Scooby-Doo is one of the most iconic properties in animation. The franchise has continued to reinvent itself and try new things to stay relevant for over 55 years. While the bulk of Scooby‘s projects are animated, we’ve seen the talking dog experiment with live-action on a few occasions. Of course, everyone knows the early 2000s movies with Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar. There’s also a new live-action Netflix series by Greg Berlanti. However, a recent series likely slipped under even the most devoted fans’ radar.
To be fair, 2022’s live-action Mystery Incorporated is not an “official” Scooby-Doo project. It features all the characters and settings we know but is entirely fan-made and crowd-funded. This show wanted to do something different with Scooby, borrowing elements of a conventional teen drama and dark occult-themed horror. This show could have been the next big thing, but only one episode was ever released. Logistical and budgetary issues tied up the remainder of the episodes. Despite the setbacks, the creators seem intent on finishing the original vision. So, is this show a faithful tribute to the crime-solving gang, and will we see the rest of the series ever fleshed out?
The Plot of Mystery Incorporated
Mystery Incorporated‘s pilot episode wastes no time in establishing its premise. It opens with gang leader Fred Jones, who’s just discovered his parents murdered at the hands of a red-eyed shadow demon. We then meet the rest of the gang in their typical Scooby-Doo archetypes. There’s the preppy Daphne, nerdy and socially awkward Velma, and loner Norville, who’s now explicitly a drug dealer after decades of hinting at that. Scooby is here, too, though he’s just a regular, non-talking dog. Each gang member operates individually until Fred and Velma meet by chance.
After observing Fred looking up information about his demon, Velma tells him that her mom claimed to have seen the same thing murder her dad. The skeptical Velma agrees to help Fred collect more data, culminating in the two exploring her mom’s occult-themed bookshop. There, they release another demon and accidentally open a portal to Hell.
Meanwhile, Daphne’s struggle is just as consequential. As Fred and Velma tackle demons who slaughtered their parents, Daphne discovers she might not win the election for Homecoming queen. That plot escalates when her cut-and-paste football jock boyfriend plots to plant drugs on Daphne’s rival, thus ruining her chances to win while also sabotaging her future. OK, these people take high school elections pretty seriously. Norville supplies the drugs at the school party he hosts under the pseudonym “Shaggy,” though no one knows his identity. At the party, Fred and Velma recite an ancient incantation to send the demon back to Hell while Daphne spills her rival’s spiked drink. All seems well until we’re reminded that the portal is still open, with 12 more demons set to come through it — end of Episode 1. Notably, the gang remains mostly separate in the episode, with Fred and Velma being the only two to meaningfully interact.
Die-Hard Scooby-Doo Fans Love the Vibe and Respect for the Franchise
No one can say this episode isn’t ambitious for a pilot. It almost feels like two shows mashed into one. There’s the conventional “high school” plot with Daphne and the darker supernatural storyline of Fred and Velma. But it works, as the traditional high school elements ground the story in a familiar (albeit more mature) Scooby-Doo setting. The demon portal allows the show to explore its wild side and tap into the mythology and paranormal aspects fans love. And those fans responded in kind. The pilot sits at a strong 7.3 out of 10 score on IMDb. The YouTube comments under the episode are filled with viewers praising the dark, mature tone (and bashing the Velma show in the process) and homage to the franchise as a whole. The Fred/Velma combo was singled out for praise, as it’s a pairing we rarely see.
The episode is filled with dozens of Easter eggs catering to die-hard Scooby fanatics. The book of demons Fred and Velma consult contains several villains from the OG series Scooby-Doo! Where Are You?. The “13 pillars” of demons is a nod to the classic ’80s show The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo!, which also followed the gang releasing demons. The show’s title itself refers to another fan-favorite series, the early 2010s animated Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.
Characters name-drop some iconic Scooby-Doo supporting players, like Ben Ravencroft from the movie Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost and Vincent Van Ghoul from 13 Ghosts. Fred’s attorney is even named Harvey Birdman, referencing Hanna-Barbera’s famous animated lawyer. Finally, The Hex Girls from Witch’s Ghost show up as Shaggy’s party band, where it’s revealed they’re working with the released demons. Fans praised the creators’ attention to detail and respect for the franchise, showing that it is possible to make a mature, adult-themed Scooby-Doo without sacrificing the spirit and themes of the original. Take notes, Velma.
Logistical Issues Have Tied Up the Remainder of the Episodes
With as beloved as the first episode is, why haven’t the crew produced more? When a project is crowd-funded, what you can accomplish is directly tied to how much the fans are willing to contribute. Several Reddit users noted they did donate to the second episode’s campaign but heard almost nothing in response.
The creators have provided periodic updates on the show’s Indiegogo page. They intended to begin work on the second episode shortly after the pilot was released but ran into unspecified behind-the-scenes issues. Pre-production was reportedly underway in early 2023 but was paused again after co-creator and “Fred” actor Dade Elza pursued another opportunity. They were also hampered by the WGA and SAG strikes, shutting down all work during the six-month period.
The most recent update from March 2024 says they are ready to return to work once all cast and crew members are available again. They treat each episode as a “movie” within a series, constantly seeking to up the ante. Producing several high-concept movies on a limited, crowd-funded budget is not a quick and easy task. The team is clearly passionate about continuing this story, and maybe we’ll see more action if they can sort out the logistical and financial issues. For now, the full pilot episode of Mystery Incorporated is available for free on YouTube.
