Scooby-Doo fans are not liking Velma at all

Velma – the new animated series that serves as a spin-off and prequel to Scooby-Doo, broadcast by the American streaming service Hbo Max – boasts the kind of pedigree that usually heralds guaranteed success. Signed by actress, writer and producer Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project), who also doubles the eponymous protagonist, the show is the origin story Of one of pop culture’s most beloved nerdy characters. As RiverdaleAlso Velma takes a staple of children’s entertainment and gives it a more adult twist. Despite the premises, however, the series has become the favorite target of criticism on the internet.

On Twitter many users are criticizing the attempt Velma to make sharp humor on the subject of the so-called culture warsthe culture wars. The parodies that are circulating on the social network they focus especially the storylines of the series. Forbes instead he gave an account of the rants against Velma — showrunner Charlie Grandy, “Kalin’s regular collaboratorg” and “the son of a former Love Boat star ”, would have been for example “accused of nepotism” –, then publishing another article with an eloquent title: Why everyone hates Velma. As usual, the truth behind the story is complicated. Despite the vitriolic criticisms, the ratings of the series are good; according to Hbo Max, the pilot episode of Velma it was the most viewed ever for an animated series. The problem is that the show is continually compared to the Scooby-Doo franchise as a whole.

The protagonist, Velma precisely, is represented as a young woman originally from South Asia and openly queer. However, it would be simplistic to attribute criticism to racism and/or homophobia (which in any case probably play a role in the story): in this case, the phenomenon has deeper roots. The most frequent complaints about the series do not seem to concern the fact that the theme of diversity enters within the Mysteries and the likethe group of investigators that Velma is a part of: the problem seems rather the flat and monochord mode with which the topic is addressed. When it comes to the Velma’s sexuality – an issue that has been the subject of debate for years – any approach needs the right depth.

For decades, across the myriad of character-driven series, films, and shorts from Scooby-Doo, the writers implied that Velma was homosexual. In early versions of her, she was definitely portrayed as a lesbian; few years ago James Gunnwriter of two live-action Scooby-Doo films in the early 2000s, said Velma was “explicitly gay“ in his 2001 screenplay.”However, the studio continued to rehash the story, first by making her sexuality ambiguous, then by removing all references and finally by giving Velma a boyfriend.”. During Pride month 2020, Tony Cervone, producer of the 2011 animated series Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporatedmade a post on Instagram to point out that her Velma “he is not bisexual. He is gay “.