Although "Veronica Mars" remains one of the smartest, most sharply written shows on network TV, a number of fans, critics and even the show's creator felt like the show reached a little too far in its second season. Better to aim too high, though, than not high enough.

The show's considerable strengths stand out more on the second-season DVD set, and having every episode on hand at once also helps to remedy some of the weaknesses caused by the byzantine mysteries of season two. If only there were some more supplemental material to offer insight on the show's direction.

With Veronica (the stellar Kristen Bell) having solved her best friend's murder in season one, one would think things would be more or less normal for her in her senior year at the sharply stratified Neptune High. No such luck: The first episode introduces us to both big plots -- a bus crash that kills several of her classmates (and which might have been meant for her), and the death of high-school gangster Felix, allegedly at the hand of Veronica's tortured sometime boyfriend, Logan (Jason Dohring).

The narrative eventually expands to involve local politics, a plan to further divide the haves from the have-nots and a baseball star with a shady past. Not to mention that one of the crash victims, Meg (Alona Tal), is carrying the child of Veronica's other beau, Duncan (Teddy Dunn).

It's a lot to absorb, and here the DVD set has a distinct advantage over the network schedule -- particularly given the two sizable hiatuses UPN gave the show last season. Still, things can get a little confusing; I found myself popping out one disc and putting in another to clarify a plot point a couple of times.

Watching multiple episodes in one sitting also reveals some of the show's smaller pleasures, like the multiple "Big Lebowski" (count the number of times a male character refers to his "special lady friend") and "Simpsons" references the writers sprinkle in and the sparkling give-and-take Bell has with Enrico Colantoni, who plays her dad, and Percy Daggs III, her best friend Wallace (whose midseason absence, done mostly for budgetary reasons, is sorely felt).

Getting to watch the episodes uninterrupted is probably worth picking up the DVD set on its own, but you won't get much else for your money. Two short featurettes, one on a typical day on set and the other delving (slightly) into what makes Veronica tick, don't add much to the experience. A blooper/gag reel has a few amusing bits, and about 20 minutes of deleted scenes show a few interesting moments clearly cut for time and a few others there were simply not necessary.

STUDIO: Warner Home Video
RELEASE DATE: Aug. 22
RATING: NR
PRICE: $59.98
TIME: 16 hours, 52 minutes
DVD EXTRAS: Deleted scenes, featurettes "A Day on the Set with Veronica Mars" and "Not Your Average Teen Detective," gag reel.