HBO Max’s newest grownup animated comedy premieres at the moment, and it’s a little bit of a swerve: Velma, starring and government produced by By no means Have I Ever creator Mindy Kaling. Scooby-Doo’s sweater queen is a stunning character to construct an R-rated comedy round, and it’s possible you could have some questions. So did we! Right here’s what we discovered based mostly on the primary two episodes, which premiere at the moment.
So Velma is a prequel, proper?
Sure. Velma takes place earlier than the Thriller Inc. gang from the traditional Scooby-Doo cartoons acquired collectively, and even met the pup that made them well-known. The premiere describes itself as an origin story for Velma, a whip-smart, pissed off excessive schooler whose curiosity in (and worry of) mysteries stems from the disappearance of her mystery-writer mom.
How dare they invalidate A Pup Named Scooby-Doo like that?
I do know. However Velma is doing its personal factor, with a brand new tackle the characters that begins with their primary archetype and runs in a totally new (and racebent) course with them.
It’s an grownup cartoon, proper? How grownup are we speaking?
Fairly grownup! The premiere begins with two cockroaches boning after which instantly segues to a nude ladies’ locker room bathe battle between characters having a metatextual argument about premiere episodes utilizing nudity to cynically achieve viewers’ consideration. So sure, it’s grownup within the sense that there’s swearing and sexual content material, and it’s additionally grownup within the sense that it’s occupied with jokes that can fly over your head except you’ve been round lengthy sufficient to observe lots of TV. Additionally Daphne is a drug seller.
So like Harley Quinn?
Sure! Harley Quinn is an efficient reference level, tonally. It’s not as violent or off-kilter — these aren’t Gotham Metropolis super-criminals, in any case — however in its foolish homicide thriller, Velma is equally occupied with utilizing its characters to make a honest, but humorous, exploration of queerness and what it appears to be like like when radically completely different characters come collectively.
I’m detecting a scarcity of Doo-ness right here. What makes it Scooby-Doo?
Actually? Not a lot! However there isn’t actually a lot to Scooby-Doo both, if we’re being trustworthy. That’s a part of the attraction! For now, the most important factor in widespread (past the characters and their iconic, subtly up to date outfits) is the presence of a thriller, which is surprisingly ugly: Somebody is murdering the most well liked ladies in Crystal Cove Excessive College and stealing their brains.
In any other case, the present’s character dynamics aren’t essentially lifted from the textual content of Scooby-Doo, however Scooby-Doo fandom. In Velma, observations fashionable adults would possibly make about Scooby-Doo, The place Are You! develop into precise character dynamics: Doesn’t Fred seem to be an entitled white man? How does Shaggy (right here nonetheless going below his authorities title, Norville) develop into such a burnout? Doesn’t Daphne seem to be sort of a Imply Lady? And naturally, What if Velma had sexual stress with everybody, however principally Daphne?
But I heard there might be no canine. Is that this true?
Sadly, you might be appropriate: There isn’t any Scooby-Doo on this Scooby-Doo present. I’m watching a number of Scooby-Doo! Thriller Integrated to manage.
Oh man. Wasn’t that an incredible present?
Certain was! And it’s additionally streaming on HBO Max, if you happen to want a repair of traditional Scoob with a contemporary twist that’s extra family-friendly.
Two episodes of Velma are actually streaming on HBO Max, with two new episodes arriving weekly.