What's New Scooby-Doo?: The Unnatural (2003)

 

The final episode of the first season of What's New Scooby-Doo is one of the weaker episodes. 

In this episode the gang goes to a baseball game and discovers it is being haunted by the ghost of former baseball player, Cab Creig. The gang has another mystery on their hands. 

The main problem with this episode is that the ghost himself is very forgettable. His design looks just like a bunch of ghosts we have seen in previous Scooby mysteries with nothing to make him stand out. As well as this neither his voice nor design feel creepy or threatening. The humor also falls flat through much of this episode. The baseball setting also does not feel very atmospheric and does not have the spooky feel that is in the best Scooby episodes.

However there is still enough for Scooby fans to enjoy here. The mystery is pretty well handled with some good misdirection throughout. Also the baseball player who the gang befriends, Luis Santiago is quite a likable character. 

This is definitely a weaker episode from this season but there is still enough for Scooby fans to enjoy.   

What's New Scooby-Doo?: Pompeii and Circumstance (2003)

 

A fun episode.

In this episode the gang takes a trip to Italy. However they soon discover that there is a zombie gladiator roaming around. Before you can say Jinkies, the gang has another mystery on their hands. 

There is a lot of fun to be had with this episode. The mystery is quite well done with multiple completely believable suspects. The villain is quite creepy and dangerous, actually putting our heroes in real danger instead of just scaring them. This makes the chase scenes here more suspenseful than the average Scooby chase scene. There is also a real sense of atmosphere here as Pompeii proves to be an excellent location for a Scooby mystery. This is especially true of the night scenes which have a delightfully creepy feel to them. The scene in the gladiator arena is especially effectively creepy. 

The only real problem with this episode is that the humor often falls flat.

All in all this is definitely a fun episode.  

What's New Scooby-Doo?: Lights Camera Mayhem (2003)

 

A delightful episode. 

In this episode the gang visits a movie studio. However, they soon find that an action film's production is being hampered by a ghost who is demanding that they stop filming immediately. The gang gets jobs as stunt doubles so that they can solve the mystery. 

There is a lot to enjoy about this episode. The ghost's design and voice are fantastic. There is a real creepy feel to this character that reminds one of the monsters in Scooby-Doo! Where Are You? The ghost also feels like a real threat to our heroes as he actually puts them in real danger rather than just scaring them. The humor in this episode also works very well. There are quite a few great jokes. The idea of cartoon characters being stunt doubles is a standard cartoon story, but this episode still manages to get some very good laughs out of it. The scene with Velma doing her stunt is especially funny. The mystery is also very well done. The reveal of who it is makes perfect sense, yet it is not who you might automatically guess. 

This is a sheer delight for Scooby fans. 

What's New Scooby-Doo?: Toy Scary Boo (2002)

 

A really fun episode. 

In this episode, toys seem to come to life an wreak havoc in a toy store in the middle of the night. 

What makes this episode stand out is the idea of having a group of toys instead of one monster or ghost. This gives the episode a very unique feel, which makes it really stand out. It also helps that the toys feel like a real threat. While their designs are not creepy, the toys prove to be quite dangerous. In one scene they nearly kill the gang, when they are in an elevator. This gives the episode a very effective sense of suspense. The mystery is also very well handled here, with some great misdirection used throughout. 

My only real complaint about this episode is that the humor often falls flat with little of it being that funny here. 

This is a delight for Scooby fans.

What's New Scooby-Doo?: She Sees Sea Monsters by the Sea Shore (2002)

 

A really fun episode. 

In this episode the gang takes an island vacation. However, when Daphne goes surfing, she runs into a sea monster and the gang must get to the bottom of this mystery. 

There is a lot to enjoy about this episode. The sea monster has a wonderful design. This monster looks threatening to our heroes and the way her eyes are designed (as well as the lines around his neck) give her a very unique and effective look. The underwater scenes also have a very effective atmospheric feel to them. The humor, while not laugh out loud, did put a smile on my face. The chase scenes are quite fun and well done. The mystery is also quite well done with quite a few believable suspects. The reveal of who done it is actually a pretty good surprise. 

This episode is a joy to watch for Scooby fans.

What's New Scooby-Doo?: Safari So Goodi! (2002)

 

An okay episode. 

In this episode, the gang goes on a Safari. However the run into spooky yellow glowing demon animals. Before you know it, they have another mystery on their hands. 

This is not one of the strongest Scooby episodes. One of the main faults is that the humor consistently falls flat. This is especially true of the scenes involving Fred with his camera. This ongoing joke is often more annoying than funny. Even the usually reliable comedic antics of Scooby and Shaggy aren't as amusing as usual here. The demon animals are also not especially creepy or memorable. They simply look like regular animals only there is a yellow glow around them. 

