The courtroom stuff really didn't work for me: it was too obviously a mustache-twirly event, so obviously that the jurors should have seen through it.

Also, HELLO to the judge having no business allowing the chlamydia line of questioning. Does chlamydia actually affect memory or the ability to tell the truth? No? Hmmm, then how can it be considered relevant?

(For another, it's been a year since the crimes in question.)

(For a third, considering Veronica isn't just a witness but a victim of the aggravated assault, prying into her sex history is kind of -- hello? If the prosecutor's case is built on Aaron Echolls Is A Great Big Creepy Joey Buttafuoco, then it makes sense to portray Veronica as potentially a victim of attempted sexual assault. In which case, the prosecutor should have been thumping a fist on the table at the very idea of putting the victim on trial. What is this, 1985?)

I like Narrator's prediction for the reveal of Beaver's blackmail. I don't think he's behind the bus crash.

If the prosecutor's case is built on Aaron Echolls Is A Great Big Creepy Joey Buttafuoco, then it makes sense to portray Veronica as potentially a victim of attempted sexual assault. In which case, the prosecutor should have been thumping a fist on the table at the very idea of putting the victim on trial.

I once saw Twelve Angry Men described as the story of the worst defense lawyer ever. This was the story of the worst prosecutor ever (not surprising in a town where Lamb is sheriff). Still, I'm not even sure Jack McCoy could've won this one, mostly because without the tapes to establish motive, the case hinged on the word of two vigilantes (essentially) against a celebrity.

the case hinged on the word of two vigilantes (essentially) against a celebrity.

Hmm, celebrity beats vigilante, eh? I'll have to plug that result into the table.

After briefly flirting with the theory that 'twas Aaron Echolls wot dun the bus crash, on the grounds that it would be an unexpected twist for him to be the villain for two seasons in a row, I am back on the Beav train.

(Although I would place an each-way bet on Little Dick as a backup).

I suspect that "Amber is a bitch" on Beav's car is significant, as is his offhand comment about what he did to "Sally", back in "Ain't no magic mountain..." I think those names are related to the abuse stuff - nicknames or pet names that the kids were given.

If that's true, then it implies that Little Dick already knows about the abuse (hence my each-way bet), since he would know exactly what Beav meant when he mentioned "Sally".

However, I'm probably wrong because I can't think of a way to figure Kendall and the Fitzpatricks into the equation. They have to be in there somewhere.

I once saw Twelve Angry Men described as the story of the worst defense lawyer ever. This was the story of the worst prosecutor ever (not surprising in a town where Lamb is sheriff). Still, I'm not even sure Jack McCoy could've won this one, mostly because without the tapes to establish motive, the case hinged on the word of two vigilantes (essentially) against a celebrity.

I quite agree, and as a journalist, I've seen so many lawyers and judges pull stunts that are so jaw-droppingly out of order that I don't flinge at things like that on TV (I direct your attention to the Hadel rape case in Southern California, where they had the three defendents ON VIDEO and it still took a retrial to convict, because their daddies were immensely wealthy.)

I suspect that "Amber is a bitch" on Beav's car is significant, as is his offhand comment about what he did to "Sally", back in "Ain't no magic mountain..."

I was thinking this also, but I also suspect that the "Amber is a bitch" was deus ex Veronica (or do I mean Veronica ex machina?) to give Beaver incentive to tutor Weevil. But that Sally remark has got to mean something.

I doubt she'd key Beaver's car just to get him to tutor Weevil. Especially when she could have just asked Mac (who I realize is still miffed about the whole Butters thing, but she could have convinced her) instead.

Stupid prosecutors annoy me. Conveniently stupid prosecutors, who show up only so that they'll bungle the case, annoy me more. People do get off despite being obviously guilty all the time, and it doesn't take a stupid prosecutor (nor any more than the normal amount of humiliation of witnesses) for that to happen.

Be more subtle, Rob! Dude. One doesn't think one would have to say that, but, Rob, while I have your ear: spend your summer hiatus watching the really old Law & Order reruns. (The ones that actually explained law as a matter of course.) Or buy a reality-meter or a consultant or something.

True. My theory is not so much that V did the keying as that she put the idea into somebody's head. She just seemed more amused by the incident than she should have been.

But, now that I think it through, when would she have had the time?

Well, Veronica and Beaver have never been close, and I'm sure after the Beaver and Mac breakup she's inclined to feel amusement at her friend's ex getting his car keyed.