'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated" "Stand and Deliver" (2013)
Opening thoughts: Will admit to not being as keen on "Stand and Deliver" on first time of watching (one of the few 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated' episodes to make me feel that way initially), with some of the content not sitting right with me and the concept being quite odd on paper. That was well before knowing what the episode actually was trying to do, and when finding out that the much easier it was to like and appreciate the episode. Proof that giving something another chance can be worth it.
Of all the rewatches of all of 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated's' episodes compared to first viewing, "Stand and Deliver" is a strong contender for the biggest improvement and where my opinion pretty much completely changed. Am so glad at giving it another shot after umming and ahhing over whether to rewatch or skip, and the Scooby Doo discussion forums helped massively (actually the reason). Can totally understand the sexism criticisms "Stand and Deliver" has had thrown at it, being somebody who found the episode hard to watch on first watch a decade ago for this reason. After finding out what the episode was trying to do, the content is no longer an issue for me.
Bad things: My only real issue actually with "Stand and Deliver" is the very predictable and rushed reveal, and the plan is one of the show's strangest too.
Good things: Everything else is great. The animation is smooth, beautifully detailed, vibrant and atmospheric. The music has momentum but also the right amount of spookiness. The voice acting is excellent, as is the character writing and interaction. The writing is a great mix of amusing, tense and heartfelt, balancing them expertly while executing them individually equally well.
Absolutely loved the nostalgic and atmospheric setting, while the villain is a sinister one (found him bizarre on first watch but not now), dashing on the outside but a creep in actuality. Also loved that "Stand and Deliver" provided explanations for certain things (especially the Annunaki and why Scooby could talk). Scooby's dream sequence is memorable on a visual and emotional level. This is an example of how to balance main mystery and the Crystal Cove mystery arc without focusing too much on one and under-exploring the other, doing this expertly. Already making this a better episode than "Aliens Among Us" and "The Devouring", while liking those two episodes this was an aspect that they failed at.
Personally did not find it sexist, the episode actually pokes fun at/parodies both genders, not just women, and doesn't make behaviours and attitude that extreme or stereotypical. The show does explore relationships a lot and that's what the parodying does and in a way that's true to life and is realistic. Actually related to all the male talk and to Fred's heart to heart.
Concluding thoughts: Great episode overall and so much better than remembered.
9/10.
Opening thoughts: Will admit to not being as keen on "Stand and Deliver" on first time of watching (one of the few 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated' episodes to make me feel that way initially), with some of the content not sitting right with me and the concept being quite odd on paper. That was well before knowing what the episode actually was trying to do, and when finding out that the much easier it was to like and appreciate the episode. Proof that giving something another chance can be worth it.
Of all the rewatches of all of 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated's' episodes compared to first viewing, "Stand and Deliver" is a strong contender for the biggest improvement and where my opinion pretty much completely changed. Am so glad at giving it another shot after umming and ahhing over whether to rewatch or skip, and the Scooby Doo discussion forums helped massively (actually the reason). Can totally understand the sexism criticisms "Stand and Deliver" has had thrown at it, being somebody who found the episode hard to watch on first watch a decade ago for this reason. After finding out what the episode was trying to do, the content is no longer an issue for me.
Bad things: My only real issue actually with "Stand and Deliver" is the very predictable and rushed reveal, and the plan is one of the show's strangest too.
Good things: Everything else is great. The animation is smooth, beautifully detailed, vibrant and atmospheric. The music has momentum but also the right amount of spookiness. The voice acting is excellent, as is the character writing and interaction. The writing is a great mix of amusing, tense and heartfelt, balancing them expertly while executing them individually equally well.
Absolutely loved the nostalgic and atmospheric setting, while the villain is a sinister one (found him bizarre on first watch but not now), dashing on the outside but a creep in actuality. Also loved that "Stand and Deliver" provided explanations for certain things (especially the Annunaki and why Scooby could talk). Scooby's dream sequence is memorable on a visual and emotional level. This is an example of how to balance main mystery and the Crystal Cove mystery arc without focusing too much on one and under-exploring the other, doing this expertly. Already making this a better episode than "Aliens Among Us" and "The Devouring", while liking those two episodes this was an aspect that they failed at.
Personally did not find it sexist, the episode actually pokes fun at/parodies both genders, not just women, and doesn't make behaviours and attitude that extreme or stereotypical. The show does explore relationships a lot and that's what the parodying does and in a way that's true to life and is realistic. Actually related to all the male talk and to Fred's heart to heart.
Concluding thoughts: Great episode overall and so much better than remembered.
9/10.
