Why Lily From How I Met Your Mother Looks So Familiar

Alyson Hannigan may be better known for her light-hearted fare, but she showed an aptitude for darker material in the series “Veronica Mars.” Like Buffy, Veronica (Kristen Bell) is a high schooler with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Instead of fighting demons, her superpower is her intellect, which she uses to solve mysteries. Taking inspiration from the darker elements of noir, “Veronica Mars” explores mature themes such as murder, sexual assault, and domestic abuse.

Though it is a high school show, some elements are more explicit, including Hannigan’s portrayal of Logan Echolls’ (Jason Dohring) sister Trina. She first appears as an aspiring actor, trying to get her father, Aaron (Harry Hamlin), to appear in her boyfriend’s movie. Things take a turn for the worst when Logan discovers that Trina is being abused because of Aaron’s reluctance to appear in the film. Violence has been a devastating undercurrent in the Echolls household from the beginning, and Aaron uses it against Trina’s boyfriend. Aaron beating Trina’s abuser demonstrates his bloodlust and foreshadows the surprise ending of Season 1. The care that “Veronica Mars” takes to tell these stories elevates it above just a high school show and gives it immense rewatch value.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.