DVD Review: Veronica Mars - The Complete Third Season

By June L. Nov 18, 2007, 22:42 GMT

Hearst College, jewel of the Pacific. A citadel of higher education set amid rolling lawns and swaying palms. But since Hearst is in Neptune, California - and since Veronica Mars is among its incoming freshmen - you know it\'s also a noir netherworld of lies, betrayal, secrets and (of course) murder. Veronica, Logan and more of your VM favorites join cool new characters for a Season 3 of seething mystery ...more

Smart and sassy, with wonderful production values, it is a mystery as to why Veronica Mars was cancelled.  At least with all seasons now on DVD fans can enjoy the episodes again and marvel at the sleuthing abilities of Veronica (Kristen Bell) in the show that moved from quirky to deadly serious and back again, handling all phases extremely well.

The obvious comparison is that Veronica Mars, daughter of one-time sheriff, now private investigator Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni) is a modern day Nancy Drew.  Well, yes Veronica is motherless, and by the time Season Three opens with her arrival at Hearst College for her freshman year, she has learned through some pretty grim happenings that she has a gift for crime solving. 

Going beyond Nancy Drew, she charges for her services, this is a job not a hobby, and has enrolled in a criminology class to get her credentials.  All in all college for Veronica and friends is not the good time love fest party with angst abounding that is so often portrayed on television. 

From the opening episode there are crimes to be solved, which are all too real, theft of personal property, armed robbery, and one of the season’s ongoing crimes, serial rapes where the victims awaken with no memory of the event, and their heads shaved.  It is horrific to consider, and played so well by actresses who have the ability to portray the emotional aftermath without an ounce of melodrama. 

In spite of some “Buffy-esque” and film noir overtones, which completely enhance the whole production, there is a feeling of reality throughout.  It would have been nice to have a few more years of Veronica, Logan (Jason Dohring), Parker (Julie Gonzalo), Wallace (Percy Daggs III), Mac (Tina Majorino), Dick (Ryan Hansen) and “Piz” (Chris Lowell) making their way through the maze of college into adulthood without ever being cutesy, just incredibly clever.

Veronica Mars - The Complete Third Season is an attractively packaged set of six discs.  All 20 Season Three episodes are included, as well as an idea for Season Four in the special features. 

Disc six is completely devoted to special features, and is a fan’s dream.  Along with the Season Four presentation, there is Pitching Season Four, Going Undercover with Rob Thomas which includes a wealth of information as well as highlights of moments in the show. 

There are also unaired scenes, a gag reel and a webisode gallery.  In the box is a booklet with synopses of each episode, writer, director and original air date info, and illustrated with color photos from the series.  English, French and Spanish subtitles are available for the episodes, and there is a running time of 842 minutes.

There has been talk of Veronica Mars comic books, and a Veronica Mars movie to tie up some of the loose ends and further the story.  It is a fervently wished for event (or events)!  What I would like to see as well, is a thesis written on the meaning behind the use of stained glass reflections throughout the production….serious film students take note, there is a lot here to dissect and discuss.

Veronica Mars - The Complete Third Season is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.