pilot mars pilot episode television series mars premiered upn september written series creator directed set fictional town neptune pilot introduces title character high school student private investigator wing detective father separate mysteries presented episode explored season resolved final penultimate episodes thomas originally wrote mars young adult novel featuring male protagonist changed gender protagonist thought noir piece told female point view interesting unique original pilot script darker tone filmed details changed ranked low ratings pilot critically acclaimed bell performance protagonist praised plot flashbacks reveal backstory small town neptune california daughter respected county sheriff keith mars typical teen dating popular loving parents best friend duncan sister murdered life falls apart keith accuses software father involved murder neptune wrath keith ousted office replaced recall election mother unable face loss status economic security develops drinking problem suddenly leaves town boyfriend ends relationship friends turn backs prove unaffected rejection attends wealthy classmate party drink raped sheriff lamb refuses report seriously events shock changes attitude friends tough cynical estranged friends wealthy students fictional code including duncan boyfriend feeling drop income status father dismissal office brings takes time job father newly opened private investigation agency mars investigations case murder officially closed following confession employee continues investigation happened investigation discovers new evidence suggests innocent present starts junior year neptune high freeing new student stripped taped school flag pole wallace explains working local alerted sheriff department took alcohol paying sheriff lamb wallace witness despite wallace attempts accusation lamb walks away proof store video camera wallace taping retribution honesty convoluted scheme help wallace sets logan placing locker taken evidence room sheriff department smoke spark remote control leading arrival fire department fire chief friend switches video sac filmed deputy receiving sexual favors court video shown instead embarrassing lamb case wallace leader occasional ally mars investigations duncan mother hires keith husband jake having affair despite open contempt keith keith busy projects takes follow jake takes photos hotel meets unseen woman midnight keith sees license plate number woman car stops investigation files photograph actions finds file learns keith continued personal investigation murder discovers car belongs missing mother begins investigate murder production conception originally wrote mars young adult novel publishing company prior television job creek thomas sold novel ideas titled untitled teen detective novel formed basis series novel elements similar mars protagonist male thomas father vice principal austin texas main character attended disguised version school thomas begun writing film television resume teen detective idea years writing novel months thomas television script took weeks knowing television scripts paid thomas wrote television version teen detective project script novel studio network asked write paid sold thomas said pressing project time time thomas wrote project notes year actually started writing television script original ideas script changed drastically thomas wanted use flashbacks timeline murder happen recent time thomas changed gender protagonist thought noir piece told female point view interesting unique casting chosen portray mars women auditioned role casting lead role thomas later commented casting year old hot girl lot bad actors bell felt luck saw exactly wanted bell thought cheerleader looks outsider attitude set apart women auditioned bell life shared similarities character father investigative bent best friend died high school car crash played originally auditioned role originally auditioned logan ended portraying felt audition duncan little dark told producers right producers asked read role logan involved reading duncan lines acted scene pilot shattered car final auditions read times bell met studio network reading acted scene raped tried character evil fun feel time audition logan character going guest star pilot auditioned role twice cast tests studio network executives audition read scenes pilot studio test read bell great conversation said feel comfortable auditioning big reason comfortable playing wallace season went thomas described portrayed murdered biggest surprise year casting series regular able best actors town mainly wanted series regular casting appear time time dead girl thomas receive level actors thomas said cut dry audition times better saw spectacular said ended good series times initially planned filming original pilot script darker tone filmed thomas intended script hbo showtime gave upn credit wanted bit lighter match standards practices lengthy debate rape victim upn eventually aired version episode found pool spot murdered thomas stated body originally going found ocean plan events led body dumped thomas pitched idea upn network felt dark creepy dispose daughter body protect son idea changed series scenes filmed san_diego filming pilot producer said filming place california liked seaside town feels like middle class people live seaside towns feel resort driven setting neptune high featured seasons located school paid use campus extras thomas watched final cut scene realizes raped thomas thought role correctly watching monitor tears start streaming face like holy shit star music friends series theme song originally going produce noir version 80s song theme pretty set finding song friends chosen right beginning wrote original background music convey film noir themes pilot thomas wanted atmospheric kind modern noir type vibe sounds similar air zero traditional sounds series processed filtered instruments piano guitar acoustic piano use compression sound like traditional piano live bass percussion like program main instrument guitar felt piano far important instrument working shows especially week choosing sounds pilot crew spotting session discuss thomas producers type music going featured decide songs featured composed created score little orchestral music play guitar piano bass drums played score hiring musician songs heard episode air want world white lines don taxi doll girls death bathroom stall dame lee weak heroes streets don fear party air atomic girl butterflies reception pilot viewed average million american viewers original broadcast ranking weekly charts washington_post praised pilot relying strong storytelling casting hoped viewers able follow multiple storylines hollywood reporter said pilot constructed hero engaging complicated story filled great dialogue wonder sustain level accomplishment said protagonist strength resolve literature classic detectives bell convincing role makes perfect sense praised pilot thomas writing saying comedy drama parody danger ingredients typically mixed said future episodes half good bright spots felt mars best new series upn title character potentially season interesting character creation described series alias attitude writing class consciousness variety called mars teen oriented drama enjoyed bell acting describing charismatic tough intelligent giving touches simple year old convincingly incorporates deeper issues concerning family love disappointment discussed pilot reliance flashbacks felt got way storytelling felt obvious praised thomas writing fine script directing today felt mars akin summers sharp nerves wicked sense humor praised bell portrayal character saying buy idea teen crime questioning bell credentials star said pilot showing signs network television tough emotionally battered heroine found acting fantastic said bell create wonderful father daughter dynamic los_angeles_times thought writing clever praised bell ability channel charisma frustration ign rated pilot episode 10th list mars episodes writing smooth introduction things makes care instantly wrestling creating female character real needs study different sides isn sell tough exterior pile don pity good doesn want
Pilot (Veronica Mars)