Buffy The Vampire Slayer

When I first started watching Veronica Mars, I was confused as to why some had said it was similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In case you didn’t know, I’m a big fan of the Buffy, so I knew that, eventually, I’d have to check this show out. It took me some time to figure out why people were saying the show was similar to Buffy, but I think I’ve got some idea. So, in no particular order, here are five ways in which Veronica Mars mirrors Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

1. Hot Chick, Kicking Ass + Baggage — This is the most obvious parallel for the two shows. We’ve got a cute, high school aged girl who’s had her share of a troubled past, but she takes little crap from anyone. Sure, one kicks ass with fists, feet and weaponry, while the other does so with a knack for sleuthing, but their motive remains true: take down the bad guys, stay trendy in the process.

2. The Scooby Gang — Buffy had Xander and Willow in the beginning, and they all met at the library to discuss their plans. Veronica has Wallace and Mac, and Veronica’s library parallel turns to the girl’s restroom at school. Mac’s similarities to Willow are almost too obvious. Wallace is still that guy who helps Veronica with her investigations, though he has no real unique skills to offer (just as Xander had no real powers to offer). Each show even referenced themselves as the "Scooby Gang" at some point.

3. The Good, Single Parent — Buffy had single-mom, Joyce. Veronica has single-dad, Keith. Both parents had rotten relationships with their spouses for whatever reason, and their daughters love and support them almost solely. The similarities with the parents pretty much ends there, though, as Keith plays a much more active role in the series than Joyce ever did.

4. The Big Bad — Both shows had/have one great recipe that I’ve come to love of these kinds of shows. Each series has episodes that easily stand on their own, one way or another. They also have one "big bad" or primary evil of the season to be defeated. Throughout the season, we get some advancement to that final episode where everything comes to a head, and it keeps you anxiously awaiting each new episode with bated breath.

5. High School Angst — Both shows start out in a beautiful, California high school. The principal’s got something out for Veronica/Buffy, and she knows how to make his life just a little more difficult with every meeting. While Buffy had Giles, Veronica’s had exchanges with a few different teachers who’d been there to help. I sometimes wonder if Sydney Tamiia Poitier was originally cast to play the Giles-like character on Veronica Mars, since she was featured prominently in the credits in season one, then suddenly she disappeared from the show (on the show, they blame a sudden case of getting pregnant as reason for her leaving school — anyone know the real reason she left the show?)