Since Mike Ausiello is way cooler than I am and actually corresponds with Rob Thomas, I'll let you read his words.

And we're back where we started, basically. In three glorious (I'll admit at times not of the highest caliber, but every bad season 3 episode is made up for by the quality of seasons 1 & 2) seasons we've seen our main characters (I mean Veronica and Keith) go from social outcasts scrounging to make ends meet to, well, presumably the same. With the evidence tampering charges there is no way Keith will remain Sheriff Mars. He'll be chased out of office just as he was years before, not-so-coincidentally thanks to Jake Kane. If anything Veronica has had cause to be even more cynical, bitter, suspicious and too grown up for her age.

Although on the surface life in Neptune seems to be staying stagnant, almost transgressing, so much has happened. Families have been torn apart, torn themselves apart, despite the desperate grappling for some sense of normal domesticity. People have died, people have been born, people have run away (and come back and run away again). Lives have been ruined, lives have been saved. People have been there for each other and abandoned each other.

A seemingly superficial show about Nancy Drew-esque little blonde and her detective work in sunny California somehow managed to become a dark, sometimes twisted, story of betrayal and loss. Every happy moment in Veronica's life is somehow tainted with a dark past or a foreshadowed tragedy. Remember that voiceover line? "Want to know how I lost my virginity? So do I." That's when I knew this was no ordinary crime mystery/drama.

Stop me if I'm being too much of a sentimental television nerdface, but I for one feel like a close friend is moving away. I'll still be able to re-watch old episodes and fall in love with Veronica and her scrappiness all over again, but I won't be able to see her grow anymore. And that, my friends, is sad. Very sad.

But let's face it: we all knew this day would come, and [thank the heavens] they ended on a high with, in my opinion, two fantastic episodes back to back. They proved how much lost potential there is there. The Castle plot line (while reminiscent of the Tritons) gotten way more play. Weevil's back to his old ways and lord knows that produces scandalous entertainment. Logan and Parker are broken up, leaving the path wide open for an "epic" reunion (though I sometimes feel Logan/V are past the point of no return). And if not, the Piz/Veronica fling could have turned into something more. I mean, there's no catch with Piz. Can Veronica handle that lack of drama and tragedy in a partner? Or is she just drawn to it all, hence her connection with Logan "brass knuckles" Echolls? And what about the Casablancas? They surely could have spiced things up a bit, especially with Dick's sudden bipolar attitude, switching from the perv we know and love to an emotional basketcase (understandably). P.S.- how classic was that Mac/Dick scene? "Now I know what my brother saw in you," and he tries to kiss her. HA.

I think what I loved most about these episodes (other than the fact that they involved two pretty classic VMars-style mini-mysteries) was the nostalgia. The throwbacks to old episodes and to inside jokes. [Matchbox 20? I mean, honestly, I for one an surprised they bit their tongue with the Rob Thomas joke for this long]. They really turned up the camp in this one. Ms. Mars using a Venus razor? There was absolutely no other reason for that scene. It wasn't quite to the level of the Arrested Development final episodes, but the self-parodying was definitely on high.

And think of all they crammed into these last two episodes that hearkens back to the old days. The Castle is the fancy version of the Tritons, Kristen Bell gets to stretch her vocal chords again, Wallace travels by car trunk like Veronica once did, this was not the first videos of a sexual nature that played a prominent role in an episode (remember the popsicle?), Wallace once again goes to the mat for Veronica (and we thought he'd lost his touch), and perhaps the two most obvious: the giant painting of Lily (um, creepy much?), fittingly featured in the cyclical last episode, and Keith's fall from law enforcement grace.

It's the change and lack thereof that makes this finale fitting, but the loose ends that make it frustrating. But that's it. There you have it folks. Then there were two. Father and daughter. The heart and soul of the show. The perfect team. In the end, it's really all about them just trying to get through it all.

I'm sorry, was that mushy?

Well, you know what they say, "Veronica Mars, she's a marshmallow."

Deep breath. I can get through this. I promise I'll only mention the tragic, tragic news 82 more times and that's it.

