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Velma

Velma

Twice the meddling.

2023–2024Ended2 seasons21 episodes~25 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

Jinkies! This raucous reimagining of the Scooby-Doo franchise unravels the mysterious origins of Mystery, Inc. – as seen through the eyes of the gang’s beloved bespectacled detective Velma.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Velma?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Velma streaming on HBO Max and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Velma?

Velma earns 3 badges, led by Overhyped and Universally Panned.

  • Reception
  • Content

Reception

Is Velma worth watching?

Velma's Midcredits score is the 1st percentile of all shows, from 82K ratings across 2 sources. 8% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

1st percentile

Among the least well received shows

1st percentile among Animation1st percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)1st
Approval (how many liked it)1st

Acclaim

Universally Panned: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

23 /100

1st percentile of all shows

1st percentile among Animation1st percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

The crowd leans negative, with most ratings sitting in the bottom half of the scale.

Approval

How many liked it

8% liked it

1st percentile of all shows

1st percentile among Animation1st percentile among 2020s
8% rated it 7–1092% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

97th percentile

82K ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Animation98th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 12% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both sides agree the show is a deliberate, drastic departure from the tone and characters of the original Scooby-Doo, with almost nothing in common besides the names.

Fans praised

  • fresh take on the Scooby-Doo IP with revamped characters and morbid humor
  • enjoyable if you are not attached to the original series, with a bingeable quality
  • praised as a hilarious, smart reimagining for a modern adult audience

Detractors panned

  • completely unfunny, with jokes that fall flat and feel forced or juvenile
  • characters are unbearable, lacking depth, likability, and any connection to the originals
  • a disgraceful, disrespectful reimagining of the Scooby-Doo IP, removing the core elements that made it beloved

What stands out

OriginalityDivisive45

fresh take praised by fans, but detractors see it as a misguided attempt that loses the heart of the original

AtmosphereDivisive35

dark and moody compared to the original, but fails to capture the spooky fun tone

PacingDivisive30

season is bingeable, but detractors find episodes drag and feel much longer than they are

Emotional impactDivisive30

attempts at emotional depth with Velma's mother mystery fall flat for most

Plot and storyDivisive25

story is a confusing mystery of Velma's mom missing, but fans find it engaging; detractors find it nonsensical and poorly told

CharactersDivisive20

revamped versions seen as fresh by fans, but detractors call them cringe, unlikable, and nothing like the originals

HumorDivisive15

anarchic comedy that lands for some, but most find it unfunny, overly juvenile, and heavily reliant on pop-culture references

DialogueDivisive10

dialogue is a mix of forced pop-culture references and juvenile attempts at edge

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men even
  • Under-30s vs over-30s even
  • Critics vs users even
  • US vs non-US even

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2024 · 11 episodes · 5.1 average across 3 rated episodes

  • S2E1

    The Mystery of Teen Romance

    Apr 25, 202428 minTMDB rating 3.9
  • S2E2

    Creaky Friday

    Apr 25, 202425 min
  • S2E3

    When Velma Met Money

    Apr 25, 202424 min
  • S2E4

    Seancé

    Apr 25, 202426 min
  • S2E5

    Burning Woman

    Apr 25, 202425 min
  • S2E6

    Private Velmjamin

    Apr 25, 202425 min

Watch experience

What is Velma like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Ironic, dark and gentle — an even-paced watch that leaves you angry.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
JoyfulThrillingAbsurd
Heaviest: middle
Satirical humor
Register
Satirical · 5% of showsCynical · 1% of shows
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show holds its material with a knowing, irreverent distance, mocking both its source material and its own characters.
The rideThe show maintains a light, energetic mood throughout, with moments of higher tension during mystery-solving in the middle of episodes.
StructureEpisodes follow a conventional beginning-middle-end structure: setup of the mystery, investigation, and resolution.
Episode formatEach episode features a self-contained mystery (case-of-the-week) that contributes to a larger season-long mystery arc.
Season formatThe series has two seasons, each with its own central mystery arc involving the same core cast.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Infuriating · 4% of shows: Leaves you angry at an injustice the film shows, never at the film.Unsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe show's mean-spirited humor and contempt for its source material leave viewers angry and uneasy rather than entertained.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MysteryPuzzle
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8% (this title): Puzzle 1% (this title) · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Puzzle: A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).

8% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeIn a typical episode, Velma investigates a murder or disappearance in her high school, with clues and red herrings leading to a reveal. The overarching arc involves finding her mother, but the episode-by-episode structure is a whodunit.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfSelf-worth
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% (this title) · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

Self-worth · 7% of showsCommunity: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.
Satirizes its theme: Attacks its theme through ridicule.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe series focuses on Velma's struggle to be valued for her intellect in a world that dismisses her, while she also learns to rely on her friends.
StanceThe series satirizes the teen mystery genre and Velma's own desire for recognition, using comedy to critique the culture around her.

The world

ContemporarySuburbanRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Craig DeLeon
SettingA small American town where Velma attends high school.
MusicThe score leans into classic mystery themes with a modern, satirical edge.

Content guide

Is Velma okay for kids?

TV-MA

Velma is rated TV-MA. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (88/100), sexual content at intense (75/100), language at severe (86/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (79/100) and frightening material at intense (79/100). Overall it is heavier than 95% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 10 other countries
  • Brazil16
  • Czechia18+
  • FinlandK12
  • Hungary16
  • MexicoB-15
  • Poland16
  • Portugal12AP
  • ROAP
  • Spain16
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
Overall
Severe · all five categories
Heavier than 97% of all showsHeavier than 95% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 84%
Sex & Nudity
Intense
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 87%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 84%
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 86%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 80%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Heavy almost across the board: violence, language, drug and alcohol content, frightening material, and sexual content.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Velma have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Velma?

Cast

Mindy Kaling
as Velma
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Glenn Howerton
as Fred
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Sam Richardson
as Norville
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Constance Wu
as Daphne
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jane Lynch
as Donna
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Melissa Fumero
as Sophie
Russell Peters
as Aman
Wanda Sykes
as Linda
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Sarayu Blue
as Diya
Kari Wahlgren
as Evelyn

Crew

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799 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: satire or spoof. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.