HBO Max’s “Velma” is not your common Scooby-Doo present — and never simply because there’s actually no Scooby-Doo in it. Within the new animated sequence, which wrapped up its first season on Feb. 9, the world of Thriller Inc. will get an grownup twist with Mindy Kaling, Sam Richardson, Glenn Howerton, and Constance Wu voicing the roles of Velma Dinkley, Norville “Shaggy” Rogers, Fred Jones, and Daphne Blake, respectively.
The sequence, which was developed by Charlie Grandy, with Kaling serving as an govt producer, has a extra mature tone than basic cartoon specials and options bloody murders and even some nudity. However the greatest change to the beloved mystery-solvers cartoon comes on the finish of “Velma”‘s second episode — when Daphne kisses Velma!
This is the way it occurs: The present’s plot follows Velma, who loves fixing mysteries as a result of her mother was a thriller author. Nevertheless, her mom went lacking years again, and every time Velma tries to unravel a thriller now, she has terrifying, debilitating panic assaults. On high of that, Daphne and Velma was mates however had a dramatic falling out.
Within the first two episodes, some ladies in school are murdered and Fred is the primary suspect. However when Velma begins to research, these pesky panic assaults get in her approach. On the finish of episode two, Velma has one other panic assault when Daphne offers her some information about her mother’s disappearance, and the latter cannot work out a approach for her to snap out of it — so she kisses Velma. The panic assault ends, and soothing music performs. Daphne then asks if it labored. Velma says it did, so that they kiss some extra whereas a heartbroken Norville watches from afar.
Because the season progresses, Daphne and Velma’s relationship will get extra difficult. Within the aftermath of the kiss, they’ve a serious combat about if Daphne thinks she’s too fashionable for Velma. Velma additionally struggles with how she needs to label her emotions, since she all the time had a crush on Freddie, and Daphne is coping with her personal abandonment points. The duo make up however resolve to remain mates and put their romantic connection on the again burner.
But their emotions for one another come up for each ladies over and over. In episode eight, they staff up with Norville and his girlfriend, Gigi (voiced by Yvonne Orji), to comply with some clues concerning the serial killer, and whereas Velma and Daphne are trapped in a cave, they comply with check out being girlfriends. Within the cave, they discover the disembodied brains of the murdered ladies and in the end rescue them — together with Velma’s mother, Diya (Sarayu Blue).
In episode 9, Velma is targeted on getting her mother’s reminiscences again with Norville’s assist. Daphne and Fred conform to pretend date to allow them to get their recognition again after which Daphne can introduce Velma to the world as her girlfriend. Velma turns into satisfied that Norville’s dad is the serial killer and calls the cops, and Norville turns into livid and leaves their faculty. In the meantime, Daphne and Fred kiss, and Velma is mad that Daphne would betray her, although Daphne says it is only a ploy. Within the final episode, Velma listens to all of the voicemails Norville left her and is touched by his friendship, and he or she leaves him a heartfelt one in return.
All of it comes collectively within the season finale when Velma figures out that Fred’s mother, Victoria (Cherry Jones), is the actual assassin, and he or she was on the lookout for a mind to implant in Fred’s physique to make him the succesful son she all the time wished. As Velma, Daphne, and Fred attempt to escape her clutches, Daphne tells Velma she loves her. “I really like you, too, Norville,” Velma responds. Daphne is aghast, and Norville rushes in at that second to save lots of the day (and inadvertently kills Victoria).
Within the aftermath, the 4 mates cannot be additional aside, they usually’re all combating with one another. The present units up season two, hinting that the thriller is not essentially over and ghosts is likely to be actual in spite of everything. What this all means for Daphne and Velma’s relationship is unclear, however within the closing moments, they don’t seem to be collectively.
Daphne and Velma’s relationship — regardless of their estrangement within the season finale — is fairly big for the world of Scooby-Doo, because the cartoon has been lengthy held as a childhood basic. Many followers have been deciphering Velma as queer for years, and 2022’s “Trick or Deal with Scooby-Doo!” confirmed Velma growing a crush on a girl she meets. Many followers celebrated the second, because it was the primary time the character was canonically queer.
Nevertheless, that particular did not embody any implications about Daphne, who many followers have additionally considered as queer for years. James Gunn even revealed in 2020 that in his authentic script for 2002’s live-action “Scooby-Doo: The Film” (which stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne and Linda Cardellini as Velma), Velma was portrayed as homosexual and he or she and Daphne kissed.
It is disappointing that season one in every of “Velma” does not finish with the 2 characters fortunately coupled, particularly after it spent a lot time increase their relationship. The finale nods to a second season that appears like it might discover their dynamic extra, however given the turmoil at Warner Bros-Discovery within the wake of their merger, it is not but clear if the present will return for extra episodes. If that is the top of Daphne and Velma’s canonical romance, that is what fan fiction is for.
