Veronica Mars S1 Ep 14: Mars vs. Mars

Original airdate: Feb. 15th, 2005

Rewatched: Feb. 15th, 2025

A fellow student, Carrie Bishop, claims one of Veronica’s favorite teachers, Mr. Rooks, seduced her. Keith Mars ends up working for Carrie’s family, Veronica decides she wants to help Mr. Rooks, pitting the two Mars detectives against each other. In the end, Veronica helps Mr. Rooks keep his job, only to realize he did do it. Only it wasn’t Carrie he seduced, but her friend, Susan Knight.

What is particularly interesting about this case is how it underlines how two things can be true at the same time. Mr. Rooks can be an excellent teacher and a predator. Carrie Bishop can be the biggest gossip at school but also be willing to help her friend even when it makes her life hell. Carrie can also be both lying (about it happening to her) and telling the truth (Susan’s truth). Finally, Veronica can be both right and wrong. Life is not always black and white. Life is complicated and full of gray areas, a theme we encounter on Buffy as well.

In addition to the main case, Veronica is also helping Logan find his mother. Weevil ends up hearing about a freshman who claims he has proof Lynn jumped, which turns out to be true. He was filming with his friends and caught the bridge and the jump on tape. But then, one of Lynn’s credit cards is used. Could she still be alive? Veronica helping Logan shows that Veronica is a good person (although sometimes she uses Wallace). She doesn’t particularly like Logan. In the first episode, she framed him for being mean. But when he needs her help, she helps him.

Veronica also continues to investigate Lilly’s death. She breaks into Duncan’s doctor’s office to find his medical records. It turns out Duncan has type 4 epilepsy, which causes violent fits and black outs. She also finds Abel Koontz’s medical records. It turns out he’s dying, leading Veronica to assume he took the fall for Lilly’s murder on purpose.

On a final note, Veronica is able to apologize to Deputy Leo for getting him suspended, putting them on good terms again.