Weekly Poll #135

6/26/2022

Hope everybody's having a great weekend! Back in December and January, I did a number of different polls asking what people's favorite season finales and premieres were. Since we just did a "winner's circle" poll with the sports polls and the villains-by-season polls, I thought it might be fun to go back and do a poll like that with the season premiere and finale polls as well. These options are the winners from the season 1 finale, season 2 finale and season 3 finale polls.

We've been doing these villains-by-season polls since January 30, 2022, and after an exciting five months of doing these polls, here's what you all chose for the best season for villains in the entire Scooby-Doo franchise! Starting from last place, What's New, Scooby-Doo? season 1, The Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show and A Pup Named Scooby-Doo season 1 all got one vote each. The New Scooby-Doo Movies season 1 and What's New, Scooby-Doo? season 2 both tied for sixth place, with two votes each. The season I voted for based on the calculated averages, Be Cool Scooby-Doo season 2, got fifth place with six votes. In fourth place, we had The Scooby-Doo Show season 1 with 11 votes. Guess Who season 2 got third with 12 votes. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated season 1 was up near the top in second place with 18 votes. Finally, our winner for this poll series was none other than the classic Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? season 1 with 28 votes! I hope you enjoyed this poll series, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the results of this poll!

63 Comments

Jacob Berger

6/26/2022 08:43:23 am

I like this poll. Also what is your favorite and least favorite episode of Be Cool, Scooby-Doo? My favorite episode is Pizza O’Possum’s and my least favorite episode is Eating Crow. A lot of people don’t like Pizza O’Possum’s and I understand why they don’t but I just really like it. There are a lot of episodes that are really good from Be Cool, Scooby-Doo but that one just always stuck with me.

WildwindVampire link

6/26/2022 09:35:51 pm

So interesting your favorite episode is "Pizza O'Possum's"! That was the one episode the show's writer, JCB, didn't have a hand in writing. My favorite episode is "Doo Not Disturb." I love how dark and creepy the episode feels, and the villain is amazing! My least favorite episode is "Pizza O'Possum's" or "Poodle Justice." "Poodle Justice" felt like the jokes were intended for a much younger audience, and "Pizza O'Possum's" felt really rushed to me given they only had 11 minutes to do the episode. I do really like the villain, though.

Shadowscooby

6/26/2022 09:14:14 am

Come Undone

WildwindVampire link

6/26/2022 09:36:17 pm

I was close to picking that one, but ultimately I went with "All Fear the Freak."

Matt

6/26/2022 10:56:59 am

Oh geez, while none of these are at the level of something like The Loch Ness Mess or Creepy Cruise, the ranking comes pretty easily here

3. Beast is Awake in Bottomless Lake- Mediocre at best, painfully forgettable despite having loads of potential with the setting. A lot of the typical Scooby Doo Show season 3 running around hijinks rather than a well rounded episode. Could you imagine how good this episode could’ve been if it were done like a season 2 episode or something? E Scream deserved the season 3 slot…

2. Come Undone- A very effective ending. My biggest complaint is that they tried to fit it in a normal episode length and both the climax and the after effects felt way more rushed and undercooked than they could have been. Still great though

1. All Fear the Freak- Despite me missing his creepy rhyming from previous episodes, this works great as a season finale, the stakes are high and it leaves you on the edge of your seat waiting for season 2. This one wins for me

WildwindVampire link

6/26/2022 09:43:08 pm

I completely agree with every single thing you said in these rankings.

3. Beast Is Awake in Bottomless Lake - Oh my gosh, this would have been AMAZING as a season 2 episode! To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the "run around hijinks" episodes, or episodes where the villain feels omnipresent, including "Jeepers It's the Creeper." If there would have been more focus on the mystery and less Shaggy/Scooby hijinks, I would have enjoyed this far more.

2. Come Undone - Love how epic the ending was, but I agree with you that it was a little rushed. I think the writing could have been a little bit better in that regard, because after an amazing build-up in the last two episodes, the ending felt a little bit undercooked as you said. I still really like this episode, but ultimately my choice for #1 is...

1. All Fear the Freak - this episode really kept me waiting for season 2 (too bad it was nearly a year haha). The Freak was really creepy, and while he could have been better, there's so many amazing scenes in this episode that kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next.

Jakob123

6/26/2022 11:57:14 am

All of the above

Jacob Staggs

6/26/2022 01:18:07 pm

This one is easy for me. The Beast is Awake in Bottomless Lake. One of the 5 best episodes from 1972-1979!

WildwindVampire link

6/26/2022 09:36:57 pm

I enjoy that episode too, although IMO it felt like too much of it was chase scenes with Shaggy, Scooby and the Beast.

Jacob Staggs

6/26/2022 11:00:39 pm

That was the reason I liked it so much.it seemed like there was even more than normal.

