Veronica Mars Rewatch: Betty and Veronica (Season 1 Episode 16)
Viewers love Veronica Mars’ bonds with her father Keith as well as best friends Wallace and Mac. Her romances are great, but there’s something special about the way the crime-solving teenager cares for her family.
But, on Veronica Mars Season 1, Episode 16, “Betty and Veronica,” two of Veronica’s less prominent relationships – the ones with her estranged mother and vice principal – are front and center.
The case-of-the-week is all about high school pride of the varsity basketball variety because someone has stolen Neptune High’s mascot. Basically, everything Veronica hates and had already put behind her when the series begins.
While the case did examine Veronica’s issues with the 09ers and gives us some great Veronica-Wallace moments, it was not an especially interesting case. In fact, the most fascinating thing about it is Vice Principal Clemmons actually giving it to our heroine.
Well, there was a great moment where Veronica goes undercover at the rival high school as “Betty from Riverdale High,” but I digress.
Getting Clemmons involved is great because his dynamic with Veronica is one of the show’s most unique, albeit one that is not featured often.
From the administration’s perspective, Veronica is essentially a troublemaker. She spends her time between classes and at lunch investigating matters for fellow students. Her activities are far from typical.
There’s also the fact that on the surface it isn’t a relationship that would regularly exist in the real world. A vice principal is usually someone high school students try to avoid. But in the world of Veronica Mars, this pair of unlikely allies makes sense.
Neptune is a very odd town and both of them want to help people. Veronica wants to solve problems in order to make money, so she can get out of town. Clemmons wants is students to graduate and succeed.
Still, he brings her into his office and hires her because he can’t afford to hire a real investigator and he sees what could happen between the two rival high schools.
He’s also heard and seen what she has been doing for the students at his high school. Regardless of what he may think of her attitude and antics, he recognizes she is trying to help.
Watching Clemmons bargain with Veronica to get her on the case without paying her actual money is quite surreal and yet very Veronica Mars. It’s this fascinating collision of Veronica’s realities as a high school student and an investigator.
Setting aside the fact that the case is about high school mascots for a second, watching a vice principal offer a letter of recommendation and passes to miss gym as compensation is both humorous and memorable viewing.
Throughout the series, we see the development of a mutual respect between the pair and this interaction appears to be the beginning of that. When Veronica hears about the mascot her first instinct is to prove her innocence then shock at Clemmons’ awareness of her previous investigations. She assumes that she’s being accused of the theft and surprised that he is actually asking for help.
In the end, Veronica solves the case and impresses him. It’s the beginning of a wonderful and humorous almost-friendship.
Spliced into Veronica’s investigation is a set of flashbacks to her meeting with her mother, who she found at the end of Veronica Mars Season 1, Episode 15 “Ruskie Business.”
Hovering over the beloved relationship of Veronica and Keith Mars is the missing component: Lianne Mars. Her reappearance provides an opportunity for Kristen Bell to show off her range as an actress.
Veronica spends her days with people she does not generally enjoy, so sarcasm is her typical form of communication. There may be incredibly sad moments and earnest ones as well throughout the series, but they do not typically happen during the same episode.
The happiness of being reunited with her mother after searching for nearly a year. Sadness and rage mixing as she discovers her mother’s affair. And, the increasing frustration about not getting straight answers to her questions. Questions about why her mother left, what she did it to her husband and any answers she may have about what happened to her best friend Lily.
While some could have expected more from the highly-anticipated reunion, in a rewatch the powerful series of short scenes was more than enough. We wanted answers, but we got emotion.
What binds Veronica’s relationship with her mother and Vice principal Clemmons is in both instances Veronica is an adult.
Clemmons treats Veronica like an adult – or at least more than an average high school student – while Veronica needs to be the adult with her mom by using the college money she saved to put her in rehab.
Speaking of children and their parents, the episode ends with Veronica finding the daughter of Abel Koontz, the man convicted of killing her best friend. The next clue in the rabbit hole that the murder investigation has become.
Until next time, Marshmallows.
What do you think about this episode of Veronica Mars? Did you feel the love?
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Alamin Yohannes
Alamin is an aspiring writer, social media editor, and television enthusiast. While he has been a TV fan since the days of Martin, Living Single, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, the introduction of Netflix and a rewatch of Grey's Anatomy kick things into high gear. One of his life goals is to find a Cul-de-Sac crew of his own and he'll never stop hoping for "Happy Endings" to return. Alamin may not love every television show, but he'll definitely catch any new show out. You can also usually find him talking about whatever he's currently watching on Twitter.