Sometimes a Cigar Store is Just a Cigar Store

Episode 2.08: Ahoy Mateys. Original Airdate 11.23.05

"Veronica helps Keith determine who is haunting a school bus crash victim's parents, who are currently embroiled in a suit against the school district. Meanwhile, after Logan asks for help fighting the murder charge against him, Veronica stumbles into a dangerous situation with the local Irish mob. Later, Weevil's leadership of the P.C.H. Bikers is put into question."

Zelda's Thoughts:

• Even Duncan's dreams are expressionless and dull. Sorry Meg.
• Meanwhile Logan and V are conferencing about his case. "Pretend for a moment that your dog's life is at stake."
• Daniel and I both just yelled WEEVIL because he's finally effing back.
• And the kid from High School Musical thinks Weevil owes him some drugs because all latino biker boys look the same
• But also oops someone in the PCHers is selling drugs and Weevil doesn't know about it
• We've known Danny Boyd all of three seconds and he's already completely awful.
• Welcome to the Fighting Fitzpatrick crime family bar.
• And we are now told that Dr. Griffith is a "friend of the [Fitzpatrick] family."
• But Molly blows Veronica's cover. Gulp.
• Thanks Molly. Thanks a lot.
• Fucking hell. Liam Fitzpatrick holding Veronica to the pool felt by the throat.
• Yay Logan is here to help but shit Logan has a gun. "Stop. I've had a very bad year."

• God it kills me. Veronica's crying, not because of what almost happened to her, but because Logan's running around with a gun and he could get himself killed. She may be furious with him, she may be disappointed with him, but these two still care about each other, hello my ship.
• We're dealing with another bus victim, Marcos, but no one seems to remember him.
• MAC HI MAC
• And Mac immediately recognizes the radio show, yet another thing everyone at Neptune High but Veronica knows about.
• "Sorry, I was just seeing how long we could have a conversation with your side only being questions." Mac, I love you, never go.
• I also especially love that she knows her work and, like Veronica, chargers her classmates for her services.
• V's mad at Weevil now because the Fitzpatricks sending Dr. Griffith in to frame Logan is some kind of gesture toward helping the PCHers, and V wants to know why. And so does Weevil.
• "Now I'm just checking something. Am I still in charge here?"
• "The night Felix got killed, did you see the guy who called the cops?" // "No man." // "Why not, you were there?"
• And we've got a flashback that we in the future know isn't true, that Logan did stab Felix.
• Veronica and Mac should solve everything together.
• HAHAHA they traced the signal to VP Clemmons's house.
• omg she just quoted Rocky Horror, how did I never catch that before. "I'm glad we caught you at home. Would you mind if we used your phone. We're both in a bit of a hurry."
• heh, Vincent/"Butters" is responsible for the radio show (along with Marcos, RIP)
• great. great. super. Marcos's  parents sent him to one of those de-gaying camps. fuck them so much.
• oh shit, I forgot this happened now. the PCHers are abducted and torturing Logan, to get him to confess to murdering Felix. well, psychologically torturing him.
• fuck this is hard to watch
• but he managed to pick their pockets for the phone when they dump him afterwards, and now he knows it was Weevil on the other end
• When Keith found the alarm code written across the back of the law firm stationery, I remarked that it was all very "pat." Keith agreed - he knows Mr. Oliveres planted that. So he's shitty in multiple ways.
• You know what, Duncan, if you wanna have your little sex dreams about Meg where Veronica's the villain, fine. Go away.