This week's episode tried to tackle an important and serious issue, child conscription in Uganda, but as always, when the scope widens to somewhere outside of Neptune, it seems just there for the heck of it. Yes it showed one more instance of why Veronica is Veronica [You trust someone and they turn out to be a fraud, therefore I will be cynical and not trust anyone], but the parts of the plot that exist in the bubble of SoCal are far more exciting.

The Hearst freshmen are trying to decide which vacation they will go on or big time internships they will choose for the summer (suspension of disbelief, okay?) and each is shooting in a different direction. Parker will join super uptight parents in Denver, Piz will either stay in LA with a semi-lame gig (obviously so he can be close to Veronica) or head cross country to intern for Pitchfork (umm, yeah, right). Unlike Piz, Veronica shows no qualms about ditching Cali for a super cool FBI internship in Virginia. Mac meanwhile has fallen into "the black hole that is new love," with a kind of funny looking partner: Max, the philosophical professional cheater. But she's starting to freak out (as all freshmen should...) that she has a housewife/townie future ahead of her if she sticks with Max, who is flunking out and planning to live off campus and sell more cheat sheets. Oh, and did I mention, Wallace is going to Africa? AFRICA? I know they haven't been close lately, but whatever will V do without her trusty sidekick? Oh wait, we don't have to think about that BECAUSE DAWN OSTROFF IS MAKING SURE THESE CHARACTERS DON'T LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR.

Okay, I've composed myself. And while Veronica ignores the fact that the newly-formed couple will be spending the summer apart, she perfectly explains the appeal of Piz- to both Veronica and the VMars audience: "How's Pizneyland?" asks Mac. "There aren't many rollercoasters, but I think I can do without the adrenaline and nausea."

As for the show's resident macho men Logan and Dick, their South American surf trip is foiled by the return of dun! dun! dun! Big Dick! Standing creepily on the balcony he explains to Dick that he's turning himself in but has a few months before his incarceration to spend with his son. And Dick flips his shit, rightly so, digging up Beaver's memory and laying the guilt on thick. About time Dick got to act. Logan, on the other hand, is falling into his same old act: trying not to be the disappointing boyfriend he plays so well. Perpetually trying to change and perpetually being kicked back down, Logan seems as downtrodden as ever--and totally still pining for Veronica. Remember? They're epic.

Just before that blast from the past shows up, Keith, caught up in a potentially election-ruining "crime wave" of robberies, has a chat with the adorable Liam Fitzpatrick, who brings up our favorite slutty step-mom, Kendall Casablancas. I still stand by my gut feeling: She's totally not dead if we didn't see her die. Hell, I might even doubt it if we did see her die.

Time to start planning the season/series finale party kids. I'll bring the crackers and cheese, you bring the Le Baron pinata.

According to Kristen Veitch there is the possibility Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell may be working on another project together (whether or not it is the FBI spin-off is unclear), but VMars as we know it is dead and gone. E! also reports that K.Bell has a spot on the new hyped up CW show, Gossip Girls.

Looking on the very very hard to see bright side, part of me feels like the cancellation a testament to the show's quality. Virtually every amazing tv series of the past few years has been tragically killed by networks after a short run because of so-so ratings, despite critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase. [See: Firefly, Freaks & Geeks, Wonderfalls, Arrested Development.]

And there's always the Seasons 1-3 dvd boxsets to watch over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. Note to Rob: I know this is not your fault. You've done your best and we all appreciate what you've done, but Season 3 better have some amazing extra features or there may be a torch-bearing mob descending upon your house.

Maybe now Kristen will do a movie that doesn't suck...[uncalled for, I know, but did anyone see Pulse?!]

So, savor every last second of the last two episodes. Every quip, every venetian blind shadow cast in the background, every Keith/Veronica moment, every Logan Echolls brooding puppy dog look, every everything. Because this is it kids.

So, the entire hipster crowd at Hearst College is gearing up for the return of Desmond Fellows (Rudd), the remaining half of the cult favorite nerd rock duo My Pretty Pony. He's playing a show to keep the student radio station in business (they curse on air--unbelieveble, I know--and now they've got a huge bill from the FCC) and Piz wins the chance to be his escort, but, of course, if only to get Veronica and Piz interacting again, there's a mystery to be solved. The mystery of the missing backup tapes, which are actually CDS, but whatever.

