#velma series salt

[ordinaryschmuck]

Alright, last time ever that I’ll talk about Velma. I promise.

Because I’ve been extra salty towards this show all week, and I don’t want to take it further than that. Talking nothing but bad stuff about this show for the entirety of its run is exactly what the writers want. They want us to hate watch it so we can talk about each new atrocity the show brings up week after week, and call us haters or anti-woke propagandists. When, in reality, they don’t give a FUCK about any of that. They don’t care about other races, genders, or sexualities. They just WANT you to think they do. Know how I can tell? Because I’ve SEEN genuine attempts of representation.

THIS is a genuine attempt of representation. Matt Braly, the series creator of Amphibia and a Thai-American, felt like Thai culture was underrepresented in media. So, he not only made his main character and her Thai, but he also dedicated subplots and entire episodes showcasing the culture he wanted to represent.

THIS is a genuine attempt at representation. Dana Terrace, series creator of The Owl House and open Bisexual, wanted a main character that was explicitly bi to finally help kids feel like they’re seen. To help give the representation SHE always wanted.

But when I look at Velma? None of it hits the same.

This isn’t a genuine attempt for representation. This is Mindy Kuling turning a character into a self-insert to make herself look smarter than everyone else and the most important person in a narrative. Truth is, this Velma is nothing more than a sociopath, narcissistic dipshit who thinks she’s better than everyone else but is actually more aggravating than endearing.

So...Good job representing YOURSELF there, Mindy.

And this?

This isn’t representation. This is a shield.

A way to protect the show from any criticism because it couldn’t possibly be bad. They have gay characters! Gay characters are good in everything!

Except that is the LAST reason you should include gay characters! Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE more LGBTQA+ representation in media. What I don’t love is obvious attempts to pander to audiences just to avoid criticisms. And keep in mind, this is NOT the first attempt a creator wanted to make Velma gay.

James Gunn wanted to make her gay in the live action movie, but WB said no.

Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated (the GOAT of the Scooby-Doo franchise) wanted to make Velma gay, but could only imply it because Cartoon Network didn’t greenlit Steven Universe yet.

THOSE are genuine attempts to make Velma gay, to represent people because the creators of both products agreed that it was the least they could do.

But making Velma and Daphne a thing just to protect a show is nothing more than shallow and inconsiderate of the hard fight dozens of people put up with for the sake of representation.

And, honestly, I’d be a little more forgiving if the writing in Velma was good. But it’s not.

Within the first minute, this show features...

Cockroaches having sex...

And fifteen year olds taking a shower to make a joke about how over-sexualized a series’ pilot can be.

First of all: FUCK YOU FOR MAKING ME FIND THIS SCREEN SHOT FOR A POINT!

Second: You lose every ounce of credibility that you actually care about people when one of the first moves you make in your series is to sexualize minors for the sake of a joke.

A joke that doesn’t make sense at that. Point me to a series pilot that’s over-sexualized. If you get more than ten, I’ll say you have a point. I won’t say that sexualizing minors to make it was a good thing, but I’ll at least say that, “Yeah. You’re right. So many pilots do this. SO STOP DOING IT!”

That’s the level of writing Velma has. And it’s why they have their “representation” to protect themselves. Meanwhile, you want to know the level of writing you’ll find in The Owl House and Amphibia?

Villains who prove that the most dangerous people are the ones who make the rules.

Jokes that are actually funny.

Likable main protagonists who are kind and caring to the people around them.

Protagonists who have heartfelt relationships with other great characters, to the point that it breaks your heart to see them leave each other.

And on top of that, actually good representation. But here’s the thing: The representation isn’t only genuine. It’s a bonus. Something great to add onto everything else the writers and the creators do right.

What it isn’t is an attempt to protect a show from what it does wrong.

And that’s it. That’s the LAST time I’ll ever talk about Velma. I really mean it this time.

Talking about this show past it’s premier is already more attention it deserves. And if you were smart, you would not only stop watching, but stop talking. The best attention to give something you hate is NO attention.

If you really want to waste time, waste it by watching something good, like The Owl House and Amphibia. They may be kids shows, but they have more maturity than a single second of Velma.

[bold-and-brashleigh]

i absolutely hate bashing on new animated shows (especially with everything happening with animation in the last few years) but

the new velma show is absolutely terrible for several reasons

the edginess that eliminates the nuance that the original series/early 2000s versions had regarding the characters defining personalities (i.e. shaggy being hinted at being a stoner vs actually being a stoner)

the timeline is way off. i know there are at least two ways scooby and the gang are introduced as a group

they met as kids and shaggy has had scooby doo since he was a child/scooby was a puppy (a pup named scooby doo/most of the main series/movies)

they met in high school and shaggy adopted scooby as a teenager (the second set of live action movies from the 2010s)

either of these is a perfectly plausible way the kids met scooby and formed mystery inc. but introducing a series based on a popular franchise and not having the main character/character the franchise is named after in the show at all (“it takes place before they met scooby doo”) makes zero sense to me

like you don’t have to have scooby as a main character, but completely eliminating him from the story/series altogether doesn’t make sense lore wise (the gang officially got together after scooby was introduced, not before)

back to the edginess (or attempt of edginess) i feel that, to date, the edgiest version of the scooby doo franchise was cartoon network’s mystery incorporated (the animation being a bit more “‘scandalous,’” the story having an occult/really supernatural component, and the characters actually having depth that matches their ages/problems (daphne yearning for fred and wanting to marry him instead of just being in a happy go lucky relationship)

like sure the show was weird and a bit mature for a children’s show but at least the characters made sense

and lastly

at least the supernatural x scooby doo crossover left the characters in character (and actually had scooby doo in it)

anyway, i will not be watching this show (not even hate watching) because i just can’t afford to see one of my favorite and most precious franchises be destroyed due to capitalism and “edginess”

(i really was rooting for black shaggy :/// and obviously daphne being asian american/velma being indian american would have been huge for female animated characters but this show better only have one season. i will be looking at fanart tho if there is any bc i love scooby doo fanart :)))

[dizzying-faust]

I'm not into Hazbin Hotel and I'm a casual viewer of Helluva Boss, but I would rather watch those over the new Velma show.

[cozmicspacecow]

So apparently everyone was posting their Scooby Doo redesigns in January. As usual, I'm late to the party but here's my take on an update of the gang

I did it in Bruce Timms art style because it's my favourite style to do designs in, and honestly these started out as fashion designs inspired by the gang that I ended up developing more thoroughly 😅 I like to imagine he'd produce the series, I love his style and find it so aesthetically pleasing.

I feel like the Velma show (from what little clips I've seen) just really didn't capture the essence of what Scooby Doo is, and I feel like these versions of the characters would be, just like, so much more compatible. I actually came up with a plot line and loads of little ideas for their show in my head, I'll do another post detailing it more if people like them lol 😅

And because I ran out of space, here is each character's personal anthem:

DUNCAN BLAKE - I Think We're Alone Now (Tiffany)

SHERRY - Bad Reputation (Joan Jett And The Blackhearts)

FRIEDA JONES - Push It (Salt-N-Pepa)

VILHELM DINKLEY - Kiss (Prince)

[bluecryptic]

Velma (2023) vs. April O'Neil (2020) - Which Race Swap was done better?

Instead of hate-watching and writing a rant on how "terrible" the new Velma show is, I thought I'd simply watch the first episode of Velma and then watch the first episode of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to observe and compare how each of these shows handles race swapping established characters who previously were white.

(I'd give a spoiler warning but I'll only be referring to the first episode of each series so I don't think a warning is warranted for that. Though I will give a warning that this is just my opinion, so take what I say with a grain of salt.)

Round 1 - Moment of Introduction and First Impressions

Let's start with Velma who in her introduction scene involves physically assaulting a naked girl (who happens to be Daphne) in the shower, calling said girl a b*tch all the while talking about race-swapping in media. No, I am not joking. Said scene also occurs in front of other naked teenage girls aaaaaannnnddd my takeaway on Velma just from this scene is that she is calling kettle to the pot because she too is b*tch and that her being called a weirdo later on the episode is actually warranted.

For April, we first see her getting drenched in water as a result of the Turtles cannonball jumping into a pool at the same time and causing a massive splash. She doesn't get upset about being wet but rather cheers for her friends and exclaims how awesome the stunt was. Then we find out that the rooftop cannonball diving that they were doing was April's idea and then they decide to go have fun somewhere else and before leaving, April leave a "wet floor" and "dry pool" side. A wild first introduction with a lot of water like with Velma but with less nudity and violence. I also forgot to mention that Velma's introduction also made it clear that there was intense animosity between Velma and Daphne which is kind of ironic when comparing it to the scene where we first meet April and the Turtles, where we can clearly see that they are friends that enjoy hanging out together and having fun. So far, this version of April has been shown to be an energetic teenager that enjoys having fun with her friends.

I suppose it would come downs down to having a character attack another in the shower or having a character cheering at their friends cannonball diving to the pool as the first introduction scene.

Yeah, I think I prefer the scene that involves cannonball diving on rooftop pools.

April: 1 , Velma: 0

Round 2 - Interacting with other characters

For this round, I'll start with April on account that there's less in terms on character interactions like we have April's interactions with the Turtles as a whole (individual bonds are explored in later episodes), with the teleporting yokai and the bad guys if we want to stretch it a little. That is less than what we get from the Velma side which also is more messy when you go through how Velma acts and treats the other characters and I just want to take the simpler route first.

Back to April, let's start with her relationship with the Turtles. As the their first scene together has shown, they are friends. One of the Turltes, even calls April their "best friend." Yeah, she's probably their only friend at this point but it's clear that the Turtles hold her to a high degree. And the level of care that they have for her is shown when they are willing to jumo through a magic portal to who knows where to save her. On her side, April is shown to care about the Turtles as well. She stands up for Raph who is standing up for her to two bounty hunters and to avoid confusion, she basically isn't afraid to stick up beside her friends even if a scary bug monster on a hellhound is standing before her. There's also the scene where the Turtles get to the underground city and find April and the five of them have a group hug, happy to see each other.

Then there's the plot device of the episodein the form of teleporting dog/cat thing that will be called Mayhem so let's stick with that. Upon first meeting April, Mayhem takes a liking to her and April, despite not knowing what Mayhem is exactly, is quite affectionate to it. Fast forward to when Mayhem gets captured and taken away by the bounty hunters, April doesn't hesitate to chase after them in an attempt to save them. Mind you, this is all the while chasing the two bounty hunters into a magic portal that leads to who knows where at the time. April doesn't know what Mayhem is and yet she goes out of her way to save them despite the potential danger. By the end of the episode, April gives Mayhem their name and decides to keep it as a pet.

Not much to say about April's interactions with the villains within the episode aside from the fact that April was ready to throw hands at the scary monster-looking bad guys for hurting her friends. The girl literally threw herself at Baron Draxum to give him a good smack for Mayhem, a yokai creature she barely knew.

With Velma on the other hand...

Gonna try to be as positive as I can be or at least neutral but I'm going to call it as I see it.