Becker

6/27/2022 05:15:16 am

I agree with Jacob's perspective. Season 3 seems to get more flak for having more Shag & Scoob hijinks than the others, but I don't see why that would be an inherent problem. As long as those chase scenes are done right, ie: entertaining, funny, memorable, I don't think there's an issue with them. And season 3 does almost all of those hijinks really well imo, so they end up not being a problem at all for me.
Isn't the consistent Scooby and Shaggy humor one of the reasons we watch and love the franchise? We always get that every episode, multiple times per episode, no matter the series or film. They're the "central characters" of the franchise in most shows and movies after all, that's how they're portrayed at least (despite Fred, Daphne and Velma being main characters too).
That's just the way I see it at least.

WildwindVampire link

6/27/2022 08:25:26 am

While the Shaggy and Scooby humor and chase scenes are always fun, they felt like they happened a bit too much in The Scooby-Doo Show season 3 in my opinion. I don't mind them happening once in a while, but it felt like there was less focus on the mystery because of it. It's all of the show's elements that makes it work in my opinion, not just an overemphasis on one aspect. Just my opinion though. Maybe Matt can jump in and share his perspective as well, since it seems like the two of us had very similar thoughts on this.

Jacob Staggs

6/27/2022 10:15:58 am

The only problem I sometimes have with Shaggy and Scooby hijinks are the occasions where they dress up more than twice in an episode to fool a villain.

Matt

6/27/2022 10:52:40 am

To me, it is a big problem in season 3. The problem doesn’t inherently lie in Scooby and Shaggy hijinks, the problem lies when a few things happen with those shenanigans, all of which are common issues this season

1. When they take up too much time of a footprint of an episode

2. When their prevalence takes away from many more interesting areas they could’ve taken the plot, and overall making for not a well-rounded plot and taking away from the mystery at hand, even despite having a good setup in many cases

3. When it splits the gang up and Scooby and Shaggy are just deemed good for just running away from the monster while Fred Velma and Daphne are solving the mystery. The gang doesn’t work as a whole which makes their dynamics far less interesting

Becker

6/27/2022 11:51:01 am

Those are all fair criticisms, Wildwind and Matt, I get where you're coming from. It's just that I didn't feel those things personally with a lot of season 3. I guess I just don't really see them that way. They're valid points though.

WildwindVampire link

6/27/2022 01:20:01 pm

@Matt I absolutely agree with everything you said here. I have no issue with Shaggy and Scooby shenanigans typically, it's just when they become such a central part of the episode that it detracts from the mystery is when I have an issue with it.

Jacob Staggs

6/27/2022 06:42:05 pm

The only time that I felt the chase scenes took away from any potential in season 3 of the Scooby Doo Show was in Diabolical Disc Demon. But , at the same time, those chases and the comedy were so good that I said pooh to potential.

Matt

6/27/2022 06:46:58 pm

Oddly enough, Diabolical Disc Demon isn’t one with the problem as bad as something like Beast is Awake in Bottomless Lake or Creepy Case of Old Iron Face in my personal opinion

WildwindVampire link

6/27/2022 09:57:58 pm

I totally agree that "The Diabolical Disc Demon" wasn't as bad for the Shaggy/Scooby antics as "The Beast Is Awake in Bottomless Lake" or "The Creepy Case of Old Iron Face" was. There was definitely a lot of Shaggy/Scooby antics, but it didn't feel like it detracted from the mystery. I've actually always found the little Popsipep detour to be kind of fun.

Becker

6/29/2022 01:10:36 am

I guess I'm just a sucker for chase scenes. I've always loved their hijinks in stuff like Tar Monster, Old Iron Face, Bermuda Triangle, Bottomless Lake, Disc Demon etc, because I felt they were done really well and hilarious that I really didn't mind the possible detractions. Shaggy and Scooby's humor and shenanigans were one of the things that drew me into the framchise as a kid.

WildwindVampire link

6/29/2022 11:49:50 am

That's fair! I guess I just liked the mystery aspect better as a kid, so maybe it comes down to that? I definitely like Shaggy and Scooby's antics as well, just as long as it doesn't detract from any other element.

Matt

6/29/2022 09:48:43 pm

I’ll give it this: I still enjoy most of these episodes which have said problem. There are two big exceptions and one half exception. Beast is Awake in Bottomless Lake is a half exception because while it isn’t *bad* per se, it irritates me to no end how much they squandered this episode in my opinion

The two episodes that is hard to enjoy with this problem being a part of the reason at least are: Watch Out! The Willawaw and Creepy Tangle in the Bermuda Triangle, as I found both episodes boring and the hijinks unfortunately play a part in that

WildwindVampire link

6/29/2022 10:41:27 pm

I haven't ever been bothered by "Watch Out! The Williwaw!" for some reason, maybe just because the mystery still felt like it had some substances outside of the antics. I definitely agree on "A Creepy Tangle in the Bermuda Triangle" and especially "The Beast Is Awake on Bottomless Lake." I hadn't ever thought about it like that before you made the comment the other day, but you're so right that it had the potential to be as dark as a season 2 episode if they would have not spent so much of it on Shaggy/Scooby antics. Don't get me wrong, it's still dark and a decent episode, but there was a lot of potential wasted IMO.

Jacob Staggs

6/30/2022 06:07:27 am

Aw, Shucks, the two big exceptions and one half exception are 3 of my top 5 favorite episodes between 1972-1979. It seems like our opinions are exact opposites. Interesting to see a drastically different viewpoint.

