In the fifth episode of the second season of Veronica Mars, Wallace’s blast from his past upsets his life, leading to a chaotic confrontation between him, his girlfriend, and his best friend. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Veronica Mars.
When I said I wanted more Wallace-centric stories, THIS WASN’T WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO OH MY GOD.
- “Blast from the Past” picks up in the immediate aftermath of the shocking end to “Green-Eyed Monster,” and good god, this is so painful. It’s fascinating to me how this show explores what it means to be a family and it does so through fracture. Have we seen one happy family with two parents here aside from the parents Mac should have had? Even in that instance, our glimpse is a could-have-been, a fantasy set afar from reality. Alicia’s first husband was lost to obsession, and then her second one died; Keith’s wife is who knows where. The Kanes are terribly messed up, as are the Echollses (DUH), as are everyone else. Still, that doesn’t mean there isn’t hope or that you need two perfect parents to have a good family, and as much as Veronica Mars deconstructs the family, they also enforce it.
- I realize I’m making this point in a review for a pretty grim episode in terms of character development, but I swear it’s relevant!
- It’s with this that “Blast from the Past” opens: Alicia tried to do what was best for Wallace. When Nathan began to bring his job as an undercover narcotics agent home in a very real way, she gave him a choice. He had to choose his son or his job. Clearly, he chose the job, given that he’s such a successful cop. And the father that Wallace mourned years ago? Alicia’s second husband after she left Nathan behind.
- Still, it’s all incredibly upsetting for Wallace, and he can’t seem to find his footing throughout this episode, no thanks to the things that his mother, Veronica, and Jackie do to him. Not even the idea of being on the Homecoming court excites him.
- Can I just briefly acknowledge how incredible it is that this show consciously chose to represent the student body in a believable and diverse way? When Mandy showed up, I was just so pleased. Even if she didn’t play a huge part in the story, it was really cool to see that she still was a part of all of this.
- Anyway, I think I’m going to have to accept something: not everyone can be friends with Veronica Mars. I’ve been pretty harsh on the show for pitting Veronica and Jackie against each other. I don’t like it, but I am satisfied that this episode allows the writers, through Veronica and Jackie, to expand on the idea that Wallace is too often in the background when it comes to Veronica’s life. He’s too often a sidekick, and when his needs as a friend are ignored, it has disastrous consequences. In terms of Jackie’s dislike of Veronica… well, it happens! People don’t like one another. They fight. It doesn’t always have to be based in logic and reason. Do I want them to be friends? Of course, because I LOVE FRIENDSHIP. And when Wallace and Veronica are on the same page, it’s beautiful. I think that Jackie and Veronica have potential for the same sort of thing, but lord, there is SO MUCH TO WORK THROUGH HERE.
- Which is all a very long explanation for why I fell hook, line, and sinker for Jackie’s kindness as she asked Veronica to help her. DAMN IT, I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO WORK THINGS OUT. It didn’t help that “Blast from the Past” also featured Duncan and Logan attempting to hash out their issues and become friends again. I thought they were parallel storylines! I WAS TRICKED. SO BADLY.
- And while we’re talking about relationship issues, holy shit, Alicia and Keith have a mess to work through as well. I thought it was kind of hypocritical for Keith to criticize Alicia’s choice to hide Nathan from Wallace. Dude, haven’t you hid a ton of things from your daughter because you thought she’d be safer? Aren’t you doing that right now in this very episode? I wish he approached this better because seriously, you also stole Wallace’s birth certificate. Noooooo, you don’t get to call it borrowing. YOU DON’T.
- Wallace singing “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” is simultaneously the most adorable and SOUL CRUSHING thing that this character has ever done. Why isn’t Percy Daggs III in everything ever made ever? He’s slept on, I swear.
- Anyway, Nathan’s appearance at Wallace’s job unearths more discomfort, this time because it’s now looking likely that she’s still lying about Nathan Woods. He provides proof: the stack of letters he sent over the years, all returned to sender. In Alicia’s handwriting.
- Christ, what happened all those years ago???
- I hate Sheriff Lamb, and I don’t think it’ll ever change. That’s my constant, actually. Hating Sheriff Lamb. That’ll save me.
- Because seriously, Lamb is not at all interested in justice. Again. He’s remarkably consistent in terms of being a complete jackass, and this is no exception. It’s in his interest to assure the general public that Ed Doyle committed suicide or was a bad driver because it keeps him in power. That doesn’t mean that Keith shouldn’t be criticized for being lenient about letting some go when they should have gotten a DUI. But Lamb’s methods are arrogant and self-serving and I HATE HIM.
