It would most likely be an understatement to say that Velma was not very effectively acquired when it was launched on HBO Max final 12 months. Serving as a Scooby-Doo prequel sequence, albeit one with none hint of Scooby-Doo himself, the present primarily adopted a brand new incarnation of Velma as voiced by Mindy Kaling. She had additionally served as an government producer on the present and helped creatively with placing it collectively alongside sequence creator Charlie Grandy. The thought was to do one thing completely different with the franchise, and it actually did accomplish that, for higher or for worse.
Velma was pummeled with dangerous evaluations upon its launch, touchdown an abysmal 7% score with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics had been a little bit extra type, although the sequence was nonetheless labeled rotten with a 40% approval score. There have been a wide range of complaints concerning the present, however one of the crucial outstanding is the accusation that Velma disrespects and even “ruins” the Scooby-Doo franchise. In a latest interview for Emmy Magazine (by way of ComicBook.com), Grandy addressed this criticism, clarifiying that Velma takes nothing away from Scooby-Doo, however merely as carved its personal little spot for itself someplace in that world.
“The unique Hanna-Barbera reveals are nonetheless on the market to observe. We will not be erasing the originals. We simply need to be a little bit ice planet on the outer areas of the Scooby-verse!”
Velma Was Created With the Best Intentions
Grandy additionally spoke about how Velma was put collectively. He recalled how enthusiastic Kaling was when she initially spoke to him about making a present for the brainiest member of Mystery Inc., a personality that every one too usually will get positioned on the sidelines to make room for Shaggy and Scooby’s antics. As Grandy explains:
“Mindy got here to me and mentioned she’d like to work on a narrative with Velma…She cherished the character and thought it might be humorous to have her on the heart of a present.”
Grandy additionally spoke concerning the variations made to the Mystery Inc. characters by way of look. While Fred Jones (Glenn Howerton) stays a white male, modifications had been made with the ethnicities of Velma, Norville (Sam Richardson), and Daphne (Constance Wu). Grandy explains that these characters will not be “rooted” to being white, however there was however some concern that the studio would not log off on making these modifications. However, the powers that be at Warner Bros. had been apparently thrilled concerning the thought, pleased with any character modifications so so long as the present could be “humorous and good.” As Grandy places it:
“None of those characters are rooted to being white. We had been fearful about going to Warner Bros. and asking them to do it, however they mentioned, ‘Do it. It’s time! Just ensure it is humorous and good!'”
You can stream the primary season of Velma on HBO Max. While a second season hasn’t been formally introduced by the streamer, there have been reviews of manufacturing already beginning on season 2. For as dangerous as many of the evaluations had been, the sequence had nonetheless drawn in excessive viewership, so maybe that was sufficient to safe the season renewal.