Veronica Mars S1 Ep 12: Clash of the Tritons

Original airdate: Jan. 11th, 2005

Rewatched: Jan. 11th, 2025

Veronica is framed by a fellow classmate, Rick, for making fake IDs. In trying to prove her innocence, Veronica ends up tracking down Neptune High’s secret society, the Tritons. Rick says that he’s a pledge and they told him to frame her after his friend ended up in the hospital during a hazing ritual involving alcohol. But it turns out that Rick was never a pledge, nor was his friend. He and his friend had a fake ID business. Rick was angry at Veronica since Keith was hired by his father’s company to find out who was embezzling. Rick’s father was fired, the family lost status and money, leading to Rick not being recruited for the Tritons like his father and brother before him. It’s hard to be sympathetic to Rick.

Logan and his family are still recovering from their eventful Christmas. The publicity is weighing on Logan, as is the reaction of his peers. When it turns out Lynn Echolls is the one selling stories to the tabloids, things come to a head and Lynn runs away. It later appears she’s committed suicide by jumping off a bridge. Things are not okay for Logan.

Finally, Rebecca James, the high school counselor, is doing a study in grief and interviews those close to Lilly Kane. Veronica is interviewed and uses the chance to express her anger and desire to track down the killer. She also uses the opportunity to place a bug in the office, allowing her to hear the other interviews. She learned that Logan is just angry. He and Lilly were broken up at the time because Veronica told Lilly Logan kissed someone else. Logan is angry at Veronica, at himself and at Lilly. Veronica also finds out Lilly did date Weevil when she and Logan were broken up but ultimately returned to Logan. Weevil thought Lilly was someone he could love, and he sent her a stalker-esque poem shortly before her death. Then there’s Duncan, who seems to have a concerning medical condition and who doesn’t remember Lilly’s death. Multiple days are just missing from his memory, from her death until the funeral. While it is a bit of a privacy violation, listening in to the sessions gives Veronica a clearer picture of those closest to Lilly, and some new clues to investigate.