Velma Ep 1+2 Review

I'm a fan of Scooby-Doo.  I've played a lot of the games, I've watched almost every movie, I've at least checked out every TV show iteration.  I'll freely admit that 80% of it ain't very good, but, hey, it's one of those nostalgic properties I'll always view fondly.

So I actually had high hopes when Velma was announced.  It seemed made for exactly someone like me, someone who really loves the Scooby Doo characters and universe, but who is also dying to see this IP juiced up with some really good, adult-oriented writing.  I actually also had faith in Mindy Kaling, as she was involved with another Netflix show I really liked (Never Have I Ever) and worked on another show I've never watched that apparently has gotten some critical praise (Sex Lives of College Girls).

Unfortunately, all that goodwill I had toward the show evaporated in the first 2 minutes of watching it.  It hit almost every WRONG beat.  A condescending opening speech by Velma.  Some terribly unfunny meta jokes.  Cockroaches having sex.  Wow.

The show gets right up in your face that Velma is an asshole.  First thing you see, she hits Daphne across the face with a cane.  Why the hell would she do that?  No explanation.  And this was after Daphne was acting unreasonably cruel to a friend.  Everyone in this show sucks and is needlessly mean (except Shaggy, I guess).  And it almost feel like they're playing this purely for laughs a la Family Guy.  I really hope that's not the case and these characters actually develop into more likeable people.  Cause right now they're unbearable.

This show is underpinned by a really mean spirit.  It's also obnoxiously irreverent, like they want to make it really clear they're trying to subvert the Scooby Doo concept.  And hey, I wanted them to subvert it, like I said, I want talented writers to try and stretch and mold the concept of Scooby Doo.  But I guess what's missing here is that the writers seem 1) not to be fans of Scooby Doo and 2) aren't talented enough for me to forgive that.  They don't seem to have a lot of respect for this property, which, while annoying, can be forgiven if the writing is compelling.  But so much of the writing and jokes fall really flat, so flat that I wonder what the writers' goal is.  Who are you trying to please with this show?

It's not all terrible at the very least.  The show is saved by the fact it has continuity, and a story.  I'm at least invested enough to see how the plot evolves episode-by-episode, with the hope that some of these fundamental problems will improve.  I actually did laugh at a few of the jokes too.

Anyway, I don't really have the talent or patience to tie this post together as a coherent essay.  So here's just a few other things I wanted to call out:

• Felt like they added nudity every 5 minutes.  Every time it was a joke that just didn't work.
• Open the damn gift from your mom Velma.  It's gonna be plot critical, and it's gonna be exasperating if they hold onto it until late into the season because Velma is an idiot.
• Fred has almost no connection to any of his past personality traits.  I get deconstructing a character, but right now he's just a massive asshole and an unfunny masculinity punch line.  I hope they have a plan for him that isn't this.
• Fred chopped a student's leg off - nobody cares and it's played as a joke.  Like I said, this show is irreverent, and details like this set a tone that's just not to my taste for Scooby Doo (again, Family Guy anyone?).
• Daphne being a drug dealer feels...tryhardy?  Similar to how I think Daphne's character has developed in broader media, where writer's are pushing her into more of a "girlboss" archetype.  This feels like that but, of course, with an "edgier" angle.  Meh.
• Shaggy is alright, but I'm not liking this whole romance with Velma angle.  Velma is completely unlikeable, why is he like this?  At least he's not a massive asshole like everyone else is.
• Voice acting is overall pretty good across the board.
• Did anyone else think the animation got weirdly choppy at times?  I especially noticed this in the alleyway scene with Velma and Fred.
• And, of course, there is no Scooby Doo.  Honestly doesn't bother me, doesn't feel like a harmful change.

Lastly, I just want to say that I do appreciate the creators making this show.  A lot of comments I read online say "Why'd they make it Scooby Doo?  Should've just made their own thing" but honestly I Velma infinitely more interesting because it's Scooby Doo rather than an original concept.  So despite my criticisms I am glad people made this show.  I like Scooby Doo, remember?