Always found "A Menace in Venice" a fun and interesting episode of 'The Scooby Doo Show', which has always been my second favourite Scooby Doo incarnation, as a kid. Other episodes and villains stood out to me more, but Venice (an amazing place in real life, still one of my favourite holidays) for the franchise up to this point was a unique location and one of the franchise's most exotic up to this point too. It also has a villain that is very easy to remember, both as a kid and as a young adult.
While liking it a lot when younger, "A Menace in Venice" is one example of the episodes from the show that is better now. It is not a perfect episode or one of the best of the whole show, but as far as Season 3 goes it is one of the better ones. Certainly one of the best by far of the second half of the season (so "Jeepers It's the Jaguaro" and onwards), and for me the best episode of the show since "The Creepy Creature of Vulture's Claw". Much better than the disappointing previous two episodes anyhow.
Shall start with what could have been done better, which are more nit-picky than most flaws picked up upon for 'The Scooby Doo Show's' episodes. The physics towards the end does require a big amount of suspension of disbelief here, seeming to be coined "toons physics". Especially with the statue.
Daphne's role is pretty limited here with her not having much to do.
Otherwise, "A Menace in Venice" is very good. What immediately stands out is the Ghostly Gondolier, who looks very cool and genuinely sinister and is both creepy and a lot of fun. The voice and laugh still sets one on edge, and really appreciated his back-story (one of not many villains of the show to have one, and it's an interesting one). Venice looks both beautiful and menacing at night, Shaggy and Scooby's first encounter with the Gondolier is creepy. The atmosphere is both mysterious and eerie, though there are welcome bouts of humour with Shaggy and Scooby. A lot goes on in the mystery without being over-stuffed or rushed, while there are some intriguing clues that are not obvious prematurely (though the perpetrator was suspectable early on). There are familiar story tropes and themes but not in a too derivative sort of way. Actually was pretty shocked when the method of how the Gondolier managed to disappear so quickly and easily was revealed, never did consider that.
Moreover, the animation is vibrant and atmospheric with some very detailed backgrounding. The Gondolier is designed well. The music has also come on a lot for reasons described in my other reviews for the other episodes of 'The Scooby Doo Show'. The theme song is infectious. The writing has a nice mix of humour and mystery and the voice is solid for the leads and supporting. Don Messick as the Gondolier, know this from a couple of websites oriented around Scooby Doo that lists the voice actors for all the episodes, is very memorable. Did appreciate too that "A Menace in Venice" wasn't too stereotypical and there have certainly been far worse accents on the show.
In summary, very good Season 3 episode. 8/10.
While liking it a lot when younger, "A Menace in Venice" is one example of the episodes from the show that is better now. It is not a perfect episode or one of the best of the whole show, but as far as Season 3 goes it is one of the better ones. Certainly one of the best by far of the second half of the season (so "Jeepers It's the Jaguaro" and onwards), and for me the best episode of the show since "The Creepy Creature of Vulture's Claw". Much better than the disappointing previous two episodes anyhow.
Shall start with what could have been done better, which are more nit-picky than most flaws picked up upon for 'The Scooby Doo Show's' episodes. The physics towards the end does require a big amount of suspension of disbelief here, seeming to be coined "toons physics". Especially with the statue.
Daphne's role is pretty limited here with her not having much to do.
Otherwise, "A Menace in Venice" is very good. What immediately stands out is the Ghostly Gondolier, who looks very cool and genuinely sinister and is both creepy and a lot of fun. The voice and laugh still sets one on edge, and really appreciated his back-story (one of not many villains of the show to have one, and it's an interesting one). Venice looks both beautiful and menacing at night, Shaggy and Scooby's first encounter with the Gondolier is creepy. The atmosphere is both mysterious and eerie, though there are welcome bouts of humour with Shaggy and Scooby. A lot goes on in the mystery without being over-stuffed or rushed, while there are some intriguing clues that are not obvious prematurely (though the perpetrator was suspectable early on). There are familiar story tropes and themes but not in a too derivative sort of way. Actually was pretty shocked when the method of how the Gondolier managed to disappear so quickly and easily was revealed, never did consider that.
Moreover, the animation is vibrant and atmospheric with some very detailed backgrounding. The Gondolier is designed well. The music has also come on a lot for reasons described in my other reviews for the other episodes of 'The Scooby Doo Show'. The theme song is infectious. The writing has a nice mix of humour and mystery and the voice is solid for the leads and supporting. Don Messick as the Gondolier, know this from a couple of websites oriented around Scooby Doo that lists the voice actors for all the episodes, is very memorable. Did appreciate too that "A Menace in Venice" wasn't too stereotypical and there have certainly been far worse accents on the show.
In summary, very good Season 3 episode. 8/10.