In true rock 'n' roll fashion, Fellows is quite the scummy burnout. Popping pills, boozing, doing it all for the chicks and the money, much to the dismay of superfan/idolizer Piz [or should I say Fez, Plax, Poz...] Classic: "Hey, Monica, How old are you?" "Eleven."

But with a little help from the Veronica-Piz super mystery solving/inspiritational duo he ends up getting back to what's important: the music. Cue Full House music....now! 'Twas quite adorable though when Veronica reached for Piz's hand at the end- Kodak moment really.

But look- Logan is getting jealous! Dun dun dun- always wants what he can't have. I guess one episode of happiness is all he ever gets. Can you say romantic cliffhanger season finale anyone?

As for Mac, she's doing the noble thing, dumping Bronson before going after her geeksoulmate Max, with whom she spends an entire night with making Logan's class project (www.grademyass.com). They bond over hacker lingo. It's precious.

In other news, Leo's back as a super-excited Deputy. "Just like old times," he says. With only three episodes left (eek!) who even knows what could happen. The show seems to be getting into a character-driven phase, and with most of the cast probably departing if next season's plans pan out, I for one am glad. I just wish Wallace, my man, would get a little more screen action.

P.S.- Anyone know where I can download that D. Fellows song?

Straight from the horse's mouth.

I know V is obviously the backbone of this show, but is it going to be the same with her in her mid-20s and not surrounded by the supporting actors we all know and love? I'm just not sure we can get the magic back- but I for one would like Thomas & CW to try their hardest.

I knew from the "previously on Veronica Mars" that this week's ep would be chock-full of romantic drama, but I had no idea how soft our characters had gone. Logan is Mr. Boyfriend, doing all the stereotypical right things with Parker (including scanning a sickeningly sweet photo of them on her birthday cake- gag). Mac is a dating machine, realizing her and Bronson maybe aren't so compatible and totally "mac-ing" (sorry) on Max at the party.

And Veronica...oh, Veronica. She's all weak in the knees for one Monsieur Piznarski--finally. The Logan/Veronica relationship may be epic, but this one's just cute as a button, no? My only qualm is that Veronica will become too comfortable. Come on V, we need some angst, some internal torture. Hopefully Thomas & Co. will oblige, but until then, I conclude they put out a solid back-from-hiatus episode. So there.

No big mystery, to my dismay, but I suppose I understand what they're trying to do by boosting the ratings with stand-alone mysteries. It still breaks my old school Veronica-lovin' heart, but if it means she's back for another year, so be it. The mini-mystery, although it seemed a bit rushed, did tackle some weighty issues, which is always commendable. The war in Iraq made an appearance on VMars for the first time (surprisingly, but I guess she has a little too much on her plate to be a political activist.) when Veronica is hired to find out who spray painted "Terrorist" on a Middle Eastern restaurant. The culprit is a misguided patriot, the brother of an injured US soldier who was pushed over the edge by an anti-American cartoon handed out by a restaurant employee. Notice though, how the character who was anti-American was arrested and the vandalizing, anti-Middle Eastern character was let off the hook? C'est interresant. But I'll agree with any storyline that has Veronica talking about Desert Fever. So good, so bad.

Keith Mars is ruling the Sherrif's office with an iron fist, ordering sweeps of local bars admitting underage kids. There were almost no funny "oh dad" lines in this week's ep- Sherrif Mars is all business. Although giving Piz and Wallace fake IDs with Bon Jovi and Biggie Smalls on them ["We dont' really all look alike Mr. Mars," says Wallace] was pretty ingenious. But when will he go back to being PI Mars? I don't think the uniform is particularly flattering, sorry Keith.

