I am – Hercules!! Naysayers be danged. I believe this may be the best season of the brilliant “Veronica Mars” yet. Keith bones the married. Vinnie proves a hero. Fitzpatrick-on-Fitzpatrick violence. And Veronica threatened with rape again! I even like the new theme music. And while the ratings for the CW’s “Gilmore Girls” and “7th Heaven” have plummeted, “Veronica” actually improved a little from last season and won itself a 20-episode third-season order. As fans are too aware, this third season is divided into three long story arcs, with the first arc – dealing with the campus serial rapist who defiled Mac’s roommate – set to conclude tonight. Tonight also marks the last “Veronica” of sweeps and (I think) the last of the year. According to TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello, somebody’s going to get murdered tonight, and solving the murder will drive the season’s second arc. The CW says:

Dean O'Dell (guest star Ed Begley, Jr., "Arrested Development") reinstates the Greek system on campus and, determined to solve the campus rape case, Veronica, along with Mac, Wallace and Piz, attends a party armed with coasters designed to test for drugs in the drinks of her peers. Meanwhile, Dean O'Dell hires Keith to investigate whether or not his wife is cheating on him. Jason Dohring, Ryan Hansen, Francis Capra, Michael Muhney and Julie Gonzalo also star.

Series mastermind Rob Thomas writes and directs. 9 p.m. Tuesday. The CW.





CW?? It’s a done deal!!! Newly encheapened!! Both seasons!! $29.99 Each!!