The complete opposite in fact. It was not one of my favourite episodes as a child, did think at the time that there were more unique villains in the season and more involving stories while noting its surprising final solution and different for the time setting. Being already a die-hard Scooby Doo fan. Have said more than once about having always considered 'Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo' a lesser show for the franchise while still liking some of the first season as a child.
Which is the case actually now as a young adult in her late-20s. Unlike when younger though, "The Ghoul, the Bat and the Ugly" (no guesses needed for what film that title is referencing) is to me one of the best 'The Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo' episodes of not just the first season but ever. So definitely in the "much improved through adult eyes" category. Namely down to appreciating a lot more on each viewing and picking up on things not done so before, the good things that were always good things to me are even better now.
Lets start with the good things about "The Ghoul, the Bat and the Ugly". Absolutely love the setting and always have done. The film awards setting was quite different for not just 'Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo' but also for the Scooby Doo franchise and the episode manages to bring something fresh (a horror-based spin). The mansion is awesomely creepy and the monsters/actors look great, quite nostalgic horror looks, and are interesting. The Shadow Demon has gone up in my estimations as a villain, always did like his very different design but this is actually an example of a villain who is more spooky now. Not one of my favourite villains of the show (a list that includes Night Ghoul, Snake Demon and Lady Vampire), but far from vanilla.
Plotting is clever, rich in creepy atmosphere and doesn't feel too simple or too complicated, pacing is not a problem. Did like too that there were more suspects than most episodes of the season, most episodes are a case of "it could have only been them". Of the four episodes where the perpetrator was a surprise (the others being "Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake", "Rocky Mountain Yiiiii!" and "I Left My Neck in San Francisco"), "The Ghoul, the Bat and the Ugly" had the most shocking reveal. Not only is the perpetrator the least suspected character they were also not considered a suspect by me. Very few other Scooby Doo episodes have this, though it was not unknown with another prime example being 'The Scooby Doo Show's' "The Creature at Vulture's Claw". Even the real motive is not obvious.
Animation has great atmosphere and liveliness, especially the interiors of the mansion and the maze. The music is characterful and fits the action very nicely, and the theme song is not too much of an earworm. The voice acting all round is very good, Casey Kasem and Don Messick are timeless as Shaggy and Scooby. There are plenty of amusing moments, thanks to the endearingly goofy chemistry between Shaggy and Scooby and fun lines from Shaggy, and some of the episode is very creepy (i.e. The Shadow Creature's entrance).
Not a perfect episode by all means, none of the episodes of the season are (even my personal favourite of the sixteen episodes "I Left My Neck in San Francisco" was not immune from flaws). Some of the drawing could have done with being more smooth and careful.
Scrappy is typically annoying and doesn't add very much, all he pretty much does is over-zealously trying to show that he's tough, provide worn well thin comic relief that was not very funny in the first place and complicate Shaggy and Scooby's encounters with the Shadow Creature (and the other villains of the show).
In conclusion, very well done. 8/10.
Which is the case actually now as a young adult in her late-20s. Unlike when younger though, "The Ghoul, the Bat and the Ugly" (no guesses needed for what film that title is referencing) is to me one of the best 'The Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo' episodes of not just the first season but ever. So definitely in the "much improved through adult eyes" category. Namely down to appreciating a lot more on each viewing and picking up on things not done so before, the good things that were always good things to me are even better now.
Lets start with the good things about "The Ghoul, the Bat and the Ugly". Absolutely love the setting and always have done. The film awards setting was quite different for not just 'Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo' but also for the Scooby Doo franchise and the episode manages to bring something fresh (a horror-based spin). The mansion is awesomely creepy and the monsters/actors look great, quite nostalgic horror looks, and are interesting. The Shadow Demon has gone up in my estimations as a villain, always did like his very different design but this is actually an example of a villain who is more spooky now. Not one of my favourite villains of the show (a list that includes Night Ghoul, Snake Demon and Lady Vampire), but far from vanilla.
Plotting is clever, rich in creepy atmosphere and doesn't feel too simple or too complicated, pacing is not a problem. Did like too that there were more suspects than most episodes of the season, most episodes are a case of "it could have only been them". Of the four episodes where the perpetrator was a surprise (the others being "Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake", "Rocky Mountain Yiiiii!" and "I Left My Neck in San Francisco"), "The Ghoul, the Bat and the Ugly" had the most shocking reveal. Not only is the perpetrator the least suspected character they were also not considered a suspect by me. Very few other Scooby Doo episodes have this, though it was not unknown with another prime example being 'The Scooby Doo Show's' "The Creature at Vulture's Claw". Even the real motive is not obvious.
Animation has great atmosphere and liveliness, especially the interiors of the mansion and the maze. The music is characterful and fits the action very nicely, and the theme song is not too much of an earworm. The voice acting all round is very good, Casey Kasem and Don Messick are timeless as Shaggy and Scooby. There are plenty of amusing moments, thanks to the endearingly goofy chemistry between Shaggy and Scooby and fun lines from Shaggy, and some of the episode is very creepy (i.e. The Shadow Creature's entrance).
Not a perfect episode by all means, none of the episodes of the season are (even my personal favourite of the sixteen episodes "I Left My Neck in San Francisco" was not immune from flaws). Some of the drawing could have done with being more smooth and careful.
Scrappy is typically annoying and doesn't add very much, all he pretty much does is over-zealously trying to show that he's tough, provide worn well thin comic relief that was not very funny in the first place and complicate Shaggy and Scooby's encounters with the Shadow Creature (and the other villains of the show).
In conclusion, very well done. 8/10.
