Veronica Mars star Kristen Bell explains how the show changed the titular character’s love interest to Logan Echolls (Jason William Dohring), who became part of her main romance arc. The CW series followed Bell’s titular character, Veronica, as she moonlights as a private investigator while going to school. Logan and Veronica spend the first half of season 1 disliking each other, but they eventually get married at the end of Veronica Mars.
While reflecting on her past roles with Vanity Fair, Bell shared that Logan wasn’t Veronica’s original love interest. Initially, her love interest was Duncan , but within the first episodes of filming, they recognized the “chemistry between Logan and Veronica” in the “aggression” they had toward each other. As a result, they changed the dynamic, with Logan being central to her romance arc. Check out what she said below:
What’s interesting is Logan wasn’t written as Veronica’s love interest. It was supposed to be Duncan, and somehow, within the filming of the first couple of episodes, people started commenting on the chemistry between Logan and Veronica, probably because it’s that old trope that’s like bad boy and semi-good girl, who probably shouldn’t. There’s a heat and chemistry to the aggression they throw at each other. This is a testament to the good writing that was like, “we could continue going into this direction, or we could take what we have, which is what we think is this chemistry, and write toward it and see what these actors can pull off.”
What This Means For Veronica Mars
None of This Would Have Happened
Logan, Veronica, and Duncan have a very complicated relationship in Veronica Mars. Logan was Duncan’s best friend and was dating Duncan’s sister Lily, who was killed by his A-list actor father. Lily was Veronica’s best friend, and Duncan was her ex-boyfriend, who broke up with her for no reason. It’s later revealed that Duncan suspected that they might be half-siblings. Logan is painted as a bad boy and Veronica’s nemesis, while Duncan is the golden boy. Bell’s comment suggests that the show would’ve looked very different if they hadn’t changed Veronica’s love interest.
Instead of focusing on Duncan and Veronica, The CW series utilizes Logan and Veronica’s chemistry to draw a complicated love triangle between the three. Logan and Veronica get together shortly in the last part of season 1, but when he has to go away shortly, Veronica reconciles with Duncan in season 2. Bell’s comment means that the love and hatred wouldn’t have happened if they had stuck to their original plan, and Veronica Mars‘ future would have looked very different. It also suggests that a huge part of the show’s success is due to good writing and character building.
Our Take on Logan and Veronica
Their Relationship Is Integral To Veronica Mars
Ever since the show wrapped, there has been an attempt to revive Veronica Mars. Logan and Veronica’s complex and turbulent love story has taken viewers on a roller-coaster ride of passion, intense chemistry, and conflicts. Their personality differences and enemies-to-lovers dynamic serve as a central dramatic hook for Veronica Mars.
By adding Logan to the mix of Veronica and Duncan’s already complicated relationship, their drama escalates. The show wouldn’t have been the same if they didn’t take a chance with Logan. So many aspects made Veronica Mars timeless, and their love story is integral to the show, which sees both characters’ growth.