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Meta Commentary: What Goes Down (Part Two)
More self-indulgent meta! I wrote up the first part of this commentary a long time ago, and I meant to get to the rest of it shortly after I finished the series. Unfortunately, I got distracted for a while, but better late than never, right?
If you're looking for part one of the commentary, it's here. And if you're looking to read the fic itself, it's posted here.
This part covers What Goes Down from A Night At The Benetian to Up And Down And Back Again. Spoilers up to episode 3:20 - The Bitch Is Back.
A Night At The Benetian picks up where Amends left off, with Lamb coming to Veronica for help. He's being pressured by a few "influential members of the community" to get rid of a local gambling ring. He thinks it might be somehow tied to Mercer's casino, and wants Veronica to find out more.
Canon continuity: Unlike in canon, Cyrus O'Dell is never murdered. Since Veronica never uncovered Landry's affair with Mindy O'Dell, Tim doesn't have a ready-made fall guy, and presumably takes his revenge on Landry some other way.
Canon continuity: As a result of this, Mindy never stops payment to Steve Batando due to financial necessity. He never breaks into her house, Mindy never calls Lamb, and Lamb is never struck a fatal blow to the head with a baseball bat.
Canon continuity: Without the investigation into Cyrus' death, Landry and Mindy don't come to blows, she doesn't die, and he isn't arrested. He keeps teaching at Hearst, and since Veronica never found out about the affair, neither does Keith when Cyrus asks him to investigate. Everyone goes on with their lives, blissfully unaware of what might have been.
Canon continuity: When Veronica goes to the casino, she discovers that Alan - who we (and Veronica) met in Wichita Linebacker - is now in charge.
In order to get closer to the gambling ring, Veronica tells Alan she wants a job at the casino. He thinks somebody might be cheating, so he agrees to let her in to investigate. She catches the cheater - a basketball player named Doug Handler - and Alan allows her to stay on.
Canon continuity: As in Wichita Linebacker, Veronica finds out Logan has been spending time at the casino. This time, it doesn't bother her.
In order to raise money for their Snow in California dance, the Theta Betas decide to hold a car wash. Lamb shows up, he and Veronica flirt, and she invites him to the dance. Later, she has lunch with Wallace, who's now a starter for the basketball team. He also says he's coming to the dance, despite Veronica's best efforts to dissuade him.
At the casino, Veronica asks Alan about the company backing the casino, and he tells her its name - Executive Corporation.
At the dance, Veronica is getting mildly snuggly with Lamb when Wallace sees them. He demands to know if she's dating Lamb, and Shania is surprised and impressed to find out that Veronica's "boyfriend" is a cop. Wallace leaves, disgusted.
Canon continuity: As per their conversation, Veronica still helped Mac locate the missing monkey (as in Show Me The Monkey). Mac met Bronson, and they started dating.
In exchange for her help in finding the monkey, Veronica asks Mac to look into the financial records of Executive Corporation. Afterwards, she goes to see Wallace, and denies dating Lamb.
At home, Veronica jokes to Keith about how she rarely sees him. He's working on a big case, but won't tell her what it is.
Canon continuity: As Keith is leaving, Max shows up. Veronica has agreed to help him find Wendy (as in Poughkeepsie, Tramps And Thieves), but since she and Logan have broken up, she does it at her house. Neither Logan nor Mac meet Max, and Mac doesn't break up with Bronson to be with him.
Lamb calls Veronica down to the sheriff's department to help with a suspect they're holding. After she questions him, she and Lamb make out in the holding cell, only to be caught by Sacks.
Later, Mac gives Veronica the records she dug up; they all lead to Robert Dedman, who used to work for the mayor but was dismissed amid rumours of shady dealings and mob connections.
Since Keith is still caught up in his secret investigation, he asks Veronica to chase up a case he took on a few weeks earlier, finding evidence that a client's wife is cheating on him. In an effort to not stand out while she tails the woman to a fancy restaurant, Veronica calls Lamb to be her escort. He pays, making the date more or less official, and they kiss outside the restaurant before following the woman and her date to the Camelot. They stake out the motel, Lamb puts a bunch of cheesy moves on Veronica, and eventually she snaps the money shot.
