'Be Cool Scooby Doo' "Scroogey Doo" (2017)
Opening thoughts: Did like the premise for "Scroogey Doo" quite a bit, which is always a big interest point for me watching anything. No, make that loved the concept. 'A Christmas Carol' is such a timeless story, slightly edging out 'The Nutcracker' as the quintessential Christmas story. It is also always a joy to see it parodied, which the Scooby Doo franchise had already loosely done in 'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries' best episode "The Nutcracker Scoob". "Scroogey Doo" to me is a very, very good and nearly great episode and one of Season 2's better and most different episodes. It is an inspired take on the story, as well as great insight into Velma, even if the rest of the gang aren't as well served.
Bad things: "Scroogey Doo" is not a perfect episode. Never, with a few exceptions, warmed to the animation style. Which always struck me as rushed looking, over saturated and psychedelic with very off model character designs.
Also found most of the gang pretty unlikeable and out of character, with Fred in particular being an unsympathetic jerk.
Good things: However, there is so much to like about "Scroogey Doo". Velma has her most interesting, likeable and easy to root for character writing here and her back story illuminated and was fun and cute. Also staying true to character. Scrooge, in a refreshing spin on him not seen before anywhere, is deliciously miserly and wasn't expecting him to be funny as well, the changes to his character worked very well and made sense. The racoons really stood out too, hilarious and adorable.
Furthermore, there are plenty of funny moments, especially the ending and Scrooge with the doctor. This is also one of the few episodes of the show where the running/repeated jokes worked throughout and didn't get stale or repetitive. The story is full of energy and is very compelling, London is an atmospheric setting, everything with Velma is cute and different and this is one of the few episodes where the ending was a complete surprise. Was not expecting it and it amuses too.
Music is groovy and never felt discordant with the action. The writing is funny and smart as well as thought provoking, while the ghosts are suitably spooky. The voice acting is spot on.
Closing thoughts: In conclusion, very, very good.
8/10.
Opening thoughts: Did like the premise for "Scroogey Doo" quite a bit, which is always a big interest point for me watching anything. No, make that loved the concept. 'A Christmas Carol' is such a timeless story, slightly edging out 'The Nutcracker' as the quintessential Christmas story. It is also always a joy to see it parodied, which the Scooby Doo franchise had already loosely done in 'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries' best episode "The Nutcracker Scoob". "Scroogey Doo" to me is a very, very good and nearly great episode and one of Season 2's better and most different episodes. It is an inspired take on the story, as well as great insight into Velma, even if the rest of the gang aren't as well served.
Bad things: "Scroogey Doo" is not a perfect episode. Never, with a few exceptions, warmed to the animation style. Which always struck me as rushed looking, over saturated and psychedelic with very off model character designs.
Also found most of the gang pretty unlikeable and out of character, with Fred in particular being an unsympathetic jerk.
Good things: However, there is so much to like about "Scroogey Doo". Velma has her most interesting, likeable and easy to root for character writing here and her back story illuminated and was fun and cute. Also staying true to character. Scrooge, in a refreshing spin on him not seen before anywhere, is deliciously miserly and wasn't expecting him to be funny as well, the changes to his character worked very well and made sense. The racoons really stood out too, hilarious and adorable.
Furthermore, there are plenty of funny moments, especially the ending and Scrooge with the doctor. This is also one of the few episodes of the show where the running/repeated jokes worked throughout and didn't get stale or repetitive. The story is full of energy and is very compelling, London is an atmospheric setting, everything with Velma is cute and different and this is one of the few episodes where the ending was a complete surprise. Was not expecting it and it amuses too.
Music is groovy and never felt discordant with the action. The writing is funny and smart as well as thought provoking, while the ghosts are suitably spooky. The voice acting is spot on.
Closing thoughts: In conclusion, very, very good.
8/10.
