I was thinking about posting this later since I typically do one article a month, but there's enough negativity surrounding the franchise lately that I thought it might be good to focus on something more positive! :) Last week, I did an article highlighting my top 10 least favorite episodes/films in the franchise. I thought it would be a fun idea to do the opposite in this post: highlighting my top 10 favorite Scooby episodes/films in the franchise. Those that know me probably already know many of my top episodes, but I don't know if I've ever laid them all out before like this on the blog. Note that this list does include a few culprit spoilers, so if you haven't seen these episodes, you may want to watch them before reading this list. Honorable mention: Doo Not Disturb This episode excellently combines excellent comedy with a very sinister tone. It feels like this has a perfect balance of silliness and darkness. The plot of the gang being stuck in a hotel in the middle of a snowstorm feels quite creepy, yet the series still keeps its same goofy tone while also maintaining that darker vibe. The Ghost of Mother is an absolutely terrifying villain, and for that reason, she's one of my favorite villains of the entire franchise. I really appreciate this episode for having such a dark tone while retaining the comedy that I love so much about Be Cool. 10. Wrath of the Krampus To be honest, I don't think this would be as high as it is without that ending. The fact that the ending reveals everything that happened in this episode is all just an elaborate plan to trick the old Mystery Incorporated is genius. The shocked look on the Old Mystery Incorporated's face at the end is so satisfying haha. This episode also gets major props from me for including such a unique villain that had never been used yet in the franchise, since we're getting to a point where it's hard to come up with a completely different villain type when we've got over 600 episodes and films. I really like everything about the episode, but yeah, that ending is what puts it on that list because it's so shockingly genius. 9. Some Fred Time I absolutely love this Be Cool episode. I tend to gravitate towards content that has very random, authentically strange comedy, so Be Cool's absurdist humor definitely resonated with me quite a bit. That's why this episode is one of my favorites. It's such a perfect combination of great comedy (especially at the beginning of the episode) and an excellent mystery. I also really liked how we get to know Daphne a bit better through staying at her beach house. In addition to the comedy, the plot of the gang trying to conceal a mystery from Fred made it really interesting. 8. Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats I would argue besides Zombie Island, this may be one of the darkest things in the Scooby franchise. If there was one thing season 2 did really well, it was creating plots that had a super dark tone. Certain scenes in this episode are aesthetically just so creepy, notably the vampire calling Lisa from a dark room, Shaggy, Scooby and Scooby-Dum crawling through the ventilation system, and especially Lisa turning into a vampire when Shaggy, Scooby and Dum had barricaded the room. The fact that the vampire is Lisa's uncle also makes this episode dark in a sadistic way, because this man was Lisa's guardian, and he completely betrayed her and tried to scare her just so he'd get all the hotel profits. It's a truly despicable thing to do, and I would argue this is one of the darkest episodes for that reason as well as the overall tone. 7. Guess Who's Knott Coming to Dinner? To me, this feels like the most classic haunted house episode in the franchise, at least in terms of how well it captures the essence of Scooby. "A Night of Fright Is No Delight" is certainly in that range as well, and it would ranks somewhere in the early teens of my list of favorites. The length really does this episode justice in the sense that it allows for us to really explore the haunted house in depth. Don Knotts is an excellent guest star, and I love that he didn't just play himself. The fact that Don has made up this entire cast of characters that he's impersonating makes this episode so interesting and really elevates the stakes of the episode, because there's so much going on that you have no idea what kind of madness is going to happen next haha. I also really like the Ghosts of Captain Moody as villains. I have heard the complaint that them not having faces brings them down a bit for some reason, but personally I think it makes them even scarier. Again, I would argue the setting is the real star of this episode, and it may be one of my favorite Scooby settings ever. The depth in which the house is explored from top to bottom, as well as the idea that the gang is truly trapped in this house for the night with no way out makes for an incredible plot for me. 6. Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost Although I do like Zombie Island slightly better, this film is super close quality-wise. The setting of Oakhaven is so beautifully animated and really draws you into the film. Even though the film takes a little while to get going, I feel like the longer exposition than normal was time well spent. The film does a great job building the characterization so you can really get to know each of the side characters on a deep level, rather than just having them be a random character that we meet for a second and never see again. Like with Zombie Island, the writers did a great job creating a more mature tone for this film. I loved the twist at the end where the first witch is just a publicity stunt, but then Ben Ravencroft unleashes the real ghost of his ancestor Sarah. It was definitely unexpected the first time I saw the movie as a kid! And of course, this film gets major points for introducing the best recurring characters in franchise history: The Hex Girls! 5. Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island What more do I need to say haha. Zombie Island is one of the most iconic films in franchise history for good reason. The villains are absolutely terrifying, and the more serious tone of this film allows us to see a more mature side of the gang, which is really cool. The plot is so well-written that it keeps you on the edge of the seat all throughout the film. Not only that, but the backgrounds and animation are absolutely immaculate. I would be overjoyed if we got anything that even moderately matched the tone and detail of this film. You can tell that so much love and care was put into making this film, and I think it will remain a true classic forever for that reason. 4. Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers This is another film that feels quintessentially Scooby to me. Although there is some uncertainty about whether the ghosts and monsters are real or not, the whole movie being centered around the guys going on a scavenger hunt while dodging ghosts and ghouls feels like it perfectly captures the essence of the franchise. The score of this film in particular feels so Scooby-ish to me. It sounds both spooky yet kind of lighthearted, which captures the franchise in a nutshell. I loved all The New Scooby-Doo Movies episodes that utilized multiple monsters in the same mystery (i.e. "The Spooky Fog," "The Mystery of Haunted Island," "The Exterminator," and "The Haunted Carnival"), so naturally, I loved the use of multiple monsters here as well. All of the villains had amazing designs, and the additional runtime really helped all of the villains to get their moment. I also have always appreciated how this movie is so open-ended, where you could interpret it as all the ghosts being fake, but there's that little hint that Shaggy's uncle's ghost might have been real at the very end. That brief little bit of Uncle Beauregard appearing at the end makes you question if some of the other ghosts were real as well, because there were quite a few inconsistencies with some of the villains. For example, in the Skull Ghost's first appearance, he has glowing red eyes, his bones are clanking, and he wears a cape. However, in all future appearances, he's clearly just wearing a cheesy skeleton suit. It's unknown if the animators intended this or if it was just sloppy animation. If you think about it, throughout the movie, Uncle Beauregard also seems to have conflicting purposes. In some appearances, he seems to want to just warn Shaggy away, while in other appearances, he is actively trying to kill them. All of these little inconsistencies makes the viewer wonder when the ghosts were real, and when they were fake. I love movies that have endings that make you think even after the movie is over, and this film certainly fits the bill. 3. A Halloween Hassle at Dracula's Castle This episode is my favorite episode of the Scrappy era. The autumn wind blowing at the beginning of the episode pulls you into the setting immediately and gives the episode a Halloween feel from the start. The thing I like most about this episode is how it's a twist on the classic Scooby formula. Instead of the gang trying to solve a mystery involving a ghoul or ghost, the ghouls are the one asking the gang to capture the ghost. It's a really fun idea for the writers to have explored, and I have to say it's pulled off excellently. The Halloween party in the first part of the episode really sets the Halloween mood, and I love that they included Fred and Velma in this episode. The one element I would say could have been done better is that the writers did not really do a good job with characterization. Some of the monsters, like the sea monster and mummy, are really flat as characters and don't have any personality. The sea monster, mummy and invisible man are just dropped completely by the end of the episode, where they disappear and then never show up again without explanation. I love the episode so much that it's something I'm easily able to look past, but it could have been executed better. I've heard some people say that if the franchise would have had more of a creative vision, this episode would have been a good first introduction to real monsters for the gang. I totally agree with this, and I think it would have been cool if they would have explored the gang's disbelief to monsters being real. 2. Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School As far as I'm concerned, the three Superstar 10 movies are some of the best Scooby films to date. Ghoul School has always been my favorite Scooby-Doo film since I was a kid, because of how unique the plot is. Despite the very different plot of Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy working as teachers, this deviation from the typical Scooby storyline feels like a natural direction for the franchise to explore. Throughout the movie, we see Shaggy and Scooby develop as characters a bit as they have to overcome their fear of monsters to teach the girl ghouls. The antics at the beginning of the movie with the girl ghouls are so heartwarming, and despite that it takes a while for the plot to really get going, it sort of feels like you as an audience member get to warm up to the girl ghouls with Shaggy and Scooby, which is a neat plot element. As a lover of puns, I also have to say I greatly appreciate all the bad puns in this film haha. The second half is just as good, but in a different way. The guys having to battle Revolta causes the movie to take a darker tone, but there's so much going on as the guys navigate her castle that it leaves you on the edge of your seat the entire time. I love how this movie tried something so different in a way that felt very natural and fitting to the characters. You'll probably notice a theme between my #2 and #3, that theme being that I really appreciate episodes that experiment with different elements of the classic formula in a way that still stays true to the core of the franchise. Both Ghoul School and Halloween Hassle did this excellently, in my opinion. 1. The Loch Ness Mess
For those that know me, this comes as no surprise. This episode has everything I could want in a Scooby episode, honestly. The New England setting is absolutely immaculate and the animation is gorgeous. The episode captures the essence of the Scooby franchise so well, with a creepy haunted house plot, three excellent ghosts, and a fun side plot of the sea serpent in the lake. That covered bridge scene and the part with the Lantern Ghost vanishing are two of the most iconic scenes of this series IMO. One of my favorite things about this episode is that it is so atmospheric. The countryside setting, as well as Uncle Nat's house and the lake, just feel so iconicly Scooby to me and really pulls you into the mystery. The Globetrotters also make such great guest stars that they feel like a part of the gang, particularly Meadowlark and Curly. I hope you enjoyed reading through these rankings of my favorite episodes! If you feel inspired, feel free to do a ranking of your favorite episodes in the comments, and I'm looking forward to seeing them!
64 Comments
Becker
10/10/2022 03:54:47 pm
I remember making a top 10 on another post this year (can't remember which one), and I know it was:
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10/10/2022 03:57:20 pm
You've got some really solid picks! I wanted to include Reluctant Werewolf in mine, but there are just so many good episodes I couldn't fit it in. "The Ghost of Bigfoot" is another good one that could have been somewhat close to making my list.
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Becker
10/11/2022 04:10:38 am
Oops, I meant to say Don't Fool with a Phantom for #7, not Spooky Space Kook.
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10/11/2022 09:52:35 am
I love "Spirit Spooked Sports Show," "Happy Birthday Scooby-Doo" and Cyber Chase! Great to see them so high on your list!
Becker
10/11/2022 03:50:50 pm
Yeah, they're gems. Sports Show has always been one of the most hilarious episodes in the franchise to me. And Space Kook is top 5 villain ever.
Jayden
10/10/2022 04:02:08 pm
Nice list, I was quite surprised no SDWAY episode is on your list. I think you should've included more episodes instead of films but this is still great. I really need to rewatch MI because I forgot a majority of the side plots. Especially the krampus episode.
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10/10/2022 05:02:57 pm
There are quite a few Where Are You episodes bubbling under like "A Night of Fright Is No Delight" and "Haunted House Hang-Up," but I like my top 10 just a little bit better than those.
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Mr Neither
10/10/2022 05:14:17 pm
I thought it was Halloween month not April Fools. I'll have a think about my top ten once I get home from holiday.
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Mr Neither
10/11/2022 02:48:08 am
Thanks, yeah, been a good break just sad it has to end!
