Hannah Ryan Murphy makes the case for the critically under-seen and underappreciated Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars was an early 2000s noir teen drama that dealt with complex issues, including parental abandonment, murder, social isolation, and corrupt policing. All of these are present from the first episode, while still humour, pathos, and genuine character depictions pervade. Even still, it remains criminally underrated. Here are just a few reasons it deserves to be recognised as a ground-breaking teen drama.
The mysteries were intriguing, the reveals jaw-dropping and the characters were relatable and interesting.
Firstly, the high level of performance. The show starred now seasoned actress Kristen Bell alongside a dedicated supporting cast whose performances were further advanced by the writing of creator Rob Thomas. Thomas managed to create a format in which teenage private investigator Veronica solves weekly cases while also featuring a more sinister overarching main plot. These events ran alongside portrayals of Veronica’s personal issues and the ups and downs of teenage life. The mysteries were intriguing, the reveals jaw-dropping and the characters were relatable and interesting.
With a snarky yet vulnerable heroine and her multi-layered, diverse group of friends you can’t help but love, quotable lines, and plots that grip you throughout its runtime, Veronica Mars was a ground-breaking and unique TV show that should’ve won Emmys. Instead, it has simply fallen to the wayside.