The List of Every Major Change Velma Made To Scooby-Doo's Characters
Scooby-Doo fans are shocked by the changes the HBO Max's R-rated spinoff made to the beloved characters from the classic cartoons.
HBO Max 's adult animated show Velma premiered on January 12, 2023, and quickly came under attack for its take on the fan-favorite original Scooby-Doo cartoons and the Mystery Inc. gang. With an astonishing number of negative reviews, Velma has taken a beating on all major rating platforms. The show has a single-digit rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes and falls under the 2.0 mark on IMDb. The scores are dropping with every new review.
So what is all the outrage about? Let's look at the major changes to the beloved Mystery Inc. characters Velma made.
Diverse Cast
The mystery-solving gang in Velma has undergone a change in the race of its characters due to race-blind casting. Velma portrayed by Mindy Kaling has become South Asian, Daphne played by Constance Wu is Asian, and Shaggy voiced by Sam Richardson is Black.
Velma's Background
The HBO Max's show has drastically changed Velma's background. Apart from new names and professions, her family has undergone a tragedy. Her mother went missing, and her father started a new relationship. He pays lots of attention to his new girlfriend and their upcoming baby, which infuriates Velma.
Velma's Hallucinations
Unlike the original Velma, the HBO Max's version experiences terrifying hallucinations triggered by a mystery. This supernatural feature is caused by her guilt over her mother's disappearance.
Daphne's Family
In Velma, Daphne Blake's backstory differs greatly from the original series. Daphne is adopted and does not know who her biological parents are. Additionally, her adoptive parents are a lesbian couple who are police detectives.
Fred's Entitlement
Fred Jones' background has been expanded upon. His parents who run a successful business pamper their son. In Mindy Kaling's Velma Fred is portrayed as a spoiled rich kid who is unable to perform basic tasks without the help of a servant.
Shaggy's Character
Shaggy has undergone the biggest change. He now goes by his birth name, Norville Rogers, is highly ambitious, and is nothing like the laid-back Shaggy from the classic series. Additionally, his famous appetite has been replaced by the exotic tastes of a foodie.
Bisexuality
The canon confirmed Velma as a lesbian, but the HBO Max show adds a new dimension by depicting Velma and Daphne kissing in Episode 2. It is also shown that both girls are attracted to Fred which makes them bisexual.