'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries' to me is one of the more underrated Scooby Doo shows. Not one of the best ('Scooby Doo Where are You' and 'The Scooby Doo Show') and not one of the worst ('Shaggy and Scooby Doo Get a Clue'), but have always been fond of it warts and all. And it probably would be better known if it wasn't automatically dismissed because of Scrappy, to me he is actually tolerable in this show and is helpful in the mystery solving.
It's no exception in "Night Louse at the White House". This was an episode seen later than most of the rest of the show's episodes, rather than being childhood favourites like "A Nutcracker Scoob" and "Sherlock Doo". All the two parters of 'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries' are watchable and more, and most are very good to great ("A Nutcracker Scoob" being my personal favourite. "Night Louse at the White House" is good fun, but my second least favourite of the two parters. Least favourite being "Ghosts of the Ancient Astronauts", the only one to be less than decent and one of my least favourite episodes.
"Night Louse at the White House" isn't perfect. Not all the humour works, Shaggy and Scooby hogging the spotlight was not like them, or at least up to this point of the franchise, and saw uncharacteristic rudeness. Scooby's parents added absolutely nothing to the story and their roles came over as silly, the banging on about the galoshes did irritate.
Some of the animation isn't great, especially in Part 2 when disguised Shaggy and Scooby trick the ghost of George Washington.
Most of it didn't bother me, did like the vibrant colours and the fluidity as well as the eeriness of the ghosts. The White House setting is great and the episode makes the most of it. The music fits well tonally and in placement, particularly fitting at the ends of both parts (haunting in the first and with an adventurous quality in the climax). The "Thriller"-like intro and theme tune stick in the mind without being an earworm. The voice acting is solid, especially Don Messick and Casey Kasem. Personally don't mind Marla Frumpkin. Loved the historical references, which will be a treat for American history buffs. It did take the gang far too long to note the inaccuracy regarding George Washington having said that.
Really liked that the episode gives some insight into Velma's job. The story is a lot of fun with some neat clues (the end of Part 1 is particularly true to this) and an exciting climax, and is one of the few times in the show where the perpetrators identities were actually a surprise and where there is a twist for the motive. The ghosts are creepy, though do wish that there was more of the Abraham Lincoln one. The first appearance of the Ghost of George Washington is still pretty terrifying, especially that cry. Shaggy and Scooby are generally on good form, loved their chemistry with the George Washington ghost and Scooby's Lincoln impersonation was priceless. Love Daphne's resourcefulness and Scrappy is tolerable and contributes to the mystery solving with no exhausted running jokes.
Overall, while one of the weaker two parters of the show it's still pretty good. 7/10.
It's no exception in "Night Louse at the White House". This was an episode seen later than most of the rest of the show's episodes, rather than being childhood favourites like "A Nutcracker Scoob" and "Sherlock Doo". All the two parters of 'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries' are watchable and more, and most are very good to great ("A Nutcracker Scoob" being my personal favourite. "Night Louse at the White House" is good fun, but my second least favourite of the two parters. Least favourite being "Ghosts of the Ancient Astronauts", the only one to be less than decent and one of my least favourite episodes.
"Night Louse at the White House" isn't perfect. Not all the humour works, Shaggy and Scooby hogging the spotlight was not like them, or at least up to this point of the franchise, and saw uncharacteristic rudeness. Scooby's parents added absolutely nothing to the story and their roles came over as silly, the banging on about the galoshes did irritate.
Some of the animation isn't great, especially in Part 2 when disguised Shaggy and Scooby trick the ghost of George Washington.
Most of it didn't bother me, did like the vibrant colours and the fluidity as well as the eeriness of the ghosts. The White House setting is great and the episode makes the most of it. The music fits well tonally and in placement, particularly fitting at the ends of both parts (haunting in the first and with an adventurous quality in the climax). The "Thriller"-like intro and theme tune stick in the mind without being an earworm. The voice acting is solid, especially Don Messick and Casey Kasem. Personally don't mind Marla Frumpkin. Loved the historical references, which will be a treat for American history buffs. It did take the gang far too long to note the inaccuracy regarding George Washington having said that.
Really liked that the episode gives some insight into Velma's job. The story is a lot of fun with some neat clues (the end of Part 1 is particularly true to this) and an exciting climax, and is one of the few times in the show where the perpetrators identities were actually a surprise and where there is a twist for the motive. The ghosts are creepy, though do wish that there was more of the Abraham Lincoln one. The first appearance of the Ghost of George Washington is still pretty terrifying, especially that cry. Shaggy and Scooby are generally on good form, loved their chemistry with the George Washington ghost and Scooby's Lincoln impersonation was priceless. Love Daphne's resourcefulness and Scrappy is tolerable and contributes to the mystery solving with no exhausted running jokes.
Overall, while one of the weaker two parters of the show it's still pretty good. 7/10.
