So we all know the popular idea that Phantom Planet and even season 3 in general should never have happened. I understand why but...what if it did happen? From Vlad's reaction to ectoranium in PP, we know he must have been in contact with it before. What if that's why he's going mad? Perhaps prolonged exposure to it had adverse effects on his mind...and that's why he's going all wonky in season three, trying to clone Danny out of desperation and generally acting really OOC. So Danny has to watch as Vlad gradually destroys himself and he's unable to do anything as the guy just slowly loses his mind. He can't help him because at the time, he doesn't understand why Vlad is going crazy and is just trying to keep himself afloat with all the more and more irrational schemes he cooks up (which could also be why the rest of the season doesn't make sense either- Danny's so preoccupied with Vlad that he doesn't really pay attention to the other ghosts he's encountering or what's really going on around him) Until he gets up into space and actually sees the meteor himself and gets the same sickly vibe from the rock as he's been getting from Vlad. That's when he understands, and that's when he realizes Vlad is beyond saving. That's when he realizes that as cruel as it may seem, it's actually better to leave Vlad stranded up in space where he can't hurt anyone and he can't be affected by whatever ectoranium he's been hoarding. It's better this way. It has to be. (Forgive me for any inconsistencies with the actual show- if anyone has anything to point out or build off this please feel free to do so. I haven't actually watched any of DP in a long time but I know the main complaint against PP and s3 in general is how OOC the characters were acting, Vlad in particular, so I thought this idea might fill a few holes here and there.)