Yup, I have to say that I agree with a lot of what you have written.
It's funny because on Ten this week it was another Veronica-goes-against-Keith's-wishes episode, Drinking The Kool-Aid, so I really saw the contrast.
Back at the start/middle of the first season Veronica and Keith had a good relationship, but the paternity thing [to me] made it a whole lot better. And Keith saved Veronica. [Not that that means much - I'm sure he would have saved her whether she was being nice to him or not, but still]
VM is now beginning to remind me of Alias - you can't enjoy it for its created reality, you just have to enjoy the show for the few moments of goodness that it gives you.
At least at the start of the season the fact that the episodes weren't awesome was okay because they had necessary things to set up. But I'd expect to see improvement towards the middle and end of the season.
The whole idea of the custody thing was that Celeste didn't want to acknowledge the baby, but, I mean, it would just end up like what was going to happen with Veronica anyway - they'd grow up and want the money they're legally entitled to.
I find that I am happy, as the audience, to be slightly behind some characters for a short amount of time, but you need the 'reveal' quickly before you start to get too caught up in the fake out.
I didn't like it when they did it in Normal Is The Watchword, but I like it less when it's extended and...why?
I don't even want to fanwank it.
[An example of a good fake out would be in Alias, season 3, with the masks. At the end you get the 'OMG coooool (but weird)' feeling instead of 'yeah, okay, why?' feeling]
The second season is always going to be different to the first, and VM has a lot to live up to.
But when I find too much to nitpick about [or too much to get frustrated at] it's not good.
I'll have to watch the episode again soon. But it's not a good tactic for television. Especially not for single episodes. Not when it's not good vs evil.
The VM writers seem to be having good [if not far too soapy] ideas, but are failing to express them well to the audience.
The ep is getting an A- on TWoP, but I swear, people are just liking it because Duncan left.
I'm trying
very hard to focus on the positives.
I don't want VM to be like other shows, where I pressure the hell out of people to watch them, and I think they're great, but then I change my mind and feel like a fool.