After finding out that Executive Corporation owns a small part of the River Stix, Veronica goes there to talk to Molly. Using Felix's memory to secure Molly's co-operation, she asks Molly to look into the Fitzpatricks' financial records. All Molly gets is a name: Sam Mercano. Veronica finds out something else, however - she isn't the only one investigating the Fitzpatricks, and while she's parked outside the River Stix, she sees her dad's car.
Canon continuity: Though it isn't mentioned, it can safely be assumed that Coach Barry still died. With Lamb, Keith, and Veronica otherwise occupied, Josh Barry wasn't arrested and didn't find out about his father's illness.
Canon continuity: While Veronica is working in Alan's casino, Parker comes to see Logan. As in Papa's Cabin, they met on the scavenger hunt and started dating.
Veronica asks Logan if he's still in touch with Charlie. Since, in this timeline, Logan never publicly outed Charlie as Aaron Echolls' bastard, he is. She tells him a teacher at Charlie's school may be involved in her case, and Logan says Charlie may be able to help.
Veronica goes to see Lamb at the sheriff's department to ask him about Sam Mercano. Worried, he orders her off the case, and calls Keith to let him know what Veronica is up to.
When Veronica and Charlie investigate the teacher, they follow him to the cigar store last seen in Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner. Veronica recognises it as a front for drugs.
A few days later, Lamb once again asks Veronica for help with a case. It requires them to go more or less undercover at the Eighth Wonder, a seedy strip club. Afterwards, they get hot and heavy at her place, but she makes him leave before Keith gets home and catches them.
When Keith still isn't home the next morning, Veronica goes though his safe, and finds a file on Kendall Casablancas, including notes that Cormac killed Kendall and that Liam, Keith suspects, killed Cormac. This, of course, is the secret case he's been working on.
While she's there, she's interrupted by Vinnie. He has photos of her and Lamb at the restaurant and the strip club; he tells Veronica he won't show them to anyone, but that she owes him a favour. She asks him to do one for her instead.
Canon continuity: As we learned in Of Vice And Men, Vinnie often works for the Fitzpatricks.
Now that she and Lamb are more or less officially dating - and in danger of being outed - Veronica confesses the relationship to Wallace. He isn't happy that she's dating Lamb, but accepts the news (with the caveat the he hopes she's now able to get him out of parking tickets).
Later, Vinnie follows through on the favour Veronica asked of him - using his Fitzpatrick connections to get her in to see Sam Mercano. Ostensibly impressed by her gambling skills, Mercano tells her he's throwing a private party the next week, and invites her to work the tables.
That weekend, the Theta Betas are holding a summer carnival. Lamb and Veronica's public display of affection is witnessed by Piz, who was about to ask Veronica out, and by Dick, who accuses her of using Lamb to get over Logan. Lamb asks to talk to her in private, and they go back to his place.
He tells her, again, to stay away from the case. To distract him from extracting a promise from her, Veronica kisses him, and they sleep together.
Canon continuity: Since Veronica never started dating Piz, there was no sex tape for the members of The Castle to leak. Wallace was still tapped to join, but likely declined. Logan never beat up Piz, and Parker didn't break up with him in anger.
That night, Veronica is at Mercano's private party, which, contrary to what she was led to believe, is not about gambling. It looks like a front for a drug deal, but before Veronica can make her escape, Liam Fitzpatrick shows up; he's brokered a deal with Mercano, and she's part of it.
Liam is about to leave with Veronica when Lamb shows up. He's accompanied by several deputies, and by Keith, with whom he's been working on the investigation. Mercano bolts, and Lamb orders Keith to follow him. Liam threatens Veronica with a knife, and Lamb shoots him, grazing Veronica's shoulder in the process but ultimately saving her.