Jacob Staggs

6/30/2022 06:15:00 am

Watch Out! The Willawaw! is my favorite Scooby Doo episode from 1972-1979. I personally feel that the comedic bits in that episode are some of the best that have ever been put in a cartoon.

Becker

6/30/2022 10:22:17 am

To be fair, the scenes with Shaggy and Scooby both on the boat alone with the Willawaw around and when they find and dress up in the owl costumes are pretty hilarious.
But I'd say Bermuda Triangle is funnier than Bottomless Lake and Willawaw though. Bermuda Triangle's one of my favorites of season 3. It's a surprisingly very divisive episode, you either can't care less for it or you have an absolute blast with it. And it's like a 50/50 divide from what I've seen, I haven't seen any in-between personally. A really strange case for a classic era episode.

WildwindVampire link

6/30/2022 10:31:13 am

I have to admit that scene in "Watch Out, the Williwaw!" is pretty funny haha. The episodes I personally feel are too antics heavy are "A Creepy Tangle in the Bermuda Triangle," "The Tar Monster," "The Creepy Case of Old Iron Face," "Jeepers It's the Jaguaro," "The Diabolical Disc Demon" (but to a lesser extent), "The Warlock of Wimbledon" (the second half only) and "The Beast Is Awake in Bottomless Lake."

It is really interesting to see such different viewpoints! I guess it just comes down to what element of the show we like the best. Jacob, it seems like from previous conversations we've had that you prefer the comedy aspect of the show, while I'd say I prefer the mystery aspect.

Becker, yeah, I agree that "A Creepy Tangle in the Bermuda Triangle" is a very divisive episode. It's interesting because you'd think there'd be some in between, but I've never seen anyone just be indifferent to it or think it was a middle-of-the-road episode.

Becker

6/30/2022 01:43:35 pm

I have to say though that as a kid the comedy aspect was no doubt my favorite. Since then I've appreciated the mystery aspect a lot too. But if I had to choose one, I'd say the comedy aspect is my favorite one, not by much though.

WildwindVampire link

6/30/2022 01:50:12 pm

Honestly, that could be an interesting poll to do someday!

Becker

6/30/2022 02:01:30 pm

@Wildwind, all the episodes you listed are ones that I quite enjoy, except for Jaguaro, that one really sucks. Even as someone who loves the comedy side of things the most, I can barely bring myself to watch Jaguaro. It's just absolute garbage, even the comedy sucks for some reason.

Besides Jaguaro, I'd say Warlock of Wimbledon is my least favorite of those (I still like it a fair bit). However, what's funny is that I agree that the first half of that episode is definitely the superior half lol. That might sound weird. But I think they executed the spooky side better than the goofy side in that episode (it's not like that side sucks though, I still find it funny).

Otherwise, Tar Monster, Old Iron Face, Disc Demon and Bermuda Triangle are actually maybe my top 4 of season 3. Of course there's other episodes I love that are a bit less shenanigan-y (definitely not a real word), like To Switch a Witch, A Menace in Venace, Vulture's Claw, Make a Beeline. Those are awesome episodes too, it's just that I have my own bias (for comedy), all of us have some kind of bias.

Willawaw and Bottomless Lake are kinda in the middle-to-lower half of my season 3 ranking.

Just dawned on me: all this comedy vs mystery bias talk made me realize why I prefer BCSD over SDMI in a specific way I didn't think of before lol.

WildwindVampire link

6/30/2022 03:50:11 pm

I wouldn't really say I dislike any of the episodes I listed other than "Jeepers, It's the Jaguaro," which I agree is just all-around terrible. The others have always just been more 'meh' to me, I don't actively dislike them but they're not ones I would want to watch often either. I do have sort of a soft spot for "The Diabolical Disc Demon" because of the villain, and the comedy doesn't detract from the mystery quite as much, but the mystery is still a little lacking.

I love all those episodes you listed and I'd say they're among my top episodes for season 3. "Shenanigan-y" definitely should be a real word haha.

I hadn't ever thought of it from an SDMI vs. BCSD perspective either, but that's really interesting! I really like both shows, but I would say BCSD is so much more up my alley humor-wise. I love quirky, authentically random humor that makes you say "where the heck did that random comment come from?", so I'm probably biased there haha.

Since we're talking about it, I'll just post my list of rankings for season 3 for fun, somewhat adapted from a post I made on the ScoobyAddicts forum back in February. So, not all antics episodes were at the bottom, but a lot of them were.

