in this one. I loved his dialogue with Dick and the contrast between the way they snark - Logan was calling Dick stupid basically (I love how he ridiculed Dick's quote considering he uses quotes on his phone messages) and I love that he all but called that surfer chick 'cheap' but said it in such a cheeky way that it went right over her head. The snark is still there. Thank God.
What I'm worried about is not the mope, so much as the fact Logan has 'soft' moments when 'broken-hearted-mope' turns into 'out-of-character-softness'. And Logan has never been soft. The part about this episode that worried me most was when he was petting the pillow. I like that it was essentially meant to be showing him pining for Veronica because I'm guessing that's the pillow she used when she stayed over. But stroking it like a cat? It's like Jason didn't know what to do with it so he just put it in his lap. Usually when you're pining for a girl you'd be more likely to bury your head in her pillow because it would have her scent, and it would have looked less weird if he was lying down with his face buried in it rather than sitting on the couch stroking it. "Mmm, nice kitty." Just, no. It looked weird, especially the way he hesitated before putting it down like it was his woobie.
The other 'soft' moment was the ending and the ending was what bothered me most. Because Logan knows what Piz is after, has known since "Hi, Infidelity". He's also always been described as 'the jealous type'. Now, he's always considered Piz a non-entity and it's really starting to bother me. Not because he should consider Piz a threat but because he knows Veronica trusts Piz - he knows Veronica stayed with Piz (without Wallace) when they were fighting. He knows Piz was holding back a smile, relishing their breakdown when he visited. He knows they've probably hung out since. And now he's just got Veronica back. Where's the 'back off' vibe? Or, if Logan was restraining himself and not being antagonistic (even though I really miss his antagonistic side) where was the blank face? I would have taken a blank face: that look where you know what they're up to but you give nothing about your own response away. Instead we got Logan looking uncomfortable and sad for Piz, then turning and looking softly at Veronica in that concerned way he has. I was WTFing for quite a while. I expected to be throwing things because of Veronica's expression not Logan's. But KB didn't play the Piz "oh my, yay a spare boyfriend, just like Lana!" angle at all. She looked like light had finally dawned on marble head about his crush, but she didn't look like she was sad she hadn't dated Piz. I know Jason thinks Piz is a great character and guy, but Logan really, really shouldn't like this guy. The three times they've had a scene together his crush on Veronica and ulterior motives have been obvious and I wish Jason wouldn't play him so soft in these situations because he's not a soft guy. He should have no sympathy for Piz's predicament.
Keith and Veronica:
It was less forced than in Lord of the Pis but I'm still reeling from the scars that episode left on my psyche. The fact Keith didn't even seem bothered by Veronica's drugging still rings in my head and messes with my mind. I can't see them as such a close family any more even though their interraction this episode seemed much more organic and the quips much less forced.
But I did perk up with interest when Veronica asked Keith how he found her because her phone is off. I'm hoping that wasn't an empty quip and they're actually going somewhere with it. I'd love it if Keith learned his lesson about letting Veronica do things her way because she's so reckless (and yes stupid) with her own safety at the ends of cases. Instead of telling the police there was a rape occuring she called in a bomb threat. I mean ... were they meant to interpret that? Wouldn't evacuating the dorms just make it easier for the rape to occur? She didn't take Piz or Mac with her either. She just . . .when she dies it's going to be her own fault for being a stubborn, independent dumbass you can just feel it. So I hope her father has learned his lesson ("yes, daughter being drugged is cause for CONCERN") and has actually put a tracking device on something she carries around, like in her purse or on her necklace. Whatever.
On a side note for Keith, I like that they finally have him up against someone just-as-smart OR smarter than him investigation-wise. He underestimated a forensic psychologist (I'm guessing, since he wrote a book on profiling) that had his own spy-daughter gushing at one stage. He's not Lamb, Keith can't run rings around him. And my spidey sense went tingling when he sais he read Keith's book and knew what he looked like. I always thought it was suspicious that he didn't know who Veronica was when he must have been informed about the Echolls case being a criminology professor. And now since he put on the same performance with Keith until Keith had run his whole performance . . . I wonder if he did know who she was the entire time and just didn't bother to tell her. Keeping his cards to himself. Whether he did the crime or not, he's great at keeping secrets and I anticipate some great scenes between them.
Piz, Logan and Veronica
A lot of people are saying that Piz and Veronica made a connection. But I don't think so. She opened up and talked to him in theoretical terms because she didn't feel a connection. Veronica doesn't talk like that with people she actually has those feelings for. Not with Duncan, not with Logan. She protects herself more from people she loves. And she wasn't talking about things with him specifically, she was talking in shallow cliches about not liking the shallow dating scene "just because". Conversations like this can be had with complete strangers. There's no intimacy involved in dating preferences unless you're using it to flirt. Clearly Piz was but Veronica was venting because she was frustrated with Parker forcing her to get back on a saddle she clearly didn't want to climb on to with a stranger.
On the other hand I found their dialogue fascinating. It's a great script. Because it has a thousand different meanings and I think Logan/Veronica shippers and Piz/Veronica shippers will be able to twist the subjective lines around to equal use. On the surface, Veronica is clearly thinking what she had with Logan was "something good" and that's the reason she can't grab "just something" within ten feet (re: Piz). However you also have this interesting section:
Veronica: Like why bother with something not good just because it's something?
