Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

This show was so well done, it's was one of my favorites. Although I'm a too old for kids shows, I find myself absolutely enraptured in the universe the show created. I need more!!!

First off, I NEVER give anything a perfect score -- there is always room for improvement. I grew up watching Scooby Doo in reruns, because I'm not old enough to have seen it firsthand, and I'm a huge fan.

This incarnation is a reboot -- something which many viewers/reviewers don't seem to understand (especially the above reviewer, ctyankee1) -- and often goes into a darker, more serious storyline. It's not the same one from the 60s or 70s & it's not trying to be. I love it because of its "neo-retro" (modern & oldschool at the same time) look. Everything is connected, from one episode to the next & I think they did a fantastic job paying homage to the original series (from canon flashbacks to past villains).

After reading some negative reviews, I can tell that most of the reviewers don't really watch the show or have only watched an episode or two -- which is sad. With the overarching story lines, you have to watch it from the beginning of the series, or you really lose so much. Give it the chance it deserves before brushing it off as garbage.

I will start by saying this, I am not at all a fan of previous Scooby-Doo TV shows, and one of the biggest "complaints" I have heard about this show is that it isn't like the previous shows. In my opinion that is a good thing, it dares to break free from the former chain of reboots that are all the exact same episode after episode. So if you were a die hard fan of the original Scooby show when you were a kid, then this show may not be for you. Please do not form an opinion one thing just because it isn't like something else, that is not an opinion.

Okay, now on to my actual thoughts on the show. Mystery Incorporated immediately changes up the Scooby-Doo formula by having an ongoing plot from episode to episode. You might be able to watch the first half of season 1 with no context but when watching the second half of S1 and most of S2 you will need prior knowledge to understand what is going on. This not only brings the story a serious feeling, (the show has some really dark undertones and themes) but gives opportunities to create new characters never before seen in the Scooby-Doo franchise. The original 5 are still here slightly more likable than before but mostly the same. The original 5 help show off the new characters, and the new characters are great in my opinion. Mr. E, Angel, Sheriff Stone, Hot Dog Water, Brad and Judy, Mayor Jones, Vincent Van Ghoul, Skipper, and especially Professor Pericles all feel so natural in this world. Plus constant recurring characters that will come back later because they have some sort of importance. The writing of the show show is good for the most part but it can have its kind of awkward moments with an overused joke or two. Another reason I love this show as a Scooby-Doo show is because of the plot. The plot of this show (Late S2 especially) is so complicated and twisted just to explain why Scooby can talk. I think this works really well in ways and poorly in other ways.

Now what do I not like about this show. In many cases the animation can look odd. When moving 3D models are used against the 2D characters the overall look feels very unpolished. The animation doesn't look odd at all times just once maybe every 5 or 6 episodes. My other problem would have to be sometimes it's tone is all over the place. For example when nova starts talking about her ancestors it's a little challenging to take seriously. I don't think these problems at all ruin the entirety of the show though.

In all Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated is, in my opinion, the best Scooby show out there. With a good story, good characters, and breaking free from 10+ shows before it that all followed the exact same formula every single episode, this show is well worth a watch.

I happen to quite like this series (thus far) as does my family and yet I can see why some people have a problem with it. First a bit of background: both my wife and I grew up with Scooby-Doo and our kids independently decided they liked the various instances of the show as well so, for good or bad, I've seen probably 99% of the Scooby oeuvre.

Certainly it should first be noted that this series is a "reboot" and not inherently placed in temporal or any other relationship to previous series. On the other hand, it is also often parodies what has come before. This has been done to some extent in the live action movies and the direct to video animated movies but in the present case, the basic world that the characters inhabit is more of an alternate reality. In the original series the chief fantastical element was that Scooby could talk; the present series supposes a town where monsters are big business and the kids get in trouble for SOLVING mysteries, for example. Structurally the show is more about action and character arcs with the mystery element largely on the second tier. In could be argued that the mysteries in Pup Named Scooby-Doo were a bit less obvious than some in S-D:MI (but the obviousness is also part of the parody, e.g., the gator episode).

As to the characters, Fred, Daphne and Velma all are pretty different from previous incarnations, as is Scooby who evidences far more social insight and complex dialog. Shaggy has never really varied much series to series and nothing much changes here (One has to go back to his very earliest existence to find him more adept and only mildly fearful). In general, these are not realistic or even particularly functional characters; great role models, they are not. If you are looking for that, the direct to video movies will be more your cup of tea. But if you are open to a different mythology with a more oddball yet somewhat more adult approach, you might find it a cool take.

I personally like the animation style and think the direction is on par with the upper echelon of current animated action shows. There's a bit of an irony in that the original Scooby-Doo was created in response to parental pressure against violence in animated shows of the 60's (e.g., Space Ghost, Jonny Quest) while this show is probably the most dark and violent Scooby yet. I guess things have come full circle.

In summary, I'd say give it a chance for a few episodes but if it isn't to your liking and you want something more classic/less dark/more realistic, I believe they are on a schedule of at least one new direct to video movie each year. Further, it appears we can probably count on new series productions for another 40+ years so you can always wait for the next one...

I say this as a big fan of Scooby Doo. I watched Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated not expecting much, and I was shocked at how surprisingly good it. To me while not as good as the classic Scooby Doo! Where Are You?, Mystery Incorporated is one of the better Scooby Doo incarnations, and much better than Shaggy Doo: Get a Clue!(the worst of anything to do with Scooby Doo)

If there is one thing that I wasn't crazy about, I did find at first that Velma's personality here took a while to get used to. However, I loved the animation, the colours and backgrounds are very colourful and stylistic while having a glossy sheen to them. In general Mystery Inc look similar in design to the other incarnations, except for Fred and to a lesser extent Velma, and they are convincing. Plus I found the villains funky in look.

The music is great as well, the main theme is memorable and the background music sometimes has a cinematic feel to it. The writing is funny and moody and in one episode poignant too(when Fred finds out about his father), while the stories are set up quite nicely with the darkest atmosphere of any Scooby show since the original, something refreshingly new in idea to mixing some elements of what made the original work so well and trying something different and one of the least predictable and hackneyed of any show to do with the iconic character.

The characters are great. Velma as I have said takes some getting used to, but I loved the development to Fred, I liked how they made Daphne stronger and more resourceful here and Shaggy and Scooby still make me smile and laugh. In terms of villains, most are great, but some are disappointing, especially the Creepers/Gators who were very predictable and obvious. The voice acting is fine too, the new voice actor for Shaggy does a very worthy job in particular and Frank Welker is still going strong.

Overall, I wasn't expecting to like Mystery Incorporated, but I actually love it. It made the most of a good idea and got/is getting stronger. 9/10 Bethany Cox