Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! - S01E01 - Mystery 101 - Toonstalgia

Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! - Mystery 101

Season 1, Episode 1

Premiered October 5, 2015

Quickly

The gang accompanies Velma to a college interview.

Thoughts, Details and Recap

I avoided this series when it first premiered. I felt an aversion to the art style. I tried it because it was on Boomerang. This rates as one of my top 3 favorite Scooby-Doo series.

The episode opens with a father bringing his reluctant son to Kingston University and reminiscing about how he was a reluctant student just like his son. They are attacked by the ghost of Elias Kingston. This episode establishes that the series will take established lore and reimagine it. Elias Kingston first appeared in the episode "What the Hex is Going on?" from Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?

Velma is stressing over her interview at Kingston University. Daphne reassures her with puppets. Even rewatching it, Daphne's puppet antics make me laugh. The scene establishes the dynamics that will carry through the series. Daphne is kind of wacky with a different obsession in each episode. This is a familiar character from cozy cop shows like Psych where Gus would often have a coincidental interest that related to that week's murder. Daphne develops fixations that may be helping her to understand something. Shaggy and Scooby walk up with a cake and wearing costumes. Scooby literally shakes off his costume. It's a wackier gang with a few new traits but it's building on the character development from previous series.

Daphne accidentally puts the van into gear. Fred uses his remote to prevent property damage. They arrive at a service station where the attendant tells them about the ghost of Elias Kingston. They get to Elias Kingston University and run into campus security. Velma has her meeting with the dean. The dean challenges Velma to solve the mystery of the ghost to secure her place at the school.

They split up to search. Scooby and Shaggy find their way to the vending machines. Elias Kingston finds them. Velma, Daphne and Fred search the Dean's office and that leads them to the library. Scooby and Shaggy flee to the library where Elias Kingston causes the gang to knock over every bookshelf. I've never really liked the domino bookshelf gag but that's so minor a complaint.

The gang is a bit upset about their failures. Daphne's puppets help the gang reconcile. The book they found helps Fred figure out the answer to the mystery. They go to investigate on a roof. Fred falls. Scooby and Shaggy immediately jump into action to save Fred. I love this. It's a character trait that's often forgotten about Shaggy and Scooby. They are afraid of ghosts but they are also courageous when someone they care about has often been lost in favor of humorous cowardice.

They don't really have a trapping time moment. Elias Kingston attacks them. They accidentally trap him. They unmask Elias Kingston. The identity of Elias is not surprising because there were very few characters in the episode.

Velma decides to stay with her friends for now and enjoy the learning experiences they offer.

The characters are heightened but the reality they live in is heightened too. Everyone is a little weirder.

There are inventive gags throughout the episode. Daphne's puppets show up many times and the jokes are great. It's different than the "Too Many Dummies!" because the puppets aren't telling jokes and sometimes they're not even talking. This is one of the best uses of the "Fred is obsessed with tricking out the Mystery Machine" gag ever with his security system.