DVD Reviews

Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated: Season 1 V.3 – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Oct 9, 2011, 20:58 GMT

THE ADVENTURES OF A TALKING DOG AND HIS FOUR HUMAN PALS AS THEY TRY TO UNRAVEL THE STRANGE AND HAUNTED HISTORY OF THEIR HOMETOWN. THE TONE IS COMEDIC, BUT IT WILL NEVER LOSE THE EDGE THAT OUR HEROES ARE IN SOME FRIGHTENING SITUATIONS. THE STAKES ARE REAL. ...more

Where there’s a mystery to be solved you’ll find the Mystery Machine and a gang of meddling kids.  You’ll also find my enrapt three-year-old glued to the television.  We had to watch it twice, not that I minded too much.

Fred (Frank Welker), Velma (Mindy Cohn), Daphne (Grey DeLise), Shaggy (Matthew Lilliard), and their dog Scooby (Welker again) are a group of meddlesome kids that solve the mysteries of the town of Crystal Cove.  Fred’s dad Mayor Jones (Gary Cole) is always trying to find a way to make some cash and Sheriff Stone (Patrick Warburton) is a bit dunderheaded.

There’s an overarching mystery provided by clues from the mysterious Mr. E (Lewis Black), but until they can put all of those together the gang is always finding another mystery to solve. 

Battle of the Humongonauts: A pair of gigantic creatures is destroying properties in Crystal Cove, but Scooby also discovers that Velma and Shaggy might be dating.  Velma tells Shaggy that he has to decide between her and the dog.

Howl of the Fright Hound: A monstrous dog is causing havoc in town and Sheriff Stone thinks that Scooby is the one responsible and imprisons him.  So now the gang has to unravel the mystery before Scooby has to pay for the crimes. 

The Secret Serum: A vampire is stealing things from various locations in Crystal Cove and the gang suspects Daphne’s mother as the bloodsucker.  This suspicion and Velma’s annoyance at Shaggy causes the team to break up. 

The Shrieking Madness:  The gang separately converges on Darrow College.  Velma is there to get her books signed by Harlan Ellison (voiced by Ellison, but looking like his 1970 self), but the creation of author H.P. Hatecraft (Jeffrey Combs) springs to life and the gang has to begrudgingly come together to solve the mystery. 

Mystery Incorporated (or Mystery In-kork-orated as my son calls it) is a fun series that both has a hip vibe as well as flashing back to the old show.  There’s enough to keep both the kids interested as well as enough winking for the adults to enjoy it.  Hence I didn’t cringe too badly when my kid wanted to immediately watch all the episodes again. 

I got a real kick out of the Shrieking Madness with all the Lovecraft digs as well as having Combs voice H.P. and Harlan Ellison appearing as himself.  I still grumble a bit that they’re not releasing the whole season instead of dribbling out volumes.  Especially since the episodes I really enjoyed and would want won’t appear until volume five or six.  I guess until then we can watch and re-watch this one. 

Scooby Doo is presented in widescreen (1.85:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions.  The only special feature is a group of trailers for other Warner Brothers products.

I can’t argue too much since I like the show, but I wish a complete first season was in hand instead of this volume.  Until then just hit “play all” and enjoy.

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