30 Days of Logan and Veronica
Day Eleven: Favorite Episode
Why are you doing this to me? Why? This would be like asking me to pick my favorite child (if I had children), or my favorite pair of shoes (of which I have several).
This also changes almost daily - depending on what episode I most recently watched and what gifs have been floating around. So, I reserve the right to change my opinion tomorrow. Just keep that in mind.
So, without further ado, I have decided on 1x15: Ruskie Business
For my next trick, I'll highlight my favorite things about this episode that specifically relate to L&V's relationship
1. I love that, at the start of the episode, Logan follows Veronica when she gets up from the table. When we see them in the hallway moments later, they are in the center of the hallway, making it seem as if they've been walking together for at least a few seconds, but him thanking her is the first time they've spoken. I love this because he makes himself endure that awkward silence. And she lets him catch up to her.
Furthermore, it was so effective for the start of the episode to be snippets of banal conversation from teenagers and then have it pan to L&V talking about his mother. It demonstrates that the issues that L&V face distinguishes them from most people -- like their peers who spend the time between classes talking about pro-wrestlers and who Marco was getting it on with. By saying, "I know what it's like", Veronica acknowledges that part of what bonds her and Logan is that element of their lives -- it's more than just Lilly -- it's that neither one of them is capable of pretending that the world is a place wherein moms don't leave, and that first loves stick around forever.
2. Which brings us to the 'true love' quote of V's: "I mean, sure, once upon a time that special boy did call and the spring dance was the crowning moment of my fairy tale-esque teen girl life. But now I know better." A couple of things hit me about this moment, but it mostly concerns --
The marked difference in courtesy between Logan and Duncan: Logan walks away when he catches Duncan's eye. At least that is who his eyes flick to, in my opinion, when he looks over Veronica's shoulder. Because Logan is much more savvy when it comes to reading people than most people are aware. He knows enough to know that Duncan still has complicated feelings towards V, and backs out gracefully. Maybe it's because he doesn't want to have to deal with an awkward Logan/Duncan/Veronica conversation, or maybe it's because he has more than friendly feelings towards Veronica and feels guilty about it.
Then we have Duncan, who is a total rat bastard in this scene! Sure, he's all sweet and playful, but he is teasing her about someone asking her to the dance knowing full well he's not going to ask her, and is playing secret admirer to another girl. Just what is his end game here? The thing is, I don't think he has one. Duncan seems to operate on instinct: can't have Veronica, so I'll date Meg, but I still care about Veronica, so I'll tease and flirt. He is the teeniest of teenagers in that he doesn't think about consequences of actions, only about attaining what he wants.
3. In the hotel lobby, part one, it is startling to see how much Logan trusts Veronica. He's been in the lobby, presumably for a few minutes, before she shows up. Rather than stalk up to the front desk and demand to speak to Lynn Lester, he waits for her. Then when she shows up, he only says enough to play along. She says, "let me handle it", and then he actually lets her. What's more, he proves that he is totally her intellectual equal. Without having her explain to him what she's doing, he picks up on her cues and builds on the cover story. He doesn't break character for a second. Also: fake engaged couple. Love this trope.
Are you guys sick of this yet? Because I have more to say.
4. Logan and Veronica in the lobby part two is the catalyst for changing their entire relationship. I don't know if we would have gotten the Camelot kiss, or bathroom makeout, or the whole gut wrenching arc of their story if it wasn't for the moment where he breaks down and she holds him:
a) Veronica supports him in every possible way during this scene. From showing up without even casting a backwards glance at Duncan, to being his eyes looking out for the person who they thought was his mother, she is tuned into what he needs. We see this again as she lets him have his confrontation with Trina. She doesn't leave him there -- she stands poised to act the moment the situation gets out of control, and then doesn't hesitate to step in. Then we have her literally supporting him. He is almost a foot taller than her, but she somehow supports his weight -- his repeating "she's gone" has to be one of the most heartbreaking moments in all of the world. What's more: he never asked her to! He asked her to find his mother. And she did. Collect the check, the job is done. Yet, she continues to show up for him. (Side note: apparently there is no statute of limitations for V's urge to help Logan, if the movie is any indication.)
b) Veronica's reaction to Logan's breakdown starts off tremulous. She's not certain how to handle this. Probably because Logan has done a pretty good job of hiding his hurt over his mom under layers of anger, snark, and bitterness. There's a moment where his veneer almost cracks in 1x14, but he manages to keep it together. But in this moment, it all becomes too much for him. And I doubt it's just losing his mom. It's having his sister mock him about his claims of being abused, and then walking out of the hotel like nothing about her behavior (using her dead step-mother's credit card) is reprehensible. Logan is confronted in that moment by a family that is not just strained, but completely fractured. And the person who holds him is someone who used to be a part of his extended family, who he ostracized. However, she's acting as his hero right now because, using the definition the show gives us, the hero is the one who stays. Trina leaves him mourning the loss of his mother, Duncan asks Veronica about him but doesn't go to him on his own, and Veronica is the one holding him as he sinks to his knees and sobs.
Holy shit, Rob Thomas!!! Right in the feels.
5) Finally, we have this lovely little parallel:
Veronica Mars (1x01): Every school has an obligatory psychotic jackass. He’s ours.
Deptuy Leo (1x15): Every class has one.
In fourteen episodes we have Veronica moving from being the person who labels Logan as an OPJ to being the person who hears that label being alluded to, and goes out to try and help him. This shift needed to happen in order for the L&V relationship to ever work. We never got a scene in the series (although it's been written like mad in fanfiction) where Logan apologizes for everything that happened in the wake of Lilly's death. It's touched on in 1x21 (and amazingly well, btw), but we don't get a long drawn out conversation where V forgives him. However, I think her reaction to Deputy Leo's pronouncement, that she doesn't nod her head or say "Tell me about it" but goes straight to try and help him, shows that forgiveness has happened to some degree.
I love this episode. It's so hard to watch in parts, and there's a ton more I could write about this whole episode (the goodness that is Wallace, how we see that Keith is 100% dad and V still has a ton to learn about the way the world works, the way Duncan having Meg dress as Andie from Pretty and Pink while V is dressed as Madonna is a foreshadowing of the Madonna/whore dream Duncan has in season two, what it says about Trina that she shows up again, the moments between L&V as she's trying to get the keys from him), but I think that I've used enough words on L&Vs relationship for one night.
Did anyone actually read this all? If so, you deserve to be knighted.