Top Tier
1. A Menace in Venice
2. Who Was That Cat Creature I Saw You With Last Night?
3. To Switch a Witch

Decent
4. Watch Out! The Williwaw!
5. Creepy Creature of Vulture's Claw
6. The Diabolical Disc Demon
7. Don't Go Near the Fortress of Fear (brought down by the ghost just looking like a normal old man in armor, but Shaggy and Scooby not telling the gang about a monster is a cool concept and it's a shame it was wasted here)
8. A Highland Fling with a Monstrous Thing
9. The Creepy Case of Old Iron Face

Just Okay
10. The Tar Monster (good monster and setting, plot was a bit thin)
11. The Beast Is Awake in Bottomless Lake (like the monster, dark premise and setting...plot was a bit too much running around)
12. Warlock of Wimbledon (as I said previously, first half was great, not sure what happened to the writing in the second half)
13. Scooby's Chinese Fortune Kooky Caper (I never realized the title was a pun on "fortune cookie" until a few years ago lol)

Bad
14. A Scary Night with a Snow Beast Fright
15. Creepy Tangle in the Bermuda Triangle (too much Shaggy and Scooby running around)

WTF Was This?
16. Jeepers, It's the Jaguaro!

Becker

6/30/2022 05:15:03 pm

Nice ranking, understandable why you'd put them in their respective placements. For me:

(Awesome Tier)
1) Tar Monster
2) Old Iron Face
3) Disc Demon
4) Bermuda Triangle

(Great Tier)
5) To Switch a Witch
6) A Menace in Venace
7) Vulture's Claw
8) Make a Beeline

(Good Tier)
9) Highland Fling
10) Kooky Caper
11) Willawaw
12) Bottomless Lake

(Okay Tier)
13) Warlock of Wimbledon
14) Fortress of Fear
15) Snow Beast Fright

(SH*T Tier)
16) Jaguaro

Aesthetically pleasing how they happen to be bunched up in groups of 4 lol, except Jaguaro of course... which even skips over Bad Tier it's that trash.

WildwindVampire link

6/30/2022 06:31:48 pm

Great rankings! I can definitely see how the use of comedy in an episode plays into whether it's a favorite or not, since all of your top tier were one of those episodes that were more shenanigan-heavy. "SH*T Tier" lol. Interesting to see we both have Snow Beast Fright near the bottom.

Jacob Staggs

6/30/2022 08:42:11 pm

My Episode Ranking for Season 3
Scooby-riffic
Watch Out! The Willawaw
Creepy Tangle in the Bermuda Triangle

Excellent
The Beast is Awake in Bottomless Lake

Very Good
To Switch a Witch, Diabolical Disc Demon, Don't Go Near the Fortress of Fear, The Creepy Case of Old Iron Face

Okay
Creepy Creature of Vulture's Claw, Highland Fling with a Monstrous Thing, The Tar Monster, Jeepers, It's the Jaguaro

Bad
A Menace in Venice, Scary Night with a Snowbeast Fright

Awful
Who's That Cat Creature I Saw You With Last Night?, Warlock of Wimbledon

Rikes!
Scooby's Chinese Fortune Kooky Caper

Matt

6/30/2022 09:28:57 pm

I’ll go ahead and share mine I guess

Amazing tier
1. To Switch a Witch
2. A Menace in Venice

Great tier
3. Diabolical Disc Demon
4. Creepy Creature of Vulture’s Claw

Decent tier
5. The Tar Monster
6. Creepy Case of Old Iron Face
7. Don’t Go Near the Fortress of Fear
8. Make a Beeline Away From That Feline

Just okay tier
9. Highland Fling With a Monstrous Thing
10. Scooby’s Chinese Fortune Kooky Caper

Frustrating tier
11. Warlock of Wimbledon (I am in complete agreement on the first half being WAY better than the second half btw, which is why it frustrates me)
12. Beast is Awake in Bottomless Lake

Not good tier
13. Scary Night With Snow Beast Fright
14. Creepy Tangle in the Bermuda Triangle

Awful tier
15. Watch Out! The Willawaw!

Wildwind said it best: WTF tier
16. Jeepers It’s the Jaguaro

I guess I am just in the minority here, as when I want comedy in Scooby Doo, no episodes this season are really what I go to. I can enjoy most instances within the episode, but I go to a show like A Pup Named Scooby Doo or Be Cool Scooby Doo if that is what I am looking for specifically, which may play a part in me finding this season underwhelming compared to season 1 and 2 of the Scooby Doo Show which are just amazing to me

I always knew my opinion on Watch Out the Willawaw was unpopular, but unfortunately it just can never entertain me. Plot-wise, it feels like they took whatever template they used for what I feel is a much better episode in Curse of Viking Lake and changed a few things (seriously, watch those episodes back to back, the resemblances are scary), but it never entertained me much either

Matt

6/30/2022 09:32:46 pm

Also, Make a Beeline/Who’s That Cat Creature also frustrated me to no end because I thought the plot idea and setup was nothing short of exceptional, yet the episode itself fell a little flat in comparison to my thoughts on the idea and setup, but it is still too good as is to put down in the frustrating tier

WildwindVampire link

6/30/2022 11:25:20 pm

Great rankings, Matt and Jacob!

@Jacob Staggs I'm really surprised to see "A Menace in Venice" in your bad tier!

