The only mystery in the new woke re-boot of Scooby-Doo worth solving is the disappearance of quality programming. Streaming platform HBO Max debuted their R-rated Scooby-Doo spinoff, Velma. The usual plot of Scooby-Doo follows a group of Meddling kids and their dog who travel around and solve mysteries. Originally, a Saturday morning cartoon in 1969, the show has had dozens of reincarnations over the years. Some series had celebrity stars like Vincent Price, Phyllis Diller, and Don Knotts. Despite the ever-changing landscape in Hollywood, the show’s reimagining has never been so radical as it has in 2023.
They began by race-swapping characters to appease the progressive’s obsession with diversity. This played-out Hollywood technique aims to increase viewership amongst minority groups. The executives aim to fool them into feeling represented. The truth is, if they cared to represent a group, they could create an original character that better resonates with the viewers. Someone that represents the ideals and culture of different minority groups. But they don’t do that. Instead, they choose to carelessly sprinkle in diversity by swapping three characters’ races. They also chose to demonize the one remaining white character by portraying him as entitled, rude, and misogynistic. They emasculate him while letting him portray his ignorance and offer him little to no redeeming qualities.
The next big alteration was to change the rating from TV-Y7 to TV-MA. Never has there been a reincarnation of the show that had such crude adult storylines, but the most cringe-worthy aspect is the characters are no older than 16. If the characters were real, they themselves would not be old enough to watch this explicit show. In the first few episodes, we’re exposed to a gruesome murder victim, nudity, a locker-room shower fight, and a lesbian kiss.
On paper, this show should be checking off all the boxes on the woke checklist but even liberals find it too crass. On the movie rating webpage Rotten Tomatoes, they offer two scores, one by critics and one by fans. The critic score was a dismal 47% and the audience score remains in the single digits with a 6%. Both sides agree that ripping the soul out of an American classic is not attractive to viewers. The creative freedoms taken by the writers of Velma have removed all the original personality from the cast and kill the spirit of the Scooby-Doo franchise.