Veronica Mars 3.14: Mars, Bars

Veronica jeering at Lamb from behind bars? Yes, please! As left field as this whole development was, there’s still a lot to be said for the writers’ ability to milk a situation like this for all its comedic worth. That’s not to say that this episode is all laughs though, considering where things stand by the time the credits start rolling.

Lamb wasn’t a pillar of Neptune’s society, and he was a lousy, lousy (x23) Sherriff, but it’s still pretty damn sad to see him go. One of the things that got to me about his death, and not in a sad “I’m really going to miss that guy” way, was how quickly and quietly he ducked out. Other than Keith becoming Sherriff, there was little in the way of a ripple effect amongst the characters. Maybe I’m being too picky, though. He was a total dick.

It’s odd that the episode was filled with so much padding in the way of coach Barry’s death, considering how rushed things were elsewhere. And that Valentine’s day challenge was way too One Tree Hill for Neptune. I’m all for giving Mac some extra screen-time in light of that mammoth absence during the previous arc, but not at the expense of the series’ integrity, which I’m worried is slowly slipping away.

Being the penultimate episode of the Dean investigation, things are starting to move into place for a conclusion next week, with Keith now acting as town Sherriff. But despite that excitement and foreboding, Lamb’s hasty exit, and some pretty dull time killing with the college crowd, really hurt this one.

6/10