@Matt our rankings seem pretty similar! I definitely find myself going to more comedy-leaning shows as well like BCSD and Pup when I want humor, rather than just antics. I guess I tend to find the humor in the dialogue more funny than I do physical shenanigans or running around. That's not to say I don't like it, but like you, I wouldn't seek it out if I directly wanted a comedy-focused Scooby-Doo episode. It is pretty crazy how similar Williwaw and Viking Lake are! It's weird that they basically used very similar plots of Velma's uncle going missing for both season premieres. I remember you saying that you found Cat Creature frustrating. I didn't personally have any problem with the episode. What made you feel it was so lackluster?

Becker

7/1/2022 03:59:55 am

@Matt, I see Willawaw is no longer at the bottom, I remember you had said before that's the worst classic episode ('69-'79, Ransom of Scooby Chief excluded cuz that's '80, lol loophole). I definintely see why Jaguaro is below it now though, that would be my pick for worst classic episode. Also, agreed on the fact Make a Beeline could've been better based on the premise, but it still just cracks great tier the way it ended up being.

@Jacob, Jaguaro above A Menace In Venice is a really unpopular opinion if I've ever seen one, but hey, it's cool to see different perspectives.

@Wildwind, Snow Beast Fright seems to be that TSDS episode in the fandom that's the most just... there. No one seems to feel strongly about it, opinions fluctuate between decent enough and very mediocre. It's got the slowest pace of any TSDS episode by far, thus many think it's boring. The middle part of that episode when they're in the caves is by far the best and most entertaining. Some pretty good hijinks there tbf, even a bit with the whole gang together. The beginning of the ep meanders quite a bit with the set up, suspects and investigation. And when you get towards the ending when Scooby suddenly gets the hots for a sled dog is when it gets really tedious. The trap, plan and unmasking are cool though.

Becker

7/1/2022 04:09:03 am

Despite how much I love season 3, I'm still gonna say that seasons 1 and 2 are a bit better. I remember I voted for season 1 on that poll, by a sliver to season 2, and I still stand by it.
If anything because of Jaguaro, which seriously drags it down. IMO, that's not just the only bad, but also terrible episode of TSDS. The other 39 eps are at least okay. Not sure where I'd put season 3 without Jaguaro, but it would all be incredibly close between all of them.
Also, there is a special All-Time Tier for me, where only a few episodes ever get, and season 3 doesn't quite reach it. At least one episode from both season 1 and season 2 do reach it though.

When I wanna watch a TSDS episode (which is more than occasionally, since it's my favorite series), I choose from what season to watch based on my mood. If I'm in the mood for something darker, I usually go for season 2. If I'm in the mood for something lighter, I usually go for season 3. If I'm in the mood for something in-between, I usually go for season 1.
Of course that's a generalization, there are some exceptions to these "rules", for example Harum Scarum Sanitarium feels very much like a season 2 episode, or how Hang In There, Scooby-Doo! and To Switch a Witch feel a lot like season 1.
This is partly why TSDS is my favorite, it's got a whole lot of great episodes for all 3 aforementioned approaches, imo. Nice diversity.

Matt

7/1/2022 07:36:02 am

@Wildwind- Honestly, I still haven’t figured out why it feels underwhelming to me in comparison to my expectations. I always just feel like the idea is genius, but by the time I end up finishing the episode, I just feel like “that was decent”. I guess one explanation I could point to is the running around the graveyard as an example, maybe? I just feel like the stakes should’ve been higher maybe and maybe more like a season 2 episode in plot structure. That is the best explanation I can come up with regarding what may make me feel that it was just okay, which frustrates me that is how I feel about the episode

@Becker- There comes a point where being bored is better than the whatever the heck Jaguaro is lol

For me, season 2 is the best season for being practically perfect. All fantastic episodes and more Scooby Doo masterpieces than not, and the dark vibes are unlike anything else. My only slight complaint is that I felt the mystery aspect in Ozark Witch Switch could’ve been a bit better, but the creepy settings and vibes easily make up for it

Season 1 is easily second for the SDS because despite having a few weaker episodes, those weaker episodes aren’t bad, and this season has mostly great episodes with a few MASTERPIECES in there

Season 3 isn’t a BAD season imo, though it is my least favorite classic season (including the first season of Scrappy). I guess this season didn’t play to my preferences as much as it did for Becker or Jacob.

I will say To Switch a Witch and Menace in Venice are absolutely not scrubs in the conversation of my all time favorite episodes, even if I wouldn’t put them quite at the heights of High Rise Hair Raiser, Headless Horseman of Halloween, Ghost of the Bad Humor Man, and a few others from season 1, as well as not being quite up there with Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats, Spooky Case of the Grand Prix Race, Creepy Cruise, and a few others from season 2 as well

Becker

7/1/2022 08:21:51 am

I agree that season 3 doesn't quite have a MASTERPIECE in it, like seasons 1 and 2. Ghost of the Bad Humor Man and Spooky Case of the Grand Prix Race are no doubt top 5 of all time imo.
To me season 1 is the best season because, despite slightly lower lows, I think it has higher highs than season 2. High Rise Hair Raiser, Headless Horseman of Halloween, Scared a Lot in Camelot, Harum Scarum Sanitarium, No Faced Zombie Chase Case, Ghost of the Bad Humor Man are all probably in my top 25 episodes of all time.
Meanwhile, I can only say the same for Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats and Spooky Case of the Grand Prix Race when it comes to season 2, even though almost all 8 of those episodes are great.
As far as season 3, maybe just The Tar Monster and The Creepy Case of Old Iron Face crack that top 25, and even then they would be in the 20-25 range.