But back to the juicy stuff. Jealousy, lust, love, and of course, Dick trying to have a threesome/one night stand. Makes my heart melt, really. Corageously Veronica shows up at Parker's bday party at the Neptune Grand only to find Wallace and Piz brought the hot pool player, Mac is hitting it off with Max, Logan is getting his act together in almost too goody-two-shoes turnaround, and then have Logan set her up with a skeezy swing dancer [? I don't get it either]. But wait! Thanks to Wallace's keen eye [duh, Veronica, everyone knew] and short, serious motivational talks, Piz "goes all in" ambush kissing Veronica...ooooh! Then he busts out of there in what would have been a grand exit...if Veronica didn't run after him, ensuring, of course that Logan totally gets a glimpse of their makeoutfest. Double oooohhh!

Only four episodes left. They say the finale is going to be a classic VMars season finale, but I'm still skeptical. Maybe Paul Rudd will restore my faith next week...but probably not.

While you're at it, force everyone you know or don't know to watch the return of supergirl VMars tomorrow night. Or else...

But I greet this day with a heavy heart as news about VMars' fate is still inconclusive. For the love of god, just tell us! Don't leave us hanging like this CW!

According to TV Deep Throat Mike Ausiello, the network will view the new VMars FBI concept on May 2. But really, that's all we got. Oh, and apparently Keith Mars does drugs. Don't ask, just read.

And for anyone who hasn't seen it, please please do yourself a favor and watch the video of Kristen Bell and Chris Lowell interviewing each other.

For any Grey's Anatomy fans out there (no comment) Piz will be on the season finale this spring and has a spot in the Addison Shepard spin-off. Woop dee doo. [http://www.neptunesite.com

But before you panic, get the facts from someone entirely more reliable and knowledgable than me and my gut:

Kristin Veitch from E! Online first wrote yesterday that the CW had decided to officially cancel the fan favorite.

Later that night she posted an updated entry saying that the show had three possible fates:
1) being renewed for a fourth season featuring Veronica as a sophomore at Hearst, 2) skipping the next three or so years and returning in the fall with Veronica as a real live FBI Agent, or 3) ::draws finger across throat:: the guillotine.

So, do as she says. Write to Dawn Ostroff. Comment on the blog. Sread the word however you see fit: VMars is not ready to go. Don't let one of the few smart, witty, worthwhile shows get axed while mindless, contrived reality shows, melodramatic primetime soap operas and dumbed-down repetitive sitcoms thrive. We're the VMars army and we will not accept this fate.

Ready...Break!

[For more info go to Neptunesite- a great fansite with crazy up to date posts.]

And not only was Tim not the Aaron Echolls/Beaver ohmygodsurprisehe'sthekiller suspect, but when Veronica exposed him she did it not at gunpoint, locked in a fiery freezer, or drugged into oblivion, but in the back of a lecture hall. Helloooo, it is not the end of a mystery if Veronica's life is not in danger, duh.

Maybe it wasn't as thrilling because we weren't committed to the mystery for twenty-two episodes, who knows. I'm not saying I could have written it better, but something was missing. Or maybe my VMars standards are just too damn high.

Despite the anti-climactic arc/episode ending, I must admit it was an entertaining episode. The whole Veronica/Tim detective duo bit (bound to happen) was a fun way to find some clues and the flashback bits of the Dean worked nicely.

Still weird to see Keith in his Sheriff's uniform. But he loves it. He's allll business, that Keith. And apparently they don't actually mourn officers killed in the line of duty in Neptune. What is this, The OC? I know Lamb wasn't the most astute, effective sheriff, but they should at least mention him maybe once in the episode.

But Keith is busy with important things. Like questioning Mindy, realizing her entire story was basically a lie, then letting her flee to Mexico on a houseboat she bought with the life insurance money she collected when Professor Landry was arrested for the Dean's murder. Why doesn't anyone grasp that concept that leaving the country makes you look ridiculously guilty? Gosh. It's clear that sooomeone is setting sooomeone else up.

Here's how it went: When he found out his wife was a two-timing tramp, Cyrus in his whiskey stupor stumbled to the Neptune Grand with his pistol, threatened to end Landry's career and to divorce Mindy, leaving her with zlich. So, fearing a life back on the street corner (kidding), Mindy paid a visit to the good Dean at his office [that's where he got the Xanax] and upon her return, Landry was gone.

