'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated' "Night Terrors" (2012)
Opening thoughts: "Night Terrors" is another one of the 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated' episodes seen quite a lot later. The premise was a great one and very classic Scooby Doo-like. Did read the synopsis and saw the fandom hype and admittedly got a bit nervous, with the worry that the character writing and interaction could become too soap operatic, which is something that Scooby Doo certainly is not (well when executed well that is). There are a few episodes of the show to have not too great premises that turned out to be good so there was hope.
Luckily, "Night Terrors" turned out to be great and a good mix of classic Scooby Doo and modern Scooby Doo with a bit of non-Scooby Doo on the side. It isn't one of my very favourite episodes of 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated', but it's one of the more interesting episodes of Season 2. It's creepy, intriguing and has many character moments that will make fans squeal in delight and occasionally shock. So basically what for me Scooby Doo is all about and what makes him and the franchise so timeless.
Good things: Almost everything. It's beautifully animated, with the interiors of the building used in a way that is reminiscent of 'The Shining' and the jackal standing out. The music adds to the atmosphere and doesn't trivialise or over-emphasise, the clever theme tune is still memorable. The gang are well written and interact beautifully and can't fault the voice acting. The story is a great mix of 'Scooby Doo Where are You's' "That's Snow Ghost", 'The New Scooby and Scrappy Doo Show's' "Scoobygeist" and 'Mystery Incoporated's' "The Creeping Creatures", complete with being influenced by 'The Shining' at times.
What could have gone so wrong (the heavy emphasis on character relationships) turned out to be so right. What could easily have made the episode a failure if too soapy turned out to be one of the reasons for why "Night Terrors" was a must see. The creepy elements are genuinely spooky and the comedy is a lot and is never less than very amusing and doesn't feel strained. Plus everything with Fred and Daphne was adorable, the part that fans were squealing over delighted me too though a bit of a shock.
Bad things: Only the too ambiguous ending lets it down, especially regarding how many of the ghosts the perpetrator was actually responsible for which was not explained.
Concluding thoughts: Summing up, great.
9/10.
Opening thoughts: "Night Terrors" is another one of the 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated' episodes seen quite a lot later. The premise was a great one and very classic Scooby Doo-like. Did read the synopsis and saw the fandom hype and admittedly got a bit nervous, with the worry that the character writing and interaction could become too soap operatic, which is something that Scooby Doo certainly is not (well when executed well that is). There are a few episodes of the show to have not too great premises that turned out to be good so there was hope.
Luckily, "Night Terrors" turned out to be great and a good mix of classic Scooby Doo and modern Scooby Doo with a bit of non-Scooby Doo on the side. It isn't one of my very favourite episodes of 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated', but it's one of the more interesting episodes of Season 2. It's creepy, intriguing and has many character moments that will make fans squeal in delight and occasionally shock. So basically what for me Scooby Doo is all about and what makes him and the franchise so timeless.
Good things: Almost everything. It's beautifully animated, with the interiors of the building used in a way that is reminiscent of 'The Shining' and the jackal standing out. The music adds to the atmosphere and doesn't trivialise or over-emphasise, the clever theme tune is still memorable. The gang are well written and interact beautifully and can't fault the voice acting. The story is a great mix of 'Scooby Doo Where are You's' "That's Snow Ghost", 'The New Scooby and Scrappy Doo Show's' "Scoobygeist" and 'Mystery Incoporated's' "The Creeping Creatures", complete with being influenced by 'The Shining' at times.
What could have gone so wrong (the heavy emphasis on character relationships) turned out to be so right. What could easily have made the episode a failure if too soapy turned out to be one of the reasons for why "Night Terrors" was a must see. The creepy elements are genuinely spooky and the comedy is a lot and is never less than very amusing and doesn't feel strained. Plus everything with Fred and Daphne was adorable, the part that fans were squealing over delighted me too though a bit of a shock.
Bad things: Only the too ambiguous ending lets it down, especially regarding how many of the ghosts the perpetrator was actually responsible for which was not explained.
Concluding thoughts: Summing up, great.
9/10.
