Yes this is the episode with the First Kiss but aside from the fact that the chemistry has been set up right from the pilot - there's just something about this episode that sizzles from the first interaction between Logan and Veronica in journalism class.
At first, Veronica's attention is notionally supposed to be fixed on Duncan but for some reason, the camera keeps moving back to Logan, wry smiles from Logan, glances from Logan, glances with Logan.
When Duncan enters journalism class, Veronica is already there. He smiles at her and touches her arm as he passes her. Veronica's voiceover asks: "Dear Seventeen Magazine. How can I tell if the super cute boy in my class likes me?"
Again, Veronica is notionally still musing about Duncan, her eyes following him: "No. Scratch that. Dear Seventeen. How can I tell if the super cute boy in my class killed his own sister?"
The thing is, the camera still shifts back to Logan. This scene is not supposed to be about Logan at all, it's about Veronica's suspicions that Duncan may have killed Lilly in a rage and how she feels about the love of her life possibly being a murderer etc etc. Why is it that we keep seeing Logan and his reactions? That's a rhetorical question by the way, I'm happy to see more Logan.
Then the new, overly peppy, Renee Zellwegar clone Ms. Stafford starts speaking. "We're burning daylight here."
Veronica shares a googley glare (eye roll of "oh good grief") with Duncan but we also see Logan grin slightly at the comment.
Logan then takes his seat next to Veronica. I'm not reading too much into this seating decision given that presumably he chooses to sit there because it's next to Duncan. Still it should be noted that Veronica's facing Duncan and sitting next to Logan so you would think that if she was going to exchange significant googley glares with anyone, it should be with Duncan.
Ms. Stafford continues in her peppy say: "So a new edition of the “Navigator” comes out tomorrow and we're still short on articles. Let's do something fun."
Do you see how Logan immediately glances up to share a grin with Veronica not Duncan. See how Veronica is happy to share the moment with him? Am I reading too much into this?
Then when Ms. Stafford says: "Where's your Pirate Pride, y'all, lots of good stuff happens here?", Veronica kind of sighs in resignation and Logan is looking down at the table but he keeps grinning to hiMs.elf. He's amused by Veronica and her obvious exasperation. It's not a nasty smile at all, it's just a genuine," "This is funny" smile.
Why are we getting Logan's reactions to Veronica instead of Duncan's? That's another rhetorical question, although one possible answer is that Duncan is still channeling a block of wood for this episode.
Ms. Stafford asks: "Did you know that Madame Rousseau's been teaching French here for forty years now? Maybe someone could do an in-depth profile."
When Logan quips wittily: "A loving tribute to a sadistic crone", the students including Veronica laugh. Hee hee - I laughed, too - but that's not important.
I mean look at that smile from Veronica. It's a real one.
When the fire-drill sounds and Duncan demands testily in an expository: "Oh, what is with these fire drills? This is the third one this week", again, Logan chooses to share a moment with Veronica, asking her: "Maybe we should do a story on oxycontin use in the administration office".
Veronica laughs.
That's right, these two are buddies, they share moments, they find the same things funny. They have chemistry. Duncan might be a great guy but there's something about Logan and Veronica that draw them to one another. Veronica - if you're obsessing about that cute guy in your class and even writing imaginary letters to Seventeen Magazine about him - why do you keep looking at your arch enemy Logan?
I love the smile on Logan's face through most of this scene. There's no tension and venom between the two in this scene, just two classmate and friends whose eyes meet for a moment in shared amusement of something slightly ridiculous.
Now that's romantic. At least I think so.
Veronica's on a stake-out. Yet again in plain view of the target. I have to agree with the nitpicky fans who frequently point out that Veronica always parks far too close to the target.
Her mobile phone rings, she puts down the camera, glances at the caller ID and gives a wry grin. I love the little smile she gives here. Could you imagine her giving this smile during the pilot if Logan phoned her????
"Yeah?" she asks with an almost affectionate tone in her voice. I'm not reading too much into this one - there's definite affection in her voice.
"Hey, it's Logan. Hey, uh, just a heads up for you. Duncan knows about your files." He says bluntly.
"He knows because you told him." Interestingly enough though, there's no anger or accusation in her voice as she says this.
Logan sounds mildly defensive, but he gives a kind of sheepish laugh which is very cute. "Well, yeah, I mean, what was I supposed to do? He's my best friend."
"Yeah, well, he took my head off. You would have loved it. Have you talked to him since school let out?" Again, her voice contains no reproach or anger. She seems completely matter of fact about the whole thing which I find really interesting. I suppose it's because it's true that she knows that Logan is a good friend of Duncan's so it isn't surprising that he would tell him. Then she gasps as Ben enters the car, dropping the phone and making Logan aware of her situation:
I love the way he sort of stiffens, paying attention as he realizes that Veronica is in trouble .......
In re-reading this I realize that I did not comment on "Logan to the rescue". There is much to say. Veronica doesn't ask for his help yet he appears. She must have known that he was going to come which is why she gave away their destination and spoke extra loudly so that her fallen mobile phone could pick up the sound of her voice. At what point did they become friends again? Also note that Logan is one of the few people that comes to her assistance without a request from her for assistance - he's just there. Other people have noted that when he's beating up Ben, he immediately stops when Veronica asks him too.
I also loved the fact that he calls Ben "jump street" and is so reluctant to leave Veronica alone with him. At this point though I was just thinking - wow they're friends again, that's so nice. I hadn't really expected their relationship to take on such a romantic twist just because to be honest their friendship was already something really heart-warming to watch.
