death. Keith breaks into the warehouse where the wreckage of the bus is being stored and finds the remains of a rat taped to the bottom of the bus. Production The episode was written by John Enbom and Phil Klemmer and directed by Kevin Bray. "Rat Saw God" marks the fifth writing credit for Enbom, Klemmer's seventh writing credit, and Bray's first and only directing credit for the series. This was one of Klemmer's favorite episodes of the show that he wrote, writing that "I think that scene with Clarence and Veronica getting together is just funny and cool." Both writers wanted the main plot to involve Amelia DeLongpre, and Klemmer wrote the subplots. The episode also features several guest appearances; many recurring characters from the first season reappear in the episode, including Abel Koontz (Christian Clemenson), Clarence Wiedman (Christopher B. Duncan), and antagonist Aaron Echolls (Harry Hamlin). In addition, "Rat Saw God" features the second appearance by Gia (Krysten Ritter), who had been absent since "Normal Is the Watchword". The episode also features a cameo appearance by model Kim Stolz. Stolz was awarded the role for winning a small contest while competing on the fifth cycle of America's Next Top Model. "Rat Saw God" features a cameo by television director Joss Whedon. Veronica Mars has often been compared to Whedon's series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with some even calling it the successor to the latter. Whedon had previously praised the first season on the weblog Whedonesque, saying that Veronica Mars was the "Best. Show. Ever." and that "[he'd] never gotten more wrapped up in a show [he] wasn't making, and maybe even more than those." Whedon also gave a glowing review of the first season for Entertainment Weekly, writing that "Season 1 works as mystery, comedy, and romantic drama, often simultaneously. But what elevates it is that in a TV-scape creepily obsessed with crime-solving, VM actually asks why." Upon being asked about Whedon's praise, Jason Dohring, who plays Logan, said in an interview: Series creator Rob Thomas contacted Whedon over the previous summer, and Whedon agreed to do a cameo. The episode's title refers to Rats Saw God, a novel by series creator Rob Thomas. Despite being credited, Wallace (Percy Daggs III), Jackie (Tessa Thompson), and Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas (Kyle Gallner) do not appear. Reception Ratings In its original broadcast, "Rat Saw God" received 3.07 million viewers, marking a