Veronica Mars was not the typical high school student. Cited as "a little bit Buffy and a little bit Bogart," Veronica spent a lot of her time fighting crime and taking names... when she wasn't in class.

Each episode had a unique case, the "Mystery of the Week," which tended to be solved by the end of the 40-odd minutes of runtime. There was also some sort of progress on a bigger mystery, a multiple-episode (often season-) long storyline.

The first season followed her junior year of high school, where she lived the life of an outcast socialite after her father accused a wealthy businessman of murdering his daughter, Veronica's best friend.

After that mystery was solved and she was welcomed back to the fold, senior year (and the second season) started. This one was plagued with a bus crash that killed a number of her classmates, as well as the murder of Felix, a member of the same gang as Veronica's friend (and ally) Weevil. Needless to say, both perps were found.

The third season followed Veronica into college, and had two major arcs. The first dealt with an unsolved mystery from the second season; the second was about the mysterious death of the Dean of Hearst College. Because of the show's cancellation, the second arc finished in the 15th episode of the season so the last 5 episodes could close some loose ends.

Unfortunately, a show with fantastic writing and intricate plots tends not to do well in modern TV (remember Arrested Development?). Veronica Mars had the same issues.

The first season had incredibly low ratings, with (according to Wikipedia) the show coming consistently in last in its Tuesday, 9PM time slot. Meanwhile, because of the incredibly vocal fanbase, UPN decided to renew VMars for a second season.

The second season saw a bunch of shifts in the timeslot, which didn't bode well for the show's ratings. Hope was renewed towards the end of America's Next Top Model with a small surge in viewers, but it wasn't long-lived. Well, what was the WB expecting, putting it up against Lost and American Idol?

Again, because of the incredibly loyal fanbase, the show was renewed; this time, though, it was picked up by The CW. But again, low ratings plagued VMars, in spite of glowing recommendations from the likes of Joss Whedon, Stephen King, and Kevin Smith. After the second story arc (the murder of Dean O'Dell) concluded, there was an eight-week hiatus before the final 5 episodes of the series.

On May 17, 2007, the CW officially announced that the show was axed.

Still can't decide which season to get? Here are some summaries of my favourite episodes from each season, lovingly stolen from Wikipedia (because they have them so neat and concise already!).

---Season 1---

Pilot (S1E01): Veronica starts her Junior year at Neptune High by cutting down Wallace Fennel, the new kid, from the flag pole. He helps her as she helps get the PCH bikers out of trouble and solve a case for her dad. Throughout, there are flashbacks showing how her best friend, Lilly Kane, was murdered.

This was the episode that started it all!

Meet John Smith (S1E03): In order to pursue a crush, student Justin Smith hires Veronica to find his father - whom he believes is dead. Meanwhile, Veronica and Troy's relationship deepens, Keith meets Veronica's guidance counselor, Rebecca James, and Duncan temporarily goes off his antidepressants.

This episode was the first one that showed that VMars wouldn't shy away from controversial material.

A Trip To The Dentist (S1E21): New information surfaces that gives Veronica a lead on what happened to her the night of Shelly Pomroy's party, where she was drugged. What she finds out shocks more people than just herself.

This is another one of those episodes that shows the true grit of this show.

---Season 2---

Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner (S2E07): When Duncan learns from Meg's emails that Meg had been babysitting a child who was being abused by their parents, Veronica takes on a series of creepy babysitting jobs to help Duncan try to find out who it is.

Another one of those episodes that really impressed me with the taboo subject matter.

Plan B (S2E17): Weevil, Veronica, and Logan try prove that Thumper killed Felix. But when they have trouble getting the real bridge witness to come forward, Weevil takes matters into his own hands.

Plan B was... intense.

Not Pictured (S2E22): I'm not giving away this plot summary... It's the season finale!

I don't know what to say... I don't want to give anything away!

---Season 3---

My Big Fat Greek Rush Week (S3E02): Guilty over not having helped the latest victim, Veronica sets herself to catching the Hearst ****** and starts by going undercover at the Theta Zeta sorority during rush week. Parker's parents arrive and try to convince their daughter to come home. Wallace, Logan and others participate in a guard/prisoner experiment for sociology, a reference to the Stanford Prison Experiment.

I'm a Psych student... Forgive me for loving the episode referencing the classic experiment.

Papa's Cabin (S3E15): Sheriff Mars interrogates Mindy O'Dell, who reveals that the third man in her hotel room the night of the Dean O'Dell's murder was in fact (SPOILER) himself. Veronica and Tim Foyle head out in an investigation to prove Professor Hank Landry is innocent, but the tables are turned on Veronica when she learns Hank Landry (SPOILER) murder Dean O'Dell.

The last of the serial episodes, this one closed it pret-ty well.

Debasement Tapes (S3E17): Piz is put in charge of escorting his idol, Desmond Fellows, a singer/musician from a 1990's pop band who arrives on the Hearst campus to perform at a benefit concert for the radio station. When tapes of Fellows' back-up vocals and tracks go missing, Piz recruits Veronica to help locate them. Keith believes he will be running unopposed in the race for Sheriff, until an unlikely candidate throws his hat into the ring.

The indie rock-fueled case hit right where it hurts for me.

This was one of those shows that featured a lot of good music. Some of it better than others (I'm looking at you, Wolf Parade vs. Daniel Powter in the same episode); some more obscure than others, the soundtrack was nothing to scoff at.

The show included tracks from the likes of:
- Wolf Parade (It's A Curse)
- Apostle of Hustle (National Anthem of Nowhere)
- Sparklehorse (Don't Take My Sunshine Away)
- Daft Punk (One More Time)
- Elvis Costello (Veronica, but sung by Britt Daniel from Spoon)
- The Hives (Walk, Idiot, Walk)
- The Notwist (Pick Up The Phone)
- Interpol (Slow Hands)
- Spoon (Don't Let It Get You Down)

And, of course, the ubiquitous theme song by the Dandy Warhols (We Used To Be Friends).