Veronica Mars - Season 1 (2004)

Kristen Bell plays the lead character Veronica Mars with such charm and subtlty that this show quickly becomes addictive. The plot revolves around a modern day Nancy Drew who's father is a private eye. Veronica, a junior in high-school helps her Dad solve cases during the day while, at the same time, makes extra bucks on the side solving teen drama issues/investigations at school. She's both the most sought after and most despised student at fictional Neptune High.

Season 1 introduces the storyline in very quick fashion. We find out in the first episode that Veronica's best friend was killed and that Veronica's dad, as Sheriff, suspected the dead girl's father of the murder. The father/suspect, who runs a Bill Gates-ish software company, is cleared when another person confesses. The subsequent embarrassment and growing public pressure cause Veronica's father to be fired, her mother to leave them and her friends at school to dislike her. But, as one would have it, things are not as they seem. Over the course of the first season, each individual teen investigation that is dealt with per show is coupled with a long, intertwining uncovering of who really killed Veronica's best friend.

The cast is very good and Bell really carries the show. My teen daughter and I started watching the show this year at the beginning of Season 3, were so enamored by it that we rented Season 1 and haven't looked back since. Rare is a teen show that is smart and funny and charming and real and adventurous all at the same time. Veronica Mars is one of those shows that sets its goals high and actually achieves them.

So who really killed Veronica's best friend? Well, you'll have to watch and find out for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

For those of you not wanting to jump back two seasons, you can start watching this show at any time. They always catch the audience up to speed on the relevant information needed at the beginning of each show. So don't be shy and check it out.