Veronica Mars: Season 1

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 90 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 90 Ratings

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Veronica Mars

Now Playing: Veronica Mars

Season Details & Credits

The CW | UPN | HULU | Season Premiere Date: September 22, 2004

Starring: Enrico Colantoni, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Kristen Bell

Summary: In the wealthy, seaside community of Neptune, California, the rich and powerful make the rules. Unfortunately for them, there's Veronica Mars, a smart, fearless 17-year-old apprentice private investigator dedicated to solving the town's toughest mysteries. Veronica used to be one of the popular girls, but it all came crumbling down aroundIn the wealthy, seaside community of Neptune, California, the rich and powerful make the rules. Unfortunately for them, there's Veronica Mars, a smart, fearless 17-year-old apprentice private investigator dedicated to solving the town's toughest mysteries. Veronica used to be one of the popular girls, but it all came crumbling down around her after her best friend, Lilly, was murdered, and her then-sheriff father, Keith, was removed from office for naming Lilly's rich father as the lead suspect. During the day, Veronica must negotiate high school like any average teenage girl. But at night, she helps with her father's struggling, new private investigator business--and what she finds may tear the town of Neptune apart at the seams.… Expand

Creator: Rob Thomas (II)

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E22. Leave It to Beaver
Air Date: May 10, 2005
tbd
S1:E21. A Trip to the Dentist
Air Date: May 3, 2005
tbd
S1:E20. M.A.D.
Air Date: April 26, 2005

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Jonathan Storm

Feb 16, 2013

A wonderfully complex drama, with plenty of sly humor, that showcases slick performances from its two stars, and magically straddles the parallel universes of film noir and high school high jinks, while generously tossing out amusing asides. [22 Sept 2004, p.D1]

100

Diane Werts

Feb 16, 2013

Best show of the season? Call me crazy, but it's a loopy-twisted-serpentine whodunit revolving around a whip-smart teenage girl...So let's recap. Engaging star, cool characterizations, witty scripts, meaty backstory. What's not to like? Only that networks always cancel deliciously offbeat gems like this. Let's hope UPN doesn't actually want to be a "real" network, after all. [22 Sept 2004, p.C01]

Gillian Flynn

Jun 18, 2013

What makes Veronica so strangely touching is that on a larger scale, her quest mirrors the common teen conundrum: My family's screwed up, and I'm not cool enough. How can I fix it? Read full review

Robert Bianco

Feb 16, 2013

Luckily for us, UPN has found a terrific young actress to play this terrifically engaging character: Kristen Bell. Whether you buy the idea of teen crime-solvers or not, there's no questioning Bell's credentials as a TV star. Read full review

David Zurawik

Feb 20, 2013

As improbable as the premise might sound, Bell's hard-edged performance makes it work. [22 Sept 2004,p. 1E]

Hal Boedeker

Feb 20, 2013

As Veronica, Bell delightfully plays the clash between sarcasm and sweetness. The actress, who appeared in Deadwood, is one of the most valuable performers this fall. As her struggling detective father, Enrico Colantoni displays more charm than he ever did on Just Shoot Me. [22 Sept 2004, p.E1]

Rob Owen

Feb 16, 2013

The show wants to be hip and cool, and it often is, but it makes no pretensions that it doesn't have a heart beating underneath, much like its cool but caring lead character. [22 Sept 2004, p.D-6]

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS

User Score

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8.6

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Mixed:

Negative:

User Reviews

Pocketchange

Jul 5, 2015

This show blew me away with how well it pulls you in and makes you want to keep watching until you've frittered away your whole weekend. 11 years after it first originally aired and this show is still relevant and impactful. Kristin Bell portrays many different sides of Veronica Mars'This show blew me away with how well it pulls you in and makes you want to keep watching until you've frittered away your whole weekend. 11 years after it first originally aired and this show is still relevant and impactful. Kristin Bell portrays many different sides of Veronica Mars' personality accurately and effectively. Screenwriter Rob Thomas explores many different alternative viewpoints very well in order to differentiate the show from the generic and formulaic majority that was on television in 2004 and is even more predominant in 2015. My hope is that more shows that are as unique as this show was will appear soon.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Sabrinna

