The following contains spoilers for Velma Season 1, Episode 1, "Velma," and Episode 2, "The Candy Man," now streaming on HBO Max.
HBO Max recently released Mindy Kaling's Velma, and while the initial reviews point out its flaws, it's clear there was some thought put into how to evolve the classic Scooby-Doo characters audiences grew up with and admire. Velma, Shaggy, Fred and Daphne all have updated character traits and personalities that fit more with an adult audience -- the big distinguishing factor in the new Velma series.
Since there's extra focus on Velma as the main character, she gets a lot more to do in the story, both in terms of her motivations and the way she's viewed at school. Fred wears the characterization audiences would expect, but with some twists that carry some interesting commentary on the world. Daphne also has some changes to her character the audience won't expect, one of which fans have been wanting for decades. Here's also how Mindy Kaling's Velma develops classic Scooby-Doo characters.
Velma Gets A Deeper Backstory
In the original Scooby-Doo, Velma was the science geek of Mystery Incorporated. She would be the brains of the operation, using her knowledge to good use; however, her character would tend to fade into the background. Sometimes her only primary contribution to the plot was her classic "I dropped my glasses" trope. By contrast, her backstory and motivations are more clearly explored in Velma, especially when her preconceived notions about her mother's disappearance are challenged. She continues to solve the mystery of the ongoing murders, not only to save her own reputation, but also on the off-chance she'll be able to see her mother again. With Velma being HBO Max's most watched animated series debut, they served their audiences a rich backstory that actually gives Velma's character substance.
Fred's Characterization Is a Critique of Modern Masculinity
Fred's character in Velma contains some of the usual characterizations some audience members would expect: the classic jock who only talks to girls whom he deems "worth his time." However, Fred has incredibly wealthy parents who expect him to become the CEO of their company, and an invasive father who is upset his son has not reached puberty. This even leads Fred to be insecure about his body, making sure that no girls know about the fact that he has not developed as quickly as other male students. Not only does this turn the traditional characterization of high school jocks on its head, but it also serves as commentary on what it truly means to be a "masculine man," especially in the present day.
Daphne and Velma Finally Develop a Romance
Among the Scooby-Doo fanbase, it's been a longstanding wish for Velma and Daphne to form a romantic relationship in the show's canon. Daphne is characterized differently in Velma. She not only has two mothers who work as police officers in the show's main plot, but she's also a drug dealer at the school. She and Velma used to be best friends until Daphne made friends with more popular girls, and the two stopped talking. However, after reconnecting early on in the series, Velma and Daphne's enemies to lovers arc comes full circle. Not only is this deserved fanservice, but it fleshes out Velma and Daphne's relationship, and explores it in a way never seen by audiences before.
Mindy Kaling's Velma makes a lot of changes to the Mystery Incorporated gang, and uses adult humor and themes to help make these changes. Regardless of how people feel about the show's changes, there's no doubt that the original cast of Scooby-Doo characters have significantly evolved. Velma no longer fades into the background, and uses her own knowledge and motivations to solve both the main plot's mystery and the mystery of her missing mother. Fred flips the usual high school jock characterizations on their head, examining what it truly means to be a "masculine man." Daphne finally shares some romantic sparks with Velma, a relationship fans have wanted for a long time.
Velma airs every Thursday on HBO Max.