Despite being a massive Scooby Doo fan for goodness knows how long, expectations were somehow not high for 'Be Cool Scooby Doo' prior to giving it a chance. The advertising in my mind was terrible and the animation style, one of the franchise's least appealing, was very off putting. Still gave it a chance as a fan of the franchise and of animation in general and there are films and shows that have bad advertising but turn out to be good and this was one of them.
While not one of the best episodes of 'Be Cool Scooby Doo', "Saga of the Swamp Monster" is still hugely entertaining and still a very good episode. The first half of Season 1 was rather inconsistent, though neither of the episodes fit my definition of bad, but the second half felt much more settled with a higher number of very good and more episodes. Something that was actually even stronger in Season 2. It is very easy to not give 'Be Cool Scooby Doo' a chance because of the animation style, but it is for me a case of not judging a book by its cover (or in the show's judging a show by its visuals).
Admittedly, the animation is not really to my taste and it never was, it did get better in Season 2 but almost every other Scooby Doo show fared better in the animation style (with only 'Get a Clue' being worse). Here though, it has never looked attractive and instead looks scrappy, flat and borderline psychedelic looking.
The reveal is another very predictable, there was something about the perpetrator as soon as they were introduced that immediately screamed guilty.
However, there is a huge amount to love about "Saga of the Swamp Monster". Despite the predictable reveal, the monster is still cool and menacing and the motive was not an obvious one or an extreme or silly one. The episode also delivers brilliantly on the humour and the nostalgia. Shaggy and Scooby's hot sauce challenge is classic Shaggy and Scooby and very true to old Scooby Doo. The alligator detective gag was also very funny and one of Fred's better character moments. The character Chomps is another joy of a character. Not to mention Daphne as a vampire.
Really liked the swamp/bayou setting, which was suitably creepy. Scooby Doo always delivered on spooky settings, and "Saga of the Swamp Monster" sure delivers in that aspect. The throwbacks were affectionate and nostalgic, such as Kingston university and the Bayou Carnival.
Furthermore, the mystery is not too hard to follow while mostly not being too simple, while also having a lot of energy and quirkiness as well as the right amount of creepiness. The writing is funny and smart and the quirkiness still endears. The music fits with the tone of the show and the voice acting is on point all round.
Very well done episode overall. 8/10.
While not one of the best episodes of 'Be Cool Scooby Doo', "Saga of the Swamp Monster" is still hugely entertaining and still a very good episode. The first half of Season 1 was rather inconsistent, though neither of the episodes fit my definition of bad, but the second half felt much more settled with a higher number of very good and more episodes. Something that was actually even stronger in Season 2. It is very easy to not give 'Be Cool Scooby Doo' a chance because of the animation style, but it is for me a case of not judging a book by its cover (or in the show's judging a show by its visuals).
Admittedly, the animation is not really to my taste and it never was, it did get better in Season 2 but almost every other Scooby Doo show fared better in the animation style (with only 'Get a Clue' being worse). Here though, it has never looked attractive and instead looks scrappy, flat and borderline psychedelic looking.
The reveal is another very predictable, there was something about the perpetrator as soon as they were introduced that immediately screamed guilty.
However, there is a huge amount to love about "Saga of the Swamp Monster". Despite the predictable reveal, the monster is still cool and menacing and the motive was not an obvious one or an extreme or silly one. The episode also delivers brilliantly on the humour and the nostalgia. Shaggy and Scooby's hot sauce challenge is classic Shaggy and Scooby and very true to old Scooby Doo. The alligator detective gag was also very funny and one of Fred's better character moments. The character Chomps is another joy of a character. Not to mention Daphne as a vampire.
Really liked the swamp/bayou setting, which was suitably creepy. Scooby Doo always delivered on spooky settings, and "Saga of the Swamp Monster" sure delivers in that aspect. The throwbacks were affectionate and nostalgic, such as Kingston university and the Bayou Carnival.
Furthermore, the mystery is not too hard to follow while mostly not being too simple, while also having a lot of energy and quirkiness as well as the right amount of creepiness. The writing is funny and smart and the quirkiness still endears. The music fits with the tone of the show and the voice acting is on point all round.
Very well done episode overall. 8/10.
