When "Veronica Mars" first debuted in 2004, it came with a hell of a premise. Right off the bat, it was clear that the show about a teenage P.I. was a far cry from the Nancy Drew mysteries of decades past. Veronica is a firebrand, a cynical high schooler with a taser and a mission –- or several. Rob Thomas' show begins with an almost overwhelming influx of mysteries, giving Veronica a dead best friend, a missing mom, and a disturbing date-rape past to reckon with. While rival teen shows like "The O.C." painted a slightly softer portrait of SoCal elites, "Veronica Mars" took a nihilistic approach to its fictional subjects, presenting the rich and famous residents of Neptune, California as corruptible at best and actively horrible at worst.

"Veronica Mars" traded in noir and mystery tropes first and foremost, but it earned cult classic status in large part thanks...