Veronica Mars Recap: “Show Me the Monkey”

Title: “Show Me the Monkey”
Original Airdate: January 22, 2007

A long time ago, we used to be friends…and then you went on a long hiatus and you were out of sight and out of mind. Sorry, but it’s the truth. It feels like forever ago when the Hearst rapist was revealed and Dean O’Dell was found dead at his desk. I knew without a doubt that I was going to be watching the Winter premiere of Veronica Mars last night, I just didn’t realize exactly how much I had missed it.

We had a few things going on in Neptune last night, so let’s discuss, shall we? Let me first start by saying that there is a reason that I have OTHER people recap shows for me here on GMMR. I suck at it. You people want a recap not a frakkin’ novel. Anyway, my apologies for the grey hair that might sprout while you ar reading my take on last night’s show.

Maybe we should start with ye old murder. Murder has become an annual event in Neptune. It’s like St. Patrick’s Day or the 4th of July, yet without the parades and drunk leprechauns. And as always, the Mars family always seems to be just a wee bit too close to the situation.

Interrupting Keith and Veronica’s witty afternoon father/daughter banter is Mrs. Dean O’Dell. The cheating wife of the former Dean of Hearst College can’t collect life insurance if the Dean’s death was ruled a suicide. She wants Keith to help her prove it was murder.

An unconvinced Keith decides to look into the case. During his chat with Weevil (who found the Dean dead and will inevitably become a suspect at some point), Keith stumbles across and becomes bewildered by a bottle of alcohol. Yeah, I feel your pain Keith, sometimes I turn to the bottle too…oh wait, um, I guess Keith thinks the bottle is somehow connected to the Dean’s death.

Keith’s investigation takes him to a seedy and dark bar (is there any other kind?) where he meets up with Professor Landry (Veronica’s criminology teacher and also the guy shtooping Mrs. Dean O’Dell…and yes I’ve always wanted to use the euphimsim ‘shtooping’). Keith’s “hey I’m a random guy in a bar who wants to talk about desperate things we do for love” routine doesn’t quite work when the guy you are talking to has read your book and knows your M.O.

As any good PI does, Keith goes to his teenage daughter for advice on the case. In passing he mentions that the Dean left a suicide note on his computer that said “Goodbye cruel world”. Hmm, what a coinkydink – that was the very cliched saying in the suicide note from Veronica’s “How to Plan the Perfect Murder” paper for Professor Landry’s class. Keith and Veronica don’t make a big deal of it, but we ALL see the writing on the wall (or on the computer as the case may be). Veronica is going to be implicated in the Dean’s murder because more details will emerge that will link the Dean’s death directly to Veronica’s paper. Yawn…yeah, so picked up on this last season. Who would want to frame Veronica? Here are the suspects we are going to be faced with: Professor Landry (no), Tim “Lucky” Foyle (no), the militant lesbians (no), Mrs. Dean O’Dell (maybe…she had motive and access but I think it’s a little too obvious). A random person whom we have yet to meet but we will get to know casually over the next few episodes? Yeah, most likely.

Oh so back to the bottle. Keith contends that during their Cliff/Norm moments of boozing in the Dean’s office, the Dean mentioned his adoration for his top shelf booze. Keith wonders why someone who was going to get piss drunk right before killing themselves wouldn’t drink the good stuff? The Dean’s 40 year old scotch remained unopened.

Meanwhile, back over at Hearst College Jr. PI, Veronica, is brought in to help solve the mystery of some missing lab animals (rats and a monkey to be exact). The angry labsters are convinced that the animals were stolen by the PHAT kids (or the girth challenged as Veronica likes to call them). PHAT actually stands for People for Humane Animal Treatment (ah I get it). Roni’s sleuthing brings her and Mac (yes Mac is back and BETTER than ever) to a PHAT meeting where they meet Bronson Pope, the adorkable leader of the group who takes an instant liking to Mac (and I take an instant liking to because he reminds me of Entourage’s Adriene Grenier…do you see it?). Anyway, Mac is oblivious to his charms as she and Veronica are more focused on seeing the dark underbell of PHAT (um, ew). They want to get behind the peacful protests and letter writing campaigns and get to the more active stuff…you know, like setting free rats and a monkey from the lab. She gets a bite from two of the PHAT kids who tells them they have to prove themselves before they can really be let in behind the curtain.

After hearing some grumblings about protesting the concert of rock singer (and not a friend to animals) Ed Argent, Veronica proves herself loyal to the cause by finagling Argent into a “Meat is Murder” shirt for a quick superfan pic. As the Beastie Boys once said…”she’s crafty”. Veronica’s stunt gains her instant acceptance into the group. And we the viewers are given a funny scene where Veronica and Mac are asked to pose wearing nothing but a NO FUR sign. Yeah, Scooter McGavin and the other straight boys watching VM were silently praying…but it was a no go.

