Veronica vs Buffy

[deird1]

I have been rewatching Veronica Mars, a show I saw so long ago I've forgotten almost everything.

The husband is seeing it with me for the first time, and in trying to explain the basic character dynamics, I found myself saying "Duncan is Angel, and Logan is Spike." Which led to the inevitable...

Veronica Mars: Buffy. The superpowered one. (Within the constraints of the genre. Buffy's superpowers are horror-themed; Veronica has superpowers of detection.)

Keith Mars: Giles. The mentor, who is at once both encouraging and trying to shield his protegee from the worst of it.

Wallace Fennel: Xander. The helpful friend, who's never really a romantic option.

Cindy Mackenzie: Willow. Slightly socially awkward, but skilled at an area where she can really help the heroine. (Computers for both characters, in fact.)

Duncan Kane: Angel. Mysterious, brooding love interest.

Logan Echolls: Spike. Snarky, wise-cracking love interest.

Troy Vandegraff: Parker. Charming, but ultimately amoral, love interest.

And, weirdly enough...

Eli Navarro: Cordelia. Not in the heroine's main social circle, but can be relied on to do helpful things when required.

Comments

[feliciacraft]

I never got into Veronica Mars, but know there's an overlap with Buffy fans. How do you like the series?

[deird1]

It's very good. But it's a very different genre to Buffy.

It is kind of like what Buffy would be if it were detective noir rather than horror. The same used-to-be-popular girl who is now stuck in unpopularity due to a sense of duty; the same group of misfits trying to be friends and helping each other with their problems; the same monster-of-the-week combined with big-bad-of-the-season.

I really enjoy it, but it's certainly not for everyone.

[shadowkat]

Have you seen Wynonna Earp? It's Buffy meets the old west, with far more interesting twists on Willow, Xander, the Angel/Spike love interests.

[deird1]

No, I haven't! I'll have to check it out.