Let's start with the first relationship shown in the episode, which is Velma's relationship with Daphne...and it started with Velma attacking a naked Daphne in the shower...

...and calling Daphne a b*itch, we get it, they don't like each other. And apparently the two were once friends but apparently Daphne became beautiful and started hanging out with popular kids, leaving Velma in the behind? Like that's almost the exact explanation they give in the show! Both are being shown being mean to each other throughout the episode and I'm leaving it at that.

The other relationships and interactions within the episode aren't much better with Velma being pretty rude towards the two lesbian cops interrogating her (who also happen to be Daphne's moms) and Velma's actually mean towards her dad, though that guy isn't doing himself any favors, and to her dad's pregnant girlfriend (I think so???) whom Velma showed that she would be happy to have the latter thrown away to prison if given the chance. I think Velma's opinion on her potential stepmother may have changed later in the episode but I don't know, it's hard to tell. Velma is also shown to be attracted to Fred but isn't completely gaga towards as she does get annoyed by the privileged white attitude this version of Fred has.

The most positive relationship, for Velma at least, is her mom but I don't think counts since we only get to see it from Velma's point of view and it also later turns out that Velma was something of a little shit towards her mom and that's kind of why the mom left though that plotline is still open to being resolved at later on? (Maybe the missing mom is the serial killer that is trying frame Velma for the murders?) So that leaves us with Velma's questionable friendship to Norville, where the later has a crush on Velma and she is very oblivious to it. To the point where Velma sees Norville's confession as a joke. Other than that, Norville is the one Velma goes to when she needs help though since he's her only friend and almost everyone else thinks she committed murder, not like she has a lot of options.

I get the impression that Velma has a mean streak to pretty much every character she talks to, intentional or not. Then there's the exposition dumps of dialogue on who's who to who in the show and maybe I'm overreacting but all these character interactions, especially the first five minutes and I actually start to understand why Velma is treated the way she is on the show. Aside from Norville that is but that boy is his own basket case of problems.

I actually want to be fair and try to give Velma a chance but no, the writers want to pull of a charming mean girl type of thing and the end result is an unlikeable gnat.

April: 2; Velma: 0

Final Round - Overall characterization (though at this point, I think it's obvious which I think is better)

Gonna start with Velma on this one since I actually want to end this post on as much of a positive note as I can.

Throughout the years and in previous incarnations, Velma has been portrayed as the smartest member in the Gang. A walking encyclopedia of knowledge and with a love for solving mysteries, Velma was often the one to piece a lot of the clues together and figure out the mystery. Not always she was usually the one to figure some of the more intricate clues in the mysteries. She would also be clumsy to the point of always losing her glasses as a running gag and while variations would vary, Velma had always been consistent when it came to her character.

Until now.

I tried to keep and open mind when watching Velma. I tried to forget all the criticism I heard before watching the first episode and at least try to at least give it a chance. And I somehow made it through the first episode without rage quitting at any point but thinking about the show and it's writing and it's characters and it all played out...

...it just makes me mad. I don't like it and it makes me more mad how the creators only used the names of the Scooby-Doo characters for the attention and recognition because otherwise, no one would bat an eye. This is like that Wolverine movie where they had Deadpool's mouth sewn shut. You can't take away what makes the character who they are and say it's the same character. Original Velma had her moments of snarkiness and cynicism but that Velma wouldn't go assaulting naked girls in the shower. Serously, even if this stupid version of Velma was white, I still wouldn't like her on account how horrible she is and nothing like the one from Scooby-Doo.

Okay, with that meltdown out of the way, it's now April's turn and while it's clear that April is a much better written character in my opinion, I still want to go into how despite the many differences between the RoTMNT April and the Original April, they're still in a way the same character. The character of April O-Neil has pretty much always been portrayed as the first human friend of the Turtles, a link to the outside world beyond the sewers they call home. Though she first appeared as an adult working as a reporter, more recent incarnations made April a teenager, and Ninja Turtles did it before Rise and I heard there were "strong reactions" to that creative decision though I think that the change to make April a teenager was a bigger shock than a change of skin color and that's why I don't anyone batted an eye when that character design was revealed but that's just my opinion.

Back to April in RoTMNT, I didn't have a problem with her because she was actually fun to watch. Just based on the first episode, I enjoyed watching this version of April and her friendship with the Turtles. They all had this energy that synced to the pacing and comedy to the show that that wanted viewers to have a good time watching. Sure it was different from the old but it was the kind of different that can be thought of as a refreshing change.

So between a snarky version of Velma that is being mean to almost everyone she talks to and a spunky April O'Neil that goes feral on tiny gargoyle minions for picking on magic cat she only met a hour prior.

With no doubts from my side, RoTMNT April wins as a shining example of when race-swapping a character can be done decently without destroying what made the character unique (and likeable) and without replacing it with woke cringe.

Many thanks to any and those who have read through my comparison turned rant to the end. Also sorry for saying this wouldn't be a rant on how bad the Velma show is but the doing it anyway. Was thinking if I should write more but I have some RoTMNT I want to make in the future and I want to be finished on the topic of the Velma show because it's just that bad...

[my-forgotten-notepad]

I actually like this set up, its a natural extension of the OG cartoon, the animated movies, portions of the Live Action films as well as Mystery Inc and Shaggy and Scooby get a clue. Showing a love and a genuine care to detail in how the characters were developed and redefine and fleshed out over the many decades the IP has existed for.

Especially Shaggy's athleticism, salt-of-the-earth common sense and development and broad collection of ecletic and disconnected skills, Fred's capacity for generosity and trap making, Daphne's long laundry list of proficiencies and skills in a host of arenas and Velma's well defined and strong scholastic and forensic investigative abilities and know-how.

I also like the notion that this could very well be a murderous real estate agent after old man McBucket's legendary treasure under his home as it could be a terrifying ghost or even the earth-bound spectre of old man McBucket haunting his old estate.

This dynamic could have the gang encounter a spiritualist who is as knowledgeable on the ghostly/monster side of things as Velma is in science and there could be a cool back and forth between the two. Fight scenes where Daphne gets highlighted because of her skills in multiple martial arts, Fred planning five steps ahead and building traps within traps and accidentally getting the gang as well as the 'monster' caught in his own web of enginuity.

I would watch the crap out of this earnest, from the bottom of a fan's heart adult action-adventure investigation series of some Mid-twenties adults, their faerie Great Dane battle creepy real estate agents, spurned lovers, folk-lorists trying to earn extra cash at tourist traps as well as contend with witches, vampires, ghosts and ghouls and dark mysteries buried deep within the earth.

That sounds like all the best bits of every Mystery Inc. incarnation condensed into an animated series were the studio can show blood and give the bad guys weight and gravitas for their terror and actions.

Thinking about how I would write an adult Scooby-Doo series, because I think it can be done.

The first thing I’d do is make the characters actually be adults.  Still young, but adults, in the mid to late 20s range.  Mystery Inc. is a private detective type business that they run together.  In this universe, the supernatural/ghosts/etc are real, but not necessarily common, so when they take on a case, the culprit might be a person disguised as a monster, or it might actually be a real ghost.  The stakes can be higher; sometimes a bad guy is legitimately trying to kill them.  Sometimes the mystery they’re trying to solve is a murder.  Sometimes they actually get hurt on their cases.

Fred: the core of Fred’s character should be that he’s incredibly kind.  Like, give a stranger the shirt off his back kind.  The “Fred can’t talk to potential clients because he might take a case for free and we need to eat” kind.  He’s an honest and good person and sometimes gets himself into trouble because he assumes other people are too.  While he’s not very good at reading people or noticing ulterior motives, he’s brilliant when it comes to mechanical or engineering type stuff, so he’s the one who keeps the mystery machine running, builds their gadgets, and of course, designs the traps.

Daphne: she comes from old money, and her parents absolutely despise her life choices, to the point where they haven’t officially disowned her, but they have basically cut her off, so she doesn’t actually have access to any family money.  Growing up wealthy has granted her a variety of skills, including speaking multiple languages, horseback riding, and fencing.  She’s very into fashion and jewelry (even if she can’t afford it anymore) and has extensive knowledge of both that can occasionally provide a vital clue in a case. And even though her parents have cut her off, Daphne still has a wide network of contacts she can ask for favors sometimes, because she’s personable, and people tend to like her.  Daphne is also very emotionally intelligent, and is usually the one who can spot when someone is lying to them.

Side note - I ship Fred and Daphne, so I think I would start them off as an established couple for this universe.  Dating, engaged, married, I don’t care.  They are stupidly in love, ride or die for each other.  There’s no will they, won’t they, no worries about cheating.  They are in a healthy, happy, loving relationship, and no one (not even Daphne’s disapproving parents) are going to mess that up for them.

Velma: she is the forensics nerd who sometimes gets super excited about the wrong thing at the wrong time (”He was mummified in seconds? That’s so cool!” “Velma!  His wife is standing right there!” “Oh.  Sorry.”).  She’s not purposely insensitive, she just gets laser focused on her work and forgets to filter herself sometimes.  She’s also the one who can get so fixated on solving whatever mystery they’re working on, she’s willing to bend or maybe break laws.  Is breaking and entering really so bad?  Not if it gets them answers.

Shaggy: he is still the comic relief, but he’s the comic relief by being the only person in the group that actually has common sense.  He manages the business’s finances, he’s the only one who knows how to cook, and the others tease him for being a coward sometimes, but Shaggy maintains that if a ghost with an axe is coming for you, running is the only sensible option.  He should also have a range of random knowledge that sounds useless, but sometimes saves the day (ex ventriloquism, origami, the history of spoons, etc).

Scooby: as this is a universe where supernatural creatures exist, Scooby is an ancient eldritch type being that took a shine to Shaggy when he was a kid, and took the form of a talking dog to befriend and hang out with him.  Aside from the talking dog bit and not aging, he never uses his powers in a way that anyone notices.  The audience is not told upfront that Scooby is an ancient eldritch being; it should slowly be hinted at throughout the series so the audience put it together, but the characters never realize it.  Scooby genuinely considers Shaggy to be his best friend, and cares about the rest of the gang too.

[mxliv-oftheendless]

Black Dahlia (Chapter 1)

-blows trumpet- Bum-ba-da-dum-bum-bum-BAH! Here it is, the main story of the Black Dahlia series! I am honestly so proud of myself, because I waited until I had it all written out before I posted it; it took me ALL DAMN SUMMER, but it’s finally done! I know it’s basically Scooby Doo and KISS: Rock N Roll Mystery with an added character, but I’ve taken the time to flesh out Black Dahlia’s character a bit. Hope you enjoy! 

She could hear the flowers as she filled up her watering can. They didn’t have a voice in the traditional sense, in that they formed words, but they had a voice of sorts, and that was what she heard.

“It’s all right,” she said aloud as she turned off the water. “I’m coming,”

She knew they couldn’t hear her. Once upon a time, they could… but not anymore. She couldn’t hear them as well, either. Once she could hear them as plainly as she heard everyone else. But as time passed, and as she aged, the voices faded, until they were only a faint whisper.

