The Purpose of Logan

[secrets_and_lie]

Comments

[nessaassen]

First of all, you wrote this thoughtful awesome post in response to my issues! How cool. I feel like I keep working out my thoughts about this show in your journal instead of posting in my own. I am going to try to be better about that this week, though the length of this two-part comment does not reflect that resolve at all

[nessaassen]

That sounds cynical, but it's one of the senses in which I suspect this is the end of L/V. In other words, this is the end of them on-screen. All we get (if we're lucky) from here on out is subtext and/or a random Sway/Epic scene, maybe all the way until the end. The narrative frame the writers have created with the break-up allows them to forget about L/V for as long as they want (probably there are parameters to this kind of forgetting, but I bet RT's are different than what mine would be, so I won't try to guess them), while still holding the couple out as the ultimate symbol of closure in the end. What I see is the possibility of an empty middle, or more precisely, a middle in which they can pair Veronica and Logan willy-nilly with whoever they want, however they want, with only loose fidelity to this larger character/narrative arc. I hate having to sit through empty middles.

(I would really like to be wrong about this--I know _jems_ proposed that Logan and Veronica might spend the beginning of next season as friends, investigating

[nessaassen]

p.s. Also, your breakdown makes it clear how terrible this group of writers is at sustaining an ensemble structure. They really shot themselves in the foot after the first season, when they let languish or killed the character relationships and histories that existed apart from Veronica: Logan/Duncan; Logan/Weevil; Mac/Cassidy, just to name a few. And the lack of attention to Wallace and Weevil this season is really sad (also, talk about marginalizing your characters of color, show that supposedly values diversity).

p.p.s. I wish they would let Piz get a little dirty (rather than wet from crying sad tears over Veronica). Neptune tarnishes everyone; he shouldn't be exempt. I told sowell once that my dream is for him to be someone's patsy (preferably someone he trusts/admires/crushes on), framed for a crime he didn't commit. No one believes his innocence, even Veronica (though obviously she reluctantly takes on and solves the case). In the end, though she is apologetic, he is very bitter (and suddenly acquires character depth).

[psycholibrarian]

"and function as a reminder of her shadowy/painful past, as a constant and ever-present temptation, but one her arc ultimately requires her to move away from, not toward

[embellished_me]

This, to me, is his role. He sees her, he understands her, they match each other, for better and worse. I can't see it any other way.I agree. I think her brief encounter with the random guy in the "Around the World" party was intended to highlight this: how does Veronica Mars explain herself to someone who hasn't lived through it all with her? Where do you even begin? Logan is her match almost by default. No one else gets it. The only other person who could is Duncan, and, well, no

[embellished_me]

Ha. So while I was composing the above, nessaassen came in and elaborated on the Logan-as-past idea much more eloquently than I could have!

I like the idea, dramatically, of Logan as the past she chooses to discard, but don't think I'd much enjoy watching it. And you're right: a lot will depend on how the break-up plays out tomorrow night.

[secrets_and_lie]

Veronica has to be able to deal with the fact that the people you love often do let you down, but that you have to forgive them, or in the end, you'll be left alone. Because no one is perfect; everyone disappoints us eventually.

Yes, and this is the heart of what RT has set up for her this season. It will be interesting -- no, fascinating -- to see how it plays out. (I'm assuming it does! It better, after all that build up!) She may not be able to get all the way there in the next set of episodes -- well, nobody could -- but we should see some progress on this front. Otherwise I'll lose my optimism for this show. *sigh*

That's a lot of character growth to ask if a nineteen year old girl with serious trust issues in the nine episodes (ack!) remaining this season. I'm not sure it could be done satisfyingly or realistically. I can see V drifting back to Logan, issues unresolved, as the result of some major dramatic catalyst (like at the end of season 2), but that still wouldn't be a permanent, happy-ending reconciliation.Yes, and

[p2880]

This is a wonderful, well-reasoned discussion of the past, present, and future character development on the show. Thanks for all your insights

[secrets_and_lie]

Well, I think Duncan belongs in a different category. If you watch S1 closely, it's apparent when they decided to stop playing the star-crossed lover theme, and it would have to predate the audience reaction to Logan, given the big gap between writing scripts and air dates. Because Logan was made human in RotK, but if memory serves, Duncan stopped being the clear UST object right around then. Only an episode or two later, if at all. So it was pretty clearly a creative decision, not a reaction to the audience. Also, Teddy Dunn CAN'T ACT. I'm sure this was a factor. JD is phenomenal. I'm sure this continues to be a factor in keeping his role strong and meaningful