'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated' "Grim Judgement" (2012)
Opening thoughts: "Grim Judgement" was one of the 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated' episodes seen some time later than most of the others. Was very impressed by it on first watch, with the atmosphere and villain particularly impressing, despite not liking all the characters and being mixed on the reveal. It does have one of the better premises of the season and it is a premise that is a great one, so if anybody expects a lot that is more than understandable. It was a very well done episode on first watch.
Thankfully, it was also a very good episode on rewatch, and fared even better than on first watch. A lot of Season 2 comprised of episodes that were even better on rewatch with more to appreciate and the good things being even stronger and "Grim Judgement" is another one of them. It is not one of the best 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated' episodes and is a slight letdown after the excellent previous two episodes, but there is a huge amount to like and not much to criticise.
Bad things: Will admit to finding Gary and Ethan rather annoying, they were definitely meant to be but the episode went too far and exaggerated the annoying traits.
Also was not that surprised by the identity of the responsible, though the truth is well executed and clever and the actual number of people responsible didn't cross my mind initially.
Good things: However, those not so good are vastly outweighed by what "Grim Judgement" does right, which is everything else. The animation is richly detailed and atmospheric in its use of colour. Especially in the truly creepy character design of the villain. The music has lots of momentum and atmosphere. The voice acting is very good and the writing is well balanced tonally and provokes thought.
Concluding thoughts: Concluding, very well done.
8/10.
Opening thoughts: "Grim Judgement" was one of the 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated' episodes seen some time later than most of the others. Was very impressed by it on first watch, with the atmosphere and villain particularly impressing, despite not liking all the characters and being mixed on the reveal. It does have one of the better premises of the season and it is a premise that is a great one, so if anybody expects a lot that is more than understandable. It was a very well done episode on first watch.
Thankfully, it was also a very good episode on rewatch, and fared even better than on first watch. A lot of Season 2 comprised of episodes that were even better on rewatch with more to appreciate and the good things being even stronger and "Grim Judgement" is another one of them. It is not one of the best 'Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated' episodes and is a slight letdown after the excellent previous two episodes, but there is a huge amount to like and not much to criticise.
Bad things: Will admit to finding Gary and Ethan rather annoying, they were definitely meant to be but the episode went too far and exaggerated the annoying traits.
Also was not that surprised by the identity of the responsible, though the truth is well executed and clever and the actual number of people responsible didn't cross my mind initially.
Good things: However, those not so good are vastly outweighed by what "Grim Judgement" does right, which is everything else. The animation is richly detailed and atmospheric in its use of colour. Especially in the truly creepy character design of the villain. The music has lots of momentum and atmosphere. The voice acting is very good and the writing is well balanced tonally and provokes thought.
Concluding thoughts: Concluding, very well done.
8/10.
