When it comes to popular shows and films there is one recurring thing about the reboots: they’re bad, and Scooby-doo is not exempt. One of the most popular franchises over the years, and arguably the most “rebooted”, Scooby Doo  and their iconic characters return to the big screen as Velma releases. Now staring in her own show, Velma is attempting to find the identity of a serial killer targeting high-school girls. Velma is a mystery and comedic adult show, even if the comedy is sorely lacking. With a 1.5 on IMDb and a 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, the expectation was low as was the performance.

Watching the show, the audience can quickly decipher that the only resemblance to Scooby-Doo is the namesake and outfits. Beloved characters on the other hand, were polar opposites of their source material, Velma, an overall likable character, is now an annoying and hateful girl with little to no redeeming qualities. Atrocious jokes trying way too hard to be edgy and “woke”, come off as insincere. In a sea of insufferable content, the only saving grace is the animation and visual effects.

When it comes to animation, the show is surprisingly smooth and explores Velma and her hallucinations in an asethetically pleasing manner. We see how the art style explores the hallucinations appearing more unsettling in comparison to other Scooby-Doo art styles. Ultimately, proving that Velma could have been better if they just cut back on being “woke” and focused on characters and the story in general. For instance, most of the interactions between Fred and Velma are hostile, which is unexpected and seemingly unresolved as off season 1, especially considering that they’re supposed to be working together.  

With bland characters and jokes, Velma is one of the worst reboots Scooby-Doo has ever had. It’s no wonder it received a one-star review. In the end, this show is just using the Scooby-Doo name just for people to look its way.