She went around her house, watering the various plants. Along the way she passed her radio, which had beside it a whole shelf lined with CDs. She paused at her shelf, smiling fondly at her music collection. Earth definitely had produced many amazing rock bands. They all reminded her of the music of home.

She was just finishing when the doorbell rang. She put down her watering can, went to the door, and opened it. Standing on her front porch were four young adults and a Great Dane. 

“Hey, Aunt Heather!” Fred greeted her. 

Heather McMann smiled. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite nephew!”

“I’m your only nephew,” Fred reminded her, still grinning. They did this exchange whenever they met.

“Exactly. C’mere, you!”

Heather hugged Fred tightly, then turned to the others. “Hey, kids. And hello, Scooby,”

“Hi, Miss McMann,” Velma said respectfully. “It’s great to see you,”

Heather shook her head as she ushered them inside. “Velma, what have I said about calling me ‘Miss McMann’?”

“Like, that it makes you feel old,” Shaggy piped up helpfully.

“Reah, rold,” Scooby agreed.

Heather pointed at them and nodded. “Exactly,”

“Well, you look great,” Daphne interjected. The redhead looked to be in an exceptionally good mood today.

Heather grinned and flicked a lock of her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “Of course I do, honey,” 

Once the gang had settled down at her kitchen table with drinks, and Shaggy and Scooby had raided her fridge (she made a mental note to go grocery shopping soon), Heather popped open her can of Lacroix and asked, “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from my favorite nephew and his friends?”

“Well—” Fred began, but Daphne interrupted, so excited her words came out in a rush.

“WegotacallfromKISSWorldtocomesolveamysteryandwewantedtoknowifyou’dcomewithus!”

Heather paused and looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “… Run that by me again? And slower, please,”

Daphne took a sip of her drink to calm herself, then repeated what she said. “We got a call from KISS World to come solve a mystery, and we wanted to know if you would come with us,”

Heather tilted her head curiously. “KISS World?”

Velma shrugged. “Apparently, KISS has an entire theme park,”

“Oh, I know, Velma,” She had heard about it when it opened, but had never conjured up the guts to go. It was probably overpriced, anyway. “But I didn’t think there would be any problems at KISS World. Aren’t they having a Halloween concert there?”

She never dared venture out of her house on Halloween. Not when a certain being could show up…

Daphne nodded. “Yeah, they are. That’s why they called us. If we don’t solve the mystery, the concert could be canceled!”

Heather raised her eyebrows. “Now that is a catastrophe,” she agreed. She hated it as much as anyone when a rock concert had to be canceled. But she had the feeling Daphne was a bit more concerned about a KISS concert being canceled. “So you’re going, I’m guessing?”

Shaggy swallowed the bite of his snack and nodded. “Like, yeah, of course we are! It’s KISS, man! What more reason do ya need?”

Heather smiled and toasted him with her can. “Too true, my man. But why do you want me to come along with you?”

“Well, you do love KISS,” Velma reasoned. “A lot. Why do you love them so much, anyway?”

That was the question, wasn’t it? Heather glanced over at her CDs, most of which were indeed KISS albums. Her smile turned wistful for a moment. Then she shrugged. “I just do, Velma. But you still haven’t answered my question.”

“Well…” Fred said sheepishly. “… You’ve only left your house on Halloween once, and that was to take me trick-or-treating when I was ten. And we haven’t hung out in a while, plus you said a while ago it’s been ages since you’ve been to a rock concert. I just thought maybe, you could come with us, and after we solve the mystery, we could all go to the concert?”

Heather stared at him for a second. Then she smiled. Fred may have been a little odd with his obsession with traps and horrible acapella bands, but dang if he wasn’t the sweetest. He got it from his mother. “Aw, Freddy!” she cooed, reaching out to ruffle his hair. “That’s so sweet of you!”

“So you’ll go?” Shaggy asked eagerly.

Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to go somewhere on Halloween, just once. Maybe it would turn out okay. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

The gang cheered, and Heather laughed.

Maybe it would turn out okay…

-KISSTERIA-

And that was how Heather McMann found herself sitting with Shaggy and Scooby in the back of the Mystery Machine as it rolled down the highway, with a black box of green face paint and a brush in her hands.

“Okay, Scooby, you ready?”

Scooby nodded happily. “Ruh-huh!”

“Okay, hold still,”

Heather dipped her brush into the green paint and began to paint the area around Scooby’s eyes green. The whole gang, except for Fred, had decided to dress up as KISS; Daphne was Starchild, Shaggy was Demon, Velma was Spaceman, and Scooby, in the funniest twist of irony, was Catman. Fred flat-out refused to dress up, saying he didn’t want to look stupid. Heather had refused as well, and currently wore her very ordinary outfit of black Converse, white washed jeans, a plain red shirt and her favorite black leather jacket. As usual, her pendant shaped like a black dahlia flower hung around her neck.

“Daphne, sweetie, you sure you don’t want me to draw the star?” Heather called.

“No thanks, I’m good,” Daphne replied, and returned to sketching the outline of a star over her right eye.

“Like, I can’t believe we get to go to KISS World!” Shaggy exclaimed excitedly as Heather finished on Scooby’s face. He gave her a lick on the cheek in thanks.

“And solve a mystery,” Velma added. “That’s like killing two birds with one stone!”

Scooby popped up, eager to show off his finished makeup. “Reah! Or two birds rith one cat!”

Heather laughed as she moved up to sit with Velma in the backseat. “It’s awesome to see you guys so excited,”

“Like, you look excited, too, Heather,” Shaggy commented.

Heather kept smiling. If she were to be honest, she was excited. She hadn’t left her house on Halloween in years, and now here she was, going to see the boys in concert. Almost exactly like the good old days…

“Personally, I find their sideshow act a little juvenile,” Velma stated. “But my mother told me to take a more active role in my friends’ interests.” She shrugged sheepishly at Heather. “Sorry, Heather.”

Heather shook her head. “It’s fine, Velma. We’re all interested in different things.”

“Well, I’m pretty interested in Starchild,” Daphne piped up. Her star was almost completely colored in. “He’s so dreamy,” she sighed as she went back to painting.

Heather saw Fred’s head turn slightly to glance at her, then he jerked the steering wheel to the left. The van immediately swerved left, throwing them all to the side, and causing Daphne’s brush to jerk away, leaving a black streak across her face.

“Hey!” Daphne protested.

“Sorry, everyone,” Fred apologized, though he didn’t sound sincere.

Daphne pointed her finger accusingly at him. “You did that on purpose!”

Shaggy looked at her black streak and laughed. “Like now it looks like a shooting star. Make a wish, Scoob!”

“Uh, I wish I was eating a Scooby Snack!” Scooby said cheerfully.

“Good one, dude. Uh, I wish I could breathe fire like the Demon!” Shaggy stuck out his tongue and pretended to breathe fire.

Amused, Heather put a finger to her cheek and played along. “Hmm… I wish my bluebells would listen when I tell them to grow. They’ve been real stubborn lately.”

“I wish you’d all come to your senses,” Fred said to them. “You don’t see me acting ridiculous over my favorite group, the Ascot Five, do you?” He reached into the glove compartment and took out a CD, showing five men wearing white shirts and ascots smiling cheesy smiles.

Heather rolled her eyes at her nephew as he loaded the CD into the CD player. He was literally dressed the same way as the guy in the center.

“Oh noooooo, don’t tug my ascot. Don’t tug my ascot (it’s not a scarf, no baby). You can’t have my ascot ‘cause girl, it’s mine.”

Shaggy and Scooby stuck out their tongues in disgust, while Heather’s face scrunched up as she tried to hide her disgust.  How can my own nephew like such a lame band?

Luckily, Daphne ejected the disc. “Fred, please,”

“I’m just saying,” Fred insisted, “I think they’re twice the band KISS is!”

“Fred, they’re a lame do-wop band from the sixties,” Heather deadpanned.

“Yeah, and do the Ascot Five have an awesome amusement park?” Shaggy asked pointedly.

“Reah, rawesome amusement park!” Scooby agreed.

“Quit being so stupid, Fred,” Daphne said snappishly to him.

“I am not being stupid!”

“Yes, you are!”

Heather leaned over into the front seat. “Okay, okay, that’s enough. Daphne, Fred doesn’t like KISS, and that’s fine. And Fred, it’s fine that you like the Ascot Five, just don’t judge the rest of us for liking KISS. All right?”

There was a brief moment of silence, then Fred and Daphne nodded.

Heather nodded, smiling. “Good.” She turned to Daphne. “We can fix the star, I think. Or you could be the Bandit. Starchild went by the Bandit for a while.”

Daphne turned to her curiously. “I didn’t know that,”

“You really know a lot about KISS,” Velma remarked.

“Yeah,” Shaggy agreed. “Like, how do you know so much about KISS, Heather?”

Heather smiled mysteriously at them, though internally she was hit by an onslaught of nostalgia. “That’s my little secret,” 

[theliterarywolf]

Ok so spin the wheel of "pick a TV show to reboot with a truckload of salt to dump on old fans" wheeere did we land? Scooby Doo

(run, buddy, RUN)

There's a new scooby doo show coming out for HBO that primarily focuses on Velma (with some cameos of some of the other members of the scooby gang) but Velma is "too bookish and shy" so she needs to be changed up

also it'll be adult animation with "R rated gore and adult innuendoes"

also also now Velma is south asain (and according to Twitter if you dislike that/question it you're racist, forget the fact that maybe it sounds like you didn't like Velma's personality anyway so why not make a new character?)

Now, if you're thinking "Scooby Doo characters minus Scooby Doo with what's probably a cynical flair to typical Scooby Doo media? That sounds like it might be funny for a short skit, but that's been done before. Hopefully they have fresh ideas "

well, it's a real series and honestly I guess it's unfair for me to so harshly judge it already, but I've seen this song and dance before. You can't rely only on dunking on previous versions and erasing all the core elements while still using show names/terms to prop up a reboot/re imaging/whatever you'd like to call this. If it has no merit on its own, I'm guessing it's going to fall flat (for me at least)

ANYWAYS maybe I'll finally check out Scooby Apocalypse. It looks ridiculous but at least it feels like a fun ridiculous.

Believe it or not, I wouldn't necessarily have an issue with Velma being raceswapped for that new show... If everyone in Mystery Incorporated was raceswapped.

Like, give me a diverse rendition of Mystery Inc. that pokes fun at all those borderline offensive Scooby-Doo knockoffs back in the 70s/80s. I would actually enjoy something like that with, say, the writing of Robot Chicken Seasons 1-5.

However, just plucking out Velma and having cameos from the other members isn't a Scooby-Doo series. That's just retreading the fuckup that was Shaggy and Scooby-Doo Get a Clue and hoping that no one will notice said fuckup with how they raceswapped a classic character and filled the show with lesbian undertones.

Then again, this is just the second in so many upcoming projects that have been 'take one female character out of their ensemble cast for an edgy adult reboot'. We still have that edgy adult Wednesday Addams series coming up that was pitched last year.

