TVSquad

The real reason that Sydney Tamiia Poitier left the show was because of budgetary reasons. According to Rob Thomas, they couldn't afford to keep her in the regular cast because they needed more money for guest stars each week. So they started bringing in guest teachers (Joey Lauren Adams, etc.) when a teacher was needed for storyline purposes.

I agree with most of your points on the similarities between Buffy and VM except for the "Scooby Gang" part. Veronica really doesn't have a "gang" - she only has Wallace as her sleuthing sidekick. Mac helps her out once in a while but not on any kind of regular basis.

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I'd also add that both are underappreciated and don't get the recognition they deserve because they are/were on WB/UPN. There are many reasons I think that the Emmy's' are a complete joke. The fact that none of the shows from WB/UPN can get serious consideration in the main categories is just one of them. Also, now would probably be a great time for someone to do a Short-Lived Shows: Cupid. That was outstanding.

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Comparing Giles to Kieth would make your comparison clearer, since, for all intents and purposes, Giles was Buffy's father--a point referenced throughout the series.

That being said, I just can't get in to VM the way I was with BtVS.

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I imagine BtVS fans feel the same way watching Veronica mars as I, an X-Files fan, do watching Bones: it tries hard to please, but all I can think of is how much I miss the original.

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Actually, I would equate Logan to Spike rather than Angel. Consider if you will that both started out as antagonists, even in that role both were popular with fans, both turned to the lead character for help (Spike with his chip, Logan with his mom), and both of our heroines kept their relationship with the bad boy a secret for a while.

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Many, many VM fans were Buffy fans. And those that never watched Buffy are now being introduced to the Buffy universe. In both shows, character development plays a huge role. For me, this is why these are the only two shows that I have ever been this invested in - I really care about the characters. The Big Bad analogy is not quite the same since the whole point of VM is that you don't know who the Big Bad is. It might be more accurate to say that both shows have season long arcs (which thankfully are resolved at the end of the season) that provide the driving motivation for character development. As much as I love both shows, I really don't think that it's fair to say that VM is a remake of Buffy. The fan bases are similar and the writing quality is excellent in both but the genres are very different (mystery vs. fantasy). I like the two shows for many of the same reasons (hence the frequent comparisons), but they are not all that alike in the end beyond some superficial parallels.

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quote: "I imagine BtVS fans feel the same way watching Veronica mars as I, an X-Files fan, do watching Bones: it tries hard to please, but all I can think of is how much I miss the original."

I couldn't disagree with this more, because I'm a huge BtVS fan who actually *prefers* VM. I don't see BtVS as the "original," because they are two completely different shows. They happen to have some things in common, for sure, but VM is in no way an attempt to copy or mimic BtVS.

VM has more in common thematically with Twin Peaks than it does Buffy. Or perhaps even Columbo or Murder, She Wrote. It's the blonde teenage girl protagonist and the witty dialogue that inevitably lead to Buffy comparisons, but VM stands on its own. Sure, it builds on characters and story conventions that have come before (Sam Spade, Nancy Drew), but it updates the noir detective genre in a modern and completely original way. (As Buffy did with the horror genre.)

As a big fan of both shows, I find the Buffy comparisons to VM amusing, but if people who don't watch VM infer that VM is somehow attempting to copy or ripoff Buffy, the constant comparisons aren't really fair to VM. One could easily draw comparisons between VM to many shows, including Alias, Felicity, and the O.C., among others.

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Just to be clear: I'm not arguing that VM is a better show than BtVS. I think they are equally good.(Although it's hard to compare one season to seven, season one of VM stands up to any season of BtVS.)

I only mentioned that I personally prefer VM because I prefer the detective genre to horror. I never cared much for vampire or monster stories and that was the least appealing aspect of Buffy for me. (And the preference for the supernatural element leads others to prefer BtVS.)

But both shows transcend their genres (and their high school settings) because of the sharp and witty writing, appealing characters and intelligent, complex storytelling. That is what leads to these comparisons in the first place.

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I think the main similarity with the two shows is their use of a particular genre (horror/sci-fi for Buffy, detective noir for VM) as a metaphor for the angst and pathos of adolescence. This separates them from other "teen shows" such as Dawson's Creek or One Tree Hill.

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I agree that Buffy used the horror stories as a metaphor for high school, but I don't agree that Veronica uses the detective stories as a metaphor for anything. The stories in VM are set (partly) in high school, but aren't really *about* high school at all, and are more about class structure in American society in general. The fact that Veronica happens to be in high school is almost incidental to the plot, not the focus of it.

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I watch neither, but I recall reading somewhere that Joss Whedon called Veronica Mars the best show on TV, or the best show ever, or something like that. Coincidence?

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Joss Whedon IS a big fan of the show and altough his endorsement can do nothing but help VM - I don't see it as being anything more than one cult tv show creator to another. Which is another similarity that Buffy and Veronica have as television: Both have their own heavily addicted and devoted fans, a comparison that will only gain in validity as VM goes on.

And I have to say that I support Lynn's comments about VM being it's own show. I've read interviews where Rob Thomas has admitted that he had seen few episodes of BtVS until recently, and it was only because so many people were telling him that Veronica was the next Buffy that he started watching them in the first place. I believe he gets a kick out of the parallels people are finding but I doubt he's doing them on purpose.

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yes there are similarities, however veronica mars could possibly be the number one show on television right now. There is no comparison!!! Stop comparing an awesome show to anything else!! Every high school drama has similarities to Buffy, its why we all watch high school dramas..good guys vs bad guys and unpredictable love interests!!!

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If Logan is like Spike, does that make Duncan like Angel? Perhaps so with the whole "First Love" concept.

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LOL I can see definite similarities between Angel and Duncan. They're both dark, brooding, care too much about what their hair looks like. Yeah, Duncan does remind me of Angel. ;)

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I would have thought Weevil was more similar to Spike, not Logan.

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I think I would also equate Logan to Spike instead of with Angel. I would compare Duncan to Angel. Angel was good but there was always that potential for evil, which at times became reality. Duncan also has that conflict in my opinion. The the rage blackouts paired with his secretiveness and too sweet to be real vibe not to mention Aaron's allusion to Duncan's guilt in Lily's murder. Also both were the true loves and first choice of the heroine.

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I am a LOVE BTVS fan and I am a BIG fan of Veronica Mars but I agree that the comparisons are superficial. Drawing the parallels is fun but the two shows are very different and excellent in their own right. Buffy will always be one of the best shows ever and had six 1/2 seasons to get there. VMars is new, fresh, smart and funny and it deserves it's turn to become one of the best too.

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