SEASON ONE ANALYSIS

I don't normally do this, but I think (as it is the start of the season and it's passed in real time) an overview is a good thing. Sadly, we pretty much get no resolution of the issues that Logan and Veronica had. Their breakup is predicated on a new contrivance that really has nothing to do with the problems (lack of trust, avoidance, Lilly, Duncan, etc.) that plagued them last season. On one hand, we can see this as good because it means, I guess, that they worked through those issues because when we DO see them (briefly) as a couple, they are not only happy, they seem relatively healthy. This is bad because as viewers we weren't given the opportunity to see how any of those issues were resolved/talked out/dealt with at all. Or at all. Maybe they just avoided those issues and swept them under the rug, we don't know either way as of yet. Hopefully we'll find out more about what happened or didn't as the season progresses.

Scene One: See! Totally Logan at the Door!

This is damn bittersweet; there are no two ways about it. Yes, it's Logan at the door, however, there are two major negatives involved in the scene as well (with two minor ones alongside). I'll deal with those first, because there are some positives and I'd prefer to save those for last.

Number one, the big biggie, is that I have no doubt (because it's already happened) that many a viewer will watch this scene and think that Veronica said "I was hoping it would be you" to an individual she did NOT realize was Logan. Why? Because when we see him (a) his back is to her and, most ambiguously, (b) she says his name (and only his name) with a question mark. Those slightly, erm, more focused than most will note that she actually says "Logan?" before he even begins to turn so therefore, with no change in his stance, it makes perfect sense that she was questioning something about him, as opposed to questioning whether it was him or not. Furthermore, what does happen before she says his name is that first, he tightens his hands around the railing as if trying to steady himself and then he starts to say something/clear his throat.

Unfortunately, the ambiguity of the moment takes away from the sheer joy of "It's Logan at the door!" Sigh. However, for the sake of this analysis, based on this viewer's assessment of the scene Veronica did know it was him; she said his name because she knew something was wrong. And boy was there! But that's good and remember the good is coming last. (Erm, gah! This show. The good is that Logan is all bloody and barely able to stand!) Anyhoo, first the other biggie no-no: The length and depth of the scene. As I mentioned in the overview, we got absolutely no dealing with the issues that plagued them last season.

Other than three lines, a one line voiceover from Logan (ooh, Logan got to do a voiceover!) early in the scene:

and the other two after the flashbacks, we get pretty much no fanfare about Veronica believing Logan was capable of killing Lilly or of the Aaron/Lilly reveal. And this scene barely touches upon the pain and heartbreak of that last meeting between the two on the beach. Logan simply falls into her arms, cut to Logan lying on her couch, head in her lap with the previously mentioned two lines dealing with the Aaron/Lilly fallout.

And that's it. A few seconds of Logan discussing what happened on the bridge with voiceover about the break-up, murder accusation, a few flashbacks of said bridge-happenings and then we get the 'Aaron charged with murder' dialogue, Logan cries, the knock on the door. That. Is. It. Four months of wondering how she was gonna tell him, how he was going to react and this is what we get: A scene that in total (including two flashbacks and the last minute was when Deputy Tool arrived) was three minutes and thirty-three seconds, with only two minutes devoted to Logan and Veronica.

Ah well. Alrighty then, moving along.

Of the two minor issues, I admit that only the first seems to be an issue with most, the latter is probably just me because I have a hair fixation. First off, the positioning on the couch. Yeah, it's a small couch, yeah, Jason Dohring is tall -- so uhm, different positioning of his lanky form would have helped keep viewers completely into the scene as opposed to drawing them out as the question popped into many a head, 'Wow, that looks really uncomfortable, the way his legs are falling off the couch and crossed kinda weird.'

And the second: His hair. I'll say it now, I do NOT like the super-short haircut. And I'm really annoyed that they clearly used the footage from Leave it to Beaver where Logan and Weevil first talk because Logan's hair is in all of it's gelled, windblown glory (yes, Logan felt the need to re-apply hair gel after the devastating beach scene). The next shot of him is dark so you can't really, really tell but by the time it goes back from flashback and then back into flashback with the knife, you can completely see that in between the seconds of confronting Weevil Neo-style and kicking Weevil in the head (and how cool was that?!), Logan got a haircut. And I REALLY don't like it. Sigh.

Phew! Finally ... onto the good.

I have no doubt that Veronica DID know it was Logan, so it was great that it was him that she greeted that way. I also loved his "Hey, Veronica!" / collapse into her arms. And as awkward as the positioning on the couch was, my first reaction was still "awww!" because his head was on her lap and she had her hand on his chest and had clearly been cleaning his face, so awww. That was very sweet. And she genuinely seemed to care about him with no ulterior motive or questioning and that was nice.

As for the latter half of the scene: We'll just ignore Deputy Tool and concentrate on Veronica's clear pain as Logan was being arrested -- sad when that is a good thing, sigh, but such is the way of Veronica Mars and such are the straws I fear this fanbase will be grasping at until Logan and Veronica are reunited.

Scene Two: Kissin' in the Cafe

We'll just ignore 99% of this scene and just concentrate on the last couple of seconds where Logan shows up and Veronica does eagerly kiss him. And the "Hey, baby" was just sweet. Sigh. Too bad we didn't have more of this. They look so good together and really, aww, these few seconds were very precious. Veronica DID look genuinely happy to see him, did go straight into his arms for a kiss and did smile, giddy-like up at him. I did adore that bit. I really did. And score! It's our one happy-ending LoVe scene! Woohoo!! Straws, people. Straws.

Scene Three: The Lightning Rod

Again, just a few quick seconds, but I loved her taking his hand in the limo. It seemed very girlfriend-y. And since we saw her doing so many other girlfriend-y things with someone who wasn't Logan, I'm holding onto the ones we got.

Scene Four: Summer Lovin'

This bit (before again, the end of it) was my favorite LoVe moment in the whole episode. I LOVED her with her arm in the crook of his, her voice-over that she would come to have lunch with him, her taking his bag so they could hold hands. It was just really sweet and one of those little moments that are the kind that just makes your heart go awww.

Scene Five: LoVe and Guns

There is a lot to love in this scene (possibly more than any other), but sadly, like every other LoVe scene, there was also stuffies not to love. Sigh. Not one full scene where we could just appreciate and revel in the LoVe. (Although to be honest, other than The Kiss, I don't think there is one solitary, single scene that is completely Lilly/Duncan/angst-free and just flat-out happy LoVe last season either, so sigh.) Anyhoo, per my usual fashion, let's get the not-so-positive out of the way first.

We shall start with the shallow first. Veronica's hair is just bad. The little sorta, wingy feathery sides where her not-quite-grown-out bangs were pushed, just bad. Very bad. And Logan's hair, I already discussed that in the first scene, so we'll suffice it to say, just as bad as Veronica's. Just very bad, but not as bad as his shirt. Seriously, what the hell? Bright orangish-red polo shirt? What is wardrobe thinking? The shirt is very, very bad. And then we have Veronica's response to Logan's declaration of love and I'm sorry, but to me it was heartbreaking. The guy is smiling at her sweetly, adoringly and tells her that he is in love with her and she makes a joke. That's just pathetic. A joke? Just, poor Logan. Poor, poor Logan. And then to add the final, crushing blow -- he truly doesn't even get anywhere near second base because of the rat-a-tat of gunfire: And another happy LoVe moment blown to smithereens. Just about literally. Let's hear it again ... Sigh!

Okay, one more negative then I'm onto the positive. We actually have a scene similar to compare this one to from season one. In Meet John Smith, Veronica had a making-out-in-a-car fantasy and it was about 20,000 times hotter in terms of direction, execution and action (definitely, not in terms of chemistry with the guy). I mean, really, that scene was S-T-E-A-M-Y in the execution. This one, in comparison, is just sad. In this scene, the sexual heat and steam were barely non-existent. Maybe the show was just going for romance, but the steam should have been there as well, I think.

Now, of course, I'm not saying that it's because Jason Dohring and Kristen Bell are incapable of generating that heat (I mean, we saw plenty evidence of their heat-generating abilities with one another onscreen last season), but the direction of this scene did its damndest to deny them that capability. Their lips were fused together for, oh, about three seconds, upon lying down, two seconds later both were kissing the side of the other's mouth and then we got motorcycle's revving and then the gunfire. There was no necking, there was no making-out, there was no french-kissing, there was no open-mouth kissing. Damnit!

It was about as asexual as a scene like that could possibly be. I don't know, maybe the idea was that if they actually played fair with their chemistry, it would contrast too sharply with Kristen and Teddy Dunn's lack. I don't know. I just know that the execution of the sexual element of this scene actually seemed to be done in such a way as to dampen the sexual heat between these two as much as possible. Double sigh. And double damnit!

But there is some good. They still have chemistry, no dampening can completely downplay that, their chemistry is too good, too there and there is too much history between the two characters to eradicate their connection. The little jokey-way they acted, Logan's comments about her virtue and Keith's pride in it, Veronica looking over to where Keith presumably was, but still turning back to Logan and kissing him was sweet. Logan DID tell Veronica that he was in love with her and that was certainly nice to hear, even if her response left something to be desired. And considering that she broke up with him not too much long after that, it's definitely best that we didn't get a better response because that would have been really, really depressing in retrospect. And the direction may have thrown a wet blanket on the proceedings, but they were still kissing and beginning to get it on!

Then there was my favorite Logan moment and my favorite Veronica moment both here in Logan's bright, shiny yellow X-Terra. First Veronica's -- Logan tells her that Keith should be grateful that he isn't some pretty-boy jerk who just wants to get laid and Veronica all seriously looks at him and says, "Wait, what are you saying? You're not pretty?" and I just love it. I mean, we talk ALL THE TIME about how good-looking Logan/Jason is on the boards and we know that the UPN execs didn't think that Jason was pretty enough to play the romantic lead. And now, we actually get a line where Veronica is questioning that concept with disbelief. Just hysterical and I loved it. Plus, Kristen did a doozy of a job with delivery.

Now my Logan moment: Man, as far as I'm concerned this one goes up there in the top most adorable Logan moments ever. His holding his hand up with fingers spread and whispering, "five more minutes" to where Keith presumably is. Just heeheehee! Much love.

And yeah, just again, Logan DID tell Veronica that he was in love with her. And now once more, but a good one this time: Sigh.

Scene Six: Aww, Young Love, He said with Snark!

So, yeah, real sweet of Veronica to take Duncan's hand even though she knows Logan is leaning right there -- yes, he's leaning and very delightfully so -- watching them. Not much to say about this other than that, sadly, Logan really doesn't seem to care at all that Veronica and Duncan are together, and I'd almost completely buy it were it not for that less than jovial note in his snarky comment about "young love."

Veronica actually does seem like she's affected by Logan's presence a tad as the present-day scene draws to a close. And since I'd like to finish this with something positive, I'll comment on that. I did like the small moment here before her way-too chipper, "Did I mention he didn't take the breakup well?" Veronica was clearly looking for Logan as she looked out the window and Logan turned around clearly looking for her and when he saw her looking at him, gave that little wave. It wasn't much, but it was something and straws are being grasped, people. Straws are being grasped.

Scene Seven: Ouch! Just Ouch!

Before I discuss the scene itself, I must offer a complaint about the choice of locale and music because both slightly tarnish the memory of two much beloved LoVe scenes. The locale -- Veronica and Logan look to be sitting in the same position (but reversed) on the same couch in the same room from A Trip to the Dentist when Veronica apologized to Logan and made up with him. And now we get the same locale, same seating style (but in reverse), even holding hands in the beginning of the scene. What a painful throwback to that scene considering she's breaking his heart here. Sigh.

