Jason Dohring Chats 'Veronica Mars' Controversy, 'Supernatural' & More Ahead Of Oz Comic-Con

20 September 2019 | 5:48 pm | Cyclone Wehner

"All that matters at the end of the day is the result that's delivered on an individual person's life."

***VERONICA MARS SEASON FOUR SPOILERS AHEAD***

US TV star Jason Dohring knows that fans of Veronica Mars will be probing him about the rebooted show's controversial finale twist when he guests at Oz Comic-Con in Brisbane and Sydney this month.

Created by Rob Thomas, Veronica Mars originated as a noirish teen mystery drama in 2004. It centred on Kristen Bell's titular (then high school) private detective – a hipper Nancy Drew – in divided Neptune, California. Dohring played the affluent "09er" Logan Echolls, initially a brat. Veronica Mars ran for three seasons before its cancellation. However, the show had attracted a devoted fandom, who called themselves "marshmallows" after a line in the pilot. 

Their fervour culminated in 2014's Veronica Mars film project, funded by a Kickstarter campaign. In turn, this revival eventually led to a fourth season of the show (with time jump) airing on the streaming platform Hulu in July. Darker than of yore, it finds Veronica investigating a serial bomber. In the ultimate episode, she weds Logan – the troubled bad boy now redeemed as a naval intelligence officer. Alas, Veronica is to have no epic Happily Ever After. Logan dies when an undiscovered bomb detonates in his bride's car. The marshmallows – who had dubbed the Logan/Veronica 'ship 'LoVe' – had a meltdown on Twitter. There is currently even a petition to restore Logan.

Having channelled Logan on and off for 15 years, Dohring was devastated over his character's demise. But he understands the narrative logic. "First of all, I've just gotta give credit to Rob Thomas, who was so cool," Dohring says. "Even months before beginning shooting and scripts and everything, he was giving me the whole layout of the story and what was gonna happen and, more importantly probably, the reason why he chose to go in that direction. 

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

"They sort of wanted to get rid of the teenage drama aspect of the show and put Veronica as an underdog. I think that it did that very well and that I was pleased to be a part of something that could transform her and launch her in a new phase of her life… So, as far as being a catalyst for that, I was pleased to be a part of that – although I'll miss being a part of something as good a quality and so creative as I felt that show was."

Dohring was born in Ohio but grew up in California, gigging as a child actor. In fact, he has an expansive history in genre TV, stretching back to a minor, albeit memorable, role in the '90s sci-fi show Roswell. Later, he played Chronos, the God of Time, in Supernatural. Despite his spooky prophecy for the Winchester brothers in season seven, Dohring apparently won't be making a stealth cameo in the upcoming last series. 

"I met an ugly fate, so I don't know that I am returnable," he laughs wryly. "It's so cool to even be on a show that is such a staple and can go and yet really turn out those episodes and be 'on' it. They're the strongest people I've ever worked with. I shook Jensen [Ackles'] shoulder once and I almost had a heart attack – it was incredible the strength that guy has. Amazing!"

Dohring also portrayed the hapless Detective Will Kinney in The Originals – a gothic spin-off of The Vampire Diaries. While his casting announcement generated media buzz, Dohring's character was somewhat under-utilised (he was ignominiously bumped off by Joseph Morgan's Klaus Mikaelson). 

"It was so great being a part of that show, 'cause those guys were so professional," Dohring recalls. "Joseph even directed me on an episode. He cared so much about his work and doing good quality work – and I think you really felt that. You felt that push from all of the people to be that good and to keep that quality high. Walking into a set like that is always great. It was sort of a roadmap for you to follow as a guest star. I just really admired his professional work ethic in that way and tried to follow that."

"I found that that was for me infinitely more enjoyable or pleasurable, just to talk to people who cared about the show."

Still, Dohring has experienced a remarkably long industry relationship with Thomas especially. He appeared in Thomas' transitory comedy Party Down and, more recently, the hit iZOMBiE (as business-type Chase Graves). Dohring praises the showrunner's sensitive writing. "Oh, he's great, man. I couldn't believe it when I met him – 'cause he's probably 6' 3", 200 pounds, and he played football in high school and yet he writes these characters that are so wonderful and often writes female leads."

Curiously, Thomas has already hinted that Logan might resurface in a future Veronica Mars series via flashbacks or similar. Is that plausible? "I don't know the answer to that – that would be probably better dealt with by Rob," Dohring responds. "[But] he's always been very gracious and kind to me. So, if there were ever an opportunity where I could help out, I'd be more than happy to do that."

Dohring's latest vehicle is the indie film You Are Here – a raw family drama with an ensemble cast that includes William Baldwin. As he packs his bags for Australia, Dohring is eagerly headed to a first screening. "I just really learned a lot on this set. We had scenes that were seven-pages long and we would do them for half a day – it felt like just doing a play. It was really incredible."

Lowkey in person, Dohring digs chatting to fans at cons. Veronica Mars' audience, he notes, is "smart". "It's funny 'cause we did this San Diego Comic-Con – we went down there and announced our show," he says. "As I looked around at all the cameras and stuff like that, I really realised that the best time I had down there was just talking to fans of the show – because I think you see all the end-result of all this Comic-Con and all the fanfare that goes on. 

"But, really, all that matters at the end of the day is the result that's delivered on an individual person's life. So it's to talk to people and get the feedback of what the show meant to them. I found that that was for me infinitely more enjoyable or pleasurable, just to talk to people who cared about the show – that's why we do it… That's really truly the joy for me."

Happily, Dohring will have a week off between cons here. He plans to pursue some outdoor adventures. "I have a friend who lives in Melbourne, so I was gonna shoot over there probably," Dohring reveals. "Last time I was down there, he put us in a truck and we went to camp. We entered a two-man motorcycle tag-race where it's you and another guy and you're doing 11 laps through the bush in Australia and falling off your bike once or twice a lap. We finished second to last – and it was such a blast. We had such a great time. So he's got a couple of things cooking for us… Hopefully, it's exciting again, as the Australians often are!"

Head to the Oz Comic-Con website for more details.