With his alibi shot, Landry is arrested and enlists the help of his trusty TA Tim to find the one witness who can prove he was at a convenience store at the time of the murder. "I need you to find a needle in a haystack," Landry tells Tim. So to find this needle (a non-descript brunette who smokes) Tim finally comes to his senses and, with hardly any argument, convinces Veronica to be his partner in crime-fighting. Smart move, creepy man.

The detective duo's little clue-gathering stunts are cute. They even seem to be bonding. When they find the recordings of Landry's phone and hear the good Professor totally bashing Tim to a future employer Veronica seems genuinely sorry for the little guy. When they actually find the needle among the haystack of hookers, she turns out to be a fake, someone Landry knew from the juvie board- lame, Landry. Hiring fake alibis totally makes you look guilty. Why won't these people ever learn?

But it's too late, Landry's already taken off after Mindy and joins her on a boat to "Papa's Cabin"- no, that's not an unsettling name for his parents' house, it is in fact a resort that was one of Hemingway's getaways. How charming. By the time Keith (and his foreign law enforcement counterparts- way to keep it authentic) find Landry on the boat he's a complete mess and admits that a fight where he confronted Mindy about trying to frame him ended in Mindy overboard. What a shame. (Was that insensitive? I don't even care- good riddance.)

Meanwhile, back in Neptune, while everyone thinks Landry is the legit killer, Tim and Veronica take over his criminology class. When a student asks to discuss how their professor was just arrested for killing their dean (valid point, anonymous student boy), Tim obliges. Bad move, killer, bad move. As he explains the specifics of the case to the class, he gets sloppy. After planning out the perfect murder, Tim is now breaking the criminal rules and improvising and, of course, he slips up. And Veronica, of course, has one of her trademarked epiphany moments.

It was Tim all along. Tim who killed the Dean and Tim who framed Landry to get back at him for ruining his chances at a fancy teaching job. Talk about someone who takes his career seriously. In the end his pride was his downfall. Isn't it everyone's? And that was that. A semi-unexciting end to a semi-unexciting story arc in a semi-unexciting season.

Oh, and did I mention that Logan and Parker are pre-sort of-dating? Because they totally are. Parker tries to end it because she doesn't want to lose Veronica as a friend but Logan (in possibly the Logan/Veronica conversation ever to be void of witty sexual tension-charged banter) decides to ask Veronica's permission himself. If you ask me this whole storyline was a little lost in the context of the episode, but who am I kidding- we are suckers for some good Logan/Veronica drama and these scenes had future dramafest setup written all over them.

But, alas, we shall have to wait another eight weeks (yes, eight) to visit our friends in Neptune again. That's right the Pussycat Dolls are in town and they're booting Veronica out of her time slot. Come on CW, could you possibly be any more lame? And come on Veronica, you could have at least left us with a mystery to stew over during the hiatus, but no, the episode ended with a quiet Mars family dinner. Although, you have to admit, that closing scene was kind of precious.

Not to go all Debbie Downer, but could these next six episodes be Veronica's last? And if they are, will they do the show justice? All I'm saying is, if the season three finale is the series finale, it best be a mind-melter or else...

[yeah, i just threatened the entire cast and crew of VMars, so what?]

addendum: i have no concrete evidence that vmars is in fact even close to being canceled. i'm basically just starting rumors based on gut feelings. very irresponsible of me, i know.

Once you've had time to grieve, please read on.

Even before the murder of our beloved Sheriff, this episode had everything- clues, red herrings, pistols, Mac and Mac's special male friend, jail cells, standoffs, gunfights, interrogations, confrontations. Oh my.

For the first time since she learned to walk, I'm sure, Veronica spends more than two minutes in one place. Granted, that place is jail, but still. She pulls off the jailbird look smashingly with a badass tat and all. The second she's out (literally, the second she gets out of the patrol car) Veronica's back on the case, whether she likes it or not, as Josh the fugitive shows up with a duct-taped Mason stuffed in his trunk asking Veronica to help him flee the country. But, alas, we rule out too obvious suspect Mason because his gun was a .22 caliber and the gun that shot Coach Barry was a .45. Thanks, Veronica, junior ballistics expert.