A few days later, Veronica tells Lamb she'll have to return home soon. She's been staying at his place while she recovers, but her father is about to get back from chasing down Liam and Mercano, and she has to be there when he gets home. Before she leaves, Lamb tells her he loves her.
If you're looking for part one of the commentary, it's here. And if you're looking to read the fic itself, it's posted here.
This part covers What Goes Down from A Night At The Benetian to Up And Down And Back Again. Spoilers up to episode 3:20 - The Bitch Is Back.
A Night At The Benetian picks up where Amends left off, with Lamb coming to Veronica for help. He's being pressured by a few "influential members of the community" to get rid of a local gambling ring. He thinks it might be somehow tied to Mercer's casino, and wants Veronica to find out more.
Canon continuity: Unlike in canon, Cyrus O'Dell is never murdered. Since Veronica never uncovered Landry's affair with Mindy O'Dell, Tim doesn't have a ready-made fall guy, and presumably takes his revenge on Landry some other way.
Canon continuity: As a result of this, Mindy never stops payment to Steve Batando due to financial necessity. He never breaks into her house, Mindy never calls Lamb, and Lamb is never struck a fatal blow to the head with a baseball bat.
Canon continuity: Without the investigation into Cyrus' death, Landry and Mindy don't come to blows, she doesn't die, and he isn't arrested. He keeps teaching at Hearst, and since Veronica never found out about the affair, neither does Keith when Cyrus asks him to investigate. Everyone goes on with their lives, blissfully unaware of what might have been.
Canon continuity: When Veronica goes to the casino, she discovers that Alan - who we (and Veronica) met in Wichita Linebacker - is now in charge.
In order to get closer to the gambling ring, Veronica tells Alan she wants a job at the casino. He thinks somebody might be cheating, so he agrees to let her in to investigate. She catches the cheater - a basketball player named Doug Handler - and Alan allows her to stay on.
Canon continuity: As in Wichita Linebacker, Veronica finds out Logan has been spending time at the casino. This time, it doesn't bother her.
In order to raise money for their Snow in California dance, the Theta Betas decide to hold a car wash. Lamb shows up, he and Veronica flirt, and she invites him to the dance. Later, she has lunch with Wallace, who's now a starter for the basketball team. He also says he's coming to the dance, despite Veronica's best efforts to dissuade him.
At the casino, Veronica asks Alan about the company backing the casino, and he tells her its name - Executive Corporation.
At the dance, Veronica is getting mildly snuggly with Lamb when Wallace sees them. He demands to know if she's dating Lamb, and Shania is surprised and impressed to find out that Veronica's "boyfriend" is a cop. Wallace leaves, disgusted.
Canon continuity: As per their conversation, Veronica still helped Mac locate the missing monkey (as in Show Me The Monkey). Mac met Bronson, and they started dating.
In exchange for her help in finding the monkey, Veronica asks Mac to look into the financial records of Executive Corporation. Afterwards, she goes to see Wallace, and denies dating Lamb.
At home, Veronica jokes to Keith about how she rarely sees him. He's working on a big case, but won't tell her what it is.
Canon continuity: As Keith is leaving, Max shows up. Veronica has agreed to help him find Wendy (as in Poughkeepsie, Tramps And Thieves), but since she and Logan have broken up, she does it at her house. Neither Logan nor Mac meet Max, and Mac doesn't break up with Bronson to be with him.
Lamb calls Veronica down to the sheriff's department to help with a suspect they're holding. After she questions him, she and Lamb make out in the holding cell, only to be caught by Sacks.
Later, Mac gives Veronica the records she dug up; they all lead to Robert Dedman, who used to work for the mayor but was dismissed amid rumours of shady dealings and mob connections.
Since Keith is still caught up in his secret investigation, he asks Veronica to chase up a case he took on a few weeks earlier, finding evidence that a client's wife is cheating on him. In an effort to not stand out while she tails the woman to a fancy restaurant, Veronica calls Lamb to be her escort. He pays, making the date more or less official, and they kiss outside the restaurant before following the woman and her date to the Camelot. They stake out the motel, Lamb puts a bunch of cheesy moves on Veronica, and eventually she snaps the money shot.