Since I've done it for season 3, I guess I'll expand on the other two with a ranking. All Time Tier is reserved only for the ones that crack my top 10 episodes ever btw.

For season 1:

(All Time Tier)
1) The Ghost of the Bad Humor Man
2) Scared a Lot in Camelot
3) High Rise Hair Raiser

(Awesome Tier)
4) Harum Scarum Sanitarium
5) The No Faced Zombie Chase Case
6) The Headless Horseman of Halloween
7) A Bum Steer for Scooby
8) A Frightened Hound Meets Demons Underground

(Great Tier)
9) Watt a Shocking Ghost
10) There's a Demon Shark in the Foggy Dark
11) The Gruesome Game of the Gator Ghoul
12) Mamba Wamba and the Voodoo Hoodoo

(Good Tier)
13) The Fiesta Host is an Aztec Ghost
14) The Spirits of '76

(Okay Tier)
15) The Ghost That Sacked the Quarterback
16) Scooby-Doo, Where's the Crew?

For season 2:

(All Time Tier)
1) The Spooky Case of the Grand Prix Race

(Awesome Tier)
2) Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats
3) Hang in There, Scooby-Doo
4) Creepy Cruise

(Great Tier)
5) The Curse of Viking Lake
6) The Creepy Heap from the Deep
7) The Ozark Witch Switch

(Good Tier)
8) The Chiller Diller Movie Thriller

Matt

7/1/2022 02:58:09 pm

I’ll do it as well for the heck of it

Season 1:

All time favorite episode tier:
1. High Rise Hair Raiser

Top 10 of all time contenders
2. Headless Horseman of Halloween
3. Ghost of the Bad Humor Man
4. Watt a Shocking Ghost

Amazing tier
5. Harum Scarum Sanitarium
6. No Faced Zombie Chase Case
7. Frightened Hound Meets Demons Underground
8. Scared a Lot in Camelot

Great tier
9. There’s a Demon Shark in the Foggy Dark
10. Spirits of 76
11. Gruesome Game of the Gator Ghoul
12. The Fiesta Host is an Aztec Ghost
13. A Bum Steer For Scooby

Decent tier:
14. Mamba Wamba and Voodoo Hoodoo

Just okay tier:
15. Scooby Doo Where’s the Crew
16. Ghost That Sacked the Quarterback

Season 2:

Top 10 of all time contenders tier
1. Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats
2. Spooky Case of the Grand Prix Race
3. Creepy Cruise

Amazing tier:
4. Hang in There Scooby Doo
5. Chiller Diller Movie Thriller
6. Curse of Viking Lake
7. Creepy Heap From the Deep

Great tier:
8. Ozark Witch Switch

I absolutely ADORE season 1, but for me, that season 2 lineup is just simply outstanding. It may not seem like it based off of my rankings here (the best of the Scooby Doo Show is just THAT good), but even getting into the Amazing tier is decently hard for me, let alone having that many top ten contenders. Those first two seasons of the Scooby Doo Show are some of the best Scooby has ever had imo

WildwindVampire link

7/1/2022 03:11:59 pm

Lots to respond to here haha! I'll respond in order.

@Becker Yeah, "A Scary Night with a Snow Beast Fright" is just kinda boring, I guess. I like the villain a lot, but otherwise as you said, the episode moves incredibly slowly, the plot is kind of tedious, and it takes a while just to get introduced to the suspects, so the mystery doesn't move along very smoothly. Its worst crime is just being unmemorable, IMO. I completely agree seasons 1 and 2 definitely better than season 3, which has always been kinda hit or miss for me. To me, "Hang in There Scooby-Doo" feels season 2-ish to me, but I agree "To Switch a Witch" feels a lot more like season 1. I'm surprised to see "The Chiller Diller Movie Thriller" in just the good tier. I feel like that tends to be top tier for a lot of people, so interesting to see different perspectives.

@Matt I can absolutely understand what you're saying about "Who Was That Cat Creature I Saw With You Last Night?". I like the episode enough as it is, and even though I agree with you about it being even better if it were more like a season 2 episode, I don't feel like it was a wasted opportunity like I do with "The Beast Is Awake in Bottomless Lake" so I guess it doesn't bother me. It would be amazing as a season 2 episode, though! I completely agree with everything else you said, especially about how season 2 is full of masterpieces, season 1 is full of mostly great episodes, and season 3 is hit or miss. Again, I think that's just comes down to preference for mystery vs. comedy. I wouldn't say any masterpieces were in season 3, but "A Menace in Venice" is excellent.

