We Used To Be Friends

Since I missed Veronica Mars yesterday due to all the other finales airing, I am posting a summary from Entertainment Weekly. I have it tivoed and will watch another day.

By Tanner Stransky

Friends of Veronica, this ending is one for the books. And I'm not talking the good books. I'm talking the books that keep records of travesties, injustices, and downright dissatisfaction. 'Cause that's how I'm feeling right now: totally dissatisfied. Was that really the end? A special two-hour ''finale'' that didn't wrap up anything? Yet another blemish on a series that couldn't win for losing.

You've probably heard by now, but currently The CW has no plans to air Veronica next season. I say ''currently'' because rumor has it that contractually, the network has until June 15 to make a decision. For all we know, though, that could just be talk, as no word either way has officially come down from the network or from the production studio, Warner Bros. I went to The CW's upfront last week, and not a soul on stage alluded to the show, even to say something like ''What a great run the network has had with Veronica.'' (Though we were treated to Kristin Bell's narration of the new sudser Gossip Girl, which is a pretty good signal that Bell has moved on. Another of The CW's casualties, Gilmore Girls, did get at least a quick shout-out.)

In any case, this ending — likely of the series, but definitely of the season — was totally weird. First off, if it was indeed a series finale, why no acknowledgment of that? Why all the wrap-around promotions that just referred to it as the season finale? Maybe the decision was made too late to change that stuff, but regardless, it just seemed like the powers that be couldn't care less about how the series ended its strife-filled run. Also, I loved how this was touted as a two-hour finale, when really it was nothing more than two episodes smashed together, with a few connecting threads. Classy.

All right, enough whining: On to the meat of the episodes. Actually, I'm not going to wax on and on about them either, because, well, what's the point now? (Any of you out there feeling defeated like this?) I will say this: I absolutely loved the mystery in the last hour. I felt like Veronica had gotten back to some of the hard-boiled days from the first two seasons. Our young PI was engaged in a case — the hunt to find whoever distributed her sex tape — that actually meant something to her. It harked back to when she was investigating Lilly Kane's murder — a fine return to another case that had an impact on Veronica's life! The open-and-shut cases that had taken the lead as of late — like who was vandalizing the local Middle Eastern restaurant or what happened to a rock star's backup tapes or even this week's focus on forged ID cards — incited little passion or venom from Veronica. But when she's threatened? Watch out! That's when the truly wonderful, acerbic, bitchy Veronica comes out. And that's honestly when she's best.

The Castle plot was intriguing. I mean, who doesn't love a story line about a secret collegiate society? I also loved that Jake Kane (Kyle Secor) was weaved in there, as another nod to days gone by. (And what about those creepy paintings of both Lilly and Duncan in the mansion? A nice tribute to beloved characters now gone, but man, those were freaky. And Veronica seemed to be bugging about them, too.) As for Keith's actions in the case, they were...surprising. Yes, he's done dubious things before, but it's nice to see a few cracks in an otherwise pristine facade. When he destroyed the caught-on-DVR evidence — that just went to the heart of what made this show so endearing: the Keith-Veronica relationship. You'd be hard-pressed to point out another father-daughter relationship on TV that runs this deep. Keith could have skinned Veronica alive for what he knew she did, but that didn't stop him from protecting her — ruining his chance at being elected sheriff along the way. (Even though we can assume he would lose the election, don't you just want to know for sure? In case, maybe somehow, miraculously, he could pull it off?) Their final words to each other couldn't have been sweeter. Veronica: ''You know I love you, right? More than anything.'' Keith: ''Of course, honey. I never doubt it.'' Okay, so maybe I'm a sap, but this tugged at my heartstrings a bit and left me relieved there wasn't a dreaded Veronica-Keith battle at the end.

Another unresolved issue — probably the most important one to you romance-loving fans out there — is Logan and Veronica. Although I've never loved Piz, something in me was rooting for him to interfere with LoVe just long enough for Logan and Veronica to realize that they couldn't live without each other. But that was all I wanted him around for. He wasn't supposed to close the series as her beau! I'll admit that it took me at least a season to appreciate the dynamic chemistry between Logan and Veronica. But to end with them as just friends (and just sort of friends, at that)? Truly a travesty. Obviously, Rob Thomas and Co. didn't have time to properly wrap up the relationship, because I have to believe that LoVe would have eventually been put back together, even if it was just as a nod to fans' support of the couple. I'm guessing that there are many of you out there who'll continue to deny the fact that LoVe are broken up for good. And that's completely fine. This is already fantasy, right?

One of the things I'm going to miss most about Veronica is the pop-culture-laced banter. (With Gilmore Girls gone too, that's two banter-rific series hitting the skids.) True, the story lines kept the show moving forward, but the wonky little world of Neptune was comforting. For example this cute, sort of pointless but nonetheless hilarious, exchange — Mac: ''Miss Mars uses Venus razor.'' Veronica: ''Because if she doesn't, her legs look like Pluto's.'' Mac: ''And she's down to earth to boot.'' Even Dick's random drivel put a smile on my face last night: ''This new wet suit is like a cheap motel,'' he said, grabbing his crotch. ''No ballroom.''

And, most of all, I'll miss Veronica's one-liners, like ''Can you shiv me, please? Seriously, just bash me in the head with your boot or something.'' And: ''It's a cluster of morons. Don't worry — they'll let you back in.'' Or how about when evil Castle member Gorya walked back into his dorm room to find Veronica with a Taser singing a too-sweet version of Daniel Powter's ''Bad Day''? This was a character with panache — and a wicked sense of humor.

Okay, so it's fine. The end is fine. (I'm trying to convince myself here.) No, it wasn't the bust-out ending we were all hoping for. LoVe didn't end up together. We didn't find out if Keith will continue on as sheriff. Heck, we didn't even see if Weevil's knee got better. And Wallace — well, his character's fade-out this season is subject enough for a whole separate TV Watch. What I'm saying is that if this really is it, it's okay. We've all sort of known this was coming since the show debuted. And another season of squirming? Continuing to wonder whether it'll be renewed and whether the story lines will improve? Whether producers will give screen time to characters we love? I can do without that. Adieu, Veronica, adieu, it has been an amazing three years.