The moment that had me in shock. I had seen a throwaway reference to the fact that they kiss. To be honest, the only reason I had peeked at the spoiler was that by a certain point in the series, there was such a lot 'feeling' going on between Logan and Veronica that I couldn't believe that I was just imagining it, so I peeked ahead. The thing was, even with the knowledge of the spoiler, I had sort of assumed it was kind of jokey kiss, nothing could have prepared for this moment.
After her discussion in the room at the Camelot, Veronica lets herself out of the room. What's interesting is, she has an odd look on her face as she sees Logan waiting for her outside.
It's not an expression that is thinking:
"How am I going to get into Norris' bedroom and garage to solve this case? Man, Ben has bad hair, the years have not been kind. What do I know about ancient weapons? I wonder if the batteries on my cell phone are flat given that it's still wedged between the seats of the car ..."
It's more of a:
"That's Logan over there - what do I say to him? Why did he help me like that? My god he's hot, why did I never notice that. Probably because he was smashing up the headlights on my car, taunting me and making my life a living hell but damn he's hot."
"You okay." he asks her softly.
She makes a sound in the affirmative. She stands in front of Logan and he leans back against the wall. She pauses and she kind of looks a bit defensive, a bit hesitant and he's just looking at her. It's not his usual look though, this one's a bit softer and more intimate somehow.
Then, unbelievably, Veronica leans forward to kiss him.
She gives him quite a chaste kiss on the lips and you can see Logan almost freeze in shock, startled by the action.
He straightens, staring down at her in a way which curled my toes. I have a feeling this is when I started thinking: "Oh my god, he's really hot." Until then I had been thinking, oh he's a talented actor, he's cute, he's got chemistry, Logan has layers but when I saw his dark, dark eyes just staring down into Veronica's face, I was gone.
Veronica looks equally surprised and stares back at him. She looks very Sarah Michelle Gellar here for some reason. She gives a little shake of her head as if to say: "I can't believe I just kissed Logan ..."
There's a moment's hesitation but then probably because Logan's still frozen to the spot, Veronica turns to walk away.
Then in a move which has hopeless romantics all over the place swooning and gasping aloud, Logan reaches out and takes her arm, spinning her around to face him.
He lowers his head, their lips meet in a very long, hot, passionate kiss, each pulling the other really close.
Their hands look very awkward but their bodies are leaning into one another and they're really close, sort of grabbing at one another.
Take a look at the kiss between Veronica and Leo at the start of the episode - it's a nice-looking textbook kiss but the body language is completely different. That kiss seemed to be a nice kiss. It didn't gross me out like Veronica's kisses with Troy. Leo and Veronica though are just having an almost chaste kiss with their mouths touching, hands resting lightly on one another, arms lightly around one another. By contrast, Logan and Veronica in this scene appear to be pulling their whole bodies close together which is really quite interesting.
It's a very nice kiss and they are acting it very well - you can really believe that these two just can't get enough of one another. Their kissing really draws the viewer in, it's very realistic.
Other screen kisses can leave you cold - these two people are acting, but watching Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring, there's almost a sense that you're intruding on something very private and intense.
They start to draw apart from one another - but just slightly.
Finally the kiss ends but they're still holding one another quite close, just staring into each others eyes. They draw back a little further and Veronica's just looking stunned and wondering.
Logan's dark eyes are still just gazing at her. She looks very pretty here and he looks absolutely gorgeous.
They're both waiting for the other to say something first, do something first.
Logan's hands rest on Veronica's waist but she kind of suddenly seems to realize what's happening and draws back, making him drop his hands a little awkwardly and uncertainly.
Veronica pulls away, hurrying away from him but his eyes remain on hers as she runs away.
I like it that these two smart people who are never at a loss for a witty rejoinder are both sort of in shock and speechless - too overwhelmed by the moment and their emotions to say anything. Neither of them is able to come up with anything flip and witty.
When she gets to the car, Veronica pauses and looks up at Logan. She's still looking very Buffy-esque.
He is still staring at her with that amazingly sexy intensity. I really like the screen captures that Jerilee has done for this scene. Logan's eyes just look so dark and intense, his lips parted as if he wants to say something although he can't quite manage it. How does Jason Dohring look like this? Sometimes he looks so goofy but sometimes he's just so ..... gorgeous...!
Veronica's still looking at Logan and she gives a kind of shiver or shrug and gets into the car and drives away, Logan still gazing after her.
Another thing that makes this scene really nice is the fact that they both keep looking at each other. There's none of the coy looking away, Veronica too bashful to meet Logan's eyes, Logan too shy to meet Veronica's eyes. They're both staring directly into one another's eyes. They might be completely gobsmacked by what's happened, but the eye contact is incredibly direct and I found it very sexy. There's also none of the melodramatic, clichéd running away - overwhelmed by the moment. Yes Veronica leaves, but she has things to do and they're obviously not going to be able to say anything at that moment but the whole walk down to the car, the constant looking at one another - it's very refreshing.
In the final scene, Veronica heads into the journalism classroom smiling after a discussion with Wallace. When she walks through the door, her smile fades and she stops abruptly when she sees Logan. They stare at each for a very long moment and Logan is the one who breaks it by looking down.
What's cute though, is almost immediately he looks up at her again - he just can't help himself. Both look adorably awkward, giving nothing away about how they feel. When Ms. Stafford walks into the classroom, Veronica manages to pull her gaze away from Logan.
That's right, a scene when they don't say anything at all but it's just so cute. I know I'm overusing the word cute, but I was watching a lot of this episode with a huge disbelieving grin on my face. I really love this show.
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