It’s surprising to see something that not only honors the original "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" series but also expands on its elements in fresh ways without feeling out of place, especially given how many disappointing Scooby-Doo projects there have been lately. I was expecting a fun time going in, but my initial impression wasn't stellar. The idea of Shaggy and Velma dating initially, only to break up because they were fundamentally incompatible and it would be an unhealthy relationship, seemed interesting. However, I felt like that storyline went on for too long during the first ten episodes. Both characters wanted things to work out, but it was obvious from the start that their relationship wouldn't last, so ending it sooner—perhaps in the first five episodes—would have been better. This is when Scooby became really unlikeable because he resented Shaggy having a girlfriend, even though later in the series, Scooby gets his own and Shaggy doesn’t mind. It felt like the showrunners just made him unlikable to force a breakup between Shaggy and Velma. Daphne's dialogue often reduced itself to "Will Fred f*** me?", and she lacked personality beyond that, but thankfully she improved later in the series, and it was nice when Fred and Daphne finally got together. Fred was fine for a while; his obsession with traps was dialed up to eleven, which was humorous if you think about it from an anime perspective. I heard somewhere that Mystery Incorporated's version of Fred was the best character in Scooby-Doo history, but I didn’t see it at first. Things got really interesting when Fred's parents were introduced. It turned out his mom, whom he believed died, was just a picture from a magazine, and the man he knew as his father had kidnapped him from his real parents as a baby—a huge betrayal. What’s heartbreaking is that even though the mayor treated Fred poorly and Fred constantly sought his approval, the mayor proved to be more of a loving father than his supposed "real" parents. The overall mysteries were well-crafted and cool, but I have another issue: they're some of the most predictable in Scooby-Doo history. There’s always a trade-off with these mysteries. Either there are around five suspects, leading to an overstuffed episode with underdeveloped characters, or there are only two suspects, one of whom is too obvious. The latter approach results in tighter scripts but doesn't lead to compelling mysteries. The supporting characters were pretty good, though. Patrick Warburton as Sheriff Stone was a highlight, and the sexual tension between him and Mayor Jones was palpable—though they had to give him a girlfriend in the form of another mayor, which is disappointing for my fan fiction aspirations. I don’t know if this is controversial, but I didn't care for Hot Dog Water as a character; her name and design made it hard to take her seriously, and she felt like a cheap imitation of Velma. I didn’t see them as a romantic pairing, but her ultimate sacrifice was well done and a fitting farewell. Mr. E and Professor Pericles were both great villains and intimidating—some of the best Scooby-Doo has ever offered. The Vincent Young tribute character was funny; I wish they had given Skipper Shelton more focus in an episode. Gary and Ethan were pretty much stereotypical "chads," and the parents were (mostly) a delight, while the Hex Girls' cameos are at least better than the one in Legend of the Vampire. Another problem is the show’s commentary. It was okay in the first episode, but it seems like the writers don't understand the meaning of “subtle.” The messages are so blatant and frequent that they become annoying and preachy. I came to watch a Scooby-Doo cartoon, not a critique on the American legal system. This would only work if it were more restrained and subtle. Overall, it’s a great show with some flaws, but the positives outweigh the negatives, making it, in my opinion, the best Scooby-Doo media ever created—a statement I'll defend to my grave if necessary. Happy Halloween everyone!

Source on TMDB