I really love this episode. It’s a Christmas episode but not very happy, yet it’s a great episode. There are two cases and they both involve the Echolls home.

I like the transition between the opening scene with Veronica and her dad trimming the tree to the poker game; using the music from the Christmas special playing on the TV.

I loved Logan and Duncan in matching boxers. I’ve got to wonder if maybe Lilly gave them both the same gift one year or something.

I liked how the story of the poker game was told from different points of view as Veronica investigated.

At the same time Keith is investigating Aaron’s potential stalker for Lynn. Here we see a better view of both Lynn and Aaron. Lynn is nice to Keith and Keith seems to like her. Aaron still seems sort of nice except for the rampant cheating. Three women at one party? With is wife at the same party? Seriously?

Because of the poker game gone bad we have Logan and Duncan on the outs.
Logan: “What are we breaking up now?”
I loved that. What was also interesting about that was how Duncan was saying Logan had changed. Indicating that Logan wasn’t as much of an ass before Lilly died.

I really liked the poker game case. Logan called Veronica “my friend” when arranging for her to meet with Connor, and them both making faces about it. Him being actually helpful because he liked the idea of sending her off to bug someone else.

Logan to Veronica: “Annoy tiny blond one, annoy like the wind” That’s one of my favorite lines I think. That and When Logan says to Weevil: “If you’re asking me to the prom again, the answer is still no.”

Conner actually seemed pretty nice and I liked how he was calling Logan out on his racist remarks.

I also liked Duncan and Weevil giving Logan crap about not tipping well and fixing it.

And Veronica solves the crime and makes them let her play for the answer. It’s Sean who is not actually rich but son of the help. I love how Veronica called Duncan out on his faking being drunk because of how well she knew him.

It also looked like Logan really enjoyed watching her solve the case especially once it was clear she wasn’t accusing him. He smiled when she was dealing the cards like a pro.

Also in this episode we have Veronica confronting Jake Kane about being followed and he’s clueless but he then fights with his wife, so he obviously knows who did it. Keith sees them talking through the glass.

Then the card game breaks for food and goes out to the party where we have Aaron stabbed by yet another ex-lover. Who he doesn’t even seem to remember. Nice.

We also see Veronica and her dad’s simple Christmas tree set up and we get the contrast of the Echolls’ super extravagant party.