Piz: Especially when you know the difference. I mean, do you?
Veronica: I-I think I do.
Piz: See, I think it's like 90% of life, just knowing the difference.
On the surface, as I said, it seems like Veronica's coming to an epiphany that she does know the difference and Logan is the difference. He's special to her. But if you dig beneath the surface on Piz's lines there's something only slightly worrying. Rob and his team like to put foreshadowing into the text (like when Weevil made a joke about stealing the rims of a character that eventually sold his rims and pretended they were stolen later in the season). It's hard to tell when they're foreshadowing and when it's just an ambiguous line but this only sent off alarms because of the dreaded Piz/Veronica direction the show is taking. Rob said in an interview that both Keith and Veronica would have incorrect impressions about people this season. I just worry that this line readers like Veronica thinks she knows the difference but she really doesn't because she isn't seeing Piz yet. But that's if you dig, really deep and question future projections.
In the scene itself, it's two characters talking on a superficial level about their dating preferences and finding themselves agreeing that they don't like dating people just for the sake of dating. I couldn't agree more, I find that hard too. So I quite liked this scene. And I like it because it brought Veronica and Logan's situation into accord. Veronica has never been a character that casually dated, she's never looked for physical affection with someone she didn't like. Logan, on the other hand, has experience with both. After Lilly, subsumed in grief, Logan started shallow relationships based on sex. He dates frivolously and took solace in physical affection which he couldn't get from family or friends or meaningful relationships. Until Veronica. Then she left him for Duncan and he went back to frivolous sex, caging his heart and punishing himself and the world by outwardly not giving a fuck about anything. Then there was Hannah. Who made him feel guilty, who trusted him and thawed him out and made him start to feel something real again. Then she left and he was in the perfect vulnerable state to open up about how he felt for Veronica again. They got back together. He fell in love with her again, she seemed to fall with him this time. He dumped her this time. And now what? It was interesting that they had Logan unable to do what he did before. He wasn't even enjoying the empty sex, empty dating on the surface. That makes him completely different because Logan can fake out Dick better than a girl whose never had good sex can fake an orgasm. So really, Logan was experiencing what Piz and Veronica were discussing too. People might argue that Piz matches Veronica better than Logan because Logan clearly can date "just something" rather than wait for "something good" but that's a meaningless distinction. He didn't even bother to fake enjoying it, he clearly wants "something good" and can't go back to "just something" now that she's gone. It actually shows more self esteem that he can't go back to feeling like he deserves whatever he gets, rather than something special. Veronica and Logan went through the same journey. They tried looking elsewhere (he went further than she did obviously), but it obviously didn't work and they were unhappy.
So . . . then we have a first for Veronica. She came to Logan. With no sign from him that he would take her back. He'd dumped her, said they were incompatible, that she made him feel like a disappointment and that neither of them could change so it was looking hopeless. And she turns up anyway. Because she honestly doesn't want anyone else and she's miserable. We know it's not going to last and this is another one of those "ephiphanies" (Piz enduced this time) that lasts only until the next episode. But it's nice to see Veronica proactive about their relationship for the first time ever. She made herself vulnerable to him and took a chance and that's more than he's had from her since Wichita Linebacker (and we all know how long that epiphany lasted).
I liked their kiss, it would be nice to have an extended kiss ala M.A.D. but maybe the halycon days are over. Either way, this was great. Because it was all about reading each other, they moved simultaneously and then didn't break apart, not even to close the door. I loved Logan's smooth side kick to close it while they clung to each other. Sweet. They were so in tune with each other in comparison to how oblivious Veronica was when it came to Piz's BLATANTLY OBVIOUS crush. She still didn't get it for most of this episode, only seemed to get it at the end. The fact she's so oblivious to something so obvious just shows how much they don't click to me. The fact Veronica and Logan can read each other so well with absolutely no words (and it's been like that from the first kiss) makes me love them so much more and make me unable to understand the Piz/Veronica thing even more especially since people are becoming more and more excited about it. Which is just . . . ergh. I think I'm going to be sticking to private corners from now on for my posts or I'll go Pizzing crazy.
I'm just tired of seeing Veronica in the middle of triangles. I know it's an age-old formula for getting tension, I know Rob wants to see her date other people. But the fact that the guys don't get over her really bothers me, the same way it bothers me in Gilmore Girls. Since they fell for her, no one has really got over her. Troy probably came the closest but even he still had respect and like for her before she saved his ass. Can't anyone move on? I'd like them to be original just this once and have Piz get over her because I certainly wouldn't believe it if Logan got over her by the end of the season and I want to see someone do it. Just for the sake of variety not because I don't see what's great about her. I do. But I also see what's bad and let's face it, she sucks at relationships so ... I just wonder why no one has moved on. Even Leo looked like he hoped she was asking him out on a date in Look Who's Stalking. Duncan pined for over two years (and is probably still hopeleslly in love in Australia), Logan has pined ever since he kissed her without a break and now we have Piz, who's just informed the audience that he won't date someone he doesn't want. So . . . unless Piz gets over Veronica (somewhat unlikely), he's going to be pining for her. Just . . . great.
Oh and my closing thought is: somebody buy me a monkey. Really. Just like that one. I died of love at first sight, I don't care how violent it is. I want it! *pets*