Watch, next year we're going to get an edgy adult TMNT series that only focuses on April.

[thatonesongyouretryingtoremember]

💀 (cali gang)

🤡 (willel)

🕸 (elumax)

Hii✨️✨️

Cali Gang Halloween costume:

Um it took me way too long to think of this one ,(._.), so I'll just make them Mystery Inc. Argyle is Fred, Jonathan is Shaggy, El is Daphne, Mike is Velma, and Will is Scooby-Doo. There is extensive reasoning, none of which I will elaborate on.

Prankster or prank-ee, willel siblings:

Okay y'all already know I love prankster El. Obligatory reminder: prankster El is canon, it was her idea to spy on the guys/ explode that drink. Halloween is the perfect time to let out that same side of herself- playful and carefree. El would never prank or jumpscare a stranger anymore bc it's just mean-spirited, but she is definitely not above switching the salt and sugar jars. Usually, El prefers a low-effort prank, ie, just using her powers to move Jonathan's cup or book away from his hand as he tries to grab it, but Will managed to convince her to up her game and make a plan this year. They invited the party plus jargyle to a corn maze and through a series of absurd traps, managed to make a fool out of every single person there- on video! They also TP Mayor Kline's house.

Elumax decorations:

This one lowkey turned into Lucas and El both helping out Max decorate their respective houses tbh. Max doesn't really decorate her own house for Halloween. She thinks her mom would just see it as another thing to clean up. Halloween is her favorite holiday though, and she manages to get El on board with knocking the cabin decorations out of the park- even though nobody's gonna trick or treat there lol. Max is DEDICATED to making El smile, so she ropes Lucas and even Mike into it, and the three of them spend an entire day screwing out bulbs from one string of Christmas lights (she stole them from Joyce)and replacing every bulb with a red bulb. Once the cabin is bathed in spooky red light, Max teaches El how to make different props to put up all over the cabin as an excuse to hang out and probably kiss. Lucas, on the other hand, got permission to decorate his house however he wants as long as he cleans it up on November 1st. So he calls up Max since he knows how much she was looking forward to it. Lucas uses his allowance or something to buy a bunch of decorations from the store, graveyard props, floating skeleton, the works. After a brief interruption (read: max took a grim reaper prop and chased some high school boys with it), the three of them have a ball decorating the whole house.

[gladiatortale]

My DEPRESSION BEATING, fandom obsessing, shit-tastic FANTASTIC year in review!

TL;DR: I’m fixing my mental health and figuring out WHO THE FUCK I AM one fandom filled day at a time! Thank you to everyone who’s been there for me along the way. xoxo

what’s up HEATHENS.

stating the goddamn obvious here, it’s been a HELLUVA YEAR. One emotional rollercoaster after another but we’re ALMOST DONE. I know things aren’t gonna magically get better the second it flips to 00:01 on January first, but I’m excited to put this year behind me, and (SHOCKINGLY) a bit sad to see it go.

It was a year where the whole world completely stopped, we realized what is really important, what is really worth fighting for, and took a GODDAMN SECOND to just breathe.

For me personally, the year (which I’m counting off from November 1st) started out UNBELIEVABLY SHIT. I had just been kicked out of the country I called home for the last four years (thank you Brexit), I had ZERO job prospects, my depression was the WORST it had ever been, and I just didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning. And in the beginning, the pandemic felt like salt in the wound, an extra kick in the teeth to my early twenties that had already “failed to launch.”

But I tried to embrace the madness, really take advantage of the world (that I always thought moved to fast) properly slowing down, and take time to try and become myself again. I wanted to figure out what I loved and try and become a bit more like the person I was before my depression got so bad.

I often say I became that Manic Trash Planet Lady™ you see in sci-fi adventure films; a bit zany to say the least, with a million ideas and a very eclectic fashion sense, but embracing the insanity as it comes...

*cough cough* audrey, get to the goddamn point!

Right. lol. THE POINT IS! 

I’m not 100% “healed”, I’m not sure if I think depression is a “oh look you’re officially cured! hooray!” type of disease, but this year I let myself ENJOY SHIT for the first time in god knows how long. I still don’t know “wHaT i WaNt To dO WiTh mY LiFe”, but I’ve got a better idea and I’m heading in (what feels like) the right direction. And most of all, I can look back and say I am better than where I was a year ago.

So I wanted to say T H A N K Y O U to the mad lads on this website that introduced me to the fandoms, shows, movies, fics... THE SHIT that made me happy this year and were there to be one (BIG) piece in my healing journey.

AND SO, with out further rambling ADO! Here are the highlights of the year marked by my ridiculous hyper-fixations and OBSESSIONS. Thanks for putting up with me ya fiends, xoxox

November 2019  The Arcana (Visual Novel)

I had just gotten home and I was in a LOOOOOOW place. Randomly decided to download this app when it came up and it proceeded to ruin my life (and my bank account...) for pretty much the rest of the year. It was exactly what I needed to get me through a tough time and I was thoroughly, horse-blinders-up-to-the-rest-of-the-world, OBSESSED. These gorgeous magical fiends ruined me and all I could say was thank you.

Joined the fandom: November 2019 Obsession peaked: Late November Obsession faded: December 2019; I started a new job AND my bank statement came in and I realized I had accidentally spent over SIXTY BUCKS on this stupid app. No ragrets, but I definitely started to phase out at that point. Fandom friends: Velma, (@lanavxds on insta) miss you girlie xx Fanfics you NEED to read: ‘Second Mistake’ by DeathBelle on AO3, because DAAAAAYUM SON. Favourite moments: Basically the whole of the Julian arc. That gangly himbo OWNED my ass for a month.

December 2019 Hazbin Hotel (TV Series)

Y’ALL okay here me out. Am I proud of this one? No. Is the show crass as hell? OOOOOOOOHHHH YEAH. Did my angsty ass love it at the end of last year? DAMN STRAIGHT IT DID. Goes without saying, but this is NOT FOR EVERYBODY, but it definitely helped me along the way to becoming more comfortable with myself and being open about being the massive geek that I always was, and watching things I enjoy regardless of what people say about it.

Joined the fandom: December 2019 Obsession peaked: Shortly there after. Fandom friends: None. Dipped one toe in fandom discourse and then promptly YEETED the fuck outta there. Obsession faded: January 2019. Still curious to see the full series if A24 actually ever does produce the whole thing, but I have def moved away from it. Fanfics you NEED to read: Haven’t read any. Maybe I’m a pussy baby piece-o-shit, but I DID NOT want to go down that rabbit hole, NO MA’AM. Favourite moments:

Discovering the Hunicast podcast. These guys are a riot and Ashley is a flustered GEM. Even if you don’t watch the show, go watch an episode of these fucking LADS just dicking about and your day will get better.

Watching the first episode with my partner and watching him realize his girlfriend is a total freak.

January 2020 Lore Olympus (Webtoon Comic)

*Officially* discovered this one thanksgiving weekend in 2019, but my Arcana phase was still raging pretty strong at that point so I didn’t really get in to it until later. EVERYBODY AND THEIR MOTHER NEEDS TO READ IT. It has everything and handles the reality sexual assault and it’s aftermath EXTREMELY well.

Joined the fandom: Late November 2019 Obsession peaked: January 2020 Fandom friends: KELLEY. MA GIRL XOXOXO Obsession faded: June-ish 2020. I’m like 10 chapters behind now, but I still love this story so much. Fanfics you NEED to read: SO MANY ON MY ‘MARKED FOR LATER’ LIST AAAAAH. I have to get to that... NEW YEARS RESOLUTION lol Favourite moments: Having a drunk conversation on New Years Eve in 2019 with one of my oldest friends from high school about how much she loved it too. Helped me see how popular fandom and fandoms, are especially after feeling like I needed to hide my enthusiasm through high school and uni. (THAT WAS A MISTAKE BUT I’LL GET THERE IN A MINUTE).

February 2020 Versailles (TV Series)

SO FUCKING GAY Y’ALL. Oh my god everyone in this show is so gay. Even when they’re not they still are a little bit. AND BEST OF ALL!! it’s very historically accurate (except for the demon satanic nonsense in season 3, what was that???)

Joined the fandom: February 2020 Obsession peaked: Like??? The SECOND I finished episode one. Fandom friends: none... WHERE ARE ALL OF YOU??? Obsession faded: March 2020. It was a fast and passionate love affair, what can I say? Fanfics you NEED to read: IF YOU HAVE RECS, GIVE ‘EM TO MEEEEE. Favourite moments: 

Showing the first episode to a friend of mine and the *ungodly GASP* that came out of her throat was... PRICELESS.

The ENTIRE throuple(???) relationship between the Chevalier, Philipe, and Palatine. PLATONIC/ ROMANTIC LOVE G O A L S.

March 2020 Yuri!!! On Ice (TV Series)

*deep breath* ...y’all knew this one was coming.

Was I ready for this show to ruin my fucking life? No.  Am I so glad it happened??? FUCK YEAH.

NEVER IN MY LIFE have I fallen off the deep end so quickly with a fandom. HOLY SHIT. This blog didn’t have much of an “identity” before, but I you said that this is a Yuri On Ice blog now I wouldn’t even be mad (nor could I really defend myself to the contrary... bc??? like??? just go LOOK at my archive). Craziest thing is I watched the first two episodes like?? a solid TWO YEARS ago, but I didn’t continue watching because I was just not in the right head space for all the love and silliness and positivity.

I could do a whole separate post about how much this show and how this fandom has changed my life (DON’T TEMPT ME I JUST MIGHT). But I’ll stick with the highlights for now ;)

Joined the fandom: March 2020  Obsession peaked: Has it peaked?? Went straight up and it still going lol Fandom friends: Sandra, my mentor, my queen @aeriamamaduck, my fandom ride-or-die. Thank you for taking this internet bby under your wing. RACHEL @idancewiththefairies I TRAPPED YOU HERE. MUAHAHAHA xxx Obsession faded: ON GOING. CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP. Fanfics you NEED to read: jfc, SO MANY.

‘Until My Feet Bleed and My Heart Aches’ and ‘Of Bright Stars and Burning Hearts’ by Reiya @kazliin​ -- Rivals AU companion pieces. Longest fics I’ve ever read and JESUS CHRIST these two fucking SENT ME. Most popular YOI fics on AO3 for a REASON.

‘Tell Me Where Your Love Lies’ by @aeriamamaduck -- Royalty AU, trope-breaking ABO. Ah sweet, TMWYLL, how you’ve killed me over and over again. This BEAUTIFUL wip has SUCH amazing world-building idk where to start (Congrats on passing 50,000 hits!) EVERYONE GO READ IT.

‘Blackbird’ by sixpences -- WWII/Coldwar Spy Fic. I don’t have enough words to describe how amazing this is. It’s elevated to a higher plane beyond fanfic. Just go read it. Thank me later.

‘Zanka’ by rinsled05 @dreaming-fireflies -- The geisha fic that ruined me. *deep breath* AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH *gasp* I’m fine. lol I sooooo not ready for this fic. Holy hell, Aoyagi had my heart in his hands from the first chapter. “’Please’ [...] ‘Don’t give me hope.’“ FUUUUCK.

