Velma

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.