Daniel's Thoughts:

• Oh hey, it’s Meg.   Oh Duncan’s having some weird dream where Meg’s a saint and Veronica’s some kind of criminal.
• So Duncan keeps seeing Logan and Veronica whispering and she’s not exactly confiding in him.
• Also Duncan keeps thinking about Meg.
• Weevil!
• The bus crash s/l continues.  We get one of the names: Marcos.
• Now someone’s harassing his parents? As if they’re not suffering enough?  Who could be so cruel?
• The amount of times an older man hits on Veronica knowing she’s under 18 is insane. #HerToo #WeShouldHaveHadaStat #Gross
• Uh oh.  Veronica – get outta that bar.  And someone recognizes her.  
• Aww Logan saved Veronica.  They just can’t stay away from each other.  They’ll always be entwined. 
• It’s rare when we see Veronica completely and totally scared.  And Kristen Bell is so good at it.
• Ryan, the kid in class – is on General Hospital.   He used to be a regular but now he’s recurring.
• That’s the worst.  You (Marcos) die and no one still knows who you are.
• It’s funny that this is the first time we meet the actual principal of the school.
• Hey it’s Mac!  Weevil and Mac in one episode? Whoo!
• Veronica tries but she’s not used to having friends.  I love Mac, though, and they should be best friends.
• We’ve had a ‘mensch’ & a ‘schmuck’ in this episode. Also the words.
• Ah, so Weevil actually had no idea of what Veronica was accusing him of. This correlates to what happened earlier with some 09er asking for the coke he bought.  So who’s trying to Brutus Weevil?
• Fake flashback with Logan stabbing Felix.
• Veronica & Mac are so cute.  They really need to investigate more often.
• The Rocky Horror quote – that was hilarious and subtle – only fans of the movie would get it.

 "I'm glad we caught you at home. Would you mind if we used your phone. We're both in a bit of a hurry."

• Pump up the Volume - Man, so many pop culture references, my brain is exploding.  But does the pop culture reference dictate the plot or does the plot dictate the pop culture reference?
• Why would someone just throw out the alarm code they were given secretly in the house they were breaking into?  I’d call shenanigans but Keith already is.
• Oops, Logan’s been kidnapped.  Time for Veronica to return the favor from earlier.
• Seeing Logan be the scared one is actually kinda refreshing.
• But he’s still savvy – stealing that cell phone pretending to be unconscious.
• Butters: “Will you just graduate already?” 
• It’s the 90s/00s so it’s still full of teens that can’t be out.  I mean, we haven’t come much farther than that but at least LGBT teens are somewhat better represented in today’s shows.
• Duncan having prophetic dreams about Meg is the beginning of the end…we just don’t know it yet.  

Lynda's Thoughts:

• Oh okay and we’re just opening with a creepy sex dream about Meg.  I’m covering my eyes until I hear it’s over.  They’re really stepping up the “you shouldn’t like Duncan” vibe.
• Which, also, why are you dreaming that Veronica is the bad one when YOU’RE the one still keeping secrets from her?  Huh Duncan?  Why? WHY?
• Ooh and here’s our first mention of upcoming recurring character Danny Boyd.
• Weevil!  Being hit up by an 09er for coke.  Someone’s been a BAD gang member.  Wait…  that’s… kinda what they’re meant to do?
• Ha, easiest way to scare off a rich white boy is to threaten his rims.
• And we’re on to this episode's case – someone is messing with Marcos Oliveres’ parents since his death in the bus crash.  Neptune is MESSED. UP.
• Aww LoVe working a case together makes me both happy and sad.  They are so much better suited than Duncan and Veronica.
• Actually, I know we’re supposed to be happy for V that she’s with Duncan but he’s really better suited to Meg too because they’re both just… meh.
• And here’s Danny Boyd.  He’s that nasty combo of stupid and gross but also a little funny.
• Only Veronica is allowed to joke about her small boobs!
• Don’t follow him Veronica!
• She's following him .  Argh.  (Get it?  Argh?  Nevermind.  Sorry.)
• Okay so the Fitzpatricks are actually quite scary.  They’re VERY mean.
• Oh hi Logan.  Nice gun.  WHAT.
• See, Duncan would never have gone in after her. Or actually succeeded in helping her escape.
• And a rare Veronica breakdown that PLOT TWIST is only a little partly (in my head anyway) because she got a real fright but mostly because she’s scared for Logan.
• Honestly, Veronica’s theory that the school board is in on the harassment doesn’t actually seem that implausible.  Neptune, amirite?
• “Not pictured”.  Heh.
• Either Mars doing a bit to get information is always entertaining.
• And the school paid for the device so V is feeling just a wee bit smug.
• Huh.  I sometimes forget Clemmons isn’t the principal (yet – ha!  Veronica has a way of rubbing off on people…)
• Hi Mac!  Thanks for providing the backstory on the radio show!
• Mac calling out V is adorable and reminds me of when Wallace does it.  So cute.  Wallace, Wallace, Wallace.
• Damn.  Captain Crunk is NASTY.
• Yes Veronica.  What HAS gotten into Duncan?
• Oh Veronica.  Why must you always accuse Weevil?
• Weevil is so badass confronting all his boys and then makes me cackle with “go scare some old ladies or something”. 
• Thumper induced rage.  What a lying liar!