‘Echoes’ by Reiya @kazliin -- Future fic. First fic I cried at... BOI. I was NOT ready for this. Shouldn’t be surprised given the author, but MAN. “‘A love like that, a love like what they had together, it never leaves completely.’ Yuri spoke again, eyes still staring out onto the ice, lost in memory. ‘There are always echoes.’” JUST FUCK ME UP.

Favourite moments: Oh good lord, where do I begin??

Having two (count ‘em TWO) main characters with mental health issues (Yuuri and his anxiety and Victor with burn out and depression) and NOT MAKING IT THE ONLY ASPECT OF THEIR PERSONALITY. CLAPS FOR KUBO AND YAMAMOTO!!

Everything about Yurio (ESPECIALLY HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH YUUKO AND HIS GRANDPA), that tsundere motherfucker is too pure for this world.

THE KISS. THE PROPOSAL. MY HEART WASN’T READY. AAAAAH!!

This fandom *properly* introducing me to smut on AO3...

Thinking I was going to get Rachel to like the show... NOT being prepared for her to fall off the deep end and START LIKING REAL SKATING TOO!!

Staying up waaaaaay too late waaaaaay too often to plan out plot points for TMWYLL with Sandra. Love ya dearie.

The warm fuzzy feeling I get every time I think about Victor and Yuuri.

April 2020 Bungou Stray Dogs (TV Series)

I had a hunch I was gonna like this show considering ALL of the characters are based off of famous classic authors from around the world... what I was NOT prepared for was just HOW MUCH I was going to love it. HOLY SHIT. The art style? Love it. The plot?? Bonkers, but so fun. THE VOICE CAST??? AMAZING. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to get in to anime, great place to start.

Joined the fandom: April 2020 Obsession peaked: Probably this summer? But we have DEF plateaued in a VERY high place. Fandom friends: FIJI. MA BOIIIII @lil-1nsane  Obsession faded: Hasn’t. Hope it doesn’t Fanfics you NEED to read: So so so many. The smut in this fandom is *chef’s kiss*, but here are a few...

‘He Works Hard For the Money’ by CataclysmicEvent @cataclysmicevent2019​ -- Sugar Daddy AU. FUCK MAN. I was not expecting to like this one, but bloody hell. This fic grabbed me by the throat and WOULD NOT let me go. Praying for chapter 16! But the author is working on another STELLAR fic so I’m okay for now.

‘Everything or Nothing’ by CataclysmicEvent @cataclysmicevent2019​ -- University AU. FUCK THIS FIC. Started reading it as I was waiting for HWHFTM to update and BOI, this fic ROCKS. The alternating POV fits so well with the enemies/idiots-to-lovers vibe. Solid 10 outta 10.

‘The City Where Wind Blows’ by @raven-rein​ -- Cancer Death fic. *pained shriek* AAAAAAGUUUUUUUHHHH *gasp* aaaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHHH, FUUUCCCCCCCCCKKKK MEEEEE. THIS FIC. Only the second fic I’ve ever cried to but I BAWLED MY GODDAMN EYES OUT. FUUUUUUUCK. I was not ready, never would have been ready. This is so tremendously well done, it killed me so beautifully, 

‘Haunted by Hatred’ by DeathBelle -- Canon compliant Soukoku. It is a CRIME that DeathBelle doesn’t have more BSD fics on her page, but this one is still brilliant.

Favourite moments:

THE CHUUYA-DAZAI MAFIA REUNION TEAM UP WHEN THEY FIGHT LOVECRAFT. Ooof. BOI. We love it.

The first three episodes. Soooo many break neck plot twists.

Every insane hypothetical conversation with Fiji.

Every time Atsushi or Tanizaki is on screen bc I LOVE THESE LIL BEANS.

June 2020 Trash Taste (Podcast)

Goddamn I love these chaotic lads so much.

As I became more and more comfortable with myself and my love for anime I stumbled upon these three goons, -- Joey, Connor, and Garnt, -- best known for there SUPER successful (mostly) anime YouTube channels. Even if you don’t watch anime, WATCH/LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST. The focus is mostly on their lives and the overall expat/immigrant experience, with a bit of anecdotal anime references sprinkled in. 

This show is both wholesome and heathenous in equal measure, and after having lived abroad for a significant portion of my (admittedly still quite short) life, it was such a breath of fresh air to hear people talk so openly about how living outside your home country is both wonderful and terrifying. They’re wonderfully candid about the fact that even if you love a place dearly, no where is perfect, and you WILL hate somethings about your new home even if the majority of the experience is fantastic. I cannot rate this show highly enough.

Joined the fandom: June 5th 2020, loved it from the first episode. Obsession peaked: July maybe? I was RELIGIOUS about watching the episodes as soon as they came out. Still watch every week, but less “on time.” Fandom friends: None :( but I have tricked my partner in to listening several times :) Obsession faded: It’s dimmed from where it was, but still going strong. Fanfics you NEED to read: NONE. NEVER PLAN TO. Hard and fast rule, I don’t read fics about real people. Characters played by real people, even that’s a maybe for me. But real-real people? FUCK NO. (some of my) Favourite moments:

Any time Garnt and Connor get into a big-brain-monkey-brain argument and Joey is just LOSING his GODDAMN MIND in the corner.

Bringing a retired Japanese porn star in the show for an honest conversation about consensual sex work and showing people can have more than one career in life.

Everything about the, ‘Are Online Friends Real Friends?’ episode. GO WATCH IT, it’s brilliant.

Garnt making “chotto-THE-FUCKING-matte” an expression

August 2020 Great Pretender (TV Series)

Spent most of the summer marinating in my BSD and YOI bubbles, until THIS BAD BOI came up on my Netflix recommendations. HOOOO BOI. This is some Anime Of The Year shit right here. Has a pretty original concept (Catch Me If You Can by way of Oceans 11-ish) but generally starts out like most other shounen (sans the super powers). AND THEN EPISODE FIVE HAPPENS. Not gonna spoil it but they TOOK THAT SHIT UP A NOTCH. Brilliant, even with a bit of an insane ending. GO WATCH THIS ONE.

Joined the fandom: August 2020 Obsession peaked: Pretty much as soon as I started watching it. Fandom friends: What’s up Fiji ;) @lil-1nsane Obsession faded: Naturally faded, but so glad I watched Fanfics you NEED to read: None so far! Little scared about this one, heard mixed reviews, but maybe someday. Favourite moments:

Edamame’s “madness arc” at the end of season 2. HOOOO BOY.

Laurent getting fucking WRECKED when Edamame punches him mid way through season 2, kills me every time.

Introducing my partner to anime with this show.

October 2020 Attack on Titan (TV Series)

RETURN OF THE KING. lol

In my quest to find an anime that I can watch with my partner, I turned on season 1 of this bad boi. Holy hell I forgot how much I loved this show, NO WONDER everyone lost their goddamn minds when this show first aired. I NEED to catch up before all the season four spoilers come to get me...

Joined the fandom: Winter 2016 Obsession peaked: Basically as soon as I started watching it. Fandom friends: None yet, but I know you’re out there... Obsession faded: 2017, JUST BEFORE SEASON TWO... I should have stuck around longer I know, but it’s slowly coming back. Reeeeeally need to catch up on seasons two, three, and four. Fanfics you NEED to read: GIVE ME YOUR RECS HEATHENS. Favourite moments:

Watching my partner FREAK OUT about Eren’s “death.”

EVERYTHING ABOUT POTATO GORL! lol

Getting in a conversation with a die hard fan after I hadn’t watched it in three years and saying... “Who’s that blond bitch that cries all the time?”/ “Armin?”/ “THAT’S THE ONE!”

November 2020... kind of. Figure Skating (Sport)

Okay this one is a bit hard to explain. 

I have been a DIE HARD figure skating for A LOOOOOONG time. My grandmother got me a hat from the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and I remember watching even then. But I first became consciously aware of different skaters, my faves, etc. from about 2010. I vividly remember watching Plushenko skating in 2014 while on a school trip to Hawaii, and my friends laughing at me as I yelled at the TV.

But I didn’t TRULY get involved in the fandom side of it until this year. I had all this knowledge bottled up, but didn’t have any skating friends to talk to... UNTIL NOW. Super ironic that this happened in a year with almost NO skating, but I’ll take what I can get ;) Also did I stay up until FOUR-GODDAMN-THIRTY IN THE MORNING a few nights ago to stream Japanese Nationals on my phone??? YOU BET I DID.

Joined the fandom: Three times; 2002, 2010, and 2020. Obsession peaked: 2014? 2018? Idk it peaks any time someone does something amazing. Fandom friends: Rachel, my girl @idancewiththefairies​, WHY DIDN’T I INTRODUCE YOU TO THIS SOONER??? Obsession faded: Hasn’t. Won’t. lol Fanfics you NEED to read: NOPE. NONE. NOT GONNA HAPPEN. No fanfics about real people. Never gonna change that. (some of my) Favourite moments:

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir doing THAT routine at the 2018 Olympics.

Rachel​ sheepishly admitting to me that Shoma may have replaced Yuzu as her favourite, and me being SO DAMN PROUD of her for growing and developing her own skating opinions apart from me.

Yuzu’s 2012 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ routine and Worlds. THE RAW FUCKING POWER OF THAT SKATE.

Plushenko, cheeky bastard, changing his 2014 Team Event routine AS IT WAS HAPPENING.

The worlds friendliest rivalry between Yuzu and Nathan.

Any thing the Shibutani’s do, and all they do to break up the stereotype that all of Ice Dancing has to be rOmAnTiC and SeNsUaL to be good.

Watching my early faves become coaches and the D R A M A.

Honorable Mentions:

Coco (Film): I watched this the weekend I came home and I owe this movie a lot. It is so sweet an heartwarming, and it a roundabout way it brought me back to Tumblr (needed somewhere to vent my feelings considering I watched the movie a solid THREE YEARS after it came out, Tumblr seemed like the place to go lol). Watched in again in 2020 and it’s just as amazing.

Jekyll and Hyde (All media): Loved this book from the first time I read it in my first year of uni. But in December 2019, my fandom understanding reached its PEAK. The musical?? The comic?? YOOOOOO.

Dear Evan Hansen (Musical): I have BARELY engaged in fandom discourse, but the MUSIC. She fucking SLAPS.

Sirius the Jaeger (TV Series): This show is such an underrated gem. It literally has so much; "dead” family drama? Eclectic international group of monster hunters? Cowboys and vampires?? Yes, yes, and YES. And the main character has the same Japanese voice actor as Atsushi from BSD!

Studio Ghilbi (Films): My love affair with Ghibli goes back to when I was about 5 and BEGGED my mom to take me to the library so we could rent Kiki’s Delivery Service on DVD. But that love has been FULLY rejuvenated this year when I went to the Ghibli Film Festival in New York City (ironically in the last week in February). If you haven’t seen them, go watch From Up On Poppy Hill, Whisper of the Heart, and The Wind Rises. Spoilers, you’re probably gonna cry.

