Regular Cast
Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars)
Percy Daggs III (Wallace Fennel)
Teddy Dunn (Duncan Kane)
Jason Dohring (Logan Echolls)
Sydney Tamiia Poitier (Mallory Dent)
Francis Capra (Weevil)
Enrico Colantoni (Keith Mars)
1.01 Pilot - While trying to navigate the everyday drama of high school, the smart, fearless, 17-year-old Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) also moonlights as an apprentice private investigator out to solve her wealthy town of Neptune's toughest mysteries. After coming to the aid of the new kid, sophomore Wallace Fennel (Percy Daggs III), who's been duct-taped to the school's flagpole, Veronica ends up incurring the wrath of the thugs who put him there, Eli "Weevil" Navarro (Francis Capra) and his P.C.H. Biker Boyz. To get Weevil and his gang off her and Wallace's case, Veronica devises an intricate plan that helps some of Weevil's cronies avoid trouble with the law.
Meanwhile, defying her father, Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni), the disgraced former sheriff turned private eye, Veronica pursues a late-night case of adultery against billionaire Jake Kane, only to make an unsettling discovery about her mother, who abandoned Veronica and Keith a year ago.
Written by: Rob Thomas
Directed by: Mark Piznarski
Original Air Date: September 22, 2004
1.02 Credit Where Credit's Due - Veronica and Wallace don't believe the evidence adds up against Weevil, who has been arrested for stealing credit card applications from Logan's family, and launch an investigation to help their new ally.
Meanwhile, after joining Ms. Mallory Dent's (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) newspaper class, Veronica clashes with socialite Caitlin Ford (guest star Paris Hilton, "The Simple Life 2"), Logan's bombshell new girlfriend, but is intrigued by the attention shown to her by another wealthy student Troy Vandegraff (Aaron Ashmore), a friend of ex-boyfriend Duncan. Later, Veronica learns that Lilly got a ticket driving her car on the day she died -- two hours after her supposed time of death.
Written by: Rob Thomas
Directed by: Mark Piznarski
Original Air Date: September 28, 2004
1.03 Meet John Smith - With only a commonplace name, an old address and dim memories as leads, Veronica and Wallace attempt to help classmate Justin Smith find his father John, who disappeared 10 years earlier.
Meanwhile, as Veronica faces some complicated feelings towards ex-boyfriend Duncan and new romantic interest Troy, guidance counselor Rebecca James (guest star Paula Marshall) calls Keith to the school to discuss the recent, dramatic changes in his daughter's life. Later, Duncan struggles with ways to cope with his sister's death as the anniversary of her murder approaches.
Written by: Jed Seidel
Directed by: Harry Winer
Original Air Date: October 12, 2004
1.04 The Wrath of Con - In an effort to help Wallace's new crush Georgia (guest star Kyla Pratt), who was duped out of her money in an internet scheme, Veronica must outwit a group of computer "thugs," known as the Silicon Mafia.
Meanwhile, Keith makes Veronica introduce him to her new boyfriend Troy before allowing her to go to the homecoming dance with him. Later, Logan helps Duncan edit together a memorial video for a school dedication ceremony marking the one-year anniversary of Lilly's death.
Written by: Diane Ruggiero
Directed by: Michael Fields
Original Air Date: October 19, 2004
1.05 You Think You Know Somebody - Veronica tries to help her new boyfriend Troy (guest star Aaron Ashmore) find his father's stolen car and turns to Weevil for assistance, but the situation becomes dangerous when she discovers that Logan and Troy's buddy Luke might have left more than a piñata in the car after their night out in Tijuana.
While Keith has accepted that his wife is gone and begins dating school guidance counselor Rebecca James (guest star Paula Marshall), Veronica continues to secretly investigate her mother's whereabouts, leading her to stumble on a secret Lianne Mars was keeping.
Written by: Dayna North
Directed by: Nick Gomez
Original Air Date: October 26, 2004
1.06 The Return of Kane - Veronica investigates possible fraud in the election of student council president at school after Duncan wins, beating a more popular, but less affluent student who promised to eliminate the wealthy students' on-campus perks.
Meanwhile, Logan causes a public relations nightmare for his movie star parents Aaron and Lynn Echolls (guest stars Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna) when footage of him organizing boxing matches between homeless men is posted on the internet and leaked to the media. Later, Veronica and Keith learn that the man who admitted to murdering Lilly is set to be executed, but a second look at crime scene photographs puts his confession in question.