• And we’re pausing because my cat is sitting on my notebook.
• “We’re going to find out what’s true”.  Yeah you are
• Oops we’ve tracked the radio station to Mr Clemmons’ house.
• Poor Mac gets thrown under the bus but goes with it.  Now that is how you do tech support.
• “Why are you so crabby?” lol
• So the gap in the show was caused by straight camp.  Not feeling quite so bad for Marcus’ parents now…
• And Keith has a better theory involving the neighbour but it turns out to be some weird beer thing.

• Ooh a kidnapping, now we’re talking!
• Even though these are the kind of guys who don’t really do anything too bad for a gang they did burn his house down so this scene is always pretty terrifying.
• Ohhhhh shit, Logan has the phone and knows Weevil was behind it.  I love these two and their frenemyship (I don't know the proper word!)
• “Will you graduate already?” I feel like both father and son think this on a regular basis.
•  Keith does some serious detecting and notices the fish have been fed and ta-da that means the latest bus was planted by the clients themselves.  But we still don’t know who the real prankster is!
•  Oh wait.  It’s Ryan.  He was in love with Marcus and mad at his parents and he’s not even sorry.

• Oh no. No no no no another Meg dream.  STOP IT.
• I’m assuming they’re thinking we need reasons to dislike Duncan so it’s not such a blow when he leaves but like… would anyone really have cared?  They could have left out the whole secrets and shadiness and sex dreams and we would have been fine with him leaving to take care of his daughter.   I just deleted a massive rant, I’m stopping here!

Crossfire!

Veronica (to Logan): But if I need anyone punched in the face, I'll whistle for ya
Daniel: And then we'll have a stat!

Favorite Lines:

Zelda: 

Daniel: "I'm glad we caught you at home. Would you mind if we used your phone? We're both in a bit of a hurry." - Veronica quoting Rocky Horror.
Lynda: "Will you just graduate already?" - Butters

Arc/Continuity:

Neptune Roll Call: Duncan, Logan, Weevil (Absent: Wallace, Dick, Beaver, Jackie)
First Appearance: Danny Boyd, Liam Fitzpatrick, Principal Alan Moorehead, Ryan, Molly Fitzpatrick, Kelly Kuzzio (Wanna Score Boy)
Recurring: Meg Manning, Vice Principal Van Clemmons, Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie, Thumper, Hector, Felix Toombs, Vincent "Butters" Clemmons
Generally Known TV Face: Lucas Grabeel (Kelly Kuzzio/Wanna Score Boy), Bradford Anderson (Ryan)
Veronica's Alias: Laurie Zachs
Keith's Alias: angry caller to tech support (re: MP3 player with Marcos's voice)
Logan's Nicknames: Nip/Schmuck (Dr. Tom Griffith), Mars-wan Kenobi (Veronica)

Stats:

Dead Humans - 0
Backup Sighting - 0
Veronica Breaks In - 0
Veronica Tases Someone - 1
Mac Hacks - 1
Who's Your Daddy? - 0
Wallace Does Veronica a Favor -0
Veronica Wants a Pony - 0
Logan Punches Someone - 0
Dick's Single Entendres - 0
Shenanigans Called - 0
VERONICA WAS RIGHT - 0
VERONICA WAS WRONG - 0