If you’ve made it this far, THANK YOU FOR READING! 

And thank you to all the amazing people that made my 2020 not so horrible. Good riddance 2020, don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

[medea10]

My Review of Otherside Picnic

How did I get into this anime? Every now and then, I’ll take advice from one of my close online friends and pick a franchise she’s been hooked on. I mean, she did get me into Azumanga Daioh, Love Live, and the Railgun series…Eh…

This series has potential lesbians, doesn’t it?

Sorawo Kamikoshi is alone in a strange, new world. No one else inhabits the area except for these paranormal creatures (which she calls “Wiggle Waggles”). Sorawo almost ends up drowning in the first scene of the series premier until she was saved by a young girl named Toriko Nishina. Toriko seems to have some experience with this place as she is heavily armed in salt and ammo. After her friend Satsuki disappeared from this place, Toriko has made it her mission to find her. So you’d think she’d be totally serious. But in the real world, this gun-slinging gal is a curious, silly girl. After that first encounter with Sorawo, Toriko has taken an interest in her and either wants to hang out or go to the “Otherside” with her.

But it wasn’t until their second voyage to the otherside where these girls end up with life-altering changes to their bodies. Sorawo ended up staring directly at the wiggle waggle causing madness and mysterious blue gunk appearing around her eyes. But Toriko was there to swat it all away. Because of that incident, Sorawo’s right eyeball has a blue tint to it and Toriko’s left hand has a translucent feel to it. These two anomalies have proven to be beneficial to the girls when their lives are in danger while on the otherside.

BETWEEN THE SUB AND THE DUB: FUNimation owns this here in the states. Now according to my friend who is hooked on everything Otherside Picnic, she’s noticed a lot of changes from FUNimation’s translations. This is certain nitpicky things that I’m usually thrown off by like changing the spelling of main characters or changing translations from the original source material. And FUNimation is guilty of doing both on a regular basis (and doing a lot worse). Yeah, they’ve been given authority to screw around with translations and input whatever they damn-well want. When they do this, it doesn’t end well with the audience. By the way, I’m spelling “Sorawo” like this. I’m actually used to seeing it like that and FUNimation subtitles be damned. Amazingly, no dub to this! I’m thinking they’ll do it one of these days. Here’s what you might recognize these folks from.

*Sorawo is played by Yumiri Hanamori (known for Hayasaka on Kaguya-sama, Asahi on Happy Sugar Life, Doumeki on Keep Your Hands Off Eizoken, and Miza on Tokyo Ghoul :re)

*Toriko is played by Ai Kayano (known for Kanae on Demon Slayer, Itsuwa on Index, Alice on SAO: Alicization, Menma on Anohana, Ryouko on Food Wars, Mayaka on Hyouka, and Anna on The Promised Neverland)

SHIPPING: So think of this as your wet dream of Velma and Daphnie from Scooby Doo getting into a relationship. You’re welcome!

In this corner, we’ve got Toriko. Sure she seems interested in Sorawo. But is it she finds her interesting romantically or just interesting human wise? Plus, we’ve got this thing with the never-seen character named Satsuki. Toriko always talks about her and I’m wondering what’s up with their past. Then you have Sorawo! She has some interesting thinking in her brain and these monologues in her brain that make us think, yeah she wants to get in this girls skirt and scissor ‘till the break of dawn.

Yeah, I’m rooting for this ship to work. It’s just that during episode 9 when Toriko was mentioning Sorawo’s hair and how it’s getting long, I can’t help but think Toriko is trying to turn Sorawo into Satsuki. Yeah and I suppose Sorawo noticed that when someone ends up mentioning that fact.

Once again, anime version isn’t going to give us anything more than speculation when it comes to these relationships. If I wasn’t so swamped with other mangas, I would pick this up to see if there’s any development between Sorawo and Toriko or if Satsuki mucks things up from beyond the beyond.

ENDING: Throughout this anime, you find yourself asking a myriad of questions.

Where the hell is Satsuki?

Did Toriko have a relationship with Satsuki?

What happened to those U.S. soldiers Sorawo and Toriko left in the middle of the season?

Why are these supernatural things happening in the most random places in the real world now?

Seriously, where the fuck is Satsuki?

We…are going to go with the third question. So we’re going back to that mysterious dead-spot those U.S. soldiers were left at. Believe it or not, Sorawo forgot all about those soldiers until Toriko brought it up. I mean, it was a scary situation where the soldiers really didn’t know if they could trust two girls that pop out of nowhere in the Otherside. And the situation almost turned deadly! But in this rescue mission, the soldiers seemed trusting this time.

Despite Sorawo’s eye and Toriko’s hand, they accepted the fact that those two anomalies will lead them to freedom from the Otherside. And after a big fight against a scary wiggle waggle that resembles…Satsuki(?) everyone was able to make it out of the Otherside and back to the real world. Actually, Toriko and Sorawo didn’t even mention Satsuki’s name during this showdown so I’ll drop it for now.

We have an extra several minutes after the girls save the U.S. soldiers. Why don’t we have Toriko and Sorawo go back to the spot where they first met each other? We actually get a touching moment between the two girls. Toriko reveals her feelings about what it was like after Satsuki disappeared and how it’s changed since the three months after hanging out with Sorawo. As for Sorawo, she likes hanging with Toriko despite always longing to be alone.

This was definitely a trip of an anime. And I would love to see more if it’s popular enough to warrant a second season or an OVA. I know the novel and manga are still in publication so there are more stories to come from Otherside Picnic. I myself thought the anime was just okay. There’s so much more I wished was covered. And by cover, I mean by what I’m to assume is to happen next because I have never picked up the manga or novel. But I would like to believe that there’s a deeper connection between Toriko and Sorawo further down in the story.

And what about Satsuki?! She’s mentioned constantly throughout the series and we don’t really get a clear answer of how she disappeard, why she disappeared, and if she’s even alive. Now it could be that Satsuki’s mystery is still going on in the manga and novel, so I should drop it for now and be thankful the anime didn’t divert from the original source material.

But I will continue making the Kozakura face of disapproval until we get some sort of conclusion with the Satsuki mystery.

Unfortunately, I believe this series will just be a one-and-done kind of series. The scores I see from the audience are meh at best. I guess you can say it was a curse that Otherside Picnic was airing in the same season as an anime like Wonder Egg Priority that people kinda took to the latter. But I’ll hold out hope because I like to see the end to things no matter how confusing, meh, or WTF it is.

If you would like to watch Otherside Picnic, FUNimation has all 12 episodes available.

[ordinaryschmuck]

I think the worst part of what I saw in that Velma trailer was them being at Crystal Cove high. Don't drag the BEST Scooby-Doo cartoon into this mess.

Yeah, that's a great point, by the way.

You want an actual mature Scooby-Doo cartoon?

Then watch the best one ever made.

[a-mitchell-named-jordan]

Couple fan theory ideas comin' atcha here -

Be Cool, Scooby Doo!:

In the series, there are a couple places where it's referenced that the show may be taking place in surprising and unexpected timelines.

How?

In the episode "Sorcerer Snack Scare", they explicitly change the name of the product "Sorcerer Snacks" (aka, the best snacks in the world that Scooby and Shaggy would do ANYTHING for) to "Scooby Snacks", hence pointing to the origin of them, and in the Original Mysteries they're just sort of intrinsic - like they existed when they first started solving mysteries.

The more convoluted reference; in the episode "Be Cold, Scooby Doo", Daphne mentions to Shaggy that the gang brought Shaggy to Sunny Side Ski Resort because they wanted him to have a nice "first experience" with snow.

THEORY 1:

Less likely, but still fun to entertain - that "Be Cool, Scooby Doo!" takes place after "A Pup Named Scooby Doo", BUT BEFORE the Original Mysteries (and subsequently the rest of the series) since in "APNSD" ("A Pup...") they're still children, but once grown to their current, seemingly timeless or sempiternal ages as teens, that would place them into the story line of "BCSD" ("Be Cool..."). Now account for the change in product name, and it places them before the OM.

While this theory is very mildly viable, it's less believable since one has to take into account both small and big details - small ones being, for example, time-relative changes like technology and pop-culture references, and linguistic markers like changes in idioms and slang terminology; one could make an argument that all of these could coexist if the dates of when the series were made weren't taken into account, and thus compressing the timelines would make it (ever so slightly) possible (+). Big details would include an antithesis to reference 2, stating that of course Shaggy has experienced snow! In the "APNSD" episode "Snow Place Like Home", it's obviously a winter episode, which does debunk theory 1, unless you want to make a shotty "regression and amnestic impairment caused Shaggy to forget he ever played in or saw snow" argument, since the rest of the gang experienced it as well, and mass regression or amnesia is practically statistically impossible; another example of a big detail is the presence of certain guest stars throughout all the series and movies, which most definitely puts a damper on the "compression of timelines" argument - the biggest example I can think of is the fact that the original Harlem Globetrotters [featured in the OM] at the height of their careers (1970s) would not coexist with a full-grown, fully famous celebrity chef Bobby Flay [featured in "Gormet Ghost" movie] (born in 1964, making him ca. 10-15 years old according to this theory) and DEFINITELY NOT with Ryan Sheckler [featured in "WNSD" ("What's New..."] (born 1989, no math needed for that one). So now that we see how specious theory 1 is, let's move on to theory 2.

(+) - SIDE NOTE: btw, I did the math, and the exact number of mysteries of every single episode and movie is 591 - assuming a mystery is alotted to one day of the year, and adjust for referenced elapsed periods of time (i.e., e.g. - mysteries getting finished in more than one day, mention of summer projects where the rest of the gang weren't present, etc.) and other mysteries that are also referenced in various montages, AND ALSO ASSUMING THESE TEENS ARE CA. 16 OR 17 BUT DON'T GO TO HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY ALL HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE FUCKING LOADED (all referenced in various series and movies), and this new number could be ca. 620-640 mysteries (with a gray area of ca. 50-100 possible extra unknown mysteries) within 4 years, in turn putting them past their teens, which renders their constant affirmations of being teens the entire time completely illogical and moot (also, remember this side note, we'll come back to it later). (***)

THEORY 2:

Kind of an exhausted, contrived idea, but "BCSD", like all the other series and movies, is one universe within a giant, seething multiverse of Scooby Doos and Gangs, which, if you think the movies altogether are their own universe and each series is a separate universe, would put the multiverse number at only 29; however, if you wanted to believe every single series AND movie is its own universe, the multiverse number shoots up to 151 SEPARATE UNIVERSES. And, a multiverse theory certainly supports the differring details as mentioned earlier, as well as makes the mystery/year math (***) more believable (with the average number of mysteries per series being 20-30).