Here are my rankings for seasons 1 and 2:

Season 1

Top Tier
1. The Harum Scarum Sanitarium
2. Scared a Lot in Camelot
3. Ghost of the Bad Humor Man
4. No Face Zombie Chase Case
5. High Rise High Raiser

Great Tier
6. The Spirits of '76
7. Scooby-Doo, Where's the Crew?
8. There's a Demon Shark in the Foggy Dark
9. Headless Horseman of Halloween (brought down a lot by the plane scene)

Decent Tier
10. A Frightened Hound Meets Demons Underground
11. Gruesome Game of the Gator Ghoul
12. Watt a Shocking Ghost
13. Ghost that Sacked the Quarterback

Just Okay Tier
14. The Fiesta Host Is an Aztec Ghost
15. Mamba Wamba and the Voodoo Hoodoo
16. A Bum Steer for Scooby

Season 2

Top Tier
1. Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats
2. Chiller Diller Movie Thriller
3. The Creepy Heap from the Deep
4. The Spooky Case of the Grand Prix Race
5. Hang in There, Scooby-Doo!
6. The Ozark Witch Switch

Excellent Tier
7. Curse of the Viking Lake
8. Creepy Cruise

Matt

7/1/2022 04:03:30 pm

Hang In There Scooby Doo is a unique case for me because I would say it is the only episode that feels in between two of the season’s vibes, even where To Switch a Witch feels like a season 1 episode despite not being in that season, Hang In There Scooby Doo feels like in between a season 1 and season 2 episode, which I actually think is quite an excellent vibe itself

WildwindVampire link

7/1/2022 06:50:47 pm

That's true, it didn't feel quite as dark as the rest of season 2, except maybe with the cave scenes. That in-between vibe is definitely cool!

Becker

7/2/2022 04:19:55 am

@Matt, I would say season 1 of TSDS is the best season of the whole Scooby-Doo franchise. It's just got everything you could possibly ask for, so much absolutely incredible top tier stuff in there for me that I don't care there are a couple of average episodes in there. Season 2 of TSDS competes with season 1 of SDWAY for second best Scooby-Doo season. I might be on an island with this, but I think the season 1 vibe is the best one, even though I do really love the seasons 2 and 3 vibes too. I love that nice in-between vibe, it kinda allows for more varied stylistic choices in a way as well. For example, No Faced Zombie Chase Case and Headless Horseman of Halloween both have the season 1 vibe while also feeling a bit different at the same time.
I also feel like the season 1 episodes Harum Scarum Sanitarium and Scared a Lot in Camelot, which to me have a lot of season 2 and 3 vibes respectively, especially the former, kinda manage to outdo almost the whole of seasons 2 and 3 (except Grand Prix Race). So that's also a reason I think season 1 is the best one, even when they go for a vibe that fits more for one of the other 2 seasons (almost like testing beds for new approaches to take next), it somehow does it the best with barely any contention.

@Wildwind, yeah, I wouldn't call A Scary Night with a Snow Beast Fright bad (as you can see from my list), but I do think they wasted a very cool villain on a very average episode.
When it comes to Chiller Diller Movie Thriller, the biggest drawback is the really weird subplot of Scooby and Dum seemingly falling in love with their cousin... that makes the episode uncomfortable to watch when those specific scenes come along. Take out that crap and it would be in Great Tier. As for other reasons it's not higher, is that it kinda suffers from the same issue as The Creepy Heap from the Deep. What I mean is that the first half is very much superior to the second half. Creepy Heap is definitely more memorable and enjoyable when they're in the lighthouse and its surroundings than the parts on the boat and submarines. Same goes for Chiller Diller, when they're on the train compared to when they go to the cemetery and amusement park. I'll also say that I don't find that old filmstrip in the graveyard creepy at all, I just don't, I don't know how unpopular that is. Their cases are not as egregious as The Warlock of Wimbledon, but I still think they suffer from it enough that I can't put them in Amazing Tier, despite their first halves warranting it.

WildwindVampire link

7/2/2022 11:59:52 am

Yeah, I totally agree with you about Snow Beast Fright. The Scooby and Scooby-Dum falling in love with Scooby-Dee is just weird...like who thought this would be a good idea?!? I mainly try to ignore that part of it since I do feel like it's an amazing episode otherwise, but I absolutely get what you're saying. It's never really bothered me, but I do agree they kinda rushed the part with the amusement park. The film strip wasn't really creepy to me either I guess, it just was kinda there. I liked the cemetery scenes though, and ultimately I can look past the episode's flaws because I feel it has a lot of other amazing things going for it, whereas Warlock of Wimbledon just turned to random unconnected chaos in the second half.

Becker

7/2/2022 01:23:20 pm

The 3 Scooby cousins subplot in Chiller Diller is one of my least favorite things in the whole TSDS (besides the entire Jaguaro episode). You're right, who the heck thought it was even remotely a good idea? And they really tried to hammer it home for some reason, there's so many scenes and moments of that crap. I can't look past it personally, it sours a really good episode. Whenever I think of Chiller Diller and the stuff I like about it, a couple seconds later I remember the... Doo-Dum-Dee triangle "subplot". Yuck. If you can even call it that. I pondered whether to even put it as high as Good Tier it bothers me that much, it's a low Good Tier in the end.

Matt

7/2/2022 02:54:42 pm

Yeah, that subplot is really what keeps Chiller Diller from being an all time top ten contender for me. But the rest of the episode is phenomenal in my opinion.