And then there is the music. This is the music that played over their second kiss in Hot Dogs when they first decided to actually make a go of some kind of relationship and then it plays here over them ending their relationship. Honestly, it's just cruel. And that's not even touching on the pain involved in the scene itself. Logan being dumped (again!), Logan's heart breaking (again!), Logan feeling like he's being abandoned (again!). Then, of course, we get the best part of all, Logan being a tad out of character by showing a vicious display of violence more suited to Duncan in one of his rages, but no, Duncan is pure and perfect, Logan is a bad, bad guy. And Veronica cringing as if she thinks he's gonna hit her, but yet she showed no reaction of similar sort to Duncan actually grabbing her arms and shaking her in Leave it to Beaver, because, you know, all of Donut's mistakes and flaws have been forgotten or just plain erased. He's pure. Double sigh.

And of course the joy of hearing Logan call Lilly, the girl who dumped him, treated him like crap, slept with his father!, his girlfriend as if there was no water under the bridge and there had been no Aaron/Lilly revelation. Niiiice. Finally, one more for the road, the way Keith came barreling in there, threw him against the wall and uttered those words, it was pretty clear that Keith has been waiting a long time to kick Logan out of Veronica's life.

I'm sure he just loves Duncan. Grumble, grumble, gnash, gnash. Arrrggghhhh!!! Poor Logan.

Episode List

Scene One: She Could Have Had That

Unless something happens (heeheehee, something happens) that completely alters the landscape of Veronica's character, this 54-second scene pretty much decimated my earlier belief that Veronica was/is not in love with Logan. I do believe now that she is. The problem? She does not believe that she is and never has. And moreso, Veronica does not want to be in love with him. The flashbacks in the premiere mostly showed a Veronica who, while caring, didn't seem in love with Logan, while many small moments with Duncan seemed to indicate that it was such a case with him. I'm thinking now that we really have to go with the mantra of the season that all is not what it seems.

Logan is messy; Logan is (in the words of executive producer Rob Thomas) "fucked up," Logan is ups and downs, highs and lows, wild emotions, leaping without looking. Logan is not safe; he is not predictable and he is not normal. In Veronica's experience, love is what she shared with Duncan a long time ago. What she shared with Logan in those brief weeks when they were secretly dating was nothing like what she had with Duncan. Since Veronica Mars is never wrong, ergo, what she shared with Logan wasn't love. By the time the summer rolled around and she and Logan were together again, she was caught between a rock and a hard place -- what is normal and what Logan makes her feel which is anything but ordinary (another word for normal) and so not what she felt for Duncan which she has classified as "True Love." And the bottomline is that Veronica had decided that she wanted normal, she wanted ordinary and that was something that Logan could never, ever provide.

So why did she take up with then? Because she IS in love with him and wanted to be with him despite knowing, even if she hadn't admitted it to herself, that he could never give her what she thought she wanted: Normalcy. She hoped that she could have what she was telling herself was the best of both worlds: Logan and the girl she used to be. Veronica simply wasn't ready to step away from that long-cherished dream of being that girl again once Lilly's murder was solved. She just could not do it. Veronica was determined to live that normal life once more. She was afraid that the last year and a half had completely erased the girl that she once was, the girl that she believed she needed to be again. It is as if Veronica doesn't realize how truly wonderful the new she had become and as if she believes that who she was once upon a time is who she needs to be now. And Logan Echolls didn't fit with that Veronica, that dream. So she began to distance herself, pull away, keep that wall between them. And it worked. Enter Duncan. He was her out and she took it. He was her normal.

Flashforward to a dimly lit hallway one night in the Neptune Grand a few months later. With Duncan, Veronica clearly did not have the time of her life, the earth did not move, the heavens did not sing and the big O was nowhere to be found. But damnit, Veronica Mars had gotten laid before she died and she remembered it this time. She got what she wanted. And then along came Logan. And he was clearly the guy who had just given some other girl the time of her life, making her earth move, and heavens sang Halleluja and the big O was screaming in tandem all for this other girl. As Logan looked at Veronica, as he walked forward, initiated casual conversation designed to fill the empty space and hurt the girl before him, because yes, he wanted to hurt her because he was hurting, Veronica just stared, silent with words. What. She. Wanted.

Words were all she was silent with. And this is where the utter brilliance of Kristen Bell's talent comes into play. Watch her body language, her facial expression. She was practically screaming now and the words were of regret. It wasn't a sly charade of 'Mm hmm, I could have had that!' but rather the fierce intensity of regret and she truly shone with the blinding force of an epiphany. Looking at Logan, knowing what he just did, knowing what she just did and knowing what could/should have happened between them, her body was screaming with the regret that 'I could have had that.' And there was no titilation, no coyness, no game, just a sheer weight of regret. 'I could have had that.'

That. The sexual experience? Yes, but no. The emotions? Yes, but again, no. The boy? Yes, but once more, no. The whole package? Yes. Yes, that. All of Logan in his fucked-up, sexually gifted, emotionally wounded, completely vulnerably-open hearted glory bursting with love for her. That is what she could have had. And she threw it away because she was afraid, because she wanted to be the girl she was and the girl she was, the one with the ordinary life where normal is the watchword, isn't the girl for Logan Echolls.

Logan Echolls. He was, as always, much easier to read. She hurt him when she broke his heart. She is still breaking his heart whenever he sees her which appears to be the only time he reveals it. He is seemingly able to hide that pain except when he probably wants to most: When he's near her. Just as she knew what he was doing, he knew what she was doing and the stance, the body language -- which he read as guilt -- told him what she was doing and so he was hurt. And when Logan is hurt and has no one to turn to, he lashes out, he seeks to hurt back. And it is in that hurting, the delivery, the moments that followed that we were witness to the awesome power of Jason Dohring's skill.

A jab to the heart, right? It certainly appeared that way upon first, second viewing, but taking into what I feel is Veronica's state of mind prior to that comment, I think it wasn't any more of a jab, a kick to the gut to her than the first realization that she could have had that was. It may have compounded that pain, it may have stirred up a new smaller regret, but it was lost amidst the swirling emotions that were still keeping her silent. And this was pain that was mirrored by Logan and I do think that Veronica was well aware of that even if that slight smirk, that casual air didn't drop until he walked past her line of vision. She knows him, just as he knows her. They are a pair but Logan just doesn't seem to fully realize it yet and misreads what should be clear to him, while Veronica simply chooses to not acknowledge it.

But she knows; she didn't need to see the mask drop, the anguish barely there, flitting across his face for the slightest of seconds as he walked past her, but looked back ... at her, at the door of the room from which she came (or didn't, as the case may be). Veronica didn't need to see that to know that he was in pain, because she was in pain. A pain that didn't fully reveal itself until the final word of her brief telephone conversation as she quickly, almost desperately sought to find out who the girl was, the one whose earth he moved.

Listen to that "please" if you still have the scene available to watch. You can hear the strains from word one, but it was that "please" that told the whole story. Listen to the near-break, the rise of near-hysteria, Veronica revealed in that one plea how close she was to completely breaking down. If Duncan had not opened that door at that precise moment and Veronica had not then needed to put some semblance of her mask back in place, I don't think that PodVeronica would have lasted another second. But he did and she did and we're back to Veronica Mars is never wrong. Duncan is true love. Normal is the watchword. Logan Echolls doesn't fit. The span of time in between Logan appearing and Duncan appearing was so brief, literally seconds, that while I believe that Veronica in those seconds was fully cognizant of all of those feelings flooding through her, they hadn't processed. They hadn't done anything but whirl like a dervish in her mind and so when the mask dropped, the dervish was stilled and the realization was never given the time to crystallize and form into a truth that the Veronica Mars she had become could hold onto and believe in the right of it.

Therefore we were left with the vague echoes of a spin that this Veronica refuses to hear ... now.

Episode List

Scene One: Veronica Chooses Not to Deal

When I first watched this scene, I was fairly unhappy with how Veronica was interacting with Donut. I actually began to question my take on the hallway scene from the previous episode since the two were kissing lingeringly twice in front of Logan, acting happy and in love. Not to mention that Veronica glared at Logan twice as if he was this horrible jerk. I was not a happy camper. However, upon further thought (with elucidation from my fellow posters), I saw that it was indeed completely in character for Miss Veronica Mars.

When something happens that she does not want to deal with -- In this case: She totally is in love with Logan and Donut is no longer 'the one,' -- she simply chooses to ignore it, box it up and not deal. Think Betty and Veronica: The Veronica who dealt with her wreck of a mother was completely put in a box while she went about finding a mascot and helping Wallace out. Veronica Mars is nothing if not a master at compartmentalization. And that is exactly what she was doing here, with an added dash of the ole 'Veronica Mars is never wrong.' She was not only boxing up that late-night encounter, she was also working double-time to prove to herself ... and Logan ... that she DOES love Duncan and that she IS super-duper happy and that Duncan IS the bestest ever and plugs her up right every time.

Not.

Scene Two: Logan Cares

I understand that this scene contains the best line of the show ("Didn't plug her right the first time, huh?"), but past the first bit that features interaction of any kind between Logan and Veronica (and it really is stretching to call it interaction), the rest of the scene when dealing with Logan in relation to the VD epidemic is directed towards Donut. So, I'm just covering that first bit ... which I still don't quite understand. Why DID Logan make such a big show of getting up, moving his stuff and dramatically offering up his place so that Veronica and Donut could sit by one another? Maybe it was part of his "I don't care" attitude by showing the two of them that, well, he didn't care. If that was the case, well, he failed because it came across that, yeah, he cared.

Scene Three: It's All About Control ... or Lack Thereof

Logan and Veronica have had plenty of snark-fests and one-sided fights but I think this was the first true fight that they both participated in. I think the two of them have truly had two fights prior to this one, on the beach and Veronica wasn't really playing along and in her apartment when they broke up, where again Veronica was not an active participant. However, this time they were both engaged in the fight and it wasn't a game of one-upsmanship as all of their past disagreements have been. They were genuinely fighting, not so much as trying to keep from going at each other (as Veronica was in the apartment break up) or get a grasp on what the hell is going on (Logan during the break-up).

They were fighting as two people who love each other, but hate each other right now to the degree that they want to hurt the other. Veronica was more in your face, while Logan used his favorite weapon, the subtle verbal jabs -- this time mostly directed at the situation. And both of them were trying very hard to pretend that they simply did not care and that this anger -- which they'd both kept under control prior to this -- had nothing to do with their dual knowledge of their sexual activities. Surprisingly, Logan did a much better job than did Veronica.

With three notable exceptions, one more intangible than the rest, Logan almost was able to play the entire situation as if he just did not care that he was fucking a married woman, that he was caught fucking a married woman and that Veronica knew that he was fucking a married woman. The exceptions? First was when Veronica claimed that Logan was getting enjoyment out of his death wish. You can see him very visibly swallow once and then less visibly as if he's gained control. And it's in those swallows that I get the sense that Logan does not have a death wish at all. He doesn't want to die; he doesn't want someone else to do the job for him.

The things that happen to him, brought on by things he does -- because yes, he did bring both (especially the bridge-beating) on himself in a way -- are not a result of him baiting death because he enjoys the thrill. It's two things, I think. The first is that he simply does not think of the consequences of his actions. This is partly because of his youth and partly because of his upbringing as one of the privileged whose only consequences were a beating by daddy and he had clearly immunized those against stopping his actions back in Return of the Kane.

The second is because he IS the poor, little rich boy. He is, simply put, in pain. He is so very alone and I really don't think that Veronica fully appreciates that. She feels as if she was alone her junior year, but she had her dad and she eventually grew to have Wallace. So in her mind, she may feel that she understands what it is like to be truly alone because of her ostracism and because she didn't tell her dad everything. Therefore, she figures that she understands what Logan has gone through, but she never acted out as horribly as he had. However, she is wrong.

