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brendalaThis comic was actually drawn as a mild joke a few weeks ago. But the new episode of Mystery Incorporated that aired last night has made it more serious and appropriate than ever:
At this point, I'm honestly torn about weather or not to stick with this show at all. That's how much this latest episode bothered me!
Maybe it's just me; but I had my hopes set on episode 10 (Howl of the Frighthound) being Velma and Scooby's "kiss and make up" episode. I figured that maybe she would take the initiative in solving the case and clearing Scooby's name (thereby making up for her crazy behavior in previous episodes and winning over both Shaggy and Scooby). Even if she only did it because she wanted to nail the S.O.B. who put her mother in the hospital.
But, no. The writers HAD to make her act like an insane, insensitive bitch who was cool with Scooby rotting in that prison forever when she KNEW HE WAS INNOCENT AND THAT THE THING THAT REALLY ATTACKED HER MOTHER WAS STILL OUT THERE as long as it improved her chances of getting into Shaggy's baggy pants!!!
I don't blame Shaggy for dumping her and, honestly, I think he was too nice about it.
This horrible girl is NOT the Velma Dinkley I grew up with and she's NOT the same girl I've shipped with Shaggy since I was a kid! I've been watching other Scooby shows lately and I miss the friendly dynamic between Scooby, Shaggy, and Velma that made those characters endearing (and Shaggy and Velma shippable) in the first place. Hell, even the much hated Get A Clue series managed to get that dynamic done right in the one episode where the whole gang was on screen together!
One of the reasons I personally shipped Shaggy and Velma was because Velma and Scooby were almost always portrayed as being extremely close. And I figured that might be a hint that Scooby thinks she would be a good match for Shaggy and would be thrilled to see them get together. So it's almost physically painful to watch them HATE each other in the more recent episodes of Mystery Incorporated! Especially since the early episodes lightly implied that Scooby knew Shaggy and Velma were dating and was totally fine with it.
It really pisses me off that the writers decided to make the Velma/Shaggy romance more "dramatic" by turning Velma into a shrew, Scooby into a petty jealous jerk, and Shaggy into an immature wuss. They were able to make Fred and Daphne's romance "dramatic" without making either of them act like OOC assholes. So why couldn't they do the same with Shaggy, Scooby, and Velma!?
I honestly don't see how this show's Velma can be redeemed unless she does something majorly noble and heroic (like takes a bullet for one of her teammates or something). And I don't think Shaggy and Velma can ever get back together without it coming across as contrived and unrealistic. Unless, of course, the prediction I made in my comic comes true **crosses fingers**.
I might check out the next two or three episodes just to see how the break up effects the team dynamic. But I don't know if I'll be able to stomach seeing one of my favorite childhood cartoon idols getting character-assassinated week after week for another 16 episodes. Even if I am dying to find out what's going on with Mr. E and Professor Pericles.
At this point, I'm honestly torn about weather or not to stick with this show at all. That's how much this latest episode bothered me!
Maybe it's just me; but I had my hopes set on episode 10 (Howl of the Frighthound) being Velma and Scooby's "kiss and make up" episode. I figured that maybe she would take the initiative in solving the case and clearing Scooby's name (thereby making up for her crazy behavior in previous episodes and winning over both Shaggy and Scooby). Even if she only did it because she wanted to nail the S.O.B. who put her mother in the hospital.
But, no. The writers HAD to make her act like an insane, insensitive bitch who was cool with Scooby rotting in that prison forever when she KNEW HE WAS INNOCENT AND THAT THE THING THAT REALLY ATTACKED HER MOTHER WAS STILL OUT THERE as long as it improved her chances of getting into Shaggy's baggy pants!!!
I don't blame Shaggy for dumping her and, honestly, I think he was too nice about it.
This horrible girl is NOT the Velma Dinkley I grew up with and she's NOT the same girl I've shipped with Shaggy since I was a kid! I've been watching other Scooby shows lately and I miss the friendly dynamic between Scooby, Shaggy, and Velma that made those characters endearing (and Shaggy and Velma shippable) in the first place. Hell, even the much hated Get A Clue series managed to get that dynamic done right in the one episode where the whole gang was on screen together!
One of the reasons I personally shipped Shaggy and Velma was because Velma and Scooby were almost always portrayed as being extremely close. And I figured that might be a hint that Scooby thinks she would be a good match for Shaggy and would be thrilled to see them get together. So it's almost physically painful to watch them HATE each other in the more recent episodes of Mystery Incorporated! Especially since the early episodes lightly implied that Scooby knew Shaggy and Velma were dating and was totally fine with it.
It really pisses me off that the writers decided to make the Velma/Shaggy romance more "dramatic" by turning Velma into a shrew, Scooby into a petty jealous jerk, and Shaggy into an immature wuss. They were able to make Fred and Daphne's romance "dramatic" without making either of them act like OOC assholes. So why couldn't they do the same with Shaggy, Scooby, and Velma!?
I honestly don't see how this show's Velma can be redeemed unless she does something majorly noble and heroic (like takes a bullet for one of her teammates or something). And I don't think Shaggy and Velma can ever get back together without it coming across as contrived and unrealistic. Unless, of course, the prediction I made in my comic comes true **crosses fingers**.
I might check out the next two or three episodes just to see how the break up effects the team dynamic. But I don't know if I'll be able to stomach seeing one of my favorite childhood cartoon idols getting character-assassinated week after week for another 16 episodes. Even if I am dying to find out what's going on with Mr. E and Professor Pericles.
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no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 04:35 pm (UTC)Besides, this isn't exactly the first time Shaggy had a girlfriend. There was that one time girlfriend from the Reluctant Werewolf special and Scooby seemed fine with that. @_@ *sigh* Can't we have Daphane or Fred knock some sense into these two?
