As the title suggests, *someone* needs to talk about a fandom other than hp tonight/today (depending on what time I finish this entry). So, given that I'm not all OMGHBPISOUT!!!1111111111*FALLS APART INTO A FANATIC, DROOLING MESS, BABBLING ABOUT DUMBLEDORE AND SPOILERS AND OMG!!!11* about Half-Blood Prince, I'm chatting about Veronica Mars. Because I want to.

First of all, VM is one awesome show, and I love it. Go watch it, get addicted (the way everyone seems to once they actually start *watching* it), and bring the ratings up.

Second of all, for VM, I ship Duncan/Veronica. Which is what I'm going to ramble about (think: for the next week, your friends list will be covered in "OMG H/HR!" and "NO--HR/R!" Aren't you glad I'm going on about some pairing you've never heard of? Read!).

Duncan and Veronica were the picture perfect couple until things got kriffed up. That is, before A) Celeste *itch Kane told her son about his father's and Veronica's mother's affair, B) Lilly Kane (Duncan's sister and Veronica's bff at the time) died, C) Veronica's dad accused Duncan's dad, Jake Kane, of having something to do with Lilly's death. There was also that incident at Shelly Pomeroy's party, though it didn't *really* screw up D/V's relationship any more... Duncan had already (without explanation) dumped Veronica.

I love this ship, and I'm so *very* grateful that Rob Thomas did not make everything bad soap opera, and make Jake Kane Veronica's biological father, despite what Celeste told Duncan. It seems like every fangirl who watches VM has gone completely psycho about Veronica/Logan (well, except you, of course ;)), but, as amusing as their snark is, I don't see it continuing for long, nor do I agree with it.

*cough* Back to V/D.

So, after all the mess and perverted-then-later-unveiled truths, Veronica and Duncan are both completely aware--and grateful--that Keith Mars is VM's dad, and V/D are *not* half-siblings (I swear I would have stopped watching if that outcome was different :\).

Well, in the second season, they're apparently going to be using the V/D/L love triangle.

V/L won't last. Veronica betrayed him, he lied to her, and even if they *did* get past that (not to mention all their other relationship problems), Lilly would always be between them. That one scene in "Hot Dogs" when Veronica flashbacks to her and Lilly (while Logan is right there in the car) just sums it up. They will snark, they will fight then burn off all their hormones to make the fangirls happy, then fight and make out some more, but eventually they'll break up. I honestly can't see them with a future, even from a non-D/V shipper's POV. I hope they take what's left and create a beautifully snarky friendship, somewhat remeniscent of K/J in canon (though without the whole mentor/student part, obviously). But, really. Who sees a white picket fence *anywhere* here? Logan loved (loves) Lilly, even though she betrayed/"left" him. (And, okay, I'll stop here before I go on forever about L/V problems...)

With L/V out of the way, and barring any V/New Character romances, D/V is left. I repeat that this is pretty much my VM otp, though not to the degree of J/Z in SW, or B/A in BtVS. Veronica and Duncan are sweet, steady, and they actually *have* a relationship. Their interaction even in "Leave it to Beaver" (the season finale) makes it very clear that they still have very real feelings for each other, and that something could--possibly--be made new from what's left of the wreckage.

Does that mean I think they're going to work out, and ride off together in the sunset?

Sadly, no.

I love this show for a lot of reasons, but particularly its intelligence. I also kind of hate it for that same reason.

Veronica/Duncan, pre-Lilly's death--heck, even pre-Shelley's party--was the high school dream. If they had kept going that way, if Rob Thomas hadn't thrown their lives into the blender, they may very well have made it. Who knows? Okay, high school relationships don't tend to last, but some do, and flashbacks V/D hasn't been about hormones. There was a good base there. Unfortunately, neither of them are those people anymore. Veronica has gotten tougher, more than a little ruthless, and prickly. I'll give myself a thready lifeline--who knows how she'll deal with this now that Lilly's real murderer has been found? Duncan, on the other hand, shrank into himself. Once the reigning (good guy) king of Neptune High, Duncan spiralled after Lilly's death. Well, actually, he got screwed with a few weeks before that, when his mom told him that Veronica might be his half-sister. He stopped initiating things, and he didn't get passionate about a whole lot. Rob Thomas didn't go into Duncan as much as I would have liked, but what he showed made it clear that Duncan Kane is no longer...Duncan The High School King Kane.

What do I see for Veronica/Duncan? A small chance, but mostly a few months of dating, then closure. I'm hoping Thomas gives my pairing the respect it deserves--a real attempt, a fair look at what they could have been/could be, then a mutual break-up. I'm hoping for a relationship--be it friendship, or something more undefinable--that survives the parting of romantic ways. They don't have to gab about upcoming dates, but I want them to be real with each other now that they can be. Again, honestly? I can see it.

The "LoVe" fangirls and the UPN people (who seem to be, rather worriedly, affecting Thomas' writing), on the other hand? Well...that's why there's fanfiction.



*laughs* Was that even marginally coherent?

~ Erin