The animal rights movement has hit fictional Neptune, California. In the most recent episode of Veronica Mars, the teen private eye is hired to track down a research monkey, stolen by militant animal rights group PHAT (People for Humane Animal Treatment). In the course of her investigation she infiltrates a student animal rights group, dupes a Ted Nugent-like character into donning a ‘Meat Is Murder’ sweatshirt, and is asked to pose nude for an anti-fur calendar. (She was being punked on that last one. Even fictional animal rights activists like to make fun of PETA.) Thankfully, when it’s all over, Veronica, played by real-life vegetarian Kristen Bell, earns true animal rights bona fides without having to violate her no-nudity clause.

3 Comments

1. 
   Comment by

   Laura Leslie

   on January 25, 2007 at 5:31 pm #

   April, I thought about posting this, but you beat me to it!

   It was good to see an (apparently) sane and respectable vegan character on TV. I was really disillusioned at VM’s crappy, stereotypical portrayal of feminist activists earlier in the season (faking rapes to get a frat shut down?), but the heroic vegans have redeemed it a bit.

2. 
   Comment by

   April

   on January 25, 2007 at 10:15 pm #

   I was so super-excited when the episode aired and I figured you’d be hankering to blog about it, too! Looks like we might even have a recurring character with Mac’s new love interest! (Until he murders someone or is found out to be involved in some sort of Neptune conspiracy, that is…)

3. 
   Comment by

   Patrick Kwan

   on January 25, 2007 at 11:43 pm #

   You can watch the entire episode online here. It’s cheesy, but cute and sweet and packs a good message!