However there is enough to enjoy about this episode for Scooby fans. The mystery is quite well done with multiple believable suspects. The Safari also provided this mystery with a good sense of atmosphere. 

This is not one of the best Scooby episodes, but it works well enough. 

What's New Scooby-Doo?: Roller Ghoster Ride (2002)

 

A really fun episode.

In this episode, the gang visits a theme park after Scooby and Shaggy win a contest. The also get to meet two sisters who run the park. However when various roller coasters get shut down due to a monster, the gang has another mystery on their hands. 

There is a whole lot to enjoy about this episode. The humor here is probably the best of any episode of this show yet. Nearly every gag lands perfectly. I especially love Scooby and Shaggy's idea for an all-you-can eat buffet crossed with a roller coaster (the idea that won them the contest) and how quickly Daphne goes from hating roller coasters to being addicted to them. The supporting characters, especially the sisters, are simply a lot of fun. Also, the mystery here is very well done, with some good misdirection. 

My only complaint is that the monster's design is rather bland and forgettable. 


This episode was written by the great Dwayne McDuffie. Superhero fans will immediately recognize this name. He has worked heavily in superhero comics, both for DC and Marvel. He was also one of the co-creators of the superhero Static (also known as Static Shock) and the comedic Marvel comic series Damage Control. As well as this he also wrote for such animated TV shows as Teen Titians, Justice League Unlimited and various of the shows in the Ben 10 franchise. He also wrote the direct to video animated movies,  Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010) and Justice League: Doom (2012). This episode marks his only Scooby-Doo! writing credit. 

What's New Scooby-Doo!: Riva Ras Regas (2002)

 

A fun but far from one of the best episode.

In this episode, the gang travels to Las Vegas to meet pop star, Lindsay Pagano. However, they soon find she is being haunted by the ghost of magician Rufus Raucous. 

There is quite a bit to recommend about this episode. The mystery is very well done, with lots of good twists and turns, that keep you trying to figure it out. The fact that there are quite a few suspects, who all make sense and some great misdirection used here that works very well here. When the villain is revealed, the result is surprising but makes perfect sense. The scenes involving magic also work quite well here with some great visuals. 

The humor here is hit and miss. Some of it is quite funny while some of it falls flat. The introduction of Fred's Elvis impression is not that funny but the scene in the steam bath that comes from it is very funny. Much of the slapstick with Shaggy and Scooby is quite fun as always. However everything that comes from the comedic magician Fancy Pants falls completely flat. While the joke is supposed to be that his jokes are bad, his jokes aren't bad in a funny way but rather an annoying way. 

The ghost here is also completely forgettable without anything truly memorable about his design or voice. The ghost never comes off as creepy even for a moment. 

This is far from one of the best episodes, but for Scooby fans it is still an enjoyable watch. 

What's New Scooby-Doo!: It's Mean, It's Green, It's the Mystery Machine (2002)

 

A very fun episode. 

In this episode the Mystery Machine seems to be running on its own and Scooby and Shaggy start to believe that it is haunted. 

This episode stands out because it has a very unique idea behind it. To have the ghost be the Mystery Machine rather than your typical ghost or monster of the week, is a wonderful idea that makes this episode feel like something very different. The idea of the Mystery Machine having a mind of its own also makes this episode feel more suspenseful as this is just as major of a threat as the best ghosts and monsters. Some of the sense have a real creepy feel to them and the use of green lighting gives this episode a really atmospheric look. It also great to get a look at the history of the Mystery Machine and why it looks the way it does and how the gang got it. The backstory is simple but quite good. The mystery of who is behind this is very well-done. There are quite a few suspects and all of them make perfect sense. 

The only real problem I have with this episode is that the humor is not that funny, but with how delightful everything else is, this is hardly a problem. 

An excellent and very unique Scooby mystery. 

What's New Scooby-Doo!: Big Scare in the Big Easy (2002)

 

An excellent episode. 

In this episode the Mystery Inc. Gang spend their spring break in New Orleans. When they discover that visitors are being scared by two civil war ghosts (one union, one confederate) known as the Leland Brothers, they have a new mystery on their hands. 

This is one of the best episodes of the first season of What's New Scooby-Doo. Much of this is due to a real good sense of atmosphere. New Orleans is a perfect setting for a Scooby-Doo mystery. The look of the city at night has a real creepy but very appealing look to it. Not only this but the scenes in the graveyard are also effective creepy. This sense of atmosphere is reminiscent of the original Scooby-Doo! Where are You series in the best way. Speaking about creepy, the opening scene (before we even see our heroes) is wonderfully done. The images in these scenes remind one of horror filmmaking at its best. This episode also benefits from a really well-done mystery that does not play out the way you would think at first. This is the type of mystery that keeps you guessing. The humor here is also very good, and the chase scene is one of the series' best. 