Veronica had Keith; she always had someone who loved her ... and not just loved her, but unconditionally so. Logan clearly has not had unconditional love ever in his life and once he lost the happy memory of Lilly and Aaron was tarnished to a degree that Logan no doubt had not even fathomed, he truly was alone except for Veronica. Who was holding herself back from him because she wanted "normal." And once she dropped him, this poor, little rich boy was truly, completely and utterly alone. A desolate soul living with the belief that he truly is worthless to any other human being.

The second exception to Logan's devil-may-care facade was the most obvious when his voice finally rose. Yes, there was snark, but it was presented with anguish and not a cheeky attitude. However, unlike Veronica, his control was quickly recaptured -- during the sentence, no less ("you storm out in a burst of professionalism"). His voice rose in bitterness before dropping like lead to normal.

I had commented last week that Logan has been doing an excellent job of showing that he was unaffected by Veronica, except when he's with Veronica. Clearly, he's been working on this. And considering what he found out last week, it certainly makes sense that he would use that information to build up his walls even more securely and as witnessed in the two earlier scenes, it's clear that he has. And it's really clear in this scene. Most of his comments to her are delivered as jokes or lighthearted banter. Only the tone on "devoted ex-girlfriend" and the above quote completely lose the jocular tinge, while the "responsible for what?" loses the bit of that edge, but not all.

Finally, the intangible exception. Part of the reason I wrote way above that "[Logan and Veronica] were fighting as two people who love each other, but hate each other ..." is because the way Logan spoke his barbs was different from how we've heard him snark at Veronica or anyone else for that matter -- but for one other -- in the past. The sweet smile or full on smirk was missing from every hit. The only person that Logan has ever directed barbs to without the smile or smirk in full force is Aaron. The one person he loved, but hated. (I'm rather hoping that he just plain hates Aaron now, but back then, there was definitely still that mixture.)

Logan hated Aaron for hurting him and his mother, but he desperately wanted Aaron to love him too. He did. And in a sad way, it's the same thing with Veronica. He does hate her for hurting him so much, and hurting him when he had absolutely no one else, but he wants her to love him too. The thing is that enough time has passed now that Logan is getting better and better at hiding that need, just as he did with Aaron.

Veronica, on the other hand, has spent so much time lately living in this shell -- a pod so to speak ;) -- that when she's confronted with the one person who pushes her buttons like no other, she can barely control herself. She actually began the scene barely in control. As she commented on his redecorating, her voice was trembling and already sounded as if it was on the verge of tears. Veronica was so jealous; she was so angry, so upset with him, and she was doing her absolute damndest to control those emotions ... and failing miserably.

She kept trying for the snark with the accompanying sweet smile, shining eyes, occasional head tilt and she simply could not pull it off. After each delivered snark, the smile would drop immediately; the head never finished its tilt. And her eyes were shining all right, but not with fake cheer filled with contempt, but rather with unshed tears. The same unshed tears that kept her voice from having the lightness that generally accompanies her quips.

And the quips? Those she could barely hold onto. Instead she started attacking. She couldn't attack him for moving on which is what she was really angry about, so she turned it on him sleeping with a "bimbo." She couldn't really call him out ethically because girl has done some unethical things in her time so many times that she knows he'd call her out on that in a heartbeat. And she couldn't, wouldn't, did not want to admit to jealousy, so she sought to hurt him. Pulling the "poor little rich boy" spiel out when she should know better. Playing the 'you done wrong' card by using Mr. Casablancas as a front. She just wanted to hurt him because she was hurting. He did it last week, it was her turn now. And she realized exactly what she was doing and tried to head it off in the worst way possible, protesting much too much.

Logan had said, done nothing that indicated that he thought she was taking it any other way. She just randomly threw that into the conversation as a defense before he could call her on her (very clear) jealousy. But her tone made it so clear that it was much more than a job to her. Her voice was so bitter and jealous that it opened Logan up to say the closest thing to honest emotion spoken by him during their entire confrontation.

And Veronica pretty much dropped all pretense of not being just pissed off as she slammed out of their with one final snarky comment that only highlighted just how infuriated she was with the whole thing. Which she wouldn't be if this were just a job and she were not jealous, but of course she is as told by that oh, so lame last word. It was SUCH a petty, childish, petulant, jealous thing to say and pretty much put a fine capper on her very clear jealousy in this scene. And I just have to say that I loved it (in all of its lame glory) and Kristen's delivery was just smack-dab on!

One other thing I noticed and I don't know if it means anything, but I thought it was interesting. Watch the scene and take note of how throughout the entire scene, neither Veronica nor Logan are EVER centered. Logan looks more centered than Veronica, but I think that's simply a matter of mass. Jason Dohring is 6' and muscular; Kristen Bell is 5'1" and as petite as can be. But in both cases, they are set off-kilter throughout the entire scene. I'm not sure if this was supposed to highlight their confrontation or simply the way this affair has thrown Veronica especially off-kilter. Hmm, it was interesting.

Scene Four: This Time She Gets the Concept

Technically this is a separate scene even if it's only about 5 seconds long. What is interesting about it is that it neatly encapsulates in those five seconds the main core of what happened in Logan's bedroom. Logan is in control, snarking with ease as if he simply does not care. Veronica, on the other hand, completely loses her train of thought -- and that's a pretty damn hefty train of thought -- and reverts back to the pissed, jealous nonprofessional immediately upon Logan's arrival. After his comment, she rolls her eyes and all but huffs and storms away. This time correctly.

Episode List

Scene One: The Annoying Tiny Blonde One and the Evildoer

There's a reason that I specifically used quotes from last season's An Echolls Family Christmas in the title of this scene analysis. The interaction between Logan and Veronica -- but for one aspect -- played circa pre-The Lord of the Bling. Logan treated Veronica as if she were annoying and Veronica treated Logan as if he were the evildoer guilty of all sins in the universe.

No, Veronica didn't flat-out accuse Logan of making the anonymous tip, but her eyes, her expression, her body language, the words she chose to use and the tone of voice she used were all accusatory. Even the way Veronica began her conversation with him was pre-LotB Veronica. She had the slight smile, the slight head tilt as if she was gearing up for battle. And there was no subtext as if the battle had anything to do with other than exchanging wordplay and dealing with a one-time friend who was now an enemy. There was no hint that this is the guy she'd dated for a couple of months, a guy she'd been intimate with, a guy who had told her that he loved her, a guy whose heart she has mercilessly stomped upon multiple times. A guy who -- as their last couple of meetings had evidenced -- she was still carrying a torch for. There was no sense of that at all.

Maybe it was because she realized how obvious she was last week, maybe she has been shoring up her resources to combat Logan. Maybe, but this constant fanwanking to explain why the hell Veronica and/or Logan are acting as if they don't give two figs about one another at all when this is supposed to be a triangle is getting tired.

And frankly, it's not just that Kristen Bell played the scene straight out of early season one script. It was the dialogue and direction mostly. Especially Logan's first line. I mean, what the hell was that?! Had he delivered his sex/cuddling/no phone call line at the beginning of the bedroom scene last night, loads of subtext, fabulous consistency, it would have been a brilliant move. But here? No, it didn't work. The time had past for Logan to pull that shit out of his ass and taking in the rest of the scene (the accusing from Veronica, the "social betters" comment that, again, fit early season one interaction), it came across as just another 'she's a slut' insult from, you guessed it, early season one.

As for that one aspect of the interaction that worked -- that would be due to Jason Dohring. Under the layer of dialogue that did not correspond with the events of the last six to nine months, Jason added the slightest tinge of subtext that Logan was hurt that once again, Veronica was accusing him of something -- which he attempted to cover with his overly theatrical words and gestures (the twirling mustache comes to mind first).

The problem is that while Jason was working the subtext, Kristen was not. The dialogue had no layers, the direction indicated no deeper meaning so, upon first, second and third viewing, his subtext -- which actually acknowledged the passage of time and emotions and events that had transpired -- was almost lost. And that's just a shame. But then this whole, pulled straight out of Rob Thomas' ass "triangle" is nothing but a shame and one that makes not one iota of sense. So we're left with scenes that have to be fanwanked in order to "work" because the writing and direction aren't doing it for us.

Honestly,this episode didn't even hand us a straw to grasp.

Episode List

Scene One: I See London, I See France, I see Logan Slap His Pants ...

... or not. Stupid UPN cutting off Logan slapping his ass (eh, pants rhymed better with France) in the televised airing (as opposed to the cold open presented on UPN.com last week). Ah well, at least we can live in the knowledge that Veronica was definitely watching the ass-slappage because when we should have been watching him, instead we saw Veronica watching him. Although, to be honest she didn't seem all too titillated by the action. Of course that could have been because he was getting arrested *again* for the murder of Felix Toombs *again* -- geez, not even 18 and the poor little rich boy has heard those fateful words three times now. "You are under arrest ..." Poor Logan.

And lo and behold, but Miss Veronica Mars actually looked like she might share that sentiment. She did look concerned as Deputy Sacks did his duty, which is much better than the bitchface she's had going on pretty much non-stop this season in regards to Logan.

See people, straws. We're still grasping those straws firmly. From Veronica Mars we actually got a glimmer of concern for Logan Echolls. She could have been smirking or laughing, but there was concern. Straws, I tell ya.

Scene Two: See the Argyle Stretch!

I won't go much into analyzing this scene, merely offer a few paragraphs before linking to a story that Signe wrote about this scene that effectively captures any significant, positive LoVe that could possibly be caught.

Now, you gotta think that Logan pulled this little act deliberately. He probably was waiting for her arrival, having earlier chosen the one item in Duncan's wardrobe that no one at Neptune High (or most places on the planet) aside from Duncan would wear and put a magazine over his face. And clearly, he wasn't asleep as his arms went around her as soon as Veronica laid down upon him. He didn't know that she would do what she did, but he most likely knew that it was a possibility.

So why did he so quickly speak? Because it was in the script. No, seriously, probably because he's been the victim of Veronica's afore-mentioned bitchface and wanted to head it off. If he had laid there any longer, she would have had every reason in the book to rail at him, pretty much justified for the first time since she dumped him and ripped his heart into a million pieces. By speaking right away, she had no justification to blame him -- not that such a thing has ever stopped her before. But hey, at least this way, he gave himself a fighting chance from the Veronica bitchface reprieve! And it worked, this time she turned it on Donut.

As for Veronica, well as soon as I saw Logan lying on the couch, I knew that it was him. I talked to a friend who was completely unspoiled and she wasn't sure it was Logan, but she knew damn well that it wasn't Duncan. Therefore, we can definitely fanwank that Veronica KNEW that it was not Duncan lying there and furthermore, as much time as she spent with Logan's body (yes, let's all take a moment to envy her greatly ~ a moment of silence wishing that we were the fictional Veronica Mars this past summer ~) ... Ahem, as much time as she spent with Logan's body in the past, she had to have known it was him.

So therefore, while Veronica told herself that she was laying down upon her "honest, adorable boyfriend" (excuse me, I just lost my lunch, foreshadowing or not), her subconscious knew that it was Logan. And if that is the case, her unreasonable anger about Logan's presence was anger at herself for allowing herself that moment in his arms, subconscious or not.

Episode List

Scene One: Under Her Skin

We'll just ignore the ickiness that took place prior to Logan's arrival, but to note that through most of it, Veronica really didn't seem all that interested. Score one for the LoVe camp! Veronica was never not interested when Logan wanted to get it on. In fact, Veronica was the instigator a time or two. Uh huh. Ahem, onto Logan's entrance. Honestly, you'd rather expect more -- oh, what's the word? I know! A bit of the awkward. Yeah, the one that Logan decided would be a good keyword. You'd rather have expected a tad more of that upon walking in on your ex-girlfriend making out with her previous ex-boyfriend who became her current boyfriend after she dumped you and then ran back into his arms less than a month later. Just a little more than a big smile and complaints about starting The Big Lebowski without him.

