A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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Positive Messages
some
Messages can be strong and called out explicitly in dialogue: Female characters of color can and should be the centerpiece of stories, and teamwork is important when it comes to getting things done. But a focus on teasing and snark, as well as a tendency to artlessly state meta messages makes these themes harder to swallow.
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Positive Role Models
a little
Velma is a strong character who has agency and self-confidence; the viewer never doubts she'll accomplish what she puts her mind to. Unfortunately, relationships between characters are compromised by snark and teasing.
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Diverse Representations
some
This show is upfront about its diversity, referencing the fact that it's an origin story about a girl, and including many jokes about race, ethnicity, sexual identity, and gender, mocking those who are clueless about their own privilege. Main roles are voiced by people of color, including the South Asian Velma, voiced by Mindy Kaling.
Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.
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Violence & Scariness
some
Violence is a shade more intense than viewers might expect given the comic tone. We see dismembered body parts, dead bodies, dripping blood and brains, bones. Velma hallucinates a werewolf-like monster who appears and sometimes invades her body, bursting out of her belly and sending tentacles into her eyes.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
See AlsoVictoria Jones -
Sex, Romance & Nudity
a little
Same- and opposite-sex flirting, dating, and crushes. One scene contains an extended same-sex kiss that causes reverberations in the plot. The word "slu*t" is thrown around in jokes: "She was the rare slu*t who didn't deserve to be murdered." In a non-sexual scene high school girls are nude; we see backsides and the shape of breasts, but nipples are obscured by soap.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Language
some
Cursing includes "bitch," "hell," and "ass," vulgar language includes "sucks" and "puss" (i.e. a coward). Characters use insulting language to refer to each other: "loser," "basic bitch," "slu*t."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
A minor character smokes cigarettes; a major character sells drugs, which figures into this show's plotline.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Velma is an animated update/spin-off of the beloved 1970s cartoon Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? But this one is intended for adults: There's much more mature material here than in the original. Violence is often played for laughs but may be more intense than parents expect given the comic tone: Dead bodies of murder victims are discovered, heads come open, and purplish matter drips out. A main character sells drugs, and a minor one smokes cigarettes. Sexuality includes flirting and crushes, and a long, passionate kiss. Language includes "bitch" and "hell." On the plus side, diversity is strong in this series, which is built around a South Asian female lead (Mindy Kaling provides Velma's voice) and includes several other roles voiced by people of color.
What's the Story?
Someone's murdering the hottest girls in Crystal Cove, and it's up to VELMA (voiced by Mindy Kaling) to find out who, with the help of her mystery-solving pals Daphne (Constance Wu), Fred (Glenn Howerton), and Norville (Sam Richardson). Along the way, Velma hopes to solve the mystery of why her mom (Sarayu Blue) never came home one day. But she'll have to overcome her own failings as a sleuth and a person if she hopes to accomplish anything at all. Created by Charlie Grandy (The Office), this series features many of the same characters in vintage kids cartoon series Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (not Scooby, though).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about abusive relationships and how they are portrayed in the series. How is Velma affected by her relationship with Daphne? What steps does she take to heal after being subject to bullying from Daphne and her friends? Do you know of any real-life examples of abuse and bullying?
Families can also talk about how violence is used in this series. Is there any justification for the violent behavior of the characters? Do you believe series like this one desensitize viewers to violent images in a detrimental way?
Velma is aware that her ethnic background and gender works against her in American culture and that stories about this type of person are relatively rare. How does she transcend stereotypes that others may have about her? Does she triumph as the hero of her own story?