My only real complaint with this episode, is that the ghosts look too similar to many other Scooby-Doo villains, making them not especially memorable. 

All in all this is an excellent episode and a pure delight to Scooby fans. 

What's New Scooby-Doo!: 3-D Struction (2002)

 

A really fun episode. 

In this episode, Daphne's uncle invites the gang to Costa Rica to see a new museum exhibit on dinosaurs. However when the gang sees a 3-D movie about dinosaurs in the museum's theater, a giant dinosaur hops out of the screen and attacks the museum. Before you can say "jinkies" the gang has another mystery on their hands.  

There is a lot to enjoy here. Strangely enough before this episode the gang did not meet too many dinosaurs. The only real exception being The New Scooby and Scrappy Doo Show episode, The Dinosaur Deception (1983). The use of the dinosaur here is really effective. While his design is not especially creepy, it is very well done and threatening. The chase scenes with the dinosaur are also simply a lot of fun. The museum is a very effective and atmospheric setting for a Scooby mystery, especially during the night scenes. The mystery is very well done and every suspect is completely believable. Due to the focus being on the mystery aspect we feel like we get to solve the mystery along with the gang, which makes it feel all the more fun. 

My one real problem with this episode is that the humor often times feels like it should have been funnier. There are a few good gags but most of the jokes fall kind of flat. 

This episode was directed by Tim Maltby. Maltby had previously been a storyboard artist for the Scooby-Doo! direct to video films Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost (1999), Scooby-Doo! and the Alien Invaders (2000) and Scooby-Doo! and the Cyber Chase (2001). This episode was written by Ed Scharlach. This was his first time writing for Scooby-Doo. However he go on to write more episodes of this series as well as the direct to video movies, Scooby-Doo! and The Loch Ness Monster (2004), Aloha Scooby-Doo! (2005) and Scooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy (2005). 

All in all this is a fun episode, even if it doesn't rank among one of my favorite Scooby-Doo mysteries. 

What's New Scooby-Doo!: Space Ape at the Cape (2002)

 

A really fun episode. 

While visiting the Extraterrestrial Information Search (E.T.I.S.), where Velma won an award in the Future Scientist Contest, Velma gets to meet her hero scientist Janet Lawrence. Janet mentions that complications are getting in the way of her completing her newest experiment. The gang soon have another mystery on their hands when a space alien shows up. 

There is a lot to enjoy about this episode. Once again the mystery here is very well done. There are once again multiple subjects that make perfect sense. And once again solving this mystery is at the forefront of everything. Because of this we get to have fun trying to solve the mystery along with the gang. This episode also benefits from having strong supporting characters, each with their own unique personalities. While the humor in this episode may not be laugh out loud funny, it does work and can certainly put a smile on my face. The episode also finds good ways to use each of the members of the gang.

The major fault of this episode is that the monster is not all the memorable. The design is rather bland, making the monster neither as creepy nor as fun as it should have been. The monster's design also never makes it feel all that threatening. 

This episode was directed by Swinton Scott, who also directed the first episode of What's New Scooby-Doo! This episode was written by George Doty IV, who not only wrote episodes of this show, but also the animated direct to video movies, Scooby-Doo! and The Loch Ness Monster (2004) and Scooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy?). This episode marked his first time writing a Scooby mystery. 

All in all this is a fun episode, even if it isn't one of the most memorable. 

What's New Scooby-Doo!: There's No Creature Like Snow Creature (2002)

 

A fun start to a fun show. 

In the first episode of What's New Scooby Doo, the gang heads to the mountains to watch a snowboarding competition (of which Fred is a big fan). However the snowboarding competition may be off as a giant snow monster has appeared. 

What's New Scooby-Doo! was a return to the basics for the franchise. After the past few shows and movies had real monsters, members of the main gang missing, non-spooky adventures and the gang as kids, this show had the gang return to the original formula of all the gang solving mysteries involving monsters that are really bad guys in disguise. This first episode does a wonderful job of setting that up. There is a lot to enjoy here. The mystery is pretty well set up and unlike some earlier Scooby mysteries, there are multiple suspects, all of whom seem very likely to be the monster. Not only this but the main focus of the episode is on trying to solve the mystery, where much of the dialogue involves the gang trying to find out who done it. This gives us the feeling that we are solving the mystery along with the gang. The humor in this episode is also pretty good, with Fred's excitement over the snowboarding competition providing some good laughs. The chases and action scenes are also simply a lot of fun. 

The real problem with this episode is that the monster is rather generic and not especially memorable. The gang has faced snow monsters before, and there is little to make this monster stand out from the previous snow monsters. Because of this, the monster here is not one you will remember when you think of Scooby monsters. 

This is a really fun episode and a good return to the basics for the franchise.