After finding out that Executive Corporation owns a small part of the River Stix, Veronica goes there to talk to Molly. Using Felix's memory to secure Molly's co-operation, she asks Molly to look into the Fitzpatricks' financial records. All Molly gets is a name: Sam Mercano. Veronica finds out something else, however - she isn't the only one investigating the Fitzpatricks, and while she's parked outside the River Stix, she sees her dad's car.
Canon continuity: Though it isn't mentioned, it can safely be assumed that Coach Barry still died. With Lamb, Keith, and Veronica otherwise occupied, Josh Barry wasn't arrested and didn't find out about his father's illness.
Canon continuity: While Veronica is working in Alan's casino, Parker comes to see Logan. As in Papa's Cabin, they met on the scavenger hunt and started dating.
Veronica asks Logan if he's still in touch with Charlie. Since, in this timeline, Logan never publicly outed Charlie as Aaron Echolls' bastard, he is. She tells him a teacher at Charlie's school may be involved in her case, and Logan says Charlie may be able to help.
Veronica goes to see Lamb at the sheriff's department to ask him about Sam Mercano. Worried, he orders her off the case, and calls Keith to let him know what Veronica is up to.
When Veronica and Charlie investigate the teacher, they follow him to the cigar store last seen in Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner. Veronica recognises it as a front for drugs.
A few days later, Lamb once again asks Veronica for help with a case. It requires them to go more or less undercover at the Eighth Wonder, a seedy strip club. Afterwards, they get hot and heavy at her place, but she makes him leave before Keith gets home and catches them.
When Keith still isn't home the next morning, Veronica goes though his safe, and finds a file on Kendall Casablancas, including notes that Cormac killed Kendall and that Liam, Keith suspects, killed Cormac. This, of course, is the secret case he's been working on.
While she's there, she's interrupted by Vinnie. He has photos of her and Lamb at the restaurant and the strip club; he tells Veronica he won't show them to anyone, but that she owes him a favour. She asks him to do one for her instead.
Canon continuity: As we learned in Of Vice And Men, Vinnie often works for the Fitzpatricks.
Now that she and Lamb are more or less officially dating - and in danger of being outed - Veronica confesses the relationship to Wallace. He isn't happy that she's dating Lamb, but accepts the news (with the caveat the he hopes she's now able to get him out of parking tickets).
Later, Vinnie follows through on the favour Veronica asked of him - using his Fitzpatrick connections to get her in to see Sam Mercano. Ostensibly impressed by her gambling skills, Mercano tells her he's throwing a private party the next week, and invites her to work the tables.
That weekend, the Theta Betas are holding a summer carnival. Lamb and Veronica's public display of affection is witnessed by Piz, who was about to ask Veronica out, and by Dick, who accuses her of using Lamb to get over Logan. Lamb asks to talk to her in private, and they go back to his place.
He tells her, again, to stay away from the case. To distract him from extracting a promise from her, Veronica kisses him, and they sleep together.
Canon continuity: Since Veronica never started dating Piz, there was no sex tape for the members of The Castle to leak. Wallace was still tapped to join, but likely declined. Logan never beat up Piz, and Parker didn't break up with him in anger.
That night, Veronica is at Mercano's private party, which, contrary to what she was led to believe, is not about gambling. It looks like a front for a drug deal, but before Veronica can make her escape, Liam Fitzpatrick shows up; he's brokered a deal with Mercano, and she's part of it.
Liam is about to leave with Veronica when Lamb shows up. He's accompanied by several deputies, and by Keith, with whom he's been working on the investigation. Mercano bolts, and Lamb orders Keith to follow him. Liam threatens Veronica with a knife, and Lamb shoots him, grazing Veronica's shoulder in the process but ultimately saving her.
A few days later, Veronica tells Lamb she'll have to return home soon. She's been staying at his place while she recovers, but her father is about to get back from chasing down Liam and Mercano, and she has to be there when he gets home. Before she leaves, Lamb tells her he loves her.