Max Cancels Controversial Spinoff Series After Two Seasons
Following two years of lackluster critic reviews and repeated failures to try and find a committed audience, Max has finally pulled the plug on Velma, the controversial Scooby-Doo spin-off that nobody really asked for to begin with. Created by Mindy Kaling and Charlie Grandy, Velma attempted to put a modern spin on a classic cartoon character who was often referred to as boring and nothing more than an uninspired supporting character.
Despite catering to its intended adult audience by including mature plotlines such as murder and complicated romantic relationships, the animated series was never able to find its footing.
Velma Canceled
After announcing the cancellation of Velma, a Max spokesperson applauded the efforts of the creative team behind the show, who attempted to reinvent a character from the ground up.
“Over the past two seasons, Mindy and Charlie have created an incredibly fun and fresh world within the iconic whodunit franchise,” the statement reads. “While we won’t be moving forward with another season of the series, we thank them for their compelling coming-of-age storytelling, unrivaled clues, and hilarious hijinks.”
A Wave Of Criticism
After premiering on Max on January 12, 2023, Velma quickly earned a wave of harsh criticism for its daring approach to its titular character.
Many reviews noted Kaling and Grandy’s effort to create a unique story that wasn’t afraid to push the envelope. But the show’s overall narrative was ripped for its lack of the “sleuthing, silliness, ghouls, and ‘meddling kids'” that many fans of the original show had hoped to see.
The majority of critics described the show’s attempt to push Velma into the modern world as a major misstep, adding that the show was more concerned with being edgy or self-aware than offering a coherent story that engaged viewers.
Fans Hated It
If being universally trashed by critics wasn’t bad enough, Velma also faced an onslaught of negative feedback from fans, earning a putrid 7% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season.
Many fans were “stunned” by the show’s departure from the classic and fun-loving nature of the original Scooby-Doo franchise. With over 79,000 ratings on IMDb, Velma currently sports an overall rating of 1.6/10, which makes it one of the most poorly-rated shows out there.
Other Attacks On Velma
While many fans have criticized the show’s artistic choices and the lack of that charming Scooby-Doo nostalgia, other fans were quick to wage racist and homophobic attacks on Velma. They disagreed with the choice to portray the titular character as South Asian, as well as exploring her own bisexuality.
The online backlash that Velma faced likely heavily influenced the show’s poor audience rating, but Kaling and Grandy refused to change directions or alter the show’s tone, standing by their vision.
Mindy Kaling’s Thoughts
Before the show premiered, Kaling spoke to Entertainment Weekly regarding the decision to reinvent Velma Dinkley’s entire backstory and her choice to voice the character, despite initially having some reservations.
“We knew it would be fun for me to play Velma, but we had a conversation where Velma is white,” Kaling revealed.
But as the creative team discussed all of the possibilities, they realized that they had “this new choice to do the show, and if I’m voicing her, should she be white or should she not?”
Trusting Her Gut
After being inspired by the success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and noting that multiple versions of the same character doesn’t dilute the quality of the original, Kaling decided trust her gut. She pointed to her ability to identify with Velma not because of the character’s skin color, but because of the type of person that the teen detective is.
After first seeing a South Asian Velma in action for the first time, Kaling admits that they all felt like they “kept the heart of the show.”
Source: EW
