My hatred is once again justified!! (aka Sexism sucks)

[brendala]

So, a few little birdies told me that Mystery Incorporated improved in season two and I should give it another chance (despite all my VERY COMPELLING REASONS to avoid it like leprosy). So I tuned into today's new episode because I had nothing better to do this morning.

Today's episode featured a Puritan ghost who attacks teenagers on Lovers Lane for acting "impure". Specifically, he likes to target the teenage girls for dressing like harlots. When the gang first meets the ghost, the ghost chastises one random girl for her low neckline, chastises Daphne for her short skirt, and when he gets to Velma.....he remarks that he wont attack her because she is "plain, wholesome, and completely un-tempting to the male gaze". No, really. I AM NOT EXAGGERATING! THE SHOW REALLY DID THIS AGAIN!!!!

Apparently, despite the fact that Velma's skirt is shorter than Daphne's, even sexually repressed Pilgrims are so repulsed by her hideous, fat, masculine body that it doesn't bother their orthodox sensibilities to see her traipsing about with her legs exposed (because religious rules about modesty only apply to hot chicks).

Believe it or not, it gets worse...

--The episode shows a couple of teenage boys cheering the ghost on as he tells Velma that she's not hot enough to be attacked for immodesty. Her "friends" are right there as this happens; but none of them say or do anything to defend her. Presumably, it's because they agree with the ghost.

--There's a scene at Fred's house where Shaggy AND Scooby tease Velma by saying "What's wrong? Are you upset that you're not 'tempting' enough to get onto the ghost's hit list?"
Again, I am not exaggerating! This happens! These two are back to behaving like total assholes toward her for no goddam reason!!

--Later in the episode, Velma is sitting in the back of the van fiddling on her laptop while the gang sets traps. Scooby gets into the van, smiles, and snuggles up next to her. At first I thought this show might be attempting a cute Scooby/Velma friendship scene. But, surprise surprise, when Velma asked, "Why are you sitting so close to me?", Scooby replied, "Since the ghost doesn't want you, you're the safest place to be right now!".
Well, at least he's not trying to bite off her face or calling her a slut like he was for half of season one. I guess calling her ugly is somewhat of an improvement. -_-

--At the end of the episode, it turns out the ghost was a pair of teenage boys who teamed up and staged the attacks so they could rescue the "hot" girls and gain their affections. The boys went out of their way to avoid attacking/rescuing Velma because EEEEW! WHAT MAN IN HIS RIGHT MIND WOULD WANT TO DATE A FATTIE, AM I RITE?!?!?? I MEAN, JUST LOOK AT THIS MONSTROUS HAM-BEAST!!!!



YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL IT'S A GIRL UNDER THAT FRUMPY TIGHT SWEATER AND MINI-SKIRT!!!!!!



CLEARLY, DAPHNE IS THE ONLY "REAL WOMAN" IN THIS PICTURE!! VELMA'S BODY HAS ICKY BIG BOOBIES AND HIPS AND A BUTT!!! WHAT TEENAGE BOY IN HIS RIGHT MIND WANTS A WOMAN WITH BIG BOOBIES AND HIPS AND A SHAPELY ASS!?!?!? NONE, THAT'S HOW MANY!!!!!
[/end angry bra-burning sarcasm]


**sigh**
I tried to give the-show-that-shall-not-be-named another chance because I heard that one of the other season two episodes was focused on Scooby and Velma trying to become BFFs again. I'm pretty sure that whatever good things happened in that episode were just erased when Scooby teamed up with her douchebag ex-boyfriend to remind her how fat, ugly, and unappealing she is.

This shit has no place in a children's show! It's cruel, inappropriate, insulting to the franchise & characters, and just plain wrong. And a vindictive part of me hopes that the reason this show got shafted with long hiatuses and bad scheduling and whatnot is because some executive realized what a mistake this show was and is doing all s/he can to help it die a quiet death.



I should have known better than to do this again.

FUCK THIS SEXIST FUCKING SHOW AND THE CREEPY MISOGYNIST DOG IT RODE IN ON!!!!!

Comments

[rezo-eris.livejournal.com]

Now that this is mentioned, I'm starting to think this is the case. SOMEONE on the staff, perhaps Victor Cook himself, is a fan of Family Guy's Meg bashing and wants to try it with Velma in order for the show to be "edgy." Big mistake.

[brendala.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Even if you ignore the issues with sexism and fat-shaming; turning a classic character who had always been treated respectfully in the past into a punching bag for no good reason is just WAY too mean-spirited for a children's show.

[rezo-eris.livejournal.com]

And one who's traditionally been one of THE most useful and integral members of the gang, too! WHY would you want to treat that person as the group punching bag when pretty much ALL the others are better candidates?

[brendala.livejournal.com]

And it just feels really skeevy that Velma is now being torn down for something that isn't her fault.


A Pup Named Scooby Doo kinda made Fred into the token punching bag. I know a lot of old school fans who HATE Pup because of that. But I don't mind that show because Fred's treatment never felt hateful. Pup did a great job of mocking franchise cliches in a light-hearted and respectful way. When MI does it, it just comes across as mean-spirited.

[rezo-eris.livejournal.com]

Again, Velma (along with Scooby) is one of the last people I'd think would be the token punching bag. Shaggy, Fred, and even Daphne make more sense. And you're right: MI walks the very thin line between poking fun and being mean-spirited with it's humor alot.

[brendala.livejournal.com]

And you're right: MI walks the very thin line between poking fun and being mean-spirited with it's humor alot.

Sometimes it's hard to tell if the MI creators like the franchise and just made some BAD decisions when they made their reboot. Or if they HATE Scooby Doo and are using this show to vent their malice.

[rezo-eris.livejournal.com]

I'd like to think it's the former, given all the references they've put in (Van Ghoul, Hex Girls, all of "Mystery Solvers State Finals", but still no Red Herring yet. :( ). They're just lousy at executing "self parody" humor or whatever. When you do that, it ought to be affectionate. MI's style doesn't feel very affectionate far too often.

[brendala.livejournal.com]

Since Pup Named Scooby Doo is my favorite Scooby show, I'm actually relieved that MI hasn't referenced it yet. I don't want MI to taint it's happy, angst-free innocence.


Fun Fact: I could be wrong about this, but I'm pretty sure that Pup had the first instance of two Scooby characters saying "I love you" to each other. Those characters were Scooby and Velma.
So, yeah, I hope MI continues to ignore Pup and all it's wacky side characters.

[rezo-eris.livejournal.com]

Red Herring is the one thing from Pup I've been wanting MI to have since day one, simply because I always wanted to see a grown-up version of him. Anything else and every other wacky side character can be left out completely but damnit, I want Red Herring in here somewhere!