Mr Neither
10/12/2022 05:47:08 am
Thinking about it, that's a seriously difficult task but feel Zombie Island, Camp Scare and Goblin King would be on it. Episode wise, hard without watching a load of episodes again! The Creeper and Wax Phantom episodes are two memorable ones for me along with the Mystery of Haunted Isle and the first Batman Robin episode. Mystery Incorporated overall was incredible but unsure I can remember a single episode aside the Darlow Mansion episode. Part of me still wonders how they got away with some of the stuff in that one. Be Cool scooby Doo also had some really good ones, possibly Sorcerer Snack Scare, a great explanation of the Scooby Snack origin and the Professor Huh saga. 10/12/2022 06:41:45 am
Those are all great picks! Glad to see some love for the Professor Huh? saga on someone's list. Those were such good episodes, and were two of my favorites from the series. I'm also glad to see the love for Goblin King! That movie gets a lot of hate, but I'd put it in my top 10 Scooby movies easily.
Mr Neither
10/13/2022 04:17:39 am
I seriously don't get the hate for Goblin King, it is probably up there as the best Scooby Doo noughties movie. 10/13/2022 07:05:39 am
I don't either! It seems like such an inoffensive movie. Sure the plot is a bit wacky, but that is part of the fun IMO.
Becker
10/13/2022 07:43:28 am
Count me in as a Goblin King fan. My #7 Scooby movie
Mystery5
10/10/2022 06:20:16 pm
Wait Top 10 Episodes or Movies? You have both here that’s confusing lol
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10/10/2022 09:07:53 pm
Oops, the title should have said "Top 10 Scooby Episodes/Films" lol. It was intended to be top 10 Scooby productions in general just like the least favorite post from last week.
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Jacob Staggs
10/10/2022 09:27:50 pm
10) Jeepers, It's the Creeper - I have zero complaints. I love the barnyard antics, particularly Scooby hopping around on a pitchfork.
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10/10/2022 09:44:58 pm
Nice list! I really like every episode and film you have on here, although I'm kind of middled on "Jeepers, It's the Creeper" because it felt like too much of the episode was spent looking for clues. I've always considered it a bit of a weaker episode because of that, even though I know it's an unpopular opinion.
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Jacob Staggs
10/10/2022 09:31:59 pm
Sometimes, Willawaw makes my list but not this time. It would be my honorable mention.
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10/10/2022 09:47:40 pm
I love the episode but honestly I wish the Williwaw and Owl Men were in different episodes. That scene with the Owl Men creeping up to the cabin and scaring Scooby was really scary, and I wish we would have gotten more scenes like that. The concept of being doomed when the Williwaw calls your name was also really cool and I wish they would have explored that a little more too. Ultimately, I think it would have worked better if they saved one of the villains (either the Williwaw or the Owl Men) for a different episode so they could both have their time to shine, but that's just my opinion.
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Matt
10/11/2022 01:00:42 am
Love the idea of pushing some positivity out there right now
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Becker
10/11/2022 04:08:08 am
Ay, we got the same top 2! I'm more than shocked that High Rise Hair Raiser got knocked out of the best episode place though. That episode would be my #1 honorable mention btw.
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Matt
10/11/2022 10:07:46 am
I surprised myself as well, but that was what I was feeling when I made the list. Both are nearly perfect episodes in my books anyway, so it can kinda go either way at the moment 10/11/2022 11:05:53 am
Awesome list! I completely agree "Backstage Rage" has one of the best atmospheres of the franchise. Glad to see the love for "Loch Ness Mess" :) I also really love "Simple Plan and the Invisible Madman," Alien Invaders, Camp Scare, "A Night of Fright Is No Delight," and of course Zombie Island.
