Mission to Mars

Okay, Veronica Mars, tonight, was simply spectacular. Sure, each episode of 24 is in and of itself an action packed thrill ride. Lost has been up and down, but has come through with some really amazing episodes and presented us with the most intriguing TV mythology since The X-Files. But, Veronica Mars has sustained an amazing mystery, and an amazing, ongoing story, over an entire season, with not a weak episode all year. And it's been building to this. The clues have been tantalizingly, expertly dropped. The characters have slowly been exposed as the layers are peeled away. Standalone stories have been deftly intermixed with running plot threads that grow and surprise in each new episode. And as good as an action packed hour of counterterrorist meyhem is, as good as a a good science fiction premise is, there is nothing quite as satisfying as a long, epic story, told with a beginning, middle and end, with plenty of twists and turns, that builds to just the right conclusion - not because it's going to get ratings, but because it's the ending that is simply meant to be - the logical conclusion even if it's one that, in the beginning, nobody quite saw coming. Tonight's Veronica Mars had more twists and turns than a Twizzler, and yet everything kind of fell into place - the other shoes dropped, and dropped hard ...

SPOILERS


Duncan Kane is Veronica's brother -- and it was he who "raped" her one year ago. Wow, it makes perfect sense but still, the emotion and suddenness in Duncan's confession was really surprising and completely intense - an amazing scene. Veronica is out with Logan when they stumble into a surprise party where their relationship is revealed to everyone, causing Duncan to flip out and go postal - in another equally intense scene. Then, just when things seem peachy with Logan, Veronica, ever the detective, is horrified to discover spycams set up in his room! Whaaat? This seems (I hope) to imply that Logan is just as creepy and evil as we originally thought, but this plot point gives us one more mystery to ponder before next week's season finale. And then, Keith Mars goes all Memento on a hooker, only to question her about unjustly-incarcerated Abel Koontz - somehow leading to him ... returning home with Veronica's estranged mother! Whoah, one more crazy cliffhanger for good measure.

All in all, a fantastic episode. Great show, and I already can't wait for next season and the next chapter in this great story. But next week, next week after months of build-up and anticipation, we find out who killed Lilly Kane, and I am pretty confident in predicting that it's going to be one more awesome episode. As for tonight's episode -- wow. My grade: A+

TODAY AT WORK:

One tour of only two people, then Ellen all day, featuring special guests Matt Dillon, Golden Girl Betty White, and the operatic stylings of Il Devo (not DEVO, unfortunately - the 80's new-wave rockers who are best known for "Whip It." That would have ruled.) There was dancing a-plenty and good times were had by all, even if I was ready to drop by the end of the show from all the craziness.

NBA PLAYOFFS:

So long Philly and Sacramento. Ray Allen is quickly taking his game to another level, and was phenomenal in tonight's game. Allen Iverson has been playing in that same stratospheric level this whole year and especially in the playoffs, but once again it's not nearly enough, as he is surrounded this year by some rising young players, but overall the Sixers just can't compete with the likes of the defending champ Pistons. PACERS get a huge win, and Thursday is going to be huge - they have to close out the Celtics or they are in trouble in a possible game 7 - victory in that situation is definitely not a given. And if they win ... the Pistons await in Round 2 -- bring it on.

TOMMOROW: Tours and Tonight Show - and ... will I finally meet these new pages already?