Okay, I just re-watched NitW and Driver Ed.

Given my track record of completely wild-ass guesses (last season I thought, for no good reason, that Veronica's mom was the one who killed Lilly), I have a new whodunnit:

Duncan. I think he knew Meg was pregnant and didn't want to deal. I know, I know -- if Duncan had been behind the crash, he wouldn't have let Veronica get back on the bus. Well, maybe not, but maybe. Maybe he had just recently found out about the baby, and had a rage thing going on like in last season, and decided that he was going to kill Meg, no matter who else was on the bus -- even Veronica. When I say "rage," I don't mean pissed off, I mean nutso blackout shit, like last season.

MAYBE the baby isn't even his, and he found that out, too, which would give him even more reason to kill Meg -- jealous rage. And if the baby wasn't his, it explains why he had to run to Mexico, because DNA tests would prove it wasn't his baby and he therefore had no custody rights.

But why would he want a baby that isn't even his? I hear you asking that, and it's a good question. Either (1) his jealous rage subsided, giving way to massive guilt, and this is his way of atoning -- plus he DID see how fucked up the Mannings are and that they aren't the best choice to raise a baby, or (2) he's really psycho and wanted the baby as a "fuck you" to Meg's memory.

Plus fleeing to Mexico would get him out of the country and away from the bus crash investigation.

I know it sounds far-fetched, but it's not impossible. And damn -- it would explain Veronica's utterly freaked-out reaction in the promo.

Unrelated to the bus crash (probably), I noticed 2 creepy Woody Goodman things going on in "Driver Ed." (1) He was coaching a Little League team during his conversation with Keith. ::shudder:: (2) When Lamb was giving the press conference after the crash, Woody was there, and the 2 of them just seemed to be having a whole other conversation through the way they looked at each other. I don't know that there's anything to that, or that even if there is, that it has anything to do with the bus crash, but it still stood out big time.

Am debating watching one more episode before bed.

Seanan picks the bus crash suspects:

[link]

#10 on her list? The Decepticons.

Veronica's classmates weren't the victims of any human agency -- they were, instead, just innocent bystanders in a war much larger than this puny planet. The mild-mannered school bus that drove them to and from Sharks Stadium was actually Yellowtail, an Autobot masquerading as a school bus to get a look at some stealthy Decepticon plans. Unfortunately for everyone involved, he got spotted, locked into auto-form by an evil ray gun, and then, at the opportune moment, blown to hell. That whole rat thing is actually the Autobot idea of an air freshener; after all, decaying biomatter eventually becomes motor oil. Sort of like robot potpourri. When Veronica discovers the secret war going on all around her, it's only a matter of time before she gets drawn in, befriends a transforming car, and starts making the galaxy safe for truth, justice, and giant robots once again.

Just to let you all know - I hate everyone who'll be watching the episode tonight and will know what happens while I wait the long interminable hours until any kind of ahemming becomes available. That is all.

continues dance of frustration

Would you like us to taunt you in email? Not spoilery of course, just "OMG Jars you won't believe what happened" type stuff. I can be giving that way.

Aw, you're so good to me!

...

cow.

Does anyone know where tonight's episode will be shown in New York? I will go mad if I have to wait for Sunday night again.

There's no basketball tonight in NY, so VM shouldn't be preempted.

Tom, you're not going to watch, right?

...

Okay everyone, any final predictions?

It was totally Backup.

Mac.