Ok, before we get back to the case of the missing monkey (Veronica’s words, not mine), let’s check in on the love lives of Neptune. First up is LoVe. Yes, Logan and Veronica are still broken up, and neither seems to be dealing with it well. We are seeing a lot of wallowing especially from Logan. And when Dick isn’t busy taking pictures of his “namesake” he’s dealing with his brooding best friend.

Dick: So what…you’re just going to mope around like the guy in…what’s that book when the guy’s mom dies and he comes back to Jersey? And he’s got that motorcycle sidecar?
Logan: Garden State was never a book
Dick: It wasn’t? Oops…so much for that paper. But, if this were a book, the theme of my essay would be the symbolism of how your character had his man parts ripped off by the Veronica Mars character.
Logan: My man parts are in tact
Dick: Show me
Logan: You’re going to have to take my word for it
Dick: I mean symbolically. We’re young, single men in our sexual prime. And the only reason we’re not out there going hog wild is because of your feelings? What are we on The View? Am I Rosie O’Donnell?

Dick knows exactly what Logan needs – a boys day out of surfing and beers. Day quickly turns to night, and the guys find themselves in the company of some skanky surfer chicks looking for beer.

Skany Girl: Whatcha got?
Logan (looking in the cooler): Apparently the cheap stuff

 

Ha! Nice one writers! Next thing you know the King of Inappropriate Sexual Behavior is zipping up his pants. Oh Logan…what are we going to to do with you?

In more innocent news, Parker is trying to get Mac and Veronica “back in the saddle”. She wants them to be a host country for an around the world party being held in the dorm. The girls first decline but later come around. While the other rooms have gone all out with their decorations and such, Parker, Veronica and Mac present Canada. Complete with “ehs”, “aboots” and Barenaked Ladies (funniest scene of the night).

Veronica tries to talk to a few guys but her heart really isn’t in it. Nor is Mac’s who is bummed out when Bronson is a no show. The party is shut down, and Mac retreats to the quiet of her room just as Bronson stops by. The two talk for a while (aw cute), and make promises to see each other again. But all becomes weird and awkward when Bronson leans in for a kiss. Mac backs away, and he thinks she’s not interested. It’s not that, but when your last boyfriend was a sexually dysfunctional, mass murderer and rapist one might tend to be a tad skittish.

And this bring us back to the the case of the missing lab rats. How? Just you wait. Ok, so Parker managed to snag Bronson’s license as a way to ensure that Mac will have to see him again. The three girls approach his house in hopes that Mac will find it in her to ask him out. They knock and a girl answers the door. A little taken back (and not yet knowing the chick was Bronson’s sister), Mac asks if she can grab some water. Passing his room she spied a bunch of rats. Bummer!! She tips of Veronica who investigates. When confronted, Bronson says they were just dropped off at his door, and he knows nothing of the lab break in.

So Veronica does her thing and through a bunch of convenient trip ups, she figures it all out. The monkey and the rats were stolen from the lab by Gil Thomas, one of the lab assistants that she had been working for this whole time. Long story short, Gil Thomas bonded with the monkey and the rats, and he stole them so they wouldn’t be killed. Mystery solved…and Bronson is in the clear. Oh, and will someone PLEASE tell me who the kid was playing Gil Thomas? I know I know him from somewhere but I just can’t place it.

Ok, so back to Mac. Sporting a “Deb” side pony, she returns to Bronson’s house and boldly asks him out. He says yes, and before she leaves she lays one on him…YAY!!!

Piz and Veronica are chatting in the caf about getting “back on the saddle” and all about knowing what you want from a relationship. Piz is getting all dewey eyed looking at his love Veronica while thinking that they are FINALLY on the same page. Um, not so much. The “love” chat inspires Veronica to seek out her own lobster who is currently residing at the Neptune Grand. Logan opens the door…they stare…they kiss…I put down my computer, stand up and clap. This rekindled romance isn’t long for this world, so I have to tak what I can get.

Fast forward to the next day when an eager Piz grabs a chair in the caf next to Veronica. He’s too eager to pick up where they left off last night. But Piz’s little heart breaks when Logan strolls over with a tray full of food and a kiss for his Lady. And can I please give some mad props to the writing staff of Veronica Mars…not just for their wit and humor, but for making me pull for both Logan and Piz in this triangle. I love LoVe together, but at the same time I love the idea of Veronica and Piz. That’s some good writing (and I suppose acting)…bravo!!

Next week: Yeah Logan bangs a hooker or something and Veronica finds out. Back on the rollercoaster for these two.

Thanks to VM-Caps.com for the images