Veronica as an underdog and Roswell pic spam

[dangermousie]

I've been thinking about Veronica Mars, and why this season I find myself less attuned to Veronica than I was last season. I think it's her lack of severe underdog status. Dick saying snide things under his breath is really not the same. We all love underdog stories. There is a reason why in Rocky, Sly Stallone was the no-chance boxer, and someone with huge odds against him. There is a reason why every Bollywood hero gets beaten into a bloody pulp by a dozen thugs, before being able to rally and defeat them. There is a reason why everyone remembers and talks about the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae and not the gajillion Persians who crushed them. Basically, underdogs appeal: everyone wants to hear about how someone is so exceptional they beat the odds, they made it despite the obstacles, they survived adversity. Part of it is the excitement (if you put a world heavy-weight boxing champion against 90lb weaking, there is no surprise in the champion winning), part of it is wishful thinking (if this can happen, anything can happen. Even in my life), and part just people not being keen on someone to whom the good fairy gave everything without caveats.

And the same, of course, applies to Veronica, only here it's exacerbated by the fact that Veronica isn't...how shall I put it...a very nice person. She is a difficult person with a multitude of flaws. But when she is the underdog, we can discount them easier than when everything is going her way. After all, there is a reason why people like Jackie now: it's the spine she showed in adversity. And I am sure part of the reason Logan is such a fan favorite is because TPTB keep throwing the boy new angst. Basically, if you are not the underdog, you better have enough baggage to fill up a Samsonite store. And I don't think Veronica qualifies for that either, because, whatever baggage she has, isn't affecting her in 'angsty' ways, or in any ways we see.

Do I have a point? Not really :)

But I do bring lovely Roswell spam, Max and Liz's first kiss:

Comments

[girlintheattic.livejournal.com]

I completely agree that V is more sympathetic as an underdog - she isn't a very nice person. That's sort of why I love her. In a way, I feel like I don't need her to be sympathetic as long as I don't feel like the show wants me to sympathise with her - does that make sense?

I guess my point is that what's bugged me this year is that I feel like sometimes the writers want me to think V is a good person, or at least doing good things but it seems clear to me that she's not so my view of Veronica, and the Veronica on the show don't always gel. That's frustrating.

Also that picture is gorgeous - I love how delicate she looks.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Also that picture is gorgeous - I love how delicate she looks.

I am so pathetic. I rewatched this bit from Heatwave before going to work :)

what's bugged me this year is that I feel like sometimes the writers want me to think V is a good person, or at least doing good things but it seems clear to me that she's not so my view of Veronica, and the Veronica on the show don't always gel.

Exactly. I don't mind her being a nasty piece of work sometimes (she is manipulative, often thoughtless, and will run over anyone in her single-minded pursuit of the goal), as long as I don't have to believe she is 'nice and well-adjusted' which is what VM has been trying to sell. I must say though, the second half of the season has been a lot better about it, and I just learned to stay away from interviews and it's amazing what a difference it made. The disconnect has never been very great with Veronica, it's the giant Duncan disconnect that kept bugging me, and that thiankfully, is done.

[ayn-rand-fan-13.livejournal.com]

You know, I've never really rooted for the underdog. I was listening to a Joss Whedon interview, and he made the point that it was always satisfying when someone underestimates Buffy, and she proves that she is much stronger than they are. That's what I've always loved about Veronica, that she's this tiny blonde high school girl that everyone kind of overlooks, but she's smarter than they are. I think that it has continued into this season, and I still love that quality of hers. I also might not notice the bitchiness because honestly, I love my friends, but the people at my school are elitist and bitchy. I really don't notice it much anymore.
I do love Jackie, though. I think she's more interesting with Veronica than with Wallace, because she really is like season 1 Veronica. Seeing them together sort of makes me love them both more.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That's what I've always loved about Veronica, that she's this tiny blonde high school girl that everyone kind of overlooks, but she's smarter than they are

But if everything always goes her way, she outsmarts everyone, she has a happy, well-adjusted, perfect life, she isn't very interesting, but rather Mary Suish.

It's not her bitchiness, btw, that I find off-putting. It's her selfish heedlessness.

[weissman.livejournal.com]

I probably like Sharon and Helo because I like underdogs and especially underdogs that will win.
Bob

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Hopefully they will win too...