Streaming Standard: Scooby Doo- Mystery Incorporated

Well, it's been about 18 months, so it's probably time for an update.

This is honestly a show that I never expected to get into.  Thanks to Streaming, however, I've watched the entire First (of Two) Season!  Let's just dive right into...

Let me preface this review by saying one thing: I have never been a Scooby-Doo fan.  Not as a kid.  Not as an Adult.

The only show I really liked was The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo.  The reason: Vincent Price.  That said...

I really like this show.  I know- I'm as surprised as you are!

The plot of the show involves the Gang living in a town famous for its 'monsters' and 'spooks.'  The problem: Mystery Inc keeps catching and disproving them. This makes The Mayor unhappy.  Oh and The Mayor is Fred's Father, by the way.

The Characters play to their one-note pretty well.  Fred is obsessed with Traps.  Daphne is obsessed with Fred.  Shaggy and Scooby are, well, you know.  They do something interesting with Velma though...

Yes, Shaggy and Velma are dating!  Hide your Slash-Fiction!

The show plays off of the other versions- there are like 1,000- without changing the continuity too much.  They throw in nice nods to the earlier shows throughout.  In one Episode, the villain is related to a villain on the original show called The Creeper.  In another, they briefly mention what happened to Flim-Flam, the character who was only on 13 Ghosts, and actually explain why Fred wasn't on the show.  Touche.

Naturally, every Episode has some sort of 'monster' with some scheme.  That's nothing new.  What is new, however, is..

A Chapter-Based Story!  Yes, a story that spans the whole series.  Ho-ly shit.

It's not a big thing for most shows, but it's a real first for this property.  The closest they've come is the 'Catch all of the Ghosts' plot that made up 13 Ghosts.

Speaking of 13 Ghosts, they bring back Vincent Van Ghoul!  Granted- he's not voiced by Vincent Price (on account of him being dead for the last 20 years), but instead by Maurice LaMarche.  This show features a slew of recognizable Actors and Voice Actors.  You've got Gary Cole, Patrick Warburton, Jeffrey Combs (as an H.P. Lovecraft analog) and even...Harlan Ellison.

Yeah, that happens.

In summary, this is one of those shows that kind of grows on you.  The worst part is that only the first Season is on Streaming right now.  I have to use actual Discs to watch the rest of the show (which just wrapped up in April)?!?  Oh, the humanity!

If you like Animation and want something to watch on a rainy afternoon, give this one a look.  If you get a few episodes in, you may find yourself hooked.  It's much better than I ever could have guessed.  It's main plot- involving a treasure hunt and a previous Mystery Inc.- builds slowly and actually kind of intrigues me.  I'm halfway through the show and now I kind of want to know what happens next.

*Update: I'm most of the way through Season Two (now on Netflix Steaming) and it's still good.*