Velma is an American adult animated mystery television series that was based on the character Velma Dinkley from the Scooby-Doo franchise. Developed and created by Charlie Grandy for HBO Max, it stars executive producer Mindy Kaling as the voice of the titular character, with Sam Richardson, Constance Wu and Glenn Howerton in supporting roles. Grandy also serves as the showrunner of the series. It revolves around Velma Dinkley and the other human members of Mystery Inc. before their official formation, making it the first television series in the franchise to not feature the character Scooby-Doo.
The series premiered on January 12, 2023. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the voice acting and animation, but were divided towards the humor and criticized its meta storytelling, characterization, writing, and departures from the Scooby-Doo mythos. Audience reception was overwhelmingly negative.
A second season is in production in anticipation of getting a 2024 release.
Plot
The series serves as an alternate universe origin story for Mystery Inc., pitched as a "love quadrangle" between them. It primarily focuses on Velma Dinkley as she tries to solve a mystery regarding the disappearance of her mother, as well as the murders of local teenage girls.
Voice cast
Main
Mindy Kaling as Velma Dinkley, a snarky teenage would-be detective, who has a crush on murder suspect Fred Jones. She has a lifelong passion for solving mysteries that she inherited from her mother, but since her disappearance years prior, Velma is a lot more cautious regarding mysteries and has horrific guilt-based hallucinations whenever she attempts to solve one. She is partially modeled after Kaling and is portrayed as a bisexual South Asian American. Glenn Howerton as Fred Jones, a popular but dimwitted 16-year-old murder suspect, and Velma's crush who is the heir to the Jones Gentlemen Accessories fashion line. He is also a noted late bloomer in terms of puberty. He is the only original Mystery, Inc. member depicted as white, as in other Scooby-Doo media. Sam Richardson as Norville Rogers, Velma's best friend and a school news reporter, who has a crush on her and frequently brings up how much he hates drugs. He is portrayed as African American, and is exclusively referred to by his real first name instead of his familiar nickname, Shaggy. He also does not share the original Shaggy's cowardice, although his love of snacks remains. Constance Wu as Daphne Blake, a popular girl and Velma's former best friend, who has "complicated feelings" for her. Raised by two adoptive mothers, Daphne hopes to discover her biological parents. This version is portrayed as East Asian American.