Am a big fan of Scooby Doo and have always liked but not loved 'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries'. Some episodes are better than others, and it is very common for when two episodes are doubled that there is a difference in quality, in some cases a big difference. Have always found a lot to like about both "Dooby Dooby Doo Ado" and "Showboat Scooby" and because of them being among the first episodes of the show watched there is a little nostalgia value.
With "Dooby Dooby Doo Ado" and "Showboat Scooby", they are one of the episode couplings where the two are pretty much equal in quality in a good way. "Doom Service" and "A Code in the Nose" being the other. Personally do give the slight edge to "Showboat Scooby" for its stronger mystery and its more unique setting, though it was nice to see another glimpse of Scooby's family relations and anything centered around music is an immediate attention grabber.
"Dooby Dooby Doo Ado" (7/10)- The mystery isn't much of one and would have worked better if the truth wasn't given away so early on in the episode perhaps. The final act isn't as strong as the rest, with it being basically one over-stretched and fairly predictable escape (though it has amusing moments).
The animation was colourful enough and the music was like a big character of its own, appropriate considering the premise. The intro is catchy and the music style is one that is always one that has been held with fondness for me. The setting is suitably glitzy and captures the excitement of performing very well. The gang are all fine, Shaggy and Scooby are amusing and the voice acting is solid. There are some memorable scenes, Scooby pretending to be his cousin and how that goes and the ending being the best parts. The first half is great too. Scoobys cousin is likeable and his singing an affectionate throwback to the crooners such as Sinatra and Martin.
"Showboat Scooby" (7/10)- As said above, this gets the slight as the better episode and of the few Scooby Doo episodes set on a showboat this is the infinitely better one of the two (didn't like the 'The New Scooby Doo Movies' one with Josie and the Pussycats). The animation is colourful and atmospheric, the showboat backgrounds faring best. The music fits nicely and am still fond of the "Thriller"-like intro. The showboat setting has great atmosphere and never wasted and the ghost is creepy. Shall never fail to be creeped out by his first appearance.
He is also one of the few antagonists of the show to have a backstory and it's an intriguing one. The mystery is a lot of fun, more eventful than an episode like "South Pole Vault" or "The Bee Team" and it also has a suspenseful climax, only rivalled/bettered in the suspense factor by "Happy Birthday Scooby Doo". The coda was quite sweet and there are some classic amusing Shaggy and Scooby moments, such as Shaggy thinking that the ghost when calling out Magnolia is Scooby. Had no issue with the voice acting.
It's not perfect though. There could have been more of Dixie Doo, who is very come and go in her appearances. It could easily have been a two parter for that reason and perhaps a little more of the backstory. While the identity of the perpetrator was a surprise, one of the few on the show that shocked me, it would have made a lot more sense and been less out of left field if the ghost was the one that is strongly suspected from the start (with him seeming to be the only one with a motive). Also the implausibly rapidly fast costume change and suddenly appearing from the opposite direction made things make even less sense.
Overall, liked but not loved both. 7/10.
With "Dooby Dooby Doo Ado" and "Showboat Scooby", they are one of the episode couplings where the two are pretty much equal in quality in a good way. "Doom Service" and "A Code in the Nose" being the other. Personally do give the slight edge to "Showboat Scooby" for its stronger mystery and its more unique setting, though it was nice to see another glimpse of Scooby's family relations and anything centered around music is an immediate attention grabber.
"Dooby Dooby Doo Ado" (7/10)- The mystery isn't much of one and would have worked better if the truth wasn't given away so early on in the episode perhaps. The final act isn't as strong as the rest, with it being basically one over-stretched and fairly predictable escape (though it has amusing moments).
The animation was colourful enough and the music was like a big character of its own, appropriate considering the premise. The intro is catchy and the music style is one that is always one that has been held with fondness for me. The setting is suitably glitzy and captures the excitement of performing very well. The gang are all fine, Shaggy and Scooby are amusing and the voice acting is solid. There are some memorable scenes, Scooby pretending to be his cousin and how that goes and the ending being the best parts. The first half is great too. Scoobys cousin is likeable and his singing an affectionate throwback to the crooners such as Sinatra and Martin.
"Showboat Scooby" (7/10)- As said above, this gets the slight as the better episode and of the few Scooby Doo episodes set on a showboat this is the infinitely better one of the two (didn't like the 'The New Scooby Doo Movies' one with Josie and the Pussycats). The animation is colourful and atmospheric, the showboat backgrounds faring best. The music fits nicely and am still fond of the "Thriller"-like intro. The showboat setting has great atmosphere and never wasted and the ghost is creepy. Shall never fail to be creeped out by his first appearance.
He is also one of the few antagonists of the show to have a backstory and it's an intriguing one. The mystery is a lot of fun, more eventful than an episode like "South Pole Vault" or "The Bee Team" and it also has a suspenseful climax, only rivalled/bettered in the suspense factor by "Happy Birthday Scooby Doo". The coda was quite sweet and there are some classic amusing Shaggy and Scooby moments, such as Shaggy thinking that the ghost when calling out Magnolia is Scooby. Had no issue with the voice acting.
It's not perfect though. There could have been more of Dixie Doo, who is very come and go in her appearances. It could easily have been a two parter for that reason and perhaps a little more of the backstory. While the identity of the perpetrator was a surprise, one of the few on the show that shocked me, it would have made a lot more sense and been less out of left field if the ghost was the one that is strongly suspected from the start (with him seeming to be the only one with a motive). Also the implausibly rapidly fast costume change and suddenly appearing from the opposite direction made things make even less sense.
Overall, liked but not loved both. 7/10.
