Veronica Mars: Paul Rudd Will Take This Episode To Go, Please

So, okay, the mystery was kind of weak this week. Was it the groupie? No. Was it the bellboy? No. Is it all an innocent mix-up? Why yes, yes it is. But it's okay, because it's not really about the mystery this week. From the moment that a disheveled, dashing Paul Rudd shows up, the episode is about him, and he sticks it in his back pocket and walks away with it. He plays a washed-up, drunk rock star playing a benefit at Hearst. Really, though, he's there to hassle Piz, the designated Rudd wrangler, compare Veronica to a "feisty young Barbara Eden," tease Keith a little about the Beatles, and, finally, get his groove back, playing cool new material. Damn, is Paul Rudd ever awesome. He shunts everyone else in his scenes to the sidelines, and yet, Chris Lowell still does more in this episode than he did on last week's Grey's Anatomy. (Hope you enjoy taking your shirt off for a living, Chris.)

Also, Deputy Leo comes back to Neptune, since he can't show his face in New York again, after getting beat up by Betty. He comes to Keith about a possible robbery, the guys work together on it, and Leo winds up as a deputy again. By the way, I have to confess, I knew that someone would be running for sheriff against Keith, and for the entire episode, I was convinced that it was Leo. But no. It's so much better. Are you ready? I don't think you are. But I'm going to tell you anyway. It's Vinnie Van Lowe. Oh, yes. And if he wins, then the days of the unqualified sheriff live again.

In relationship news, Piz and Veronica are totally awkward with each other and poor Wallace gets stuck in the middle, but some serious hand-holding seems to make it all okay. Mac wavers between Bronson and Max, and finally decides to break up with Bronson. It's sad, yeah, and all of this is a little sudden, but after such a long drought and that one murderous boyfriend, I'm actually happy that Mac has two guys to choose from. She's the best, and it's nice that more than one guy at a time appreciates that.