The following contains spoilers for Velma Season 1, Episode 5, "Marching Band Sleepover," now streaming on HBO Max.
In Season 1 of HBO Max's Velma, it's safe to say the show has been divisive. Some fans beholden to the old Scooby-Doo lore don't like the changes made, deeming them too progressive, while others don't mind the mature Velma reinterpretation, paving the way for Velma to actually attract a big audience. It indicates fans are into the new spin, or are hate-watching to complain.
A lot of the contention would be derived from the series lashing out at toxic masculinity, which haters think is all virtue signaling. However, Velma handles itself pretty well at dissecting misogyny in Crystal Cove and why the mean girls at Velma's high-school are being preyed upon. Sadly, while this particular issue is well done, Velma broaches another topic in poor taste, giving into nasty stereotypes.
Velma Makes Fun of Simping
Velma comes off informative in its own profane way, nodding to how Harley Quinn used comedy to expose Joker's nasty ways. Here, Fred enlightens himself on objectifying women. By contrast, Fred's father William, Velma's neglectful father Aman, and creepy guys like Mayor Dave and Sheriff Cogburn are further proof of toxic masculinity passed down through generations. Luckily, Shaggy learns to stop feeling entitled to Velma, just because he's a good friend. He illustrates how to remove the blinders and adjust the male gaze in a town where women are mistreated, disrespected and now, murdered.
Instead, Shaggy recalibrates his life, finding love with the artistic, enlightened Gigi, who ironically learned about being her true self thanks to Velma. But in the process, both Velma and Gigi exploit Shaggy, making fun of his "simping." What's especially disturbing about this presentation is that Shaggy is genuinely trying to be a good guy. For the show to ridicule him on that -- especially as he's trying to evolve -- is very tone-deaf.
Velma Has a Double Standard
The term "simping" is being tossed around a lot, berating guys who are genuine, selfless, caring and honest with women. Thus, it's a trigger term for bullying and another way males express unhealthy feelings towards each other, making it seem as if men are weak for being nice and not having ulterior motives. Instead of breaking the stigma, however, Velma leans into the idea of taking advantage of Shaggy, hatching a plan to bring him back as a detective behind Gigi's back to find her missing mom, Diya.
Velma is cognizant of how she's capitalizing on Shaggy's kindness and good-hearted nature, with Gigi eventually chiding him for "simping" for Velma. Later, Shaggy ends up helping Velma clean her house up after a party, so her parents don't know what happened, admitting, "I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do. I'm simping for myself." Again, the clichés are fed, with Shaggy not even educating Gigi or Velma on the issue. Ultimately, if Velma is to truly resonate as uplifting and inspirational in its own crass way, it shouldn't be putting down Shaggy like this, while trying to claim an air of acceptance, equality and inclusivity. Otherwise, it's just coming off as hypocritical, especially as Shaggy -- flaws aside -- is trying to help everyone out, and affect positive change in Crystal Cove.
Velma streams new episodes Thursdays on HBO Max.