Veronica Mars S1 Ep 20: M.A.D.

Original airdate: April 26th, 2005

Rewatched: April 26th, 2025

In the late 90s and early 2000s, cell phones and internet were changing the world. Although smart phones were still in the future (but flip phones with cameras were not) and social media was in its infancy, the dangers of having content end up on the Internet for all time were still real in 2005, and Veronica’s case of the week revolves around this (and toxic boyfriends). Carmen wants to break up with her boyfriend Tad, who will be graduating and heading off to the Naval Academy. She’s not ready for a long-distance relationship and is ready to try out new relationships. Tad blackmails her with a sex tape that Carmen doesn’t even remember filming. Carmen asks Veronica to get Tad’s phone, which she does. However, destroying the phone does not destroy the video. Tad has a copy elsewhere. Carmen returns to Tad while Veronica plans for mutually assured destruction. With the help of Seth, a gay student at Neptune (who may be motivated to participate because Tad bullies him), Veronica creates a website that showcases Tad and Seth’s secret relationship. If Tad shares the video, Veronica will share the website with not just Neptune High, but also the incoming class at the Academy, which would be problematic due to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy at the time. Tad decides to share the video anyway, claiming that if he can’t have Carmen, he doesn’t want anyone else to, and who will have her now… Carmen decides not to take revenge, something that Veronica can’t understand. But at least Weevil, who lives in Carmen’s neighborhood and used to have a crush on her, decides to take his own revenge by taping Tad to the flagpole. It’s a bit bittersweet. Carmen shows she’s a good person. She doesn’t deserve to be known as the popsicle girl forever, and unfortunately, the internet doesn’t forget.

In this episode, not much happens with the Lilly Kane case, but Duncan’s family has set a large reward for his return. Keith decides to track Duncan down, enlisting Veronica, who enlists Mac and Weevil in her search. But Duncan learned enough from Veronica in episode 18 to make the search hard.

Keith and Alicia are still dating and have been taking dance classes together. Veronica is upset that Keith has set the divorce process with Lianne in motion, which Veronica is not happy about… but she wants her father to be happy and Alicia seems to make him happy. Clarence Wiedman, however, confronts Alicia about her relationship, and showing her the bug her son delivered in a plant in episode 16. Things may not be looking up for Keith and Alicia.

Finally, Logan and Veronica are dating, although not publicly. His friends continue to be mean to her (notably Dick and his brother Cassidy, who has his first appearance this episode). Aaron does find out and seems happy that his son is happy. Towards the end of the episode, Logan asks to take Veronica sailing as their first date. All appears set for a great date, but then Veronica finds out something. The sex tape with Carmen was made at the party where Veronica was raped. Both can’t remember the night, which leads Veronica to assume both were drugged. She finds out from Tad it was GHB, and that Logan Echolls had it. Veronica decides not to show up for sailing.

This episode really highlights the complexity of relationships. Keith and Alicia seem to be a healthy couple, with great respect for each other, but the question remains whether the pressures around them will win out. For Veronica, there are a lot of open questions about Logan. He is not always a good guy, but how bad is he really? And should she really be dating him? Finally, Carmen thought she had a nice guy, but was really wrong and her misjudgment will have long-lasting consequences. Just like Buffy, relationships are not easy in Neptune either.