Written by: Phil Klemmer
Directed by: Sarah Pia Anderson
Original Air Date: November 2, 2004
1.07 The Girl Next Door - Veronica becomes suspicious when a young pregnant woman who lives in their apartment complex with her volatile boyfriend suddenly disappears; fearing the worst, Keith steps in to help his daughter investigate this case for the girl's estranged parents.
Meanwhile, Logan and Weevil get thrown into detention together after arguing with a teacher, leading the rivals to discover some surprising things in common. Later, while working on an alumni photo project in her journalism class, Veronica is shocked to discover that her mother and Jake Kane were high-school sweethearts.
Written by: Jed Seidel & Diane Ruggiero
Directed by: Nick Marck
Original Air Date: November 9, 2004
1.08 Like a Virgin - To help restore a cheerleader's ruined reputation, Veronica turns to funky computer geek Mac (guest star Tina Majorino) to find the hacker responsible for leaking the embarrassing, private results of a popular online purity test to all of Neptune High.
Meanwhile, Keith helps Wallace and his mom with an unruly tenant in their building. Later, to get answers about Lilly’s murder, Veronica attempts to visit Lilly's confessed, condemned killer Abel Koontz in prison.
Written by: Aury Wallington
Directed by: Guy Norman Bee
Original Air Date: November 23, 2004
1.09 Drinking the Kool-Aid - The wealthy parents of a Neptune High senior hire Keith and Veronica to investigate a cult-like group and its charismatic leader after their son Casey (guest star Jonathan Bennett) moves out to live on the collective farm.
Meanwhile, Veronica attempts to get to the bottom of Abel Koontz’ claim that her real father is Jake Kane.
Written by: Russell Smith
Directed by: Marcos Siega
Original Air Date: November 30, 2004
1.10 An Echoll's Family Christmas - Both Veronica and her father have to work cases involving the Echolls family. Veronica is on the hunt for $5,000 stolen from Weevil during one of Logan's regular poker games.
Meanwhile, Keith has to try to stop an increasingly unstable stalker from reaching Aaron.
Written by: Diane Ruggiero
Directed by: Nick Marck
Original Air Date: December 14, 2004
1.11 Silence of the Lamb - Veronica uncovers information that Mac was switched at birth with a more affluent student, causing Veronica to examine her own questions about whom her real father may be.
Meanwhile, a serial killer has resurfaced in Neptune forcing Sheriff Lamb to forge a reluctant partnership with Keith. Later, Veronica flirts with a handsome young rookie at the sheriff's department to obtain more information on Lilly's murder.
Written by: Jed Seidel & Dayna North
Directed by: John T. Kretchmer
Original Air Date: January 4, 2005
1.12 Clash of the Tritons - When a family accuses Veronica of providing a fake ID to their son, now in an alcohol-induced coma, and files suit, the search to find who’s really responsible leads Veronica to a clandestine, exclusive organization operating on Neptune High's campus with a possible connection to Duncan.
Meanwhile, Aaron Echolls hires Keith to find out who’s been supplying pictures to the tabloids that have humiliated his wife Lynn. Later, Veronica bugs Ms. James' office to eavesdrop on grief counseling sessions, and learns some surprising information about her friends.
Written by: Philip Klemmer & Aury Wallington
Directed by: David Barrett
Original Air Date: January 11, 2005
1.13 Lord of the Bling - After being hired by hip-hop heavyweight Percy "Bone" Hamilton (guest star Anthony Anderson) to find his kidnapped daughter, Veronica and Keith look to the music mogul's long list of enemies, family members and the girl's Neptune High social circle for clues on her whereabouts.
Meanwhile, following Lynn Echolls' apparent suicide, Logan cynically endures his father Aaron's (guest star Harry Hamlin) effusive displays of grief as they prepare for her memorial ceremony.
Written by: John Enbom
Directed by: Steve Gomer
Original Air Date: February 8, 2005
1.14 Mars Vs Mars - When one of Neptune High's haughtier students brings a sexual harassment suit against a favorite teacher, Veronica finds herself pitted against her father when the girl's parents hire Keith to help in their case.
Meanwhile, with the tabloids claiming his mom is still alive, Logan turns to Veronica to help him track down the truth. Later, Veronica discovers more unsettling information about Duncan’s medical condition.