Seriously.

Okay, we did have some fun though, courtesy of Logan and his wonderfully wiseass ways. (Ooh, say that real fast three times!) Sitting down RIGHT NEXT to Veronica and telling Duncan in a sweet voice, "I thought the reason you asked me to live with you is so that we could spend time together," Logan was looking OVER Veronica to talk to Duncan just to get a rise out of her. His every word and action seemed designed to get under her skin. Logan KNEW that he was annoying her; he knew it and was having fun with it. And then in reaction, Veronica basically shut down, reciting, without emotion, the scene they had just watched. And all the while Logan was acting as innocent as could be.

And then his grilled cheese arrived. Sigh. Maybe I'm fanwanking it, but I do think that he was just a tad too obvious about his intentions with Kendall (endurance, indeed -- *snicker*). It was almost as if he was trying to get to Veronica still, but in an entirely different way. The innocent smile said it all. Trust Logan to be a bad ex-boyfriend most when he looks like an cherubic choirboy. That is when he is most dangerous.

Scene Two: For Old Time's Sake? Not if Veronica Can Help It.

I know many did not like this scene. Well, surprisingly, put me in the minority who did. For the first time since their fight in Cheaty, Cheaty, Bang, Bang, I actually felt something. I actually felt as if there were an indication between the two that there had been a relationship and that there were, indeed, residual feelings. Going back to the first scene, Veronica proved Logan's point about lack of indifference based on the delivery of the movie scene description. The stiff, annoyed tone clearly showed that she is not indifferent to him and she knows it and it pisses her off. So it was fabulous to hear Logan actually call her on that lack here which, again, is the first time in a long time that it was pointed out that they were something to each other before. There was (is) something there.

And in this scene, while her words certainly came across as indifferent apathy, take note of her vocal inflection, facial expression and body language. Take note of her reactions to Logan's words and demeanor throughout the whole scene. It began with Logan basically doing a variation on what I wanted him to do when I found out about this "triangle." That is, play the sexy card getting her all hot and bothered and throwing that in her face. Instead of going that route however, he went the schmoopy route in detailing past intimacy between them!

Seriously, how adorable was he in how he said and then used his hands to illustrate the "and your legs were around my waist?" And he KNEW how adorable he looked and sounded. He did it on purpose. Logan was being a TOTAL wiseass in the cutest way possible to deliberately get a rise out of her. And she was determined to not give in to that, yeah, but like in the aforementioned Cheaty, Cheaty, Bang, Bang, the smile, the almost glee she takes in verbally cutting people down (something she has in common with Logan) was not there. She can't do it, because she ISN'T indifferent to him.

Even before the wiseass disappeared, you could see Veronica's internal voice chanting: I will not let him get to me. I will not let him get to me. And then his disappointment kicked in, driven by a tinge of expectation of that disappointment, his intense sincerity came to the fore and you could see that voice grow to screaming desperation: I will NOT let him get to me. I will NOT let him get to me!

But of course he did. Veronica absolutely backed down in deciding to help him. Did she want to? No, I really don't believe she did. Why? Because she isn't indifferent to him, he does affect her and she knows it and she doesn't want to put herself in any kind of situation with him that could potentially show just how not indifferent to him she is (not that she would admit to herself that that was her real reason). Still, she couldn't NOT not help him. Because she isn't indifferent; because she does care about him. Sigh. It is clearly just going to take a helluva lot to get her to admit that to herself. And judging by the fact that she resorted to making it about what concrete information he had, as opposed to doing it for feelings between the two ("for old time's sake"), clearly shows that she isn't ready for admittance or acceptance yet.

Scene Three: Under Her Skin, Take Two?

Really not much to go on here. Veronica refers to Logan as a bug, which we may be able to infer is her subconscious way of revealing that she isn't indifferent to him (or she could just being a tad bitchy. Your call.). And I suppose you can tweak that she cares out of her frustration that he lied which doesn't help him. The biggest kick I got out of this scene was the fact that Logan was the "boy" she had over despite being told not to have boys there, LOL!

Straws, people. Straws.

Episode List

Scene One: Logan as Backup

Honestly, I can find no straw to grasp here. Yes, she's helping him, but she's being less kind to him than she is to her normal Mystery of the Week clients. She snarks, makes a comment about his jackassery, but it doesn't play because if anyone is being a jackass in this scenario, it's she to him. Sigh. I want to believe that there is something there, but when Logan has to beg that she considers him her dog to get her to actually take his situation seriously and she doesn't blink, people there really is just not much to hang a LoVe hat upon. Double sigh.

Scene Two: Logan Isn't Backup

I think I really may have enjoyed this little tete-a-tete in the car, short as it was, did Kristen Bell play the scene with the same glinting snark from last season. Alas, she played it as if Logan was nothing but an annoying nuisance and she found absolutely nothing charming or endearing about him. Sigh. And Logan's sighs just seemed to echo my own. How is he seriously not just questioning why the hell he even went to her for help? She's doing it but as if (a) she's dragging her feet because she really doesn't want to do it, (b) as if she doesn't care two figs what the results are and (c) as if it's the biggest pain in the ass that she is doing it.

Once more for the road. Sigh. (Riiiight, as if that's the last sigh you'll get from me for this episode. Hah!)

Scene Three: Logan IS the Backup!

Now, we're talking! For the first time since episode three, we actually have a scene with something to go on with possible signs of love from (gasp!) both Veronica and Logan. Now mind you, there's not much and it does require some fanwanking, but in regards to LoVe this season ... well, what else is new?

I like that Logan risked Veronica's anger by following her. I mean, he could have blown her cover, but he obviously figured it was worth the risk since she'd been in there so long. I also liked that he used his brains and attempted to talk his way out, use the cops and then finally as a last resort, pulled the gun. And, ooh!, we get to borrow a lovely memory from A Trip to the Dentist. Pulling out the placard used in that breakdown:

Because, yes, indeedy, Mr. Logan Echolls was playing the hero card again. Sigh! Look at him, facing danger and a room full of rough 'n' tumble, infamous Irish baddies all to save his former love. Double sigh.

And Veronica's reaction? Well, not exactly a sigh. His heroics were greeted instead with tears, frustration and anger. While it would have been very nice to have seen Logan get a "thank you" at least, I do get where she's coming from, I do. Logan constantly seems to be surrounded with danger, consistently seems to be in situations -- some of which he does bring upon himself -- that revolve around violence. And we can fanwank that her tears and frustration are born out of her fear for his continued safety. We can. On the other hand, her reaction could also have been so strong because she was reacting to both the threat against her and the fact that Logan had a gun. Therefore, sigh, if that were the case, that makes it not really caring about Logan that much at all. Double sigh. Sadly, in light of this season, I'm gonna have to go with that latter explanation as opposed to the first. Triple sigh. This show has just really tested how far my fanwanking will stretch.

Plus, the fact that Veronica's final comment is that he should leave Neptune, just *OUCH!* And my goodness, the look on Logan's face as she stormed away ... I think that it pretty much helped completely dispel any lingering hopes that he could turn back time to last summer. Not that I thought that he had any hopes of such in the forefront of his mind, but the little nags and attempts to get under skin were indicative of him trying to get to her in some way. I think those may be gone now because, really, the girl just is making it so clear that he is not who she even remotely wants to be with. At all.

However, this can be seen as a good thing in the long run. I do think that Logan has to take Veronica off of this pedestal that he does have her up on. She's not perfect and she made mistakes just as he did in their all-too-brief relationship. They need to be on some level of equal footing and they really haven't ever been. Maybe, just maybe this is the first step towards that.

Maybe.

Straws, people. For goodness sake, we've got to grab the straws!

Scene Four: A New Hope ... Or Not

Not much in this scene, but their hands briefly touch!!! Ahhhhh!!! And Logan ends the scene with a too, too funny line: "Help me, Mars Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope." Heeheehee! Alas, he isn't even smiling as he says it and Veronica doesn't return a smile either. There's just no fun even in the pain. Sigh. This is really just not fun. At all.

Episode List

Scene One: LoVe in an Elevator

Sigh. It's sad when the highlights of a Logan/Veronica scene are the camera angles and Logan's expression of concern for a Veronica who is playing him. Double sigh. In regards to the camera angles, I really enjoyed how the tension was clearly displayed in the way they were standing in the elevator and the camera angle making it appear as if the distance was just huge between them. Good job.

What was not good was Veronica's attitude ... yet again. Yes, Logan said "Heigh ho," and remembering the "ho, ho, HO" from An Echolls Family Christmas, it's certainly easy to believe that he meant it in that way; however, the "Heigh ho, it's off to work we go," is certainly just as believable, especially in regards to how he said it. Completely different tone than with the "ho, ho, HO!," so it seemed a genuine Snow White reference to me. On the other hand, I'll give that the "mopey" reference to Duncan wasn't the nicest comment ever, but did Veronica have to call him "sleazy" in return? Really, did she? Must she hit so low and so mean in regards to him so very often? It's just depressing. And he just doesn't deserve it. Last season, yes. This season, indubitably, no.

Then we get to that look of concern. Regardless of the whys and wherefores--which are certainly not clear, judging from the continued debate--Veronica broke up with Logan and hooked up with Duncan (after spending time talking/laughing/etc. with Duncan while Logan's girlfriend) less than a month later. Those are the facts. If anyone has the "right" to feel somewhat vindicated by Duncan cheating on Veronica, it's Logan. Therefore, Logan, if he truly were the asshole that Veronica treats him as, would have been taunting and nasty about Veronica "catching" Kendall in Duncan's shower, thus "proving" Duncan a cheater.

Guess what? He wasn't. He wasn't mean, he didn't make an insulting, leering comment. He didn't say anything at all--he just sat there in silence, concern on his face ... for Veronica. It was actually more than concern, he seemed truly upset on her behalf. Take a look at the screencap below to see his expression in this moment.

This is the guy who she dumped and then ran into the other guy's arms pretty damn soon after, and Logan was clearly upset on her behalf. And then, looking at the next shot of him, it is clear that he was also pissed off that Duncan's actions caused her pain. He was upset because SHE was hurting.

But of course she wasn't hurting--she was playing him. Ver-on-ica! Wake up and smell the donut! Logan is so, so, so much better than that robot who didn't treat you with half the respect, love and tenderness that Logan did when you two were dating. Once more for the road ... sigh.

Episode List

Scene One: The Power of a Plea Proffered with Puppy Dog Eyes

It has been some time since we've been gifted (yes, gifted!) with a scene featuring Logan and Veronica that actually required fanwank -- uh, analysis beyond why is Veronica being so mean to poor Logan. Well, yippee! Episode twelve delivered such bounty. Yes! Now, this doesn't mean that she doesn't snark and give attitude to him. No sirree, after all, she IS Veronica Mars. Even in the halycon, albeit much too brief, days of their being together, there was snark and attitude aplenty.

The difference, you see, is in the delivery of the snark and the tone of the attitude. While there was certainly no sweetness involved in the snark, there was also (blessed be) no downright nastiness. The back and forth between the two (from Veronica's end, Logan was too bummed to properly participate in the snark) seemed to genuinely reside in Veronica's quippy ways. There was no malice, no daggers drawn to pierce; there was just Veronica being a smartass because, after all, with comment just works so much better for her.

The main push and thrill of this scene, however, and why it ranks way, way up there in the LoVe scenes this season was in the subtle play and looks between the two. Although, Weevil was there, once Logan entered the conversation, the bad-ass PCher seemed more of an afterthought to Veronica. Her gaze kept flitting back to the lovely Logan, her comments -- even though technically including Weevil -- seemed more directed to get under Logan's skin.