Onto the next lead: Keith finds out (with no trouble at all) that before the coach died, Mrs. Barry hired Vinny Van Lowe to get a "money shot" of her husband with another woman. He manages only a vaguely incriminating shot and we find out the woman in question is not a jealous Navy officer's wife, but Mr. Barry's neurologist- apparently Barry had some impossible to pronounce but torturous terminal illness.

Mrs. Barry seems to be our perp- she took out a life insurance policy on her husband just days before his death, had access to money for hiring a hitman, and oh, look, she even has a .22 caliber pistol hanging out in the house. That's not sketchy at all.

Meanwhile the crazy (and probably smelly- he's been wearing the same clothes for a while) Josh is convinced he needs to flee the country (why do innocent people always act so guilty?) and with Veronica's help gets a fake i.d. and the valuable coin collection from his safety deposit box. But before he can jump the border, he finds a mysterious DVD with his name on it, pops it in, and learns (a couple years too early) that his father, knowing the havoc the unpronouncable illness will wreak on his body, enlisted a friend to kill him and make it look accidental to maximize the life insurance payout. Yikes.

With that mystery behind them, the Mars clan turns again to the ever-so-sketchy details of the O'Dell case. As Mindy is looking more and more guilty every second [particularly on the Xanax issue- the Dean was out of his meds, yet somehow they were found in his system after the murder, and we find out Mindy made a stop at the pharmacy on the night in question.] we also learn the creepy cigar-smoking man who visited O'Dell on December 10th was Mel Stoltz [billionare Hearst benefactor, remember?]. And criminal mastermind Prof. Landry continues to stay on the radar, barging into Keith's office with a bugged cell phone. Veronica has promise, says Landry, she doesn't need to be "slumming it" in a P.I. office. Ouch, Landry. Low blow. Besides, it was obviously TA Tim who planted the bug. He's the only other person investigating this mess.

But isn't the whole cheating seductress of a wife murders older not so attractive husband line so cliche? That's what the writers thought, too. New evidence (well, actually, an epiphany, but whatever) leads Keith and Veronica back to square one when they realize the overheard shot was actually fired an hour later than they thought, which was after the Volvo was returned to the Neptune Grand.

And another sketchy character becomes more involved in the murder as ex-husband Steve's fingerprints are found on the Dean's keyboard. And then he does something else that's sketchy. Oh yeah, he kills the Sheriff with a baseball bat while breaking into the O'Dell house! wtf? This guy's crazy.

As Veronica is in jail, helping out a suspected murderer, and making a million trips to the Sheriff's office with Keith, her pals are off taking part in a sexually-charged, all night long Valentine's Day scavenger hunt. The result? Well, they come in third, Mac finally seems to be over the whole Beaver fiasco, and Logan and Parker are looking a liiiittle too cozy following the night of bonding. Drama drama drama.

And then Weevil finds bloody gloves and a bloody shirt with the initials H.B.L. (Hank B. Landry) on it hidden in the basement of the Dean's office. Next episode is sure to focus on the investigation of the Prof., but a) how do you catch the guy who wrote the book on the perfect murder? and b) let's face it, the real killer is probably figuring out how to escape while they investigate the logical lead. Because that's the way it is in Veronicaland.

We all want to know who killed Dean O'Dell, but what I really need to know is if Keith Mars rises once again as Sheriff, what is to become of Mars Investigations? Can the show keep its gritty touch (which it already seems to be losing) without the 40's style P.I. firm and its laundry list of tawdry and scandalous clients? I for one am a little nervous.

...aaand he's gone again. Great. If ever Veronica needed a little Wallace banter and a partner in detectivedom it would be now. Too bad.

But I suppose she's keeping herself busy enough, what with continuing the Dean O'Dell investigation and helping suspected criminals escape from jail. Despite being Logan-less, she seems back in the game.

Logan, on the other hand, seems anything but. Locking yourself in his suite clad in an old man bathrobe, hoarding the Neptune Grand's salt and pepper shakers and failing out of college. Sounds like a great plan. However, his bathing and shaving boycott has produced a cute little scruff, especially in all those pensive shots with sad indie music blaring in the background.