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Matt
10/11/2022 11:45:13 am
Peaceful is exactly how I would describe Alien Invaders. It went from a movie that I thought was good to one of my most watched VHS’s. It is oddly peaceful and comforting popping that in on VHS late at night when everything else is quiet
Matt
10/11/2022 11:46:30 am
As for Creepy Cruise, it is one of my very favorites of the Scooby Doo Show season 2 and of the series in general. I think the mystery is ingenious
Becker
10/11/2022 03:47:05 pm
Even as a kid you could tell Zombie Island is next level. Something very special. "It's Terror Time Again" has never properly left my memory in my life. 10/11/2022 09:58:56 pm
I don't know if I would consider Alien Invaders a comfort movie personally, but I would say any of the three 80s films fall in that category for me, particularly the first two. 10/11/2022 10:01:15 pm
@Becker yeah, Zombie Island has been one of my favorite movies since childhood. It's just always been so special to me, whereas I didn't consider Witch's Ghost a favorite until I was older.
Becker
10/12/2022 01:17:45 am
@Wildwind, I'd probably say a similar thing about the '80s films, except it would be the first and the third ones in my case. 10/12/2022 06:43:25 am
Interesting you left out Ghoul School! Did you not like that film as much?
Becker
10/12/2022 07:55:55 am
I've said before that I like Ghoul School, just not as much as the other 2 of that era. Those are top 3 Scooby movies material, I love them. They're so enjoyable and easy to pop in, thus kinda comforting. Ghoul School is around the edges of the top 10, I like it quite a bit, but I've never loved it the same way you do. It's a bit slower and less bombastic if you will lol, and not as easy to just throw it on and have a blast. I guess all of that can also be applied to Witch's Ghost and Alien Invaders, which I have a bit below the other 2 Innes films.
Matt
10/12/2022 10:22:32 am
I actually watched Reluctant Werewolf two days ago for the first time in like forever. Enjoyed it a lot more than I remember, around at the Ghoul School level if not a little higher. My only complaint is that it went a tad long when it didn’t really need to but more material is better than not enough so it is fair enough. Boo Brothers is my favorite film that I don’t have listed up there, with it coming in at 6 behind Zombie Island, Alien Invaders, Camp Scare, Witch’s Ghost, and Cyber Chase
Becker
10/12/2022 11:12:31 am
It's surprising how long the '80s films were, but that's also part of the charm of it in a way 10/12/2022 05:48:22 pm
@Becker That makes sense on Ghoul School. Personally, I like how it slowly introduces to the girl ghouls and then adds in the Revolta plot once the audience has gotten to know the school dynamic, but I can also see how people might think of it as being slow and ambling. Interesting you feel that way about Witch's Ghost and Alien Invaders too. I used to feel similarly to how you did, but they've grown on me in recent years whereas Cyber Chase has waned on me a bit.
Becker
10/12/2022 10:40:51 pm
The slowness is to a lesser extent in Witch's Ghost and Alien Invaders. Those two are still top 6 movie material.
Matt
10/12/2022 11:20:18 pm
See, I feel the slow burn works a little better in those two movies than the 80s ones, even if all 3 80s movies are still great imo. I would actually consider Zombie Island a bit of a slow burn, but it is still very, very, very entertaining and good through the build up, so it barely even feels like it 10/13/2022 07:04:40 am
I'd also argue Witch's Ghost is kind of a slow burn in the sense that they take a long time introducing us to the Oakhaven setting, but that's what makes the film so good IMO. It does such an amazing job establishing atmosphere that it really pulls you in.
Becker
10/13/2022 07:42:23 am
@Wildwind, I think Zombie Island does that build-up better personally 10/13/2022 04:57:32 pm
That's fair enough, I guess I just like how it introduces us to the townspeople and the Hex Girls before we get deep into the Sarah Ravencroft plotline. It feels like we actually have time to get know the characters rather than just a quick "Oh hey, this is Bob! He's a suspect!" like we sometimes get in Scooby mysteries (not that I think that's bad when that happens, but it was nice to get to know the side characters on a deeper level in this case).