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Date: 2010-10-05 04:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 05:08 pm (UTC)Shaggy and Scooby behave like jack-asses in this show; but Velma's character is just so loathsome and COMPLETELY different from how she's been portrayed over the past 40+ years. I don't see how any of those writers thought turning her into this was a good idea that would be accepted by fans that had grown up on Scooby Doo and fell in love with a Velma that was sweet, self-confident, and SANE.
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Date: 2010-10-05 05:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 05:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 06:00 pm (UTC)Making her act clingy and controlling was one thing; but I couldn't believe they made her into such a cold-hearted bitch!
I recently re-watched some of my Pup Named Scooby Doo DVDs and, in that show, Scooby and Velma clearly have a special bond (I think that show might have planted the S/V shipper seed when I was a kid). The relationship between them was sweet. There was one episode where she was accused of a crime and Scooby was the only one who never doubted she was innocent. He even comforted her when she was depressed about being suspended from school (and Freddy kept unintentionally making her feel worse about it).
And then there was the Mummy movie (where Scooby dragged the gang to Egypt simply because he missed Velma and wanted to see her).
I can think of so many ways to write Velma and Shaggy that could still be dramatic for story without ruining their characters like that.
So true! Here are some from the top of my head...
1) They could start to question their compatibility because they're so different.
2) Scooby could be conflicted between being happy for Shaggy and Velma and feeling bad that he gets left out when they go on dates
3) Shaggy and Velma could share Fred's worry that their romance might change their friendship
GAH! It really isn't that hard!
no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 06:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 06:23 pm (UTC)And what message does this send? Smart, brainy girls must turn to bitches in order to get a guy? Not cool!
no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 06:36 pm (UTC)I'll add to that list to just prove how stupid the writers were:
4) Shaggy worries about him not being smart enough to be with Velma and maybe attempts to be smarter by doing various silly things (eating fish, listening to tapes while he sleeps, etc) He would do that!
5) As misunderstanding in which Velma thinks she should be prettier because she caught him drooling at a poster of a model only to be revealed later that Shaggy was drooling at the burger the girl was holding.
6) Worried about dealing with a long distance relationship if Velma and Shaggy don't go to the same college (if Shaggy goes to college)
7) Throw in another person who has a crush on Shaggy or Velma. That would be enough alone. It worked for Fred and Daphane.
8) They have their first fight! That's enough for drama right there for a young couple.
Heh, you know if it gets really bad, we could just write out our own version of mystery incorporated. Still have the Mr. E and Daphane/Fred aspects but just write how VELMA AND SHAGGY SHOULD BE WRITTEN!
no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 06:41 pm (UTC)I wouldn't want to see Daphne become a bitchy shrew (I love the cute "team mom" persona she has in Mystery Inc); but at least it wouldn't have felt as wrong with her as it does with Velma.
It wouldn't have bothered me so much if Daphne and Fred's relationship had been bungled in this show because they've at least had some canon romance already (and they'll likely have it in every future show/movie). But Shaggy and Velma have never been officially hooked up before outside of VERY mild hints in the original series. And poor Velma has never had a canon relationship at all!
I'm afraid that this show was Shaggy and Velma's only shot and that the powers that be won't hook them up again because of the fan backlash against it now.
And what message does this send? Smart, brainy girls must turn to bitches in order to get a guy? Not cool!
It's even worse once you know how all of Velma's previous love interests turned out...
-Two of them turned out to be psychotic villains who tried to murder the gang at the end of the movie/episode.
-Two others were creepy, super-geeky stalkers who kept forcing unwanted advances her way
So yeah, the message is that smart, brainy girls who don't look like beauty queens can only attract psychos and losers even when they're not acting like controlling bitches. Oy. -_-
no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 06:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 06:53 pm (UTC)It was a nice message...too bad we never saw that guy again and we ended up with the villain from the Witch's Ghost for the next hinting. ;_:
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Date: 2010-10-05 06:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 07:02 pm (UTC)*sigh* I love that movie. The characterization is near perfect for everyone, the Scooby/Velma dynamic is adorable, AND Velma gets to be a badass at the end!
I like to use my Pup Named Scooby Doo DVDs to wash the bad Shaggy/Scooby/Velma moments out of my brain. I highly recommend them to you.
I'll add to that list to just prove how stupid the writers were:
All of those ideas are great. But I especially love #5 because I literally cracked up when I read it! XD
Heh, you know if it gets really bad, we could just write out our own version of mystery incorporated. Still have the Mr. E and Daphane/Fred aspects but just write how VELMA AND SHAGGY SHOULD BE WRITTEN!
Whoa! We must be on the same wavelength because I've been thinking I should do a "How it should have ended" series of fancomics for Mystery Incorporated to fix that "love triangle" nonsense, too.
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Date: 2010-10-05 07:09 pm (UTC)Oh hell yes! I'd participate in that!
The only love interest I remember not being terrible at all was that detective Velma was hinted with at the end of the Zombie Island movie (I really need to buy that since it's one of my favorite Scooby movies). And, while he wasn't Shaggy, it was nice seeing the brainy girl getting a bit of interest from a handsome guy.
I don't remember any romantic hints between Velma and the detective! I guess I need to watch it again (good thing I own the DVD).
Personally, I like to think Velma had something going on with Prince Omar from the Where's My Mummy movie. The idea of Velma winning over a prince with her brilliance and badassery is just too good for words, am I right? ~_^
no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 07:17 pm (UTC)( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7cP96MRJsE&feature=related It's around 8:15, I'm curious to hear your opinion on it. ^_~)
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Date: 2010-10-05 08:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 10:55 pm (UTC)Because no female involved in conflict can be mature and level headed. That would just be weird.
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Date: 2010-10-05 11:21 pm (UTC)