And more tellingly, when Weevil asked her to bug the church, she was not only adamant about not doing it, she was all but laughing at the notion that she would do such a thing. However, once Logan explained that it could lead them to Felix's murderer (thereby getting Logan off the hook), suddenly, Veronica's stance changed. If not willing to bug a confessional, she agreed to do what the Church and most viewers would feel wasn't all that much of a higher rung on the ladder of sin -- stash some video equipment there. And perhaps I'm letting my little LoVe heart read too much into it, but I do believe that the reason for her change of heart was based solely on Logan's plight (and puppy dog eyes).

And if that's not something to be happy about in this season of straw-grasping, I don't know what is.

Episode List

Scene One: Rain Check ... Please! 'Twould Be Nice

With the exception of one uncalled for bit of nasty snark (despite the many stupid and/or teenage-cruel things that Logan has done, 'evil' is beyond pushing it, in liquid form or otherwise), this was by far the most enjoyable present-day interaction Logan and Veronica we've had all season. And not just because they weren't bitchy, jack-assy or all-out bitter to one another. I think this scene would have been called enjoyable at any point during their relationship (minus the LoVe-smorgasbord of Weapons of Class Destruction through A Trip to the Dentist, minus the rape accusation). Yes, it was that enjoyable.

Despite the snark, it was mostly fun snark. Veronica looked on the verge of smiling several times throughout the scene, and not the bitter, 'I can't stand you so much that I can't believe I ever let you touch me' smile we've only seen so far this season, but a genuine, 'I really shouldn't be smiling because I'm not supposed to be affected by your adorable charm anymore' smile. And Logan, well, that boy just looked like he was doing his darndest to not show how much he still adored the girl.

There he was as the scene opened, leaning (sigh!) against the slushie machine just a'starin' away with a grin on his face, followed by the flirty, "you had me at ice cold," chased after with his choice of poison being "emotionally unavailable women" (ie, one Veronica Mars). And the topper was his response to her (really, it was none of her business) almost coy question about whether he had a date or not: "Rain check?" There was just the slightest touch of flirting going on there. Yes, yes, it's coming from Logan, but the fact that he's comfortable enough in going there when he wasn't before now, shows that not only is he at a different place, but he knows that she is well.

No, it's not even remotely where any of us would want them to be at this point in the season (more than halfway through!), but there was almost a sweet gentleness in how they interacted with one another. Not quite to the degree that we were at by Mars vs. Mars last season, which was when the first thaw really began to happen. But I would compare it to An Echolls Family Christmas snark-level with the roles reversed. Back then, Veronica wasn't dishing it with much of any venom, but Logan was -- now (and it's interesting the now with Donut gone, since the venom was in full force while he was around) it's Veronica who still has more than a bit of bite to her bark. So we're getting there. Slowly. Baby steps, but we are -- FINALLY! -- beginning to see a thaw. And that was nowhere in more evidence than in the one non-snarky/flirty segment of their conversation.

As Logan casually referenced Madison's awesome pie-selling abilities, and Veronica just as casually responded, telling the tale of the how of that awesomeness, they were just talking. There was a comfort, no hidden agendas, no games -- just two people who know each other well enough to have a conversation that included no double talk. It was just ... nice. And sometimes nice is pretty damn wonderful.

Episode List

Scene One: Walk on By

Yeah, we're talking two seconds in the same frame and they didn't even interact, but there is a tiny little bit to wring out of the final Logan scene in terms of LoVe analysis. First of all, I do not believe that it is fanwanking to say that we don't know how Logan felt about seeing Veronica in that situation or vice versa by the simple fact that it was left ambiguous for us. We got nothing even remotely resembling a close-up for either one so we simply can't know whether either felt a jolt at all at seeing the other. (So we'll just assume they did, but both hid it well and quickly.)

Furthermore, while Veronica did sound casual when asking Mac about Hannah, the fact that Veronica -- who doesn't pay much attention to such goings-on normally -- did ask shows that Logan was absolutely right in Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner. Veronica is just not indifferent to him. From Driver Ed where she attempted to find out who he was boinking in the next room to wondering why the hell he has a gun in Ahoy Mateys to casually asking who the blonde with Logan is here, she needs to know what is going on with Logan. She is, simply put, not indifferent to him.

And then we get to the reaction. In the above mentioned instances, Veronica found justification for calling Logan on his actions (without it definitively being about jealousy or caring). By finding out that the blonde is, in fact, the mystery witness' daughter and therefore, Logan is most likely using the girl for his own purposes gives Veronica the angle she needs to confront him without it being labeled "jealous" or that she cares. Thus the strong reaction and how it bodes well for us.

Could we have gotten more to give us a little shipper-upper? Absolutely, but we can blame that on the direction (and, possibly, the fact that Bell just seemed a tad off in this episode). Fanwanking? Sure, but come on -- what's the fun of being a fan if you can't fanwank situations to your benefit now and then? Uh huh.

Episode List

Scene One: Pensive When Jealous

It's not much and can be attritubted to Veronica's annoyance with Logan fooling with this young girl's heart, but the fact that Veronica sat there staring for several seconds at Logan and Hannah, I think, showed a deeper feeling. And it was one that wasn't based on annoyance, but rather jealousy. Think of how often last season we saw Veronica staring at Duncan (with Shelly, with Meg, with Logan) with an almost longing of what was. Maybe I am fanwanking, but I do believe we saw a bit of that here as well here.

And of course, much like most of that period when Veronica was beginning to fall for Logan in season one, we are getting no voiceover as to her feelings. (Admittedly, we haven't gotten much voiceover period, but we're allowed to be biased here and assume all roads lead to a LoVe reunion.) And no voiceover equals (or did last season in relation to Logan) confusion over what she is feeling and/or refusal to admit that there are genuine feelings there. Uh huh.

Scene Two: Cute When Jealous

You know, I don't care if it's only 23 seconds long, but dang if this isn't one of the most adorable LoVe scenes in forever, regardless of the insensitive San Quentin line from Veronica. Why? You gotta watch Logan's face throughout the entire exchange and Veronica's reaction after the nose bop/jealous comment. You'll see why.

Viewers can't actually see Logan's expression, but Jason Dohring rocks so damn hard, it's not necessary because just the profile tells the whole story. The entire time Veronica is giving her little spiel, Logan is gearing up to respond. However, he isn't swallowing to cover his pain that Veronica is being so callous towards his future. Nah, he's grinning, and even trying not to laugh (note the way his cheek puffs out as if his tongue -- mind out of the gutter -- is pressed against it). He isn't upset or bothered by the not-so-nice comments that Veronica is making because it's crystal clear to him that, yeah ... She. Is. Jealous.

Veronica is using the poor, soon-to-be wounded young girl as a moral excuse, but she's just jealous. And he knows it. Again, check out what you can see of his grin while she's speaking and then when we do get the full-on face shot, his eyes are sparkling. He is practically beaming. He loves that she's jealous because it does show that she still cares (and it also confirms that Logan feels nothing truly romantic for Hannah).

And what's even better than the adorable smile and nose bop -- which really is too cute for words, and kinda sexy too, the way he doesn't do it quickly, but almost a slow slide. Sigh. Ahem, anyhoo, what's even better is that Veronica clearly IS jealous. That is obvious by her expression as he walks away. Maybe I'm reading too much into it (me, nah!), but it sure looked like someone who was annoyed because they were caught. It wasn't annoyance that he was reducing her concern to jealousy; it was annoyance because the fucker saw straight through her so-called concern for poor Hannah and knew right away that she was simply jealous.

Burn! I love it.

Scene Three: And I Mean This ... Aww!

If you doubt that Veronica was jealous of Hannah above, here is more proof that Miss Mars is not too keen about this 'relationship.' Herewith, I present pictorial evidence. Check out this screencap (from vm-caps.com):

Take a gander at what you can see of her expression as she stares at him intently. In warching the scene, you can see she seeks to pierce that moment in which Logan looked genuinely into Hannah. And why exactly does Logan seem so into Hannah in this moment? As in the earlier scene between the two, I think it was about the situation as opposed to the girl. I'm not saying that he doesn't care about her, I just don't believe that he likes likes her. I think his actions that could be construed as a genuine romantic interest in her are all preceeded by situations that lead him to be simply grateful for the presence of someone (not Hannah, per se, just someone, *anyone*) in his life who, you know, actually likes him.

Earlier in the episode, Logan buried himself in Hannah's affection as an antidote to the emotional abuse he'd suffered -- The Tinseltown Diaries with Dick's obliviousness to his pain, followed by his lawyer's 'friendly' advice, Veronica's 'plumbing new depths' comment, the punk spittle. Now yet again, he was shot down (Mr. Pope stopping just as Logan was about to speak -- clearly not as emotionally demeaning as all of the above, but still, judging from his expression and body language, an unwelcome hit). And lo and behold, look who comes along to make him feel better once more because she likes him, she really likes him. (Or not ... since she doesn't really know him, but Logan's at the point where he's taking what he can get -- literally.)

I feel it was the same situation here. The key word being "situation." Not Hannah specifically, but a someone, an *anyone* who actually treats him like a non-disposable human being. Of course, then in Veronica's emotionally down moment (ie, jealousy) and naturally being unaware of just how very, very bad Logan's last couple of days have been, she attempts to ding that little bubble moment of his. And she succeeded, judging by the clear discomfort and embarrassment Logan responds to her "aww" with.

What is also interesting is that we have Veronica and Logan switching places here (in a way that does bode well for LoVe). This correlation was noted between an FBLA scene from Cheatty Cheatty Bang Bang in which VD had a cutesy moment and Logan was witness to it. In both cases, they openly showed forms of affection to their respective significant other. And in both cases, the exes responded with disgust (open in Logan's case, mocking snark in Veronica's). And of course, they both then reacted to the other's reaction with immediate embarrassment. I know. Things that make you go hmmm ... In other words, it looks like Miss Mars is not as unaffected as she pretends to be.

Uh huh! See? Jealous.

Scene Four:True LoVe Stories Never Have Endings!

Okay, seriously, how was this not totally a shout-out? No way that it wasn't. Logan is Veronica's true love! Nyeah-nyeah-nyeah! Take that, Donut-boy!

Ahem, moving along. Like the above two scenes, this bit of interaction is just that, a bit, but it offers much more in terms of potential LoVe goodies than any scene, erm, all season from the Veronica point of view. By commenting "If it [true love] comes looking for me, I'll be over by the espresso machine (cue Logan's arrival)," even jokingly, the acknowledgement is there that she does not have a true love as of yet.

True, this could be seen as bad for LoVe if we didn't already have pretty compelling evidence (Veronica's actions/words all season) that she was doing her damndest to ignore the fact that she was ever actually involved with Logan. Of course, we do have such proof, which is why this isn't a LoVe negative. Instead, it reflects badly upon the whole VD arc this season. If she can even joke about true love finding her a few months after Donut ran, Veronica Mars doesn't believe that such a thing existed between her and Duncan. So yay.

Also, she didn't react to Logan's pronouncement with a roll of her eyes, a grimace, a smirk, or any other like indication that she figured, 'Well, of course, you did something horrible. You're you!' Instead, she genuinely took stock of what he was saying, his body language, expression and tone of voice and appeared to take him seriously. So double yay!

On the flip side, perhaps the very reason that we saw actual concern from Veronica was because Logan wasn't flip, wasn't snarky, sarcastic or rude or any of the other negatives he's been while requesting (more like, demanding!) Veronica's help this season. He first acknowledged that she was busy and basically apologized for intruding on her work. That showed an understanding of something outside of "it's all about me!" which I don't think we've EVER seen before when Logan has asked her for help. Furthermore, during the entire exchange (short as it may have been), he wasn't snarky, he wasn't sarcastic and more importantly, he wasn't overly dramatic. He was just telling it like it was with no embellishments. "I did a horrible thing." And that is why I believe that Veronica showed such true concern for Logan.