Matt
10/13/2022 06:09:07 pm
I think Zombie Island does it better as well, but that says about nothing for me as I think Zombie Island does almost everything better than anything in the franchise 10/13/2022 08:45:03 pm
I agree with you both that Witch's Ghost does it in a different way than Zombie Island, but I guess I didn't feel the way Zombie Island did it was any better or worse. They both were just as good for different reasons IMO.
Sdf
10/11/2022 06:49:57 pm
Great choices. As I said in the worst list I never really thought about ranking episodes so here are some movies I enjoy (random order).
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10/11/2022 09:57:07 pm
Nice picks! I'm a little surprised to see WrestleMania Mystery here as that's not one that I've seen picked as someone's favorite usually, but I really enjoy the film!
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Becker
10/12/2022 01:38:54 pm
How bout 'Top 10 lines said before disaster':
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Matt
10/12/2022 11:15:15 pm
Well, now I feel the need to go listen to Famous Last Words by My Chemical Romance
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Dimitri Brenick
10/13/2022 07:18:03 pm
to do top 10 of episodes would be too hard but for movies
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10/13/2022 08:45:49 pm
Very nice picks! I was glad to see Ghoul School and Mystery Begins on there :)
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Drakosleuth
10/15/2022 09:59:16 pm
I feel like this fun fact was already done, but in "Goblin King," the phantom shadow, werewolf ghost, creeper, mummy, marsh monster (from " A Scooby Doo Halloween" intro), roller ghoster, troll (The New Scooby Doo Movies), no face zombie, Creepy Keeper, and I guess the Specter of Ebeneezer Crabbe (the monster with Black and White hair in "Goblin King") appear in the "Bump in the Night" musical scene. A couple were definitely easy to miss if you don't look at each scene thoroughly.
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10/16/2022 08:24:03 am
I have already done this fun fact, but thanks for suggesting it! I always thought it was cool they included such a big variety of old monsters during that scene!
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Drakosleuth
10/16/2022 11:30:26 am
I figured it was already done, still such a fun detail in the movie. I also have a poll question if you want to hear it.
Drakosleuth
10/17/2022 05:17:53 pm
We've since had monsters like: a Vampire (Lord Valdrona), a Werewolf, a Mr. Hyde, a Phantom of the Opera, a Frankenstein monster (Frankencreep), an Insect monster (Cicadas), an Alien, two monsters of mythology (Gryphon and Banshee), a Slasher (Woodsman), Dinosaurs, two Sorceress (Crimson Witch and Morgan Le Fay), a Cowboy (Dapper Jack), a Demon (Asmodeus), Zombies, and Halloween themed villains.
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10/17/2022 08:02:54 pm
This is a good idea! I'll have to think a little more about what options could be added, since the question is otherwise pretty open-ended and could have endless possibilities. Maybe there's a way to lump the monsters under broad categories and then people could specify what type of monster they want in their comment? Idk, I'll have to think about how that would work!
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Drakosleuth
10/18/2022 01:44:55 pm
Take as much time as you need, you can release the poll question any time you like, and to help get started here are two link that can help you. I can also help you if you want.
Drakosleuth
10/18/2022 08:46:47 pm
You're welcome! :)
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Gibby Norton
10/23/2022 10:06:11 pm
I’m sorry that I am so late to commenting on this, but you have such a unique list here! I’m very happy to see so many different episodes and movies get a spotlight in your top ten! Be Cool, New Scooby-Doo movies, 90s DTVs, an 80s Scrappy-era movie!
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10/24/2022 06:15:02 am
Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked my list, and I look forward to seeing yours someday! :)
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Bigscoobydoofan
10/25/2022 04:09:03 pm
Honestly, this is such a hard choice for me to make. I made a list an posted it online a year ago, but now after consuming way more content that I haven't seen before or came out, and plus looking back at stuff I used to ovverate/underrate, my opinions have completely changed.
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10/25/2022 07:40:35 pm
It's really cool to hear how many people are doing their own Scoobtober marathons!
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