How many IPs are going to be damaged before these studios start waking up? In yet another trashing of a great IP/franchise, Velma has kicked, spat, and stomped the Scooby-Doo universe into the dirt with the single-worst prequel I have ever seen.
And here I thought that nothing could get worse than Witcher: Blood Origin. Boy, was I totally wrong.
There has to be a secret, cult-like grand conspiracy between members of all the major studios teaming up to singlehandedly destroy the great franchises/brands/IPs of Hollywood, gaming, and literature. Practically every other week there is some new, dreadful prequel/sequel/spinoff that disgraces the original source material it is purportedly “adapting” or “supporting”. And Velma is no different…but it is just so much worse than the rest.
Velma not only boasts of horrific, unoriginal, painstakingly boring plots and characters, but it also trashes and openly mocks the original Scooby-Doo plot and characters with almost every other line. Velma herself has become a vicious, vengeful, mean, ruthless bully that trashes and disrespects everyone and everything around her, despite the original (and only) Velma being a kind, caring, and compassionate person.
Fred is an unfunny, uncharismatic dope that is nothing like the strong, confident leader in the show, Daphnie is a brainless fool that is less tolerant than the Nazis, Shaggy has been turned into some guy named Norville (who is probably the only stomachable person), and Scooby-Doo has literally been cut from his own franchise.
I would have been madder about that, but I’m just glad he doesn’t have to suffer the mockery that his companions do.
Mindy Kaling (the person voicing Velma and coming up this series as executive creator) and Charlie Grandy (producer) should not only be ashamed of themselves for such a bad portrayal of legendary characters, but also seriously questioned for their intent behind making this show.
If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that Kaling and Grandy created this series purely out of spite for the Scooby-Doo brand as, like I said, it not only horrible mistreats and misrepresents the original characters, but it also willingly and actively makes them out to be unlikely fools.
Seeing as I do know better, I can safely say that this series was created by these two buffoons as a pure cash grab using a famous brand to spew their nonsensical views and aspersions about the world.
Now, I’m not one to get into political issues as I find modern-day politics to be abhorrent, but I will say that this series is just the writers spewing how they feel as privileged (there is nothing more privileged than a Hollywood actor, clearly), sheltered, morons in the modern day. I mean, every single joke is either about a character’s ethnicity (which has been changed for everyone except Fred) or goes “if this was X, then right now X would be doing….” with X being a current day trope.
I really wish there was some one-time barrier or written test all actors, writers, producers, directors, etc. had to pass about a certain franchise before they could work on it as that would save so many franchises from the fate that the Scooby-Doo crew has suffered. In that case, at least Kaling and her cronies would have to watch a few Scooby-Doo episodes before crapping on its legacy with this garbage.
But to be honest, what would be even better is if hack actors, writers, producers, directors, etc. were held accountable with all of the projects they corrupted as every other profession holds its employees accountable when they are incompetent. At least that would make these fools more cautious when they try to destroy great franchises for their own sick, twisted machinations.
Moreover, this just hit me: aren’t the Mystery Gang supposed to be in high school? If they are, then how has HBO allowed Kaling, Grandy, and the other fools show butt-naked, underage girls showering in the literal first scene of the first episode? Isn’t it against the law to have, produce, or broadcast such images, regardless of if they are animated or not? Someone should really look into that as this show might actually be illegal.
Therefore, with all that in mind, Velma gets a 0/10 from me. There’s nothing appealing about this show, and it should be cancelled as soon as possible.
Images Source: Featured Image: (HBO) (Velma | Official Trailer | HBO Max – YouTube)
