IR TV Review: VELMA - EPISODES 1 & 2 [HBO Max]

Like "Harley Quinn” in a different realm, "Velma" seeks to reinvent in a certain way the ideals and perceptions of certain "Scooby Doo" characters both with a sense of irony as well as true motivations. Mindy Kaling as Velma spearheads the ideal making her path one based in both the loss of a mother, an opportunistic and yet delusion at times father and a best friend in Daphne (who has forsaken her to be with the more popular girls). Shaggy as a play is actually well done because it reinvents him for a new generation but similar on a path that might be predestined.

Fred is the most diametric and cartoony just in the way he is built (almost to the point that there might be no redemption). A certain mutt is not quite in the picture but demons that haunt Velma are so there is a sense of what might be in store, mystery solver or not. Velma has the sleuthing down and her frumpiness is done as a style of choice to try to be who she really is. The questions Episode 1 and 2 creates is how does this make her who she is and will it make her feel more alienated or protected? Just like "Harley" but without the insane rambunktiousness that character has, "Velma" points to a girl still trying to figure out who she is while being immensely smart and socially awkward without a way to really redeem the other. B

By Tim Wassberg