Through a chance encounter with an 13-year-old girl [Dick's new Vegas bride's little sis. Crazy.] Logan shapes up and finally decides to leave the hotel premises. The girl's prozac-induced youthful innocence and a Mariokart marathon melt his bitter, sulking heart and possibly even renews his hope for patching things up with Veronica. Although, if you ask me, this back and forth is getting a little boring and I want to personally thank the writers for not completely saturating this episode in "LoVe" drama.

Instead, we got another murder, a bunch more clues about Dean O'Dell's murder and a to be continued mini-mystery. This time it was the Hearst basketball coach who met his demise by the side of PCH after an argument with his b-ball playing son in the locker and another heartbreaking loss on the court. After the ever-astute Sheriff's Dept. accuses Josh Barry, the son, of the murder, the family goes to Keith to find the real killer (there seems to be a trend here...)

But the cards are stacked against the all-star, who apparently found his dad on the side of the road and instead of calling the cops, went home to wash off the blood. To top it off, Mason, the kid Wallace replaced as a starter and a shady and supposedly gun-toting character himself, goes to Lamb saying he saw father and son arguing at the crime scene that night. With that evidence, Lamb throws Josh in the holding cell and it's up to Keith and Veronica to sort things out. Then there's this Noel Stoltz character, a cookie-cutter Neptune billionaire and Hearst benefactor who hated Coach Barry and his losing squad. He was on a plane at the time of the murder, but, as we all know, that doesn't make him innocent yet.

'You believe me don't you?" Josh asks Veronica. How many times has she heard that from the other side of prison bars?

If you ask me, I don't trust a single one of 'em. Nor do I trust the always cool and calculating Prof. Landry, who we all know is smart enough to pull off the perfect murder but an all too obvious suspect, or the red-lipped Mrs. O'Dell, who is clearly capable of keeping secrets. With her reaction to Keith's accusatory tone-trying to kick him off the case-she's begging to be pushed to the top of the suspect list.

We now know that the a) Volvo Chesty O'Dell was driving was checked out of the Grand precisely around the time of the murder, b) She has no recollection of "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang," the pay-per-view movie she and "Rory Finch" ordered around that same time, c) The room service kid heard a fight between two men in the room at around midnight.

Was it Miss Scarlet Lipstick in the library with the candlestick? The Professor with the revolver in the study? The delinquent son in the lounge with the rope? Or perhaps they're all just red herrings and the arc finale episode will be mind-blowing. Here's hoping.

Tune in next week to see Veronica the jailbird, the reappearance of our favorite members only jacket-wearing P.I., Vinny Van Lowe, and, apparently, Logan on a Valentine's Day scavenger hunt with Mac and Parker. Right.

And neither is Bonnie (remember Tim the creepy TA with a bad wig? yeah, his girlfriend.) thanks to some creep slipping her RU486, a.k.a. the 'abortion pill.' Add a televangelist father and Dick as the hyper-insensitive possible daddy and you have a solid mini-mystery the audience can actually care about, a step up from last week if I do say so myself.

Oh and Veronica and Logan broke up. Aaagain. This time turning Veronica into a sleep-deprived semi-schizophrenic with visions of Madison dancing in her head...dancing in bed with Logan, that is. "This is something I'm never getting over," says Veronica. Really? Are you sure? I feel like I've heard that one before, V. But who knows, maybe this break up will last more than one episode.

After a Gollum/Smoegal-esque internal battle, she decides to give Weevil a little project: steal and cube Madison's brand new convertible, just his specialty. Oh Veronica and her sweet revenge plans. Then there's Logan. Scruffy, kicked puppy dog Logan. Why don't you get drunk, messy and belligerent and leave Veronica voicemails. That's the way to win her back. Will this self-proclaimed chronic screw up ever stop this vicious cycle?

