Velma Episode 1 and 2 are now out! Charlie Grandy develops the show with Mindy Kaling who plays the central character as well as the executive producer. Charlie Grandy, Howard Klein and Sam Register also serve as the executive producers. It is produced by Kaling International, 3 Arts Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Television Distribution.
We have Mindy Kaling as Velma Dinkley, Sam Richardson as Shaggy, Constance Wu as Daphne and Glenn Howerton as Fred Jones. Alongside them we have Russell Peters as Aman Dinkley, Melissa Fumero as Sophie, Sarayu Blue as Diya Dinkley, Jane Lynch as Donna Blake, Wanda Sykes as Linda Blake, Cherry Jones as Victoria Jones, Frank Welker as William Jones, Nicole Byer as Blythe Rogers, Gary Cole as Lamont Rogers, Stephen Root as Sheriff Cogburn, Fortune Feimster as Olive, Yvonne Orji as Gigi, Ming-Na Wen as Carroll, Shay Mitchell as Brenda, Debby Ryan as Krista, Karl-Anthony Towns as Jacques Beau and others.
The first episode of the series is titled ‘Velma’ and is directed by Anne Walker Farrell and written by Charlie Grandy. The second episode is called ‘The Candy (Wo)man’ and is directed by Cal Ramsey and written by Akshara Sekar. Both the episodes are 25-30 minutes long.
– HBO Max’s Velma Episode 1 and 2 Review Does Not Contain Any Spoilers –
Velma Episode 1 and 2 Review
As the title suggests, this series is dedicated to being on Velma Dinkley and, our prime character makes it apparent from the very start as she calls it her origin story. The first episode begins with a mean Daphne in the girl’s shower room discussing sex in media with her friends as she gets into a fight with one of her girlfriends. It is clear from that point onwards that this show is very much for adults and will have senseless and gory violence, making it perfect parody fodder.
At this point comes our titular character, who attacks Daphne and pushes her off. The two girls used to be friends at some point but, aren’t anymore. The tiff soon comes to an end and Velma opens her locker. However, inside the vault rests a dead Brenda (one of Daphne’s friends) with her brain cut and plugged out. Thus, this starts the mystery that draws Velma in to solve. Of course, having no good friends to fall on and a set of hallucinations triggered by childhood trauma is not easy.
Throughout the first two episodes, we try to explore the characteristic features and traits of our title character. We also engage with her in her investigation to find out who has been murdering these high school teen queens and taking their brains out, much in a symbolic manner.
Velma Episode 1 and 2: Final Thoughts
Mindy Kaling seems to have delivered another powerful stroke yet again by giving us an unconventional lead character with unmatchable humour in the narrative and an intense storyline that would keep one engaged. It is no brainer that this show is really just about Velma and, although we do see Shaggy, Daphne and Fred as characters around Velma in the series, it only brings focus to the main character and how she developed her relationship with these other characters that ultimately formed the investigative gang.
There are interesting themes that the makers are trying to explore through these series and, if one of them is mental health, we hope it better lands well. However, until the episodes roll out it will be hard to say how this show will fair. But, for now, it has landed well with its dark and intriguingly funny side.
You can now watch the first two episodes of Velma on HBO Max.