I wouldn't really say the film strip itself is "creepy" per se, but I think it is a really neat scene. I wish they had made it creepier myself with a stronger sense of unease that the phantom might still be around the film theater.

This is an instance where I can look past the flaws personally, because so much other stuff is so good

Matt

7/2/2022 02:56:56 pm

@Becker, I get what you are saying, and I would put Scared a Lot in Camelot ahead of just about all of season 3 (probably on the same level as my top 2 there), but I can't say I agree with Harum Scarum being better than most of season 2 personally. I'd easily put Vampire Bats, Grand Prix Race, and Creepy Cruise ahead of it, and Chiller Diller is on about the same level for me, with Viking Lake and Creepy Heap being a hair below Harum Scarum, and Hang In There feeling different from that vibe in general

WildwindVampire link

7/2/2022 05:32:20 pm

I have to wonder what in the world was going on in the writer's room that day lol. How in the heck did this subplot get approved? lol It's definitely super gross and I wish it wasn't in the episode. I agree that the film strip scene would have been a lot creepier if there was a sense that the ghost was maybe lingering around somewhere, but it didn't bother me overly much.

@Matt I completely agree with you that "Scared a Lot in Camelot" is a top tier Scooby-Doo Show episode. I'd personally rank it in my top 6 for the series.

Becker

7/3/2022 05:49:18 am

@Matt, personally, Grand Prix Race is the only season 2 episode I would put ahead of Harum Scarum. Tbf, Vampire Bats and even Hang In There are VERY close to it, but I'd still give the edge to Harum Scarum. Its spookiness is unmatched in this era.

@Wildwind, Scared A Lot is a blast, it's my third favorite TSDS episode. The part with Scooby and Shaggy hypnotized to be evil is one of my favorite sequences in the whole franchise, and of the funniest too, which isn't an easy achievement.

WildwindVampire link

7/3/2022 09:46:32 am

I would personally put "Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats," "The Creepy Heap from the Deep" and "Chiller Diller Movie Thriller" ahead of "The Harum Scarum Sanitarium," with "The Spooky Case of the Grand Prix Race" directly following it. "Scared a Lot in Camelot" would be next."

It's one of my favorite scenes in the franchise too haha.

Becker

6/27/2022 01:02:15 am

Come Undone for me. The others are good too, though none of these are absolute favorites.

WildwindVampire link

6/27/2022 09:01:34 am

Agreed, it was a tough choice between "Come Undone" and "All Fear the Freak" for me, but ultimately the latter slightly edged it out for me since it didn't have that same rushed feeling "Come Undone" did in my opinion.

Carson Maitland - Smith link

6/27/2022 09:08:43 am

Come Undone

Mr Neither

6/27/2022 09:25:18 am

My answer is in my name, again. All fear the Freak is probably my fav but none stand out for me. Although I enjoyed it on my second run, I initially hated Come Undone and am still on the fence with how they handled the end to Mystery Incorporated, as for Beast of Bottomless Lake, I felt it's a very creepy episode but nowhere near the best plot wise.

WildwindVampire link

6/27/2022 09:43:23 am

Haha. I liked "Come Undone," I just felt like it could have been better done so it didn't come off rushed. For them to start the episode in the caves and wrap it up within the first 15 or so minutes felt like they didn't spend enough time developing the climax. It sort of just had an "oh, it's over" feeling rather than a "woah, I can't believe it's over!" feeling, at least to me, if that makes sense.

Mr Neither

6/28/2022 10:06:47 am

What pissed me off was the fact that the ending was "Let's reset the total timeline making the past 51 episodes now totally redundant and pointless."

WildwindVampire link

6/28/2022 01:08:27 pm

That's fair, it didn't really bother me I guess but I can see why you'd feel it was a cop-out. The issue I had with it is that they didn't really explore the Heart of the Jaguar very much. They just said it was their friendship, which while cute, isn't really well-developed, it just sort of happens where they all realize it at once and then everything resets. That felt sort of rushed, especially when they'd spent the previous 51 episodes building this up so much.

Mr Neither

6/30/2022 11:01:55 am

Agreed!

Lamont

7/2/2022 09:51:26 pm

All Fear the Freak. Because of the overarching plot, this episode of course made you ready to see the next one. I didn’t have cable when Mystery Incorporated aired on Cartoon Network, I actually binge watched the show on Netflix. But I saw that everyone had to wait a WHOLE YEAR for Season 2. Then the Season 2 finale aired the next year! They really put Mystery Incorporated through some hiatuses.

WildwindVampire link

7/2/2022 10:51:38 pm

I watched it on cable week by week and it was painful waiting that long lol. Granted, Cartoon Network screwed up at one point and accidentally put the season 2 premiere on their website a couple months early, so thankfully it wasn't a full year. The hiatuses in general for all the series lately (SDMI, BCSD and Guess Who) have just been ridiculous, but SDMI got the worst of it with that year-long hiatus. It seemed like the promotion of the show got worse and worse after every hiatus too, which was really unfortunate.

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