The straws are piling up. Oh yes. Jealousy, irritation with Logan (hah!) 'moving on,' genuine concern. Uh huh, what is that I see? Yes indeedy, it's a little, dinky-winky, but none-the-less visible, haystack! We are getting somewhere! YES!

Episode List

Scene One: Do the Right Thing!

Despite the negative conclusion to this sole LoVe scene, I'd actually consider this one of the more positive moments between the two this season. Even that negative conclusion. Why? Well, Veronica was nice, she used a sweet voice, was voluntarily walking next to him and having a gentle conversation, showing concern, saying she was glad he was free. I mean, honestly, take a look at this screencap:

Veronica has not sent a look even remotely this soft Logan's way this season with the exception of Normal is the Watchword flashbacks. Sigh, of course, as they continued walking and talking, it went negative. Double sigh. However, as I wrote above, I think that even that negative was a positive. The softness, the sympathy was there and then she finds out that, well, actually, he was still being an ass and that niceness/sympathy just went bye-bye and disappointment in Logan Echolls reigned supreme once more.

The reason that I think this is a good sign for LoVe is that she was disappointed because it means that she still has the capability to NOT think the worst of him automatically at all times. And what made this work even more for me as a LoVe shipper was what Logan did after Veronica showed her disappointment. He did what she expected him/wanted him to do. And I think this was something that we were deliberately supposed to pick up on.

Why else the placement of Veronica showing disappointment with his actions, if not to show that it was Veronica who pushed him to do the right thing. In other words, I believe that the whole reason that we saw Logan go back and try to make things right with Hannah was because Veronica is Logan's barometer for what is good, what is bad. And so he was trying to be good, do the good thing ... in Veronica's eyes.

In other words, VERONICA was the catalyst to be a better person here, not Hannah. In a way, I could see that Logan chose that path to prove (subconsciously) to Veronica that yes, he was a good person. He did the right thing and this good girl thinks the world of him, so therefore he can't be all bad. And it would make sense that he would be doing this for Veronica even if it means getting with another girl.

Again, if it was about liking Hannah (and he so did not like her like her), we would have just seen him looking mopey at her and feeling guilty with that being the push. We didn't; he ignored her UNTIL Veronica showed disappointment in his actions. Veronica was the catalyst, not Hannah. Hannah was merely convenient and someone who cared about him and considering his state of mind the last nine months or so, it makes perfect sense that he would be attracted to/attached to/wanting THAT. Not the person, but the fact that she cared about him.

In Logan's mind right now, Veronica is not even remotely a romantic option, so wanting to be with someone who does care about him is certainly understandable. Veronica barely wants anything to do with Logan; she's made it clear that they are over, done with, probably he feels that she wishes they had never been. So it's not about impressing Veronica to get her back, but about getting her to think less horribly of him. He did what clearly Veronica had expected/wanted him to do. The thinking is maybe there that he won't get Veronica back romantically, but at least, she won't hate him and/or be disappointed with him.

Episode List

Before I go into detailed scene analysis, I'm going to offer a little introductory analysis regarding Logan's previous relationship. In my opinion, all but the final scene between Logan and Hannah played as if, yes, Logan cared about Hannah as a person, felt guilty about using her, appreciated like nobody's business that she cared about him and believed in him, enjoyed the making out (he's a teenage guy) and was motivated strongly by the idea of someone good actually caring about him/standing up for him. However, I did not believe ever that he actually liked liked her, fell for her, take your euphemism.

I excluded that final scene because that did play out that way, but I simply can do nothing but discount it. First of all, as the scene was written there was simply no way for Jason Dohring to add any layers, subtext, etc. I won't go into detail or into a Rob Thomas rant here, just suffice it to say that I think the reason that it was written as such is because that final scene was his way of sticking it to the LoVe fans one last time (hopefully). And I believe that because it contradicted every scene before that DID play as I described Logan's feelings above and then taking into account this week's episode, even more confirmed that, no, he did not like like her, fall for her, take your euphemism.

Scene One: He's a Winner!

Ah, once again the overt LoVe-joy that is derived from this scene all comes from Logan, but ah, ah, ah, we do have some subtle moments of (oh, let's call a spade a spade) fanwanking that can be applied to Veronica. First off, we must acknowledge Logan's complete lack of mourning over the Pink Pastel. First we have his Cheshire-grinning, snarky self about the essay. And then we've got the gaggle of girls (all acting like Hannah clones) hanging all over him and here is Logan, basking in it like the aforementioned Cheshire basking in the sun. And along comes Veronica. And here comes Logan, grinning at her, broadly hinting that she should ask him out on a date, sidestepping with a grin her accusation and in one final moment in which Logan is a crowning citizen of Hannah-who? land, our dear boy, still doing his Cheshire grin, takes a moment to look Veronica up and down, head to toe in a decidedly appreciative way.

As for Miss Mars ... clearly that essay was several pages long. Just as clearly it was single-spaced. And just as clear as the last just as clearly was the fact that Veronica couldn't have read more than a few lines or lightly skimmed a paragraph. With that clarity in mind, being able to quote a few lines from a film that Logan is obviously fond of that also appear in his essay, in no way offers the snap-quick analysis that Logan plagiarized the paper. Because really, several pages, single-spaced typed, there is no way an entire paper can be written in such a way that plagiarizes a film. So, with that said, we go to 'Fanwanking Your Way to LoVe 101:' Veronica just wanted an excuse to walk up to Logan, be near him, talk to him, and exchange some snappy, arousing repartee. Because that there was the single, weakest accusation that Veronica Mars has ever come up with ... in regards to Logan, yes but also in regards to anyone any other time. Seriously? Several pages, single-spaced, seconds of reading and she comes up with plagiarism? Nah. She just longed to be close to him.

And then there was the one final bit that is perhaps fanwanking, but I think is only on the edge and is not quite a stretch of imagination: Veronica remembering the dialogue to Logan's afore-mentioned film regarded with fondness. Not only do we have Veronica actually reciting the film's dialogue, which can be seen as her noting its importance because of Logan's love for it, but we have -- and this is big! -- Veronica actually acknowledging that she and Logan dated!! YES! For the first time this season, Veronica spoke to Logan about a couple-thing they did as a couple. It's a miracle. And one to which I'm ever grateful for because it means that mound of straw is indeed becoming a mound.

One more note: The film that Veronica mentioned was Easy Rider and, as any consistent viewer knows, that was the film that Logan watched with the Pink Pastel. If Logan dear was even remotely heart sore for the girl, wouldn't we have seen, oh, even the slightest smidgen of pain cross his face when Veronica brought up what would be a fairly recent fond memory of their time together? Yes, he would. But he didn't. Because he didn't truly like her. It was all about the fantasy of having a normal relationship with a sweet girl who gosh darn't liked him for him, not the sweet girl herself.

Scene Two: What Logan Can Do

Yeah, totally -- this witty repartee/gentle snark is so verbal foreplay with them. SO verbal foreplay. It's like they have this rhythm going, beginning with Logan doing that smooth turn whilst walking upon hearing the voice of his lady love. And then the side by side gait, shoulders brushing, quips falling one on top of the other, the smiles, the flirty eyes. It is just pure poetry to behold. Sexy poetry. Because if I haven't mentioned this recently -- and I haven't because there hasn't been much cause -- these two have incredibly good chemistry. Walking, talking, quipping and snarking, they are the essence of cool, sexy heat. Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring are just so exceptionally in synch when working together, it's dazzling. (And we haven't even gotten ahead of myself yet with the you know what!)

Sigh, but all good things must end. Once Veronica grabs the keys and Logan informs her of her pest-like quality, things get serious and the fun and games are over because Veronica gets her proverbial foot up the proverbial ass of LoVely snarkage. Oh, Veronica.

And oh, Logan! It wasn't the nicest comment ever, but this hysterical, gentle snark must go near the top of my favorite not-so-nice LoVe banter ever.

Again, yeah, it was so not the nicest, but it was damn funny and more importantly (for the LoVe analysis), it was delivered without bitterness or malice of any kind (plus, we totally know he was lying. Veronica remains ever important to him). Anyhoo, I think the gentle snarking here is a good thing; it's yet another sign of a softening between the two. A couple of months ago, Logan wouldn't have made a comment like that to her without being a total asshole in the delivery. Now, they (and he) are back to the gentle snark. This is a good thing, indeed.

Another interesting little touch is that right after Veronica (finally) gives Logan back his keys, he presses them to his mouth, like so:

What's interesting about this -- and possibly LoVe-friendly -- is that this is not a common gesture. We all have noted the many Logan-specific gestures/actions that Jason Dohring has given this character. While no doubt he's done this before it is not by any means a signature Logan move. Therefore, I'm going to attest (yes, once more taking a page from 'Fanwanking Your Way to LoVe 101') that Logan chose (subconsciously) to press those keys to his lips at that moment because Veronica had just been fondling them. Uh huh.

Also, it's a stretch, but it is possible that that Logan's way of shelling out his remembrance of the witness that night was another form of flirting, LoVe-style. He waited to give her all of the information, even walking away because he wanted to leave her hanging and thinking she'd be disappointed before, uh oh, turning around (in another sexy, smooth move) and offering up some satisfaction. Oh yes, Logan gave her something to make her happy. Uh huh, he loves her.

And going back to that whole in synch thing, at the top of the scene, Logan threw his keys in the air and Veronica handily caught them. At the close of the scene, Veronica threw his keys back up in the air and Logan handily caught them. See? In synch. They're made for each other.

Scene Three: The Stakeout

Ah, the subtext here is utterly delicious and proved indelibly once and for all for me that the Pink Pastel was just some flitter-fly-away fantasy of what Logan Echolls could never really want, but instead be someone he just thought he should want because she wasn't a bitch (see Lilly, Caitlin, Veronica, Kendall, you get the drift). Let's begin with Logan's opening salvo while the staking-out.

Now if you're a female watching this show, chances are in the high percentile that your mind immediately went to doing something sexy on a stake-out with Logan Echolls. Whatcha wanna bet that Veronica's brain went the same place? Uh huh. So after a few moments of silence, Miss Mars attempted to remind her ex that, hey, shouldn't he be hung up on someone about now by oh so subtly asking if he'd heard from the Pink Pastel. His response? Oh, his glorious response. Well, it was about as blasé as they come. Honestly, the only way he could have shown an even greater lack of interest would have been had he actually said "Hannah who?" Honestly. I kid you not. So, so, sooo not into her.

Ah, but it gets better! Instead of just dropping it, Veronica continues with the reminder of the relationship by bringing up what doctor daddy dearest did in retaliation (which led to the cute little 'bad boy' high-five-age!). Now, her continued prodding of his time spent with the pre-schooler leads me to believe that Veronica was once again trying to convince herself that Logan was in mourning, so that she could comfortably sit next to him and not think naughty thoughts. See, if he was actually into someone else, she would think only pure and noble thoughts because otherwise that would make her the slut that Mac clearly thinks she is. (Silly Veronica, it's Logan. He's pretty. You're only human. We understand.)

Alas, poor Veronica, Logan does not help. For what does he do? Why he brings up Veronica's father -- which brings up the fact that they dated, reminding her of that fact. Yeah, one-track mind there, Logan and it's all about the Veronica. Because he loves her. And so naughty thoughts would have totally started running rampant through Veronica's mind which would have led to sexual tension galore and then they would have jumped each other and the stake-out would have been sexy indeed. Erm, but that didn't happen.