Written by: Jed Seidel & Diane Ruggiero
Directed by: Marcos Siega
Original Air Date: February 15, 2005
1.15 Ruskie Business - Veronica surprisingly finds herself working as a "love detective" when she's asked to track down her friend Meg's secret admirer and a Russian bride's estranged fiancé. Alyson Hannigan (UPN's "Buffy The Vampire Slayer") guest stars as Logan's half-sister Trina Echolls.
Meanwhile, after discovering that one of Lynn Echolls' credit cards is in use, Veronica and Logan go to a Los Angeles hotel in hopes of finding her or a clue.
Written by: Phil Klemmer & John Enbom
Directed by: Guy Norman Bee
Original Air Date: February 22, 2005
1.16 Betty and Veronica - Following an emotional reunion with her mother, Veronica is hired to track down Neptune High's beloved mascot, Polly the Parrot, which was apparently kidnapped by a rival school on the eve of a big basketball game.
Meanwhile, with her suspicions about the Kane family rekindled, Veronica attempts to gain access to her father's original interrogation tapes. Later, Veronica’s relationship with Deputy Leo heats up, as does Meg’s relationship with Duncan.
Written by: Diane Ruggiero
Directed by: Michael Fields
Original Air Date: March 29, 2005
1.17 Kanes and Abel's - Veronica investigates who at school is doing everything possible to distract Sabrina from studying and wreck her grades in an obvious attempt to sabotage her chances at becoming valedictorian.
Meanwhile, an unsavory, rival private investigator makes Keith a business offer. Later, Veronica pursues a risky lead that could discredit Abel Koontz's confession, as Logan stumbles onto her detailed files on everyone connected to Lilly's murder.
Written by: Carolyn Murray
Directed by: Nick Marck
Original Air Date: April 5, 2005
1.18 Weapon's of Class Destruction - A series of fire drills leads Veronica to discover that Neptune High has been receiving bomb threats, so she enlists Wallace and Mac's (guest star Tina Majorino) help to investigate classmates who could pose a serious threat to the school, including new student Ben.
Meanwhile, Keith stuns Veronica with the news of who he's been secretly dating. Later, Duncan confronts Veronica about her ongoing investigation into his sister's death.
Written by: Jed Seidel
Directed by: John T. Kretchmer
Original Air Date: April 12, 2005
1.19 Hot Dogs - While helping her classmate Mandy search for her missing Jack Russell terrier, Veronica stumbles onto a bigger mystery, which affects pets all over Neptune, Calif.
Meanwhile, tensions mount in the Echolls family as Trina (guest star Alyson Hannigan) tries to convince the now-retired Aaron (guest star Harry Hamlin) to take a part in her new boyfriend's independent movie. Later, Weevil is arrested for breaking into the Kane residence and taking something from Lilly's room.
Written by: Dayna North
Directed by: Nick Marck
Original Air Date: April 19, 2005
1.20 M.A.D. - When a classmate's boyfriend threatens to post a humiliating video of the girl online if she dumps him, Veronica helps her concoct a scheme to ensure "mutually assured destruction" if he doesn't allow the relationship to end peacefully.
Meanwhile, Keith begins to search for Duncan after his parents post a huge reward for information on his whereabouts. Later, as her secret new relationship heats up, Veronica learns a disturbing new fact about the night that she was drugged and assaulted.
Written by: Phil Klemmer & John Enbom
Directed by: John T. Kretchmer
Original Air Date: April 26, 2005
1.21 A Trip to the Dentist - Determined to get to the truth behind who drugged and assaulted her at a party the year before, Veronica questions her friends and many rivals about the chain of events that night at Shelley Pomeroy’s house.
Meanwhile, when one of Veronica and Wallace's stunts affects her job at Kane Software, Alicia confronts Keith about his daughter's behavior. Later, in an attempt to get closer to his son, Aaron (guest star Harry Hamlin) throws a birthday party for Logan that inadvertently surprises everyone.
Written by: Diane Ruggiero
Directed by: Marcos Siega
Original Air Date: May 3, 2005
1.22 Leave it to Beaver - In the shocking, action-packed season finale, a determined Veronica must betray someone she cares deeply about in order to solve the season-long mystery of who murdered her best friend Lilly Kane, but what she discovers puts her life in serious danger.
Meanwhile, on the eve of a reception for the Governor of Calif., Jake Kane asks Duncan if he really wants to know what happened on the night Lilly died. Later, Keith awaits the results of a paternity test.
Written by: Rob Thomas & Diane Ruggiero
Directed by: Michael Fields
Original Air Date: May 10, 2005