Veronica Mars - Season Finale Review

Okay, I'll admit this is a week late. To be honest, I was kind of avoiding it because I was worried that I might be reviewing the series finale instead of the season finale. But after today's big news that Veronica Mars will be back next season, I can go ahead with my review with a light heart and a big sigh of relief.

So, where to begin? I'm gonna guess by now that I don't need to have any spoiler space. I mean, if you haven't watched the finale by now, then you're not a true VM fan. Let me just say that the second season finale of Veronica Mars was one of the best hours of television I've ever seen. There have been a few critics out there who complained that there was too much packed into only one hour-long episode, but I beg to differ. The frantic pace of the episode kept me on the edge of my seat. The revelations kept coming one after the other, each more shocking than the next.

The biggest moment for me came when Veronica finally figured out who had blown up the bus and why. All along, I think Veronica had assumed that creepy Mayor Woody was behind the crash as a way to silence two of the students who were threatening to go public with what Woody had done to them. So, when Veronica goes to the Woody Burger to try to figure out who the missing voice was on the recording and notices that Cassidy was also on the same little league team as the other players who were abused, everything suddenly falls into place.

The look on Veronica's face as she realizes everything Cassidy has done is heartwrenching. I think she genuinely thought Cassidy was her friend and to discover he is a mass murderer (and rapist as we later find out) horrifies her. And when she remembers that Mac and Cassidy were going to be getting a room after the graduation ceremony, the fear that Veronica had to be feeling must have been overwhelming. It's for this reason that I give her a pass for being dumb enough to go the roof of the hotel after getting a text message from someone she presumes is Mac.

When Veronica finally reaches the roof and discovers that it was Cassidy who sent her the text, everything finally is revealed, from Cassidy planting the bomb on the bus (he used explosives for a film he made) to his recruitment of Veronica to take down his dad to how Veronica contracted chlamydia. Frankly, the most shocking revelation was that Cassidy had indeed raped Veronica at the infamous party two years prior. Cassidy had said he hadn't done anything to Veronica, that it had been Duncan who had had sex with her, but it turned out Veronica had been raped.

Cassidy goes on to taunt Veronica with everything he has done and will do to keep his secret from getting out, even blowing up Woody's plane (which Veronica believes is also carrying her dad). I didn't believe that Keith had been killed, but there was a small part of me who wondered if it had happened. It would have been one of the biggest shockers in TV history.

Anyway, Veronica somehow manages to fire off a text message to Logan, who comes up big in coming to Veronica's rescue. He manages to tackle Cassidy and divest the younger Casablancas of his gun. Logan also is the one who talks Veronica out of shooting Cassidy for everything he's done. However, neither of them are able to stop Cassidy from jumping off the roof of the hotel to his death. His last line is strangely poignant, "My name is Cassidy, not Beaver!". Everyone knows what "beaver" is slang for, and it seems like Cassidy had been screwed with his entire life, by his dad, his brother, Woody and so on. I'm not defending his actions, but when the truth finally came out, I wasn't surprised at all that he had gone over the edge.

I even did feel a twinge of sympathy for him, especially after he couldn't "perform" for Mac. The look on his face really told it all. But this is very common for victims of sexual abuse, and the fact that he raped Veronica only makes this more apparent.

My personal favorite "non-Veronica" part of the finale was the assassination of Aaron Echolls by former Kane director of security Clarence Weidman (C.W.) at the behest of Duncan Kane. I couldn't believe Aaron had been acquitted, but I also had to guess that he wasn't going to be around to make Veronica's life hell. This was a good way to tie up this loose plot end going into next season, and I was very happy to see Aaron get what was coming to him (the smug bastard).

When Veronica awakens the next morning (after being comforted by Logan all night), she's still convinced that Keith is dead, at least until he comes walking into the house with the revelation that Sheriff Lamb ultimately saved his life because Lamb didn't want him getting onto the plane. I breathed a big sigh of relief and cheered out loud for Keith, TV's best dad.

So, as the episode ended, Veronica was waiting at the airport for Keith, who ended up being "detained" by Kendall (and by a suitcase full of something unseen). Presumably, whatever Kendall wants Keith to do will be a big part of the new season. And speaking of next season, check out last week's Ask Ausiello for an exclusive interview with series creator Rob Thomas regarding next season and the shorter story arcs he intends on doing.

From start to finish, this was one of the best season finales you're ever going to see. It answered (almost) every unanswered question while still leaving you wanting more and looking forward to the next season. And now that there is definitely going to be a next season, I can rack my brain all summer trying to figure out what the heck was so important for Keith to stand up Veronica on their trip to NYC. Can't wait to find out.

Oh, and the best part of next season? Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars back-to-back, Tuesday nights on the CW! I know what I'll be doing Tuesday nights this fall.

Okay folks...back tomorrow with a look at some of the new shows coming to your airwaves next fall. Later, kids!

~Sara