Now, we must beg the question of if this multiverse is connected in some way - the theory of the expansive 151 universe beast of a multiverse could support mild crossover of the movies with themselves, excepting the older ones from the newer ones, although it ruins the integrity of the whole series - like why would the gang be considered world famous if each movie was its own universe? They would basically be solving the very first mystery in their entire lives; stratifying each era (i.e., OM-1980s, 1990s-2000s [the stuff with Scott Innes as Scooby and Shaggy], "WNSD"-era, and "SDMI" ["Mystery Inc."] to "BCSD") of Scooby Doo movies into separate universes would keep the idea of crossover as neutral as keeping the handful of old movies separate from the enormous monolith that is the list of newer movies since a movie only has 1, MAYBE 2, mysteries in each story, but it would definitely strengthen that inherent facet as each universe's timeline would be more believable since they would have been solving more than one mystery. The 29-universe theory bolsters the idea of crossover and/or story, especially in view of the fact that it has been referenced in various series: in the "BCSD" episode "If You Can't Scooby Doo the Time, Don't Scooby Doo the Crime", Ravi the prison guard scans the gang and a "retro-scan" shows the OM gang - does this mean that this "BCSD" universe is aware of or even APART OF the OM universe? It def looks like it. Another example is the "WNSD" episode "A Terrifying Round with a Menacing Metallic Clown" when Velma has a flashback to what would be "APNSD" days - now, again, is this a crossover, or are "WNSD" and "APNSD" one universe? - but that's another debate altogether - the point is that a multiverse theory of Scooby Doo in its entirety holds its weight in salt (or Scooby Snacks, lolz), and should def be considered connected in some way or another, whether that be crossover, reference, or inter-universal connection.

Please reblog and debate ur asses off on this one...

BUT WAIT!!!

BONUS THEORY!!!

(***) Now, suppose taking the mystery/year math and literally translating the total 591 mysteries to 1 mystery/1 day while ALSO applying the compressed timelines aspect of theory 1. Where am I going with this?

I'll tell you where: that ancient Greek land of horror, fueled by humanity's fear and vice; endless torment as the destination of that proverbial Stygian journey - that's right:

HADES

This theory suggests that somewhere along the line, after "APNSD" when the gang had reached their current teenage years that they so often defer to, they may have wronged the god Hades, and, seeking revenge, He claimed their mortal souls and banished them to His realm, forever having them solve mysteries eternally.

Why do they always always ALWAYS have mysteries "fall into their laps"?

Why are they always tormented with fear and terror on a DAILY basis?

Why do they never get respite or comfort from these seemingly endless monsters and situations?

WHY DO THEY NEVER SOLVE THE LAST MYSTERY?!

HADES!

Boom!

*drops mic*

(U know what tho, this one's my personal fav)

[valmos]

Scooby-Doo 16-19

Episode 16: A Night of Fright is No Delight

Monster: Phantom Shadow

Interests: Scooby gets left one million dollars by an eccentric millionaire, which is... fair. If I was rich and meet a talking dog I wouldn’t even wait till I was dead to give them money. Correction, an equal share of a million dollars divided by four human relatives and a talking dog. The boys are in their PJs, first time Fred as been dressed differently. Shaggy pulls out a Shaggy Super Sandwich, not to be confused with the Super Shaggy Sandwich he ate back in... episode 3? Shaggy adds some salt, pepper, and ...fish food to his sandwich. The fish is displeased.. also a demon. A uniform is possessed by a Goose. A Scooby Snack is used revive a fainted/concussed Scooby. The gang does a trial run of the trap on Scooby. Velma, Daphne, and Fred are being bait for once. The most cartoonish thing in this series up to this point happens. Scooby gets the full one million, but it is confederate money. A real haunted bone appears, but nobody is afraid of it and Scooby enjoys it. Ghosts are real now, I guess. Happy that was established in the first season.

Episode 17: That’s Snow Ghost

Monster: Snow Ghost

Interest: The gang is bundled up in winter cloths. Shaggy is in the back of the van. Scooby has no winter cloths. Velma: Lock our doors and windows?! Why? ... People in the past were weird. Velma knows the difference between Tibetan culture and Chinese, much to the fury of the Chinese government. A yeti might actually exist in this world. Velma is chained to a tree headed for a saw. Scooby and Velma escape on the tree, but the monster sends another tree after them, this tree has dynamite tied to it. Snow Ghost don’t play. Scooby can pick locks. Now Snow Ghost is going Donkey Kong, before even DK went DK, and throwing barrels at the gang. Scooby got the hammer an wacked Shaggy with it. Nintendo just ripped this episode for ideas for their arcade game. Scooby gets a ‘couple’ (it looks more than two) of Scooby Snacks to ensure he doesn’t miss with springing the trap... because other wise he might miss on purpose and endanger his friends? Anyway, it seems like everyone but Scooby was going to be bait, but the trap is discovered before hand. Scooby accidentally destroys a hibernating squirrel’s home. The squirrel is upset, but then joins in on Scooby’s unremorseful laughter. Everyone does. And that ends season 1 of Scooby-Doo Where Are You.

Episode 18: Nowhere to Hyde

Monster: Ghost of Mr. Hyde

Interests: New intro and a different singer for season 2... I never noticed the different singer somehow? They ... really just leaving things unlocked. Monster just opens the back door to the Mystery Machine and climbs on in.Do they want deranged masked criminals? Because that is how you get deranged masked criminals. The gang went a magic show at the high school... now do they attend this high school or was there just a show there? Group is having double fudge sundaes topped with a cherry, except Shaggy who has a pickle. Scooby steals Shaggy’s ice cream, pickle and all.. shocker. I think Daphne has a new VA? Yep she does. ... So the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story doesn’t seem to exist in this world. His story is his great-grandfather was the first Dr. Jekyll who transformed as Mr. Hyde, but he now transforms as Mr. Hyde’s ghost. Wild. A mouse yells at Scooby or opening his door without knocking first. This episode really wants to try to fool you that someone else is the monster... not very well, but it tries. Bless its heart. Shaggy as a clown is terrifying. Shaggy eats an apple. He should be done with eating meat, besides possible slip ups. Scooby peels a banana and throws it away eating the peel. Shaggy title drops. A chase song plays.Scooby and Shaggy ride the back of an alligator.  The alligator chases them as it never payed them for the ride, Scooby feeds Shaggy a box of Scooby Snacks to power him up to get away. The alligator is in disbelief. Scooby and Shaggy are bait.  The gang dresses up as the monster to scare him into the trap., which was just the monster’s trap.. woah that works on a level I didn’t expect from this show.

Episode 19: Mystery Mask Mix-Up

Monster: Ghost of Zen Tuo

Interest: Scooby and Shaggy wind up in the trash. Scooby ends up with a fish skeleton in his mouth and lands on top the trash can home on a cat. Cat lifts Scooby up to reclaim its... dinner? Toy? To reclaim its rightful possession. Shaggy and Scooby want to order chop suey malts.It is implied that Scooby knows Chinese. Implied because it was just racist gibberish in reality. There has been a decent spoonful of racism in some of the episodes I have watch, but this one is just really piling it on. Series first car chase, and with a chase song.. are chase songs going to be in every episode this season? Fish uses water gun on Scooby. Daphne is kidnapped. Velma can read Chinese. Shaggy keeps a model train set in the Mystery Machine. At least one of the henchmen is white? This episode was so bad with its racism that at least one of the villains not being Chinese seems like a small victory. Velma has a single Scooby Snack to share, but a racist caricature mouse gets it, and can say Scooby-Doo.

[witchofreveries]

Nyth’s List of Witchy Podcasts

So, anyone who knows me knows that I’m pretty big into podcasts. Being a professional dog walker, I have a lot of time to be able to listen to all the crazy stuff I want while I work. Since this is my witch blog, I wanted to post of list of my favorite witchy/pagan/spiritual podcasts so other practitioners out there can enjoy. So here they are! These are podcasts that I have listened to all the way through, or at the very least, completed large enough chunks of them to trust that they are well researched and well made. I plan to add to this as I listen to more shows as time goes on...

Like with anything, take what you hear with a grain of salt and ALWAYS do your own research, follow your own beliefs, think hard, and decide for yourself before following any advice or info given in these shows.

The Podcasts

Across the Hedge  A new podcast about living Heathenry, the first few episodes of this are rather rough, as it appears that the hostess is still finding her groove, but by episode four, each episode pleasing and interesting to listen to, packed with information regarding culture and society, house hold witchy tips, herbs and oils, and a nice roundabout description of what it means to be a practicing Heathen in a modern world. 

Ariel’s Druidic Craft of the Wise Lectures While the background of the DCW is still debated to be sketchy or not, Ariel comes from a very loving and understanding place in his lectures and provides insight on how to better manifest positivity and effectiveness into our daily lives. Based around the Seven Hermetic Principals, they are insightful and plentiful, as there is a lecture for just about any life problem. 

A Witch’s Primer Also created by Ariel comes this list of episodes geared towards teaching witchcraft to anyone wishing to learn in a nondenominational structure. While the style he teaches still feels rather Golden Dawn/Wicca, he gives a nice rundown of everything from the very basics like tools and colors, to thought-form creation and mental manifestation. He even includes meditations to help teach grounding, centering, meeting spirit guides, and trance states. 

Chasing Foxfire Some of you may know the infamous Cory Hutcheson from the podcast New World Witchery (if not, see below). In this brand new podcast, Cory displays his deep Doctoral knowledge of folklore and mythology. Even with only three episodes so far, this podcast is wonderfully done, and packed with information and interviews with experts on lore from across America. It is also soothing to listen to!

Down at the Crossroads My favorite podcast, hosted by Chris Orapello, a guy from my area with whom I share mutual friends! DatC has sadly moved away from it’s earlier format and now consists of long interviews with pagan and witchy folk from around the nation, all stuffed with phenomenal information between tracks of excellent pagan music. However, his first 32 episodes are amazingly well done, and are filled with information from historical lessons of the occult, hermetics, the essence of magic, interviews, and his well written and deep personal thoughts regarding the magical life. 

Inciting a Brewhaha The loud mouths and introspective minds of Fire Lyte and Velma Nightshade come together in a completely unedited, fun, and very debate filled crossover-podcast, in which the host and hostess deeply discuss magical ethics and practice. While the show is sometimes a little crazy because of there being no script and no editing, their conversations are always hilarious and thought provoking, even when I don’t necessarily agree with them.

Inciting a Riot Fire Lyte hosts his own controversial show in which he conducts well researched and well thought out news casts of news from across the world and in paganism. He also holds interviews with great minds from the pagan/witchy community, debates with friends, and reads poetry relevant to recent events. While energetic and loud, he has great insight and is very well read, and I get a lot of my more accurate news from him. 

Lore Alan Mahnke hosts a beautifully written and well directed podcast full of amazing, historical stories regarding strange and eery occurrences across the world. From spooky tales about ghost ships, to nail biting tales of serial murderers, each episode is about true events and how their details have have gradually changed over time to make them sound like modern day horror stories. With a great voice and an exceptional music score, this podcast is a must listen, even if you’re not a witch or pagan. 

