VERONICA MARS

spunky teen detective wins our hearts, Y2K-style

Did you love Harriet the Spy, Trixie Belden or Nancy Drew when you were a kid? Did you camp out in Zuccotti Park in 2011 wearing a hemp t-shirt that said End Citizens United? Do you sometimes wonder what the cast of Party Down got up to before they won the gold medal for comedy in 2010?

If even one of these things is true of you, you should watch Veronica Mars. That goddamn ray of sunshine, Kristen Bell, stars in her breakout role as a teenage detective who gets her start crimefighting against the nefarious deeds of her hometown of Neptune, CA.

Here’s what you get: a love story that makes The Notebook look kind of meh. Class warfare not seen since The Outsiders. A theme song by the Dandy Warhols. Guest stars including Ed Begley Jr., Paul Rudd and James Franco (in descending order of general awesomeness). Moms who drink. Dads who kill. Software billionaires who wave their fingers in front of their face and say “excellent.” Teachers who prey on students (hi, Adam Scott!). Christian Slater impersonations. Is there anything this show DOESN’T have?

FOR FANS OF: Strong female leads from Elizabeth Bennet to Buffy The Vampire Slayer

PAIRS WELL WITH: The knowledge that no one can make you wear jeans that low ever again

FIND IT ON: Hulu