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| Photo by the Author |
Earlier this month, streaming service HBO Max reintroduced into the mainstream the cult classic series Scooby-Doo with the release of Velma—and it officially became the worst-rated series on IMDb with a 1.3 rating.
The show was set to be a prequel and presents how the original sleuthing gang was formed. However, this was met with a great deal of backlash as not only were the characters reimagined extremely off from their original counterparts, but the show also contained problematic ideas and misrepresentations of certain subject matters.
Although Velma was a show that promised a fun, dark, and adult-oriented take on the classic Scooby-Doo property, one other iteration of the franchise does this better with the 2010 incarnation which lasted two seasons, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.
Minor spoilers ahead!
The overarching plot
Set in the small coastal town of Crystal Cove, the mystery gang takes on the various obscurities that happen to plague the town every so often. Monsters and ghouls randomly show up, only to be unmasked as vengeful ordinary people with elaborate plans and the technology to boot.
It seems like the usual Scooby-Doo outing, but what sets this series apart from the other adaptations is that Mystery Incorporated not only has an overarching mystery, but it also gives the original cast we all know and love thoughtful character arcs and developments. Don’t worry though, as Mystery Incorporated still includes the goofiness and playfulness of the original series in both the characters and the scenarios Scooby and the gang find themselves in.
The show reels you in just from the first episode alone, revealing that after solving the first mystery of the show, there is more to what meets the eye about their quaint little town. They uncover a locket and a previous group of mystery solvers. As we follow the mystery gang on their daily sleuthing adventures, more and more of the mystery about Crystal Cove gets uncovered as they set out to collect the pieces of this mysterious relic called the Planispheric Disk.
The show ties in the daily monster-of-the-week with the overarching narrative so seamlessly that almost all of their encounters drive the plot forward; along with that, it also helps the arcs of the main cast.
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| Photo from Warner Bros. Animation |
Speaking of the main cast, they have their respective arcs that help develop their own characters. Fred Jones has a complicated relationship with his father as he seeks his approval, which eventually leads to a multitude of things happening regarding his origins.
Not to mention his slow-turning romance with one of the girls of the mystery gang. Often regarded as the damsel in distress, Daphne Blake’s attraction to Fred is far from what her character in the show is. She stops becoming the pushover and eventually deviates to achieve what she wants and gains her independence.
Velma Dinkley, the most apparent change from the original franchise, is now the snarky yet lovable brains of the gang. I’m sure some of us have encountered clips of her sarcastic remarks online. She’s one of the characters that drive the plot into uncovering more clues about the mystery they put themselves into.
Lastly, Shaggy Rogers and Scooby-Doo are still the beloved dorks we all know and love, but with a stronger and braver side plus a new fixation over horror movies.
What did Mystery Incorporated get right?
In an interview, Victor Cook, one of the directors and a producer of the show, mentioned that what made Scooby-Doo work were three essential elements: “Fear, Food, and Flashlights.” He also further stated, “Make sure we have these and you could do a dramatic version, a scary version, a comedy, or a straight one.” Dissecting Mystery Incorporated, the show exemplified these three core aspects, starting with Fear.
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| Photo from Warner Bros. Animation |
Scooby-Doo is famous for its formula of having monsters and ghouls as the mysteries for the gang to solve, causing fear among the characters and those that get terrorized by them. On occasion, this fear is amplified such as in the movie Scooby-Doo: Zombie Island. However, the looming atmosphere created within the series is done so well that you don’t know what to expect watching it.
The goofy undertones of the mysteries they solve first throw you in a curveball because the underlying mystery that spans the two seasons shows signs of something grim and dark. Adding to that point, Mystery Incorporated even has multiple character deaths over the run of the two seasons, addressing clearly that the mystery is larger than what they expect and that no one is safe.
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| Photo from Warner Bros. Animation |
Moving on with Food, this is a direct reference to the characters Shaggy and the titular character Scooby-Doo. Both are characterized as foodies who enjoy practically anything edible. This is to help balance out the darker undertones in more grim and mature iterations of the franchise such as Mystery Incorporated.
However, even though food helps to lighten the mood, it is undoubtedly a core element within the series because it is what characterizes two of the main cast. This hits especially once you watch the finale of the first season.
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| Photo from Warner Bros. Animation |
Lastly, the flashlights. I’ve mentioned Mystery Incorporated creating a great atmosphere that gets you up on your feet. This could refer to the mysteries the group gets themselves into, in this case, the monsters are what they investigate aside from the overarching plot.
Throughout the series, there are scenes where the gang gets trapped or they find themselves exploring in the dark. Combine the beautiful art of the show with the monster-of-the-week (who at times can get really spooky) and the overarching plot, and you get something that gets you hooked and invested in what the show has to offer.
From their mysterious and anonymous aid to the various clues they get from their adventures, you can never know what to expect so it really drives the mysterious atmosphere of the show. The show even dabbled with celebrity guests and made horror references to H.P. Lovecraft, Twin Peaks, and Vincent Price movies that reward fans of the horror genre.
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| Photo from Warner Bros. Animation |
It's definitely a good watch if you're looking to scratch that nostalgia itch when thinking back on the Scooby-Doo franchise. Aside from the superb art and the phenomenal plot with fully fleshed-out characters, its references to other horror genres and previous Hanna Barbera creations will pull you in. The musical score is also neat, with an ever-iconic intro that presents the cast and an outro that gives you a sense of unease about an unsolved mystery that is possibly beyond your grasp.