Magic and the Law of Attraction Madame Pamita of the Parlour of Wonders and “Hoodoo How-to” hosts her very own show that is perfect for magical practitioners of any phase in their learning. Whether you’re brand new to practical magic or a weathered old crone of the craft, Madame Pamita makes this show easy to understand and filled with great information, spells, and witchy tips. With a fun and catchy 1920′s style theme song, and a voice like butter, it’s a good place to start if you’re interested in great sounding witchy podcasts. 

Myths and Legends  This show is great for anyone who loves mythology and folklore, not just pagans and practitioners. It covers mythology from all over the world, including Greek/Roman, Norse, Celtic, Russian, Native American, and Asian myths, the original tales of familiar stories like Cinderella, and even modern stories that stem from ancient tales that few know about. There is also a “Creature of the Week” segment that talks about one interesting creature from the folklore of the many cultures across the globe, which is always a hoot. All told in the quirky and fun style that Jason, the host, puts together himself. 

New World Witchery Around since the the early 2000′s, Cory and Lane are two magical partners that discuss everything you could want to know about American Magical traditions such as Hoodoo, Powwow, Appalachian Folk magic, and the few other traditions born in the early days of the USA. With a laid back, light-editing structure, this podcast is experimental an full of interesting discussions about spellwork, ethics, and folklore. With yearly Samhain, Yule, and Beltane specials, full episodes of professional folklorist, Cory, telling American folk tales, and each episode covering a new and interesting topic, this podcast is packed with thought-provoking information. 

Reiki Nomad A wonderful little podcast for those interested in learning about and practicing Reiki, this short series goes deep into the history, lineages, styles, and modern uses for Reiki, as well as discusses it’s diversity in both the spiritual and non spiritual worlds. Perfect for beginners and/or Masters looking for new ways to approach the Japanese healing art. 

The Wiccan Read-Along Podcast Though I’m not Wiccan, I have to say I really enjoy listening to this podcast, if not simply to travel back to my days of beginning with Scott Cunningham. Still somewhat new, this podcast acts much like an audiobook for three (and more to come) books based around Wicca, though the reader, Phoenix, often has great insight and her own blurbs and helpful criticisms regarding the books she reads from. 

The Wigglian Way A very full podcast of music, magic, news, and spirituality from two Wiccan’s living in Canada. Their show is full of interviews with authors and artists within the pagan community, news within the pagan and witchcraft world, and hilarious conversations between themselves and their friends. A long time podcast this show has hundreds of episodes to pick and choose from on any subject you might want to explore. 

Witches BrewHaha The second of my two favorite podcasts, hosted by the magnanimous Velma Nightshade. With a perfect radio voice, Velma takes to the air with a show full of great segments on crystals, herbs, practical magic, book recommendations from her enormous library, and thoughts about news and articles in within the pagan community. She is sassy and smart, fun and fabulous, and she and her coven mates who join her on episodes are all full of wonderful advice and personality. 

There we have it! Feel free to add your own in the reblogs!  

[doocentral]

SCOOBY-DOO! SHAGGY’S SHOWDOWN - ANOTHER UNREMARKABLE DIV SCOOBY-DOO FILM

Earlier this year in February, Warner Bros. released the direct-to-video movie, Scooby-Doo! Shaggy’s Showdown. It’s the first new Scooby-Doo movie of 2017 and it follows Mystery Inc. into the wild west as Shaggy aims to reconnect with long-lost relatives. They meet quite the ensemble of supporting characters and are confronted by the ghost of Shaggy’s ancestor who is terrorizing the tourist town. This is my review of the movie which will be spoiler-free so you can enjoy my insight on the movie if you have yet to see it.

I’m going to get straight to the chase here: this movie is not remarkable, groundbreaking, or unique. This movie is another one of those direct-to-video Scooby-Doo movies that don’t really add anything to the franchise. But at the same time, it doesn’t hurt it. I find it to be a bit unfocused and there are things that happen in the movie that are quite odd when comparing it to other Scooby-Doo films. 

One thing that immediately made me not have high hopes about this movie was the introduction to the supporting characters. This is a problem I’ve seen in other Scooby-Doo movies like the WWE movies. That problem is meeting the supporting characters really fast in a short span of time. It’s so forced and jam-packed that it somewhat baffles me. I really don’t believe kids watching this would’ve been able to keep track because I sure couldn’t. No joke, the gang is introduced to twelve, I count 12 characters in less than five minutes. I’m not exaggerating. 

Four of these characters is a family named the Gundersons. The more relevant of these characters is Buddy G, the son of the family who is a famous internet-sensation singer (he’s really just a cartoon hybrid rip-off of MattyB and Justin Bieber). He apparently wants to live life like a cowboy despite looking like the most generic wanna-be-famous middle-to-upper-class city boy who happens to have a fear of horses. Then there’s his sister Debbie (or as she likes to call herself Desdemona) who is the insufferable teenager who doesn’t want to be at the western-themed tourist town and exudes nothing but teen angst that will literally make you roll your eyes and gag (if you can’t interpret that from the image above). Finally there’s these kids’ parents who are simply thriving on the son’s fame but also want to have a good time on vacation.  Honestly, I hate all of them.

We meet an assortment of other characters in this 5 minutes too who I don’t care to know the names of and there’s no real point to because even the gang quickly rules them out as suspects in the mystery itself. In this group there is one character who actually is relevant and that’s Tawny Rogers, Shaggy’s relative.

Tawny is a sweet woman who owns the farm that the gang is visiting. She is Shaggy’s third cousin twice removed (you have to love those situations). In the likely case you don’t know how these two are related to each other, I will be providing a link at the end of the review that clears up how these kinds of cousins work. I did look into this and do have a personal pet-peeve about this relation because in this case, she should be much older than how she is portrayed (as a third cousin twice removed, she should be two generations older than Shaggy). I know this won’t phase most audience members but now that I know this, it will bug me. 

But anyway, she does have some charm to her with her western cowgirl accent and frequently throughout the movie expresses her personal fears and sadness towards the idea of losing the farm resort due to bad business since the ghost of Dapper Jack Rogers has appeared. 

Despite these supporting character qualms, I do enjoy other parts of the movie. This is one of the few movies that bring in the gang’s relatives (other movies include Daphne’s cousin in Scooby-Doo and the Lochness Monster, Fred’s parents in Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy, and Velma’s sister in Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra Doo). It’s about time we had some kind of mystery movie including Shaggy’s family. 

I feel like this movie was self-aware at times in regard to the Scooby-Doo franchise and its many trends. A couple good example is when Daphne exclaims that many of their mysteries involve real-estate scams. Another is when Tawny is explaining to the gang the history of Dapper Jack Rogers and how he and his dog Atlas terrorized the town in the olden days. Afterward the gang make remarks about how they envisioned Atlas resembling Scooby-Doo without any real indication the two were related or physically alike. 

Another thing I liked is how Fred referenced Camp Little Moose from the movie Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare. I like that all of these movies since Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra Doo have been canonically connected. It makes them interesting and makes me ponder their relationships to the TV series (like how the LEGO Scooby-Doo! Haunted Hollywood movie referenced Crystal Cove from Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated). 

I do have mixed feelings about Velma in this movie. I’m personally still getting used to Kate Micucci voicing Velma outside Be Cool! Scooby-Doo. Don’t get me wrong, I like it! Just different to hear. And I do like that Velma is portrayed to have bad horse allergies like she does to many other farm animals in the Be Cool! Scooby-Doo episode “Eating Crow”. But I am conflicted about her sudden new pet-peeve about fonts (she gets upset about a font choice on the website for Tawny’s ranch). 

This pet-peeve has never been characteristic of Velma in the franchise’s history. And while I personally can get uptight about font-usage since I am a passionate graphic designer, Velma has no indications of design-interests. This may just be the writers trying to expand Velma’s character considering she is really uptight and somewhat sheltered and dorky in the Be Cool, Scooby-Doo cartoon but like I said, this font thing came out of nowhere. 

The movie brings out new qualities as well as emphasizing new-ish qualities in the gang that seem to be exclusive to the direct-to-video movies. One of these things that isn’t particularly new is Fred’s desire to know more than other people in regard to literally anything. In some ways, Fred now desires to one-up people or pretends to know what he’s doing in order to be liked and/or accepted by other people. This quality, while understandable, is not something I find identifiable or entertaining. I know people like this in real life and it’s not a quality in people I like. 

Another thing that caught me off-guard (especially when re-watching this movie for this review) was Daphne and her appearance. Daphne is often characterized as the pretty member of the group who loves fashion. And I don’t find anything wrong with that. Especially since Daphne has always been a kindhearted and sweet woman who is intelligent and secure. She doesn’t brag about her appearance and that’s admirable. But there is an instance in the movie when a town employee is refusing to give Velma information about Dapper Jack Rogers. When Daphne enters the conversation, this employee suddenly changes attention and is more than willing to give her all the information she needs. 

I don’t think that Daphne was intentionally trying to manipulate this guy with her appearance to get information. I personally believe she may have been ignorant to the situation since Velma had been trying to get this information from the guy before she even entered the building. But this situation really bothered me because Daphne has never been one to use her appearance to get what she wants in any kind of Scooby-Doo episode or movie. I think this kind of writing really sends a message that pretty girls can get anything they want and that’s not something I agree with. Especially since this negatively portrays Velma when she’s been seen to be very intelligent and has had several love interests of her own. 

Moving onto the mystery itself, I will simply say that it depends on recycled mystery plots that don’t really expand past the generic ghost-is-ruining-business-and-scaring-away-tourists-and-or-customers story-line. This movie’s gimmick is a western theme that features Shaggy’s family and that’s the only thing that makes this movie even barely unique. 

NOT A SPOILER BUT THIS PARAGRAPH MAY LEAD YOU TO GUESS THE VILLAIN EARLY SO READ THIS WITH CAUTION: I won’t say who the villain is or ruin that, but when I found out who it is, I was a bit disappointed only because this is becoming a recurring theme in these newer direct-to-video movies (anything after Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra Doo). If you watch this movie and you get to the part that the villain is revealed, take a moment to reference the villains of Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare and Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur (and their relationship to the gang) and you’ll see what I mean by this. 

In the end, this movie isn’t terrible but I won’t go out of my way to watch this again. I personally don’t think it is that great of a movie but I find it so much better than the KISS, WWE, and Music of the Vampire movies. I’m glad I saw it but I don’t see myself putting it in the DVD player just for kicks one rainy day. Definitely give it a watch but don’t expect it to be on your Top 10 Scooby-Doo movie list because there are much better pieces of Scooby-Doo film out there. 

Take my review with a pinch of salt though. My opinions on these movies utilize both my tendency to critique movies and my knowledge of the Scooby-Doo franchise and together they can make me out to be a Scooby-cynic. 

What do you think of Scooby-Doo! Shaggy’s Showdown? Did you enjoy it? Did you hate it? Do you agree or disagree with any of my points in this review? Let me know by replying, reblogging, or messaging me! I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Also, here is that YouTube video that I mentioned earlier about how complicated your family tree can be and how it doesn’t have to be! It’s uploaded by CGP Grey who is one of my favorite YouTubers and I hope you enjoy this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM79Epw_cp8