SCOOBY-DOO! MYSTERY INCORPORATED : SEASON 2 EPISODE 22

SCOOBY-DOO! MYSTERY INCORPORATED :

SEASON 2 EPISODE 22 – NIGHTMARE IN RED

[Animation, Adventure, Comedy]

In this episode, Scooby has a dream that leads to a real-life person named Professor Horatio Kharon (a.k.a The Dancing Man) voiced by Michael J. Anderson. Kharon puts the gang into hypnosis so they can learn more about the ancient Annunaki race and defeat an evil spirit that is buried below Crystal Cove. Once there they run into a nightmare freak that’s been haunting the dreams of anyone associated with the Planispheric disc.

This is the famous episode where Velma has a freakin breakdown when she discovers that not everything is quantifiable, or logical or natural. It’s a similar reaction to what I have seen real people have when they discover God is real, so I definitely identified with this part of the episode.

This episode brings up the idea of having a full understanding of doing something evil. It’s actually pretty interesting from that perspective since we live in a society always trying to avoid facing consequences or denying they should exist at all. This is also the first mention of the “Heart of the Jaguar” which the original version of Mystery Inc. was going to use to destroy the evil entity that has plagued every group afterward. An explanation of the groups is coming up like “right now”.

Fact – In this series there have been many versions or groups of Scooby-Doo! and the gang-like mystery solvers throughout history. Every group involves 4 humans and 1 animal. The Mystery Incorporated that preceded the one the series centers around, the Darrow Family's Mystery Fellowship, the Benevolent Lodge of Mystery, the Mystery Gang with their bull Tiny, the Alianzo Mysterio and their pet skunk El Fuchi, Fraternitas Mysterium, and The Hunters of Secrets.

Oddity – Michael J. Anderson solidifies this episode's connection to the TV show Twin Peaks. In that series, he plays “A Man From Another Place”.

Best Line – I have spent my whole life believing in facts and clues. But we're in some dreamworld, fighting a nightmare monster! It doesn't make sense! I want it to make sense! – Velma

Overall this is a good but very weird episode. I am going to give it a 4 out of 7, just because for me this was the 3rd episode in a row where Season 2 started going completely off the rails, however, this particular episode is loaded with strong principles and even does a decent job of introducing timeless principals like “forgiveness” and taking responsibility. All this stuff used to pretty much be a weekly thing in the '80s.