Stupid witness showing up. Damn him!

Sigh. Anyhoo, so (stupid) witness showed up and Logan and Veronica hopped out of the LeBaron (and how cute did Logan look all big and cramped in there ala many a fanfic?) and here comes the next best part of this scene. Remember that in synch, sexy cool rhythm I mentioned above, well, we get to see it in action again. Just like clockwork, the two play off of each other, beautifully playing Mr. (stupid) Witness. Well, okay, maybe not beautifully because Mr. (stupid) Witness doesn't cooperate. But, but, but, Logan and Veronica still are totally perfectly suited to do this investigating, manipulating, P.I.ing stuff together. They are just so perfect for one another. Veronica, wake up! Smell the sexy stake-out possibilities?!?!

Ahem.

Scene Four: Left Longing

Before we get into the meat (as it were) of this scene, it must be noted that Veronica commented to Charlie, that "we all want the bad boys." And who did Miss Veronica officially declare a bad boy the night before? Why, Logan Echolls. Uh huh. And who did the camera jump to very shortly thereafter? Why, Logan Echolls. Yes, indeedy.

And upon landing upon the beauteous Logan, we got a little more Love. Halfway through this scene (right before it does another goofy, camera twist), viewers see Logan staring longingly towards his left and I think it's quite a safe assumption that he was looking at Veronica. Firstly, the preceding shot had Veronica in the area of the gym where Logan was looking. Secondly, as mentioned, there was a look of longing on that boy's face that we've seen associated with his love for Veronica and Veronica only.

Finally, and what makes it most likely that Logan was indeed looking toward Veronica is that he did so right after Gia commented that "it would be even cooler to have a date." And remember, Logan had hinted quite broadly that he wanted Veronica to ask him to the dance at the beginning of the episode. So, Logan looking towards Veronica with longing. Score one more for the lack of remembrance of the Pink Pastel which leads towards proving the theory that he wasn't really into her at all.

Continuing with this splash of scenes, when it jumps back to Logan and Gia once more, the girl is beginning to truly annoy the crap out of him. At what point during the conversation when Logan is looking straight at Gia and attempting to get her to get it!, you can see Veronica walking by them and watching Logan. So, (1) she was watching Logan. Squee. (2) She was paying attention to what was going on and knows him well enough that he was gonna eventually blow, which lends more motive behind her later actions.

Scene Five: The Dance

This scene, like The Kiss, relies on body language and facial expression to an astonishing degree. Despite the lack of dialogue it is crystal-clear what thoughts are running through Logan's mind and while we don't get as much clarity from Veronica (what else is new?), we still do get a fairly good read on her. But let's start at the beginning, shall we?

I commented in the scene above that Veronica took note of Gia annoying Logan earlier in the evening. Therefore, Veronica did have more than just the few seconds caught here to realize how close Logan was to just letting it rip. As much as I would like to believe that Veronica chose dancing with him as the method to keep him from Gia because secretly she wanted to dance with him, I don't think that's the case.

I believe that Veronica has completely convinced herself that she is over Logan, she doesn't still care, she isn't jealous, he doesn't get to her, etc. If she truly thought differently, she never would have put herself in the position that she did: In close, romantic proximity to one Logan Echolls. The fact that she did do so shows that the girl has skills of self-delusion like nobody's business.

As they moved to the dance floor, Logan made his little quip and then just stood there, even going so far as to put his hands in his pocket. From that line:

to his lack of push in starting the dance, I truly believe that Logan expected her to walk away. He certainly didn't expect her to actually dance with him. And here is where that unspoken dialogue began.

We could absolutely read that lack of expectation in his facial expression. And throughout the entire dance, we continued getting that running commentary from both of them. Veronica's slight hesitation before she completely put her arms around Logan's neck; Logan's shock that Veronica was actually dancing with him. And then their gazes locking on one another, then pulling away, Logan leaning down just the slightest, coming thisclose to touching his forehead to hers before pulling up and once more looking away.

Then Veronica's eyes drifted back up to his face, their eyes meeting for a second and then one or the other looked away. Back and forth, up and down as they swayed to the music, as the couples swirled around them but didn't exist. There were moments where you could feel the almost desperate need that Logan had to kiss her before he would look away, look up and after those moments you could see a vulnerable hurt in his eyes. Not a hurt caused by Veronica, but a hurt that blossomed inside of him for wanting something he could no longer have. Something he once had. And lost.

And now it ... she is here, once more, in his arms. Their eyes met again

and this time, they held. And then once more, Logan looked away, not able to ask (even through a song): It's going to take time. Logan hurt her, she hurt him and they've spent the last ten months emotionally tearing each other down just about every moment they've spent together. Neither one has allowed that the feelings are still there. It's been obvious that they are in Logan's case, but he hasn't articulated those feelings to her -- except in jokes and taunts and those just don't count -- and he hasn't done so because he thought there was no hope. And that thought process was (as stated above) because Veronica had completely convinced herself that she was indeed over Logan, so much that she'd done a damn fine job of convincing Logan as well.

However, here under and outside the spotlight, surrounded by the soft strains of a love song, in each other's arms for the first time in almost a year, Veronica received a mighty, mighty wake-up call. She tried. She may have had her arms around him, but her fingers were clutching her own, not daring to touch the warmth of his skin, encircle his neck. And she certainly tried to avoid his heated gaze, little boy vulnerability wrapped up in a sexy bad boy glow. Ah, but the music, the moves, the boy ... how could she resist? She couldn't. And so by trying to stop a little verbal bloodshed, do a good deed, a whole can of worms burst forth.

After this moment, this dance, Veronica Mars can no longer delude herself. And Logan Echolls once more has hope. What happens next? Tune in. I know I will.

Episode List

I've separated the first scene into five segments because we have the flashback section separated in two parts, and there is a different vibe to all three of the present-day segments. I decided it would be an easier read to separate the scene into each segment (present/past/present/past/present).

Scene One - Segment One: Because Logan Doesn't Have a Ponytail to Pull

Now, I know that Veronica did do that little kick to Logan's knees because she was tired. But the important thing to note is why the tiredness made her pull that little grade-school-crush move ... it is because of the tiredness that she was less on guard and thus able to give in to her still-there feelings for Logan. Thus the grade-school-crush move and that is totally, totally what that little maneuver was. Of course, it wasn't just the "Because you're five" movement; it was how Veronica did it. The playful way she came up behind him, the almost-smile, near-glow on her face as he turned to look at her and she realized what she had done (without fully realizing why she'd done it). It was cute, very, very cute. And flirty. Cuz she lurves him. Yes, she does.

Ahem, moving on. We also had her reaction to Logan's explanation for her lack of sleep. Whereas a few episodes ago, she probably would have just disgustedly rolled her eyes, sending a death glare along with it, she didn't do that here. Okay, yes there was an eye roll, but it was a mini-one and rolled with affection, not disgust and she was smiling while she did it. Ah, see that haystack over there? Do ya see it? Yes! Our straws are definitely being put to good use now!

One more note before we continue onto the scene we're all rewatching two or three ... thousand times. When Logan asked if she remembered meeting Lucky, oh boy. Excuse me while I sigh a dozen sighs here. Oh, his eyes were so soft and sweet and tender, milk chocolately goodness melting in the sun. *Sigh* And then there was his smile, so gentle, so loving, so pretty. *Sigh* Finally, his voice -- it was the schmoopy voice!! Directed towards Veronica! The SCHMOOPY VOICE!! The SCHMOOPY VOICE! *SighSighSighSigh*

Scene One - Segment Two: Backseat LoVin'

Now that's more like it! We had an XTerra makeout flashback in Normal is the Watchword and I wasn't impressed ... at all. In fact, I wrote in my analysis of that scene way back in early October:

I think it's safe to say that such could not be said about this flashback.

The grasping, gasping, grabbing for one another, her fingers rushing through his hair, on his back, his arm, fingers wrapping around his bicep and then back into his hair. Logan's hands doing the same exploration, pressed against her back, then cupping her face, moving to curve about her waist as he pulled her closer, then to her face, then again at her back. Veronica in his lap, continually trying to move closer and closer, Logan just as intently trying to pull her closer and closer against him. Logan taking control and her falling beneath him against the seat and then Veronica pushing back, and now she was on top. And all the while their lips and their hands were going at a frantic pace as if the world was about to end and they were damned sure gonna get as much of each other as they possibly could before Armageddon arrived. And that is what I expected to see when we saw Logan and Veronica making out and it was nice to actually get to see what was expected (well, maybe *nice* is too tame a word, LOL).

And while it would have been even nicer to see full shots of them and clearer face-shots, I think the direction actually enhanced that passionate desire. The fast-paced music with the beats hitting also helped to intensify the mood which was, of course, sold most effectively by Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring. In those fourteen seconds -- just a mere fourteen seconds! -- Bell and Dohring displayed more chemistry and heat than did any other pairing this season (even those that Bell and Dohring were involved with that didn't include the other) combined managed. It's been said before and I'll say it again: When you've got it, you've got it and these two have got IT! Onscreen, they are just this red-hot fusion of hot, heated, sexy, combustible chemistry.

The proof is in the pudding and on this show the pudding goes by the name LoVe.

Scene One - Segment Three: Flashback Interruptus

Interesting this. Veronica interrupting Logan's reminiscing makes perfect sense. We all know how little she likes to be reminded that they dated and here Logan is clearly going on (we can only imagine, as is he) in detail about their amorous exploits over the summer. Still, she doesn't seem as annoyed as I figured she would be. On the other hand, Logan seems really pissed off that she did interrupt him. If it were any other actor (except for Bell -- who's been really on the last couple of episodes especially), I'd just shrug it off to overacting, but since it is Dohring, I'm inclined to dig deeper.

As stated above, Veronica has made it clear that she wants to forget the summer of LoVe ever happened, and here -- right after things have begun to thaw between them -- Logan has the opportunity for the first time since they broke up to actually do a little reminding. And then Veronica goes and cuts him off. Now, you know that he was really visualizing what he was describing (and it was probably a lot more R-rated in his mind!). So on two counts, I can understand his frustration. First off, she opened the door for him -- frickin' opened the door -- to start the reminiscing. Secondly, he was enjoying that reminiscing and she interrupted him. Tsk, tsk, Veronica.

Ah, it's sooooo nice being able to completely see where both Logan and Veronica are coming from again and be able to justify words and actions on both parts quite handily. Niiice.

Scene One - Segment Four: Flashback Makeout Interruptus!

And immediately, we all hate Lucky. Why? Because Meg has talked derisively of him? No. Because he looks skeevy and creepy? No. Because he interrupted Logan and Veronica doing some hot 'n' heavy making out? Bingo! Picking up right where he left off, Logan's return to the flashback has him and Veronica still going at it like there's no tomorrow. Hands all over each other, desperate kisses, Veronica straddling Logan, and in a strange cut ,suddenly lying down on top of him -- and Lucky knocks on the window. Grrr. Bad Lucky! Bad Lucky!

And the look of Veronica's face? Very much seems to match the audience's grr. Girl does not look happy. Can ya blame her? Didn't think so.

Ahem, moving on. What follows is interesting for a few reasons, both storytelling and fangirl-y. First of all, Veronica (whose face we see -- which in regards to the fact that it's Logan telling the story makes no sense) has a whole new expression of irritation when the "ball's in our court" pops out of Lucky's mouth. Prior to that moment, she just looked annoyed that her makeout session with Logan had been interrupted.

We can take a few things from this depending on which point of view you hold with viewers being able to see Veronica's expression even though Logan can't. Either you buy that Logan assumed that she was annoyed specifically about the vendetta and thus is describing her irritation so. If taking it thus, then the only assumption I can come up with is that he did know how much she hated his engaging in the PCHer/09er war.