Dec 27, 2010

Witty, intelligent and entertaining, this show can appeal to all ages. It's unfortunate that it was billed as a teen drama thus minimizing it's potential audience that eventually led to the show being cancelled. I believe this show has a wonderful potential for a come-back as an adult FBIWitty, intelligent and entertaining, this show can appeal to all ages. It's unfortunate that it was billed as a teen drama thus minimizing it's potential audience that eventually led to the show being cancelled. I believe this show has a wonderful potential for a come-back as an adult FBI drama using the same actors, 5 years later, and I hope the producers take advantage of the opportunity to include new fans while maintaining the old fan base. The biggest let down of Series 1 was Paris Hilton's appearance. Thankfully the character only existed for 1 episode and Paris wasn't given many lines. The relationship between our main character and her father is well written and very unique, showing much respect between them through very adverse times. The references to cult classics and popular media culture are numerous through every episode and be highly appealling to 30-60 year old viewers but would likely go unrecognized by younger viewers.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

hirillenn

Dec 28, 2013

When I first started watching this show, I was VERY turned off by most of the writing and acting, but thanks to a few sharp one-liners and a fantastic performance by Kristen Bell, I stuck with the show. If you plan on watching this show from the beginning, know that it gets better. MuchWhen I first started watching this show, I was VERY turned off by most of the writing and acting, but thanks to a few sharp one-liners and a fantastic performance by Kristen Bell, I stuck with the show. If you plan on watching this show from the beginning, know that it gets better. Much better. In the past week or so alone I've gotten through the first season and half of the second. It's that addicting. In addition, the writing and acting of the supporting cast has improved greatly, making a very interesting and compelling show.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Arninetyes

Aug 11, 2013

A remarkable television series. It is intelligent, entertaining, and yes, it does have a heart. Unlike most programming, Veronica Mars does not talk down to its audience; the creator's assume we are keeping up.

The first season was remarkable, one of the best-written shows I've ever seen.A remarkable television series. It is intelligent, entertaining, and yes, it does have a heart. Unlike most programming, Veronica Mars does not talk down to its audience; the creator's assume we are keeping up.

The first season was remarkable, one of the best-written shows I've ever seen. The second and third seasons were still outstanding, although they weren't quite up to the stellar achievements of the first. One demeaning descriptor critics use when referring to Veronica Mars is "teen drama". It is, in that teen characters are front and center, it isn't, in that so much more is involved. Those who either didn't pay attention, couldn't follow the subtext, or simply love being snarky belittled the program as being simply a teen drama. It is akin to referring to Branaugh's version of Hamlet as "a period piece".… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

JLuis_001

Sep 9, 2017

Let's be honest it was a great series, at least the first season was very good, the story in general was addictive and what can we say about Kristen Bell, who did not fall in love with her? The tremendous personality that she gave to the character made her iconic ..

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

lpiedad

Feb 2, 2014

One of the greatest shows I've ever watched. It took me one week to finish the whole series. I was that hooked. There's something about Kristen Bell's delivery of Veronica's witty, sarcastic lines and the writing of Rob Thomas that gets me. The chemistry of all the actors are superb. Amazing show.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

BM85

Apr 9, 2020

Excellent coming of age drama/mystery fiction, set in California in the 2000s.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 10 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

78

Series Overview
Season 4

75
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: July 19, 2019
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: October 3, 2006
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 28, 2005
Season 1

81
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 22, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E22. Leave It to Beaver
  Air Date: May 10, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E21. A Trip to the Dentist
  Air Date: May 3, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E20. M.A.D.
  Air Date: April 26, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E19. Hot Dogs
  Air Date: April 19, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E18. Weapons of Class Destruction
  Air Date: April 12, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E17. Kanes and Abel's
  Air Date: April 5, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E16. Betty and Veronica
  Air Date: March 29, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E15. Ruskie Business
  Air Date: February 22, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E14. Mars vs. Mars
  Air Date: February 15, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E13. Lord of the Bling
  Air Date: February 8, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E12. Clash of the Tritons
  Air Date: January 11, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E11. Silence of the Lamb
  Air Date: January 4, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E10. An Echolls Family Christmas
  Air Date: December 14, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E9. Drinking the Kool-Aid
  Air Date: November 30, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E8. Like a Virgin
  Air Date: November 23, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Girl Next Door
  Air Date: November 9, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E6. Return of the Kane
  Air Date: November 2, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E5. You Think You Know Somebody
  Air Date: October 26, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E4. The Wrath of Con
  Air Date: October 19, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E3. Meet John Smith
  Air Date: October 12, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E2. Credit Where Credit's Due
  Air Date: September 28, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: September 22, 2004