Veronica Mars Re-Watch: Blast From the Past (Season 2 Episode 5)

It’s Homecoming week on Veronica Mars Season 2 Episode 5, “Blast From the Past.”

Although my high school experience was akin to Veronica’s “much like the plague” remark, I remember Homecoming—it was the best of times, it was the worst of times (the worst– definitely the worst.). It was a time for friends, fun, and teenagers being normal teenagers.

Okay, they’re not that normal. We are in Neptune, after all.

I struggle to understand this fictional town because its residents can be downright horrible to each other. Definitely looking at you, Jackie.

Embarrassing Veronica on television is an act just short of renting a billboard to proclaim her jealousy. Divulging the boob cream story to the psychic also wastes Jackie’s one opportunity to take the high road.

Said high road currently consists of Wallace and only Wallace, by the way. Think of it like the easiest course in Mario Kart, but with no banana peels or opponents.

It’s a rough hour for him; he has every reason to be pissed off at both his mother and best friend. Despite this, Wallace still has Veronica’s back and stands up to Jackie after asking the former to “let it go.”

Wallace running off with his biological father is completely understandable as Nathan is the only one currently listening to him. Veronica is so deep within her Veronica bubble that to her, Wallace sounds more like Charlie Brown’s teacher than her best friend, and Alicia—although armed with every rational reason possible for her actions—is too busy defending herself to validate her son’s feelings.

Look, Alicia has her reasons for keeping Nathan and Wallace apart. However, I can’t say I’m a fan of her withholding Nathan’s letters and possibly lying about the ultimatum she gave him. Keith’s advice is neither solicited nor welcome, but he has a point.

Alicia, by the way, is officially the worst– not for the Nathan situation, but for criticizing Keith’s parenting skills AGAIN. Keith does the best he can as a single father the same Alicia does as a single mother. Their inability to realize that they’re on the same team gives me some major oil and water vibes.

These vibes go both ways. If you’re dating this woman, Keith, the least you could do is offer some context into why you stole her son’s birth certificate. This episode shows how Keith and Veronica differ as private eyes. Veronica at least knows how to cover her tracks.

Though, I should cut Keith some slack since he also has to deal with Sheriff Lamb.

Lamb is part of the reason why I don’t understand Neptune. The man is revered for being terrible at his job, yet Keith was run out of the same position for pushing forward with Lily’s murder—or, you know, doing what a Sheriff does.

Keith’s Dad joke about “riding on a gravy train with biscuit wheels” is the first indication things are going terribly wrong. I appreciate a good Dad joke, but nobody on television stays happy for long. Lamb’s leverage in the debate is so poorly timed that it warrants a rewrite of Alanis Morrissette’s “Ironic.” Only in Neptune does a Sheriff not arresting someone for a DUI outweigh the sound of high school students being murdered.

That voicemail. The sound of the explosion, then the screams, then the splash is unsettling. Veronica replaying it for Keith even makes me wince. The only way to describe their mutual realization of Lamb’s uselessness is that it sucks.

The way Veronica Mars interweaves storylines is impressive. Small details like requesting Kane Software stationary from Duncan and a bug suspended in plexiglass for a “bio project” seem like superfluous details, but never underestimate Veronica. She always has a plan.

Revenge is a dish best served on the high school P.A. system, and thanks to said bio project, we get so close to witnessing Lamb’s downfall. It’s bittersweet that Keith’s conscience appears and talks Veronica out of the act when it does.

I retract what I said before. Wallace can share the high road alongside Keith. Swiping the literal bug from Lamb’s desk and convincing Veronica not to retaliate (despite it being so, so very tempting) is reassurance that there is at least one good guy left within Neptune city limits.

At least Duncan is in a good place. He proactively schedules bro time with Logan to mend their friendship and doesn’t even get jealous when Veronica breaks up Jackie and Logan’s makeout sesh. There are five words I never expected to type.

One of two unexpected highlights of the dance is the band, but only because it makes me want to YouTube those catchy, colorful iPod commercials from the early aughts. The other highlight is that although short-lived, we see Veronica loosen up and have fun.

What did you think of this episode of Veronica Mars? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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