Tonight begins the third season of one of the most critically acclaimed dramas on television, “Veronica Mars.”

To some it may seem like the O.C.S.I. but it consistently finds itself at the top of critics’ television lists. Last April, Time Magazine named “Veronica Mars” one of the six best dramas on television alongside “The Shield” (FX), “Deadwood” (HBO), “Lost” (ABC), “Battlestar Galactica” (SCI FI), and “House” (FOX).

Despite being a critical darling, “Veronica Mars” has found relatively little notoriety among the general public. Currently it is known as a cult success that is still flying beneath the cultural radar.

However, that is about to change.

Set in the wealthy, seaside town of Neptune, Calif., Veronica Mars looks to make the most of her college experience and start anew in the pleasant, serene atmosphere of Hearst College.

“But, within this idyllic, sun-drenched campus, higher education is not always what it appears,” according to The CW’s website.

“In between the beer-soaked dorm parties and all-night cram sessions, the student body is facing a terrifying threat.”

“Luckily for them, incoming freshman and part-time private investigator Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell, “Pulse”) is used to taking on a few extra-curricular activities.”

Along with boyfriend Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring, “Judging Amy”) and best friends Wallace (Percy Daggs III, “The Guardian”) and Mac (Tina Majorino, “Napoleon Dynamite”), Veronica quickly learns that one cannot escape the past even as she starts anew as college a freshman.

In its new season, with a new campus, new faces and new surprises, “Veronica Mars” promises to deliver on its trademark plot twists and keep old and new fans guessing alike. With clever writing, superb acting and a soundtrack that you will want to download to your iPod, Veronica Mars promises to deliver its best season yet.

Veronica Mars airs tonight on The CW at 8 p.m. CST.