- Did anyone else think, at the moment of the reveal of what was in Cora’s dress bag, that this show was suddenly going to address furries? No? Just me? Damn it.
- Anyway, A TWIST: There is no way Cora could have stolen Jackie’s card. So… what? Then who took it? And what the hell is going on?
- I will never, ever, ever stop finding Veronica using a literal bug as a bug to be anything but the funniest thing in the universe. It is. There is nothing funnier, THIS IS THE HEIGHT OF COMEDY.
- Can I also take a moment to point out this foreshadowing? Because Veronica tells Wallace that the ones who stick with you are the ones who cares. WELL, MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE THAT ADVICE IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES, VERONICA. Because Wallace 🙁 🙁 🙁
- I also should have thought about how suspect it was that the very person who told Jackie that her credit card was declined was the same one who used the card. You know why? Because Jackie would have never told Veronica something embarrassing about herself.
- That being said, I admit to being super confused about the details of Jackie’s con. Did she buy all those things for Madam Sophie, or did she just max out her card with items that would make Veronica suspect Madam Sophie? How much was Sophie in on this? Not at all? I suppose the rhinestone glasses girl could have unwittingly played a part in everything, too. Not the point!
- The point is HOLY SHIT, THERE WERE EXPLOSIONS ON THE BUS BEFORE IT CRASHED
- THAT IS A HUGE DEAL
- THAT IS REALLY CREEPY, TOO.
- AND THEN THERE’S ANOTHER PLOT TWIST AND HOW DOES THIS SHOW KEEP THIS UP? I don’t know another show that can sustain so much tension and drama so consistently. In this case, we find out that Lamb is BLACKMAILING JACKIE’S FATHER. Oh, for heaven’s sake, I’m at the point where I’m convinced that Lamb is just Satan personified. HOW CAN ONE PERSON BE SO EVIL.
- Y’all, not that I need to remind you again, but I fell for Jackie’s con so goddamn hard. I maybe figured it out a half-second before Veronica did. Jackie’s cruelty provides Veronica – the girl who always gets even – with the perfect chance to destroy both Sheriff Lamb and Terrence Cook. Unfortunately, the timing of it all is a perfect storm, though it’s one that’s definitely Veronica and Jackie’s fault. I think Wallace’s fight with Veronica was absolutely necessary because of what he tells her: At the precise time he needs her for a sympathetic ear, she is busy plotting revenge on his girlfriend. It’s a horrible thing to do because… shit, how many times has Wallace had Veronica’s back? In the previous episode alone, he left Jackie to help Veronica surveil Collin. He did so without much convincing at all, and he risked a lot in the process. But that’s always been the case with Wallace, so why is it so unreasonable of him to ask Veronica to finally return the favor?
- At the same time, he recognizes that Jackie screwed up here, too. I love that he holds her responsible, that just moments after criticizing Veronica’s behavior, he still defends her. Wallace Fennel, you are a goddamn hero, I swear. I adore him, and I respect him. It takes a lot to do something like that, given the circumstances.
- Hey, were things not uncomfortable enough at this point? Then let’s have Keith and Veronica yell at each other. THAT’S A GREAT IDEA. I was pleased that Keith was so immediate about his rejection of using the deaths of those kids on the bus as a way to win an election, but then Veronica shoots back an undeniable truth. With Sheriff Lamb in charge, those kids won’t ever get justice. I think it’s this that inspires him to give the voicemail to Lamb, even though he could have used it himself. Of course, then he sees the bug (IT’S A LITERAL BUG I STILL CAN’T GET OVER THIS) on Lamb’s desk. OH SHIT.
- This brings us to Neptune’s homecoming, which is certainly a complete disaster. Despite that Wallace told Veronica how he was feeling, she forgets it when she sees Jackie dancing with Logan, and NOOOOOOOOOOOO. Wallace leaves and HE DOESN’T COME BACK AT ALL AND MY HEART IS SO SAD. I’m sad that Jackie took those pills, I’m sad that Veronica let it come to this, and I’m heartbroken that Wallace felt like he had no one left in Neptune. Truthfully, if you go back and watch “Blast from the Past,” the only person who expresses interest in Wallace, who listens to him, and who doesn’t lie to him is Nathan Woods. So it only makes sense that he’d decide to skip town with his father. Wallace deserves to have someone care about him.
- Wow, my heart hurts just typing that.
The video commission for “Blast from the Past” can be downloaded right here for just $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– If you would like to support this website and keep Mark Does Stuff running, I’ve put up a detailed post explaining how you can!
– Please check out the MarkDoesStuff.com. All Mark Watches videos for past shows/season are now archived there!
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often.