Or you share my theory and believe that the producers are just showing us Veronica's point of view because the show is called Veronica Mars and leave it at that. And if that is the case, then we come back to my belief that Logan did not know that Veronica was that upset about his involvement (thus leading his shock at being dumped for that reason). Frankly, I think this theory holds more water because of (a) Logan's reaction to being dumped and (b) Logan's reaction here in this flashback.

He is holding onto Veronica, while she continues to cling to him. He presses a kiss to her shoulder, is relaxed and calm and when the window rolls back up, sweetly and sexily tells her "Hi." This is not the attitude nor are they the actions of a guy who thinks that he is doing things that will cause his girlfriend to dump him. So, I'm sticking with theory number the producers are giving us Veronica's point of view even though it's Logan's flashback.

Scene One - Segment Five: Back to the Present

I think I know what we're supposed to take from the final present-day section. I think and I think it's good in a way. After Logan has made it clear that he believes she left him for Duncan, Veronica simply nodded and walked off, even ignoring his continued attempts to banter. Why? Is this because she doesn't want to argue with him? Highly unlikely because when does Veronica not want to argue with Logan (and vice versa)? Ah ah ah, unless it has to do with their relationship and the squirrelly events of what happened that summer. So is that it? I think so.

Veronica knows that there was a helluva lot more to her breaking up with him than just the PCHer/09er war, but for her that is the main cause of it all. Side note: Will she ever admit that being with Duncan and revisiting/attempting to recreate her carefree days with him played a major part in the break-up? Probably not, but I'll never believe it didn't. Anyhoo, back on track. Despite other reasons, the main obvious one for the break-up was the PCHer/09er war and on the surface he knows that. Hell, she told him that when she broke up with him. However, if she were to take the time to contradict his response, she very well could be opening up a can of worms on a discussion that she is not ready to have.

Them. Their relationship and what went wrong. Because once she's ready to do that, I think she knows that it means that she is ready to try and make it go right. And she's not ready for that ... yet.

Scene Two: Ah, Foreplay!

Yes, Veronica isn't in this scene, but Logan's smile of fond remembrance, tone of voice and the actual comment about the headlight-smashing is worth a note in the LoVe analysis. I took his comment -- while clearly delivered and meant as snark -- to also confirm many a viewers belief (okay, this viewer's belief) that the hate part of their relationship was, more than anything, sublimated desire.

And Jason Dohring's delivery of that, "Ohh, foreplay!" along with the facial expression just really sold that point of view. He offered a slight smile and his eyes widened slightly and softened (in an over-the-top way, but still ...) as if remembering that special moment. It was delicious and fun. Again, over the top, but I do believe this was definitely a case of Logan overcompensating to hide that, in a way -- sick and twisted as it may be -- he did consider those early, rough times as a form of foreplay.

On another note, I find it interesting that despite the fact that Logan and Veronica dated for a couple of months during the summer, he and Wallace shared no interaction. This makes me believe that Veronica was really holding back during that period because she wasn't ready for the reality of a relationship with Logan. And I really hope that that is the case because I want there to have been a reason beyond Logan just wasn't it for Veronica for their break-up.

This would fit that bill. I've always told myself that it didn't work last summer because Veronica was holding herself back. Yes, there was the excuse of the PCHer/09 war, but if she had really wanted to make it work, she would have given him the ultimatum or stopped it before it started. This IS Veronica Mars we're talking about here. She wanted normal (remember, Normal is the Watchword); she was tired of the drama and just wanted to be a regular high-school girl and that simply could not happen with Logan. I've convinced myself that the entire time they dated during the summer she was holding her breath, afraid to exhale and not willing to truly open up because to do so would mean that this was it. Logan and all of his drama was her choice and she was stuck with it before she was ready and she was scared shitless. So, she kept him from her father as much as possible -- meaning Keith didn't get to see the good in Logan. She clearly kept he and Wallace apart -- and it had to have been her decision because I just can't see Wallace not capitulating to get to know him had Veronica wanted it.

This is good, I truly believe. If Veronica wasn't ready, but hooked up with him anyway, we can take from that that she was unable to resist the temptation and it was only when she closed herself off in other ways -- keeping him away from the other important aspects of her life, recapturing a facade of normalcy with Duncan through their cafe visits -- that she was able to break away. Why this is good is because it means that last summer the two of them together did not honestly, openly try. Neither one was ready to give what it takes to make a relationship work and that's why they didn't work then. And I'm not just laying this on Veronica ... emotionally, Logan was, no doubt, more fucked up than he ever has been in his life and he wasn't ready for the reality of a relationship with Veronica either. So, it didn't work then. That's okay. Because we know that when they are ready -- and damnit, there will come a time when they ARE ready -- it will work. Because they are meant to be. It's just that last summer the be was not meant yet.

Scene Three: No Sleep Makes Veronica a Cranky Mars!

Despite Veronica's comment to Logan which was really, really mean, I think this is still a good scene for LoVe overall. Also, I'm happy to say that this is the first time in the series run where Veronica was a complete bitch to Logan and I totally understand why and don't hold it against her at all. We know the girl is dog-tired (which Kristen Bell played beautifully -- see Drama Club), we know she's on edge about whatever the hell is obviously still there between her and Logan and we know that her first instinct with Logan is to snap back. Sooo .... with all of that in place, her response to him (regardless of how low-down it was) makes perfect sense.

She's not going to have the brainpower (due to her exhaustion) to come up with something witty. She's probably still pondering somewhere inside about Logan's casually stated comment that she left him for Duncan as if it was a given. Furthermore, due to her emotional upheaval about the still-there-attraction to Logan, she's desperately trying to remind herself why she broke up with him -- as she did in the first scene -- and if she can add another girl to that list, just more proof that he's no good, he's no good, he's no good (so singeth Linda Rondstadt!) all the better.

So Veronica lashed out, without the wit. Her sleepless nights making her meaner than she normally would be, the tension that is stretched taut in her interaction with him once more -- no other explanation than that, again, it's all sexual, baby -- causing her to hit below the belt. And let's get real here. I love the Buscemi in all of his glory, but comparing a teenage girl to hangdog Stevie-boy? Not nice. Not nice at all. So, I can forgive her without a qualm.

As for the good, it is there. Yes, Logan's crack about Buscemi wasn't nice, but it was delivered in a total-teenage-boy-foot-in-his-mouth way, not a snarky-I'm-insulting-you-with-my-wit-Logan-Echolls-way. She looked really tired with the bags under her eyes, he noticed and he was concerned. Note the non-snark in his voice when he said it. He wasn't trying to be mean, he was concerned. And even his reaction to her comment to him was good for LoVe. He looked miserable -- and no, it had nothing to do with the Pink Pastel, that's been made plenty clear. He was miserable because things were softening between them, that attraction was clearly still there on both sides, the snark was back to flirty banter and they were actually acknowledging their relationship. Now, all of a sudden, lo and behold, she's back to being a total bitch to him (again, I understand, I'm not peeved at all! Lack of sleep and lack of make-out time with Logan Echolls -- which she'd so recently been reminded of) can make a girl cranky!) and he was just hurt. Poor baby.

Still, it's good. Logan clearly is opening up again to Veronica if he could show that hurt from her comment and Veronica may actually start thinking about Logan and her treatment of him based on Wallace's defense. Wallace! Her BFF, perennially (but for a completely dropped storyline to deal with Percy Daggs III non-full-22-episode contract status) on her side and loyal to a fault, defending Logan Echolls! What is the world coming to? Hmm, maybe something good. Maybe the shocker of that (get yer minds out of the gutter!) will get her to start seeing Logan in a better light. And that can't be anything but good.

Episode List

Scene One: The Waiting Game

Honestly, there really isn't much to analyze here. It was pretty much all surface. Veronica was uncomfortable that she had to talk to Logan about Kendall and while talking to him, it was clear that she was still just the slightest bit peeved about the goings-on between the two. Listen to the pause and change in her voice when she asks if he remembers (and here she paused) "doing the deed ..." Not only does she pause before delivering the sexual euphemism, a faint note of disgust enters her voice.

In other words, girl still has some very serious issues with this situation. And going out on the fanwanking bridge, I think she deliberately identified Kendall's place in Logan's life (Dick and Beaver's stepmom) because she knew that she would sound disgusted. By clarifying off the bat the whole stepmom angle, she was justifying the disgust as having nothing to do with the fact that she was discussing Logan having sex with someone who wasn't her. Obviously, she was covering her tracks before he could call her out on a jealousy charge. (I'd add that she's a smart one, that Veronica Mars, but she just said that Logan wasn't hot. Clearly, the girl DOES have some mental deficiencies.)

And Logan? Well, I think he's just playing the waiting game right now. He's not declaring himself, but he's making it clear that he's available (his reply of "vaguely" when Veronica questioned him about Kendall and the fact that he didn't contradict the past tense of her question). He's also making it clear that he still finds her attractive. Yes, yes, of course we know that he does, but he's flat-out saying it (ie, hot blonde). Finally, he also keeps throwing those reminders of their summer together.

Totally talking about Veronica here. Mind. Gutter. Ahem.

So, see ... surface stuff. (Ah consonance.) Veronica is icked out by discussing Kendall with Logan because, well, it's icky (which she'll admit) and she's jealous (which she won't admit) and Logan wants her, he's just not out and out saying it yet because he knows she's not ready. But by nature of the fact that he IS making it known he's available and attracted, it is clear that he knows that she's getting there.

Not much, but now we're getting there.

Episode List

Scene One: Marshmallows and Promises

This scene is a lesson in chemistry if ever I saw one. Honestly, Logan and Veronica were discussing an ex-boyfriend of hers and said ex-boyfriend's sex life -- which (unfathomably) included Veronica. There was some gentle, witty insults thrown in both directions. There were lies. And yet, this ranks up there as one of the sweetest, most adorable LoVe scenes ever and no, it's not because we are so starved for LoVe moments. (Although, we are.) It's because of the chemistry and the utterly adorable back-and-forth rhythm delivered by Jason Dohring and Kristen Bell.

Saccharine-filled dialogue, sweet smiles, soft eyes … this is schmoop. This is the stuff that when put on a screen makes most viewers hit the REM cycle … except when it's delivered by two actors with enormous chemistry. Jason Dohring and Kristen Bell have that enormous chemistry. They make even schmoop hot and sexy and combustible. The soft, glowing eyes are wonderful and adorable, the sweet words (even couched in quips and wit and sarcasm) are funny and aww-inspiring.

The hesitant, yet real smiles are enough to make a shipper's heart go pitter-patter. Yet, none of those things induce more than 'They're cute' (or a rolling of the eyes in some cases) unless the two actors involved have supernova chemistry. When they do have such chemistry -- which takes mundane moments, plot-driven conversations and elevates them to a must-watch category – schmoop, as described above, just about makes one swoon, their heart melt, their squeals become high-pitched and puts said schmoop on constant loop for sheer enjoyment value.

This scene was all sexually combustible schmoop because of the supernova chemistry between Dohring and Bell. There really is no one word that can completely convey what happens when these two are given material that allows that chemistry to flow. All anyone can say is that it makes watching them an absolute, giddy joy.

There were so many individual moments in this scene to love and adore. And it all started from the get-go. The camaderie as Veronica came to him, the "reading" of Veronica's face (which continued in a cute, if slightly overused motif throughout the two-and-a-half-minute (!) scene), the back and forth banter between the two that was funny with a gentle groove. And it made sense. Logan has been increasingly falling into the schmoopy role with Veronica the last couple of episodes, so his sweetness flowed perfectly from previous scenes. Veronica's ... not so much. However, when you take into account that she was asking Logan for something and rather unnerved by what (and why) she was asking him, it, again, makes sense that Veroni