Veronica Mars S1 Ep1: Pilot

Original US airdate: Sept. 22nd, 2004

Rewatched: Sept. 22nd, 2024

The first episode of Veronica Mars opens with a key theme of the series, the income gap among Neptune’s residents, the town without a middle class, where everyone is a millionaire or works for millionaires. This is a key theme for this series, one that is not really dealt with much on Buffy, and that also seems oddly ahead of its time, as income inequality continues to be a key issue in US society.

The first episode also introduces the key features of Veronica’s past and present, which also represent key mysteries she will solve in the first two seasons. In her previous life, Veronica was a much more classically feminine, softer version of herself. But her best friend’s murder sent her life into a tailspin. Her father lost his job as Sheriff of Neptune County, her mother turned to drinking and ended up leaving, and she was shunned by her friends for standing with her father. For Veronica, there are too many open questions in the murder case (was her father right in going after Lilly Kane’s parents for being involved in her murder, what was the secret Lilly wanted to share with Veronica on the day she died, and what is her mother’s involvement with Jake Cane, Lilly’s father), all leading her to trust her father was on to something, and propelling her to keep investigating on her own, despite the killer allegedly being behind bars.

Once Veronica’s friends abandon her, she tried to keep up appearances, going to Shelly Pomeroy’s party, but this ended in disaster, with Veronica waking up after being roofied and raped, and then later being laughed out of the sheriff’s office. This is another theme that is central to Veronica Mars, and very different from the key themes of Buffy, but like the first one mentioned, this is also before its time. It is very much in line with the #MeToo movement, but years before this hashtag became a movement.

These events lead to Veronica deciding she’s not the girl she once was. She gets tough. She is also bent on getting revenge, no matter the cost, and no matter if it means wronging others. She is not on a noble mission of good, and in some ways is a much more self-centered heroine than Buffy is. For Veronica, the ends often justify the means. Although, as Wallace notes, she’s softer on the inside than she wants to admit (she’s a marshmallow) and ultimately, she is generally well-intentioned.

In this episode, Veronica finds out a few things that will be key to solving Lilly Kane’s murder. First, her mother and Jake Kane meet at a motel in this episode, although why her mother was in town and meeting with Lilly’s father remains unclear. Additionally, Veronica finds out that her father has Lilly Kane’s case file and also seems to think the case is not closed yet.

Like most episodes, this one also has its case of the week. Veronica meets Wallace. He is new to Neptune and was taped to the flagpole by the PCH biker gang because he called the police when they stole alcohol from the convenience store he works at. Veronica cuts Wallace down, leading him to decide he wants to be friends with her. When Veronica is able to get the biker's off Wallace’s back (by destroying the evidence of the crime), this cements Veronica and Wallace’s friendship. Their friendship is interesting for two reasons. First, they will never date or develop feelings for each other, presenting a strong example of platonic male/female friendship where neither character is gay, and second, Wallace, as a young black man, also brings diversity to the screen (something often lacking in Buffy). But this case also shows that Veronica is willing to use people. First, she destroys evidence of a crime. True, the crime was fairly petty and didn’t involve hurting anyone, but still she helps the bad guys to help a friend. Second, she uses Logan Echolls, Lilly’s former boyfriend and her former friend, now her nemesis, to get a smoke bomb into the sheriff’s office. Basically, she plants a bomb in a bong, plants the bong in Logan’s locker, gets Logan’s locker searched and the bong seized, then when the bomb goes off, a friendly fireman steals the tape of the robbery from evidence and gives it to Veronica. Everyone is happy, more or less, except Logan, who really had nothing to do with anything (except being a pill to Veronica).

So the first episode does highlight many key themes: income inequality, rape and revenge, but also Veronica's key flaw, her willingness to use people to get what she wants.