Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Scooby-Doo retread lacks laughs, has lots of violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Velma
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 28 parent reviews
Parents say this show is wholly inappropriate for children and is viewed as a major disappointment, with many reviewers labeling it as vulgar and offensive. While some acknowledge that it is intended for adults, the overall consensus is that it fails to capture the spirit of the beloved original characters, leading to strong discontent and warnings against watching it.
- inappropriate for children
- vulgar content
- disappointing adaptation
- misrepresentation of characters
- lacks humor
- promotes negative agenda
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 22 kid reviews
Kids say that this show is overwhelmingly disliked due to its unlikable characters, poor jokes, and the perceived degradation of beloved elements from the original franchise. Despite a few positive remarks, the overwhelming sentiment is that the show fails to resonate with audiences, leaving many feeling offended and disappointed.
- unlikable characters
- poor humor
- cultural insensitivity
- negative reception
- lack of nostalgia
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Someone's murdering the hottest girls in Crystal Cove, and it's up to VELMA (voiced by Mindy Kaling) to find out who, with the help of her mystery-solving pals Daphne (Constance Wu), Fred (Glenn Howerton), and Norville (Sam Richardson). Along the way, Velma hopes to solve the mystery of why her mom (Sarayu Blue) never came home one day. But she'll have to overcome her own failings as a sleuth and a person if she hopes to accomplish anything at all. Created by Charlie Grandy (The Office), this series features many of the same characters in vintage kids cartoon series Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (not Scooby, though).
Is It Any Good?
This animated reboot of the original 1970s cartoon classic has interesting ideas and an enviable cast, but it's foiled by writing that's too obvious and lacks freshness. Velma's obvious intention is to spoof dark teen dramas like Riverdale and Gossip Girl, while at the same time giving a mouthpiece to a female character who was largely overlooked in the original Scooby-Doo. That's a modern premise, and the approach is updated too: A meta series that's commenting on teen shows in general even as it's moving through its own soapy mystery.
The problem lies in execution. The show has several meta-style ironic comments, such as Daphne's comment that "the only hook a show needs is good storytelling." Right. So give us some! "Show, don't tell" is one the most universal and basic pieces of storytelling advice, so follow it. It would help if Velma had a kind streak to go along with its good intentions, but here, too, the writers make the wrong choice, amping up the hostility among female characters, and giving most characters overly flip, quippy dialogue. Those meddling kids deserve better.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about abusive relationships and how they are portrayed in the series. How is Velma affected by her relationship with Daphne? What steps does she take to heal after being subject to bullying from Daphne and her friends? Do you know of any real-life examples of abuse and bullying?
Families can also talk about how violence is used in this series. Is there any justification for the violent behavior of the characters? Do you believe series like this one desensitize viewers to violent images in a detrimental way?
Velma is aware that her ethnic background and gender works against her in American culture and that stories about this type of person are relatively rare. How does she transcend stereotypes that others may have about her? Does she triumph as the hero of her own story?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 12, 2023
- Cast : Mindy Kaling , Constance Wu , Sam Richardson
- Network : Max
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : December 11, 2025
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