But back to Ms. Bonnie Bible. So, Bonnie, Tim takes care of you, does he? Maybe he also "took care" of the pregnancy (what a euphemism)? Or was it the work of Daddy's henchmen, trying to avoid a Ted Haggard-style scandal? Perhaps Dick recruited his flavor of the week to buy the pill so he didn't have to pay for an abortion? No, no, it was the Bible-loving, Tim-hating roommate (also, bad hair. CW- you need better stylists) trying to protect her best friend from undeserving potential fathers by adding some RU486 to Bonnie's prenatal vitamins. Riiiight.

During the investigation not only does Keith get a thorough freak out when he's sent surveillance photos (no, not from Clarence Weedman) of Veronica walking out of the Neptune Women's Clinic, but Veronica finds out, after an impressive hissy fit to get into his office, that she and TA Tim have quite a bit in common. That is, they both like to keep secret files on their computer about supposedly closed investigations. Now, with three crazy detective minds on the case, Dean O'Dell's murder is sure to be solved, although I still have no idea who the culprit could be, but I'm still not convinced little Mindy is innocent in all this. And if I had to guess, I'd say meth head ex-husband Steve is just a botoxed/crazy-eyebrowed red herring. I just hope Mindy's "Everything is awesome" son makes another appearance. So good.

In the end, Veronica opted against the car-crushing payback. Did the pastor's little forgiveness speech really get to her? Is the heartbreak softening her edge? You know what they say, that Veronica Mars, she's a marshmallow.

Anyway, they're back together and Veronica wants to play twenty questions about Logan's sexual deviance (or lack thereof). We all know that's going to end in screaming, tears, etc. Right? Right? Except it doesn't. Screw trailers that portray false drama. She spent about three seconds brooding and then, eeehh no big deal. Interesting though how Veronica brings up the Mercer/Mexico situation again. Might that come back to kick him in the ass? Time (or Veronica) will tell.

Onto this week's mini-mystery since Keith investigating O'Dell's death seems to bet getting absolutely nowhere. All we know is the Lillith House girls (anyone else sick to death of them and their egg obsession? haven't they been cleared of one crime already this season?) egged the Dean's office the night of the murder and Nish (the beotch of a former newspaper editor) is acting mighty suspicious. They need to get a move on- only three more episodes to crack the case, Keith. [Sidenote: where are all his other cases? No mention of bail jumpers or cheating spouses lately, what's the deal?]

Ah, yes, the mini-mystery, involving comics, hookers, female pimps and $10,000. Sounds exhilarating, right? Actually, not so much. I for one was not sucked in to this little plot. Other than its plug for Comic-Con and Battlestar Galactica and the recitation of the most awkward line ever spoken by a bespectacled geek ("Let me talk to your pimp") I'm not sure it was the best use of the limited VMars time we have this season. Are my standards set too high?

So, Cheater McGeek (the kid with the term papers and test answers) meets a girl over Cylon talk at Comic-Con and needs Veronica to track down his graphic novel-loving soulmate. But, there's one problem: Max (McGeek)'s roommates hired the girl so he could lose his virginity.

Max: Can you still find her?
Veronica: Um yes, but she'll still be a prostitute.

Love is blind.

Veronica narrows it down to two "escorts" from the online store and invites them over to Logan's Neptune Grand apartment to reunite the lovebirds, how sweet. One problem: Wendy/Fiona/Chelsea is all tangled up in working girl politics and needs some serious help to get out. But when Veronica realizes the hooker screwed Max out of his money she, as always, makes it her personal mission to bring Wendy down. Will she ever learn? Blackmailing a judge isn't quite as easy as she makes it out to be and Max ends up paying Wendy's "agent" ten grand (something about tattoo removal and braces) to get Wendy out of her jam. But poor poor Max gets his heart broken for the eighteenth time in one episode and can't handle the life of an ex-hooker's beau. You really start to feel for the guy here. With that type of character development investment could Max Moneybags be back for more in later episodes?

But here's the real shocker: Madison "trip to the dentist" Sinclair (with horrible bangs) randomly shows up. We all know this can't mean nothing, and find out Neptune High's resident slut is still up to her old tricks driving a wedge between Logan and Veronica. Apparently Madison and Logan hooked up during the couple's break and is back for more. Cue shocked and angered face.

And the million dollar question: Could Veronica really be pregnant? We shall have to wait for next week folks.