Have always wanted to like this episode so much more. Have always admired how Season 3 got more ambitious and more exotic with their choice of locations, and it doesn't get any more exotic than China as far as Scooby Doo goes. The premise was quite cool and of course my long-term love for Scooby Doo (binge-watching on most of the incarnations has really helped me through a difficult few years) would always set expectations high.
While there are worse episodes of 'The Scooby Doo Show', it is better than "The Diabolical Disc Demon", "The Warlock of Wimbledon" and "Don't Go Near the Fortress of Fear", this didn't quite connect with me as a child and still doesn't for the same reasons. Is it a watchable episode? Yes it is and the good points are obvious and well executed. Have always though been let down by the blandness of the mystery and its predictability and the villain doesn't hold up in my respectful view.
There are certainly good things here. With one exception, the animation quality continues the exotic vibrancy, the smoother drawing and creepier atmosphere seen when the show expanded their use of locales in Season 3. Which was when the animation significantly improved, that was one aspect that Season 3 was superior to the previous two seasons in. The music is not stock and stylistically also was true to its root while having more of its own identity and signs of moving on with the times, some nice authentic flavour too. Cannot get enough of the theme song.
Liked the dialogue generally too, especially the endearingly silly humour from Shaggy and Scooby. The Moon Monster's introduction is creepy and the glowing effect looks nice. Did appreciate that the cultural aspect of the episode is handled more tastefully than with "Mystery Mask Mix Up", not as stereotypical and with no dubious joke or hilariously bad accents to worry about. It starts off quite well, where there is some intrigue regarding the ancient legend and when the Moon Monster had its one creepy moment. Shaggy and Scooby are delightful as usual and the voice acting is solid.
Did feel though that the mystery didn't grab me that much. It felt on the bland and dully paced side and has touches derivative of "What the Hex is Going On" and "Scooby Doo and a Mummy Too" (both 'Scooby Doo Where are You' high points) but with not as much impact this time. The final solution is one of the show's most obvious to me, clues are too few and there is one that immediately gives what actually happened away yet near completely neglected for almost half the episode before reminded of it out of the blue when things were wrapped up. Really amazing that it took the gang so long to seemingly to even notice it.
From personal opinion too the Moon Monster doesn't hold up. It was quite scary to me as a child, but is now neither menacing or has much personality. It is basically just there, serving its purpose as being the obligatory villain but not much more. Plus it doesn't look creepy anymore, to me it now looks pretty goofy. The writing has its moments with Shaggy and Scooby, and even their humour has been more inspired in other episodes. The supporting cast serve their purpose but again not much more.
All in all, watchable but has never properly grabbed me. 5/10.
While there are worse episodes of 'The Scooby Doo Show', it is better than "The Diabolical Disc Demon", "The Warlock of Wimbledon" and "Don't Go Near the Fortress of Fear", this didn't quite connect with me as a child and still doesn't for the same reasons. Is it a watchable episode? Yes it is and the good points are obvious and well executed. Have always though been let down by the blandness of the mystery and its predictability and the villain doesn't hold up in my respectful view.
There are certainly good things here. With one exception, the animation quality continues the exotic vibrancy, the smoother drawing and creepier atmosphere seen when the show expanded their use of locales in Season 3. Which was when the animation significantly improved, that was one aspect that Season 3 was superior to the previous two seasons in. The music is not stock and stylistically also was true to its root while having more of its own identity and signs of moving on with the times, some nice authentic flavour too. Cannot get enough of the theme song.
Liked the dialogue generally too, especially the endearingly silly humour from Shaggy and Scooby. The Moon Monster's introduction is creepy and the glowing effect looks nice. Did appreciate that the cultural aspect of the episode is handled more tastefully than with "Mystery Mask Mix Up", not as stereotypical and with no dubious joke or hilariously bad accents to worry about. It starts off quite well, where there is some intrigue regarding the ancient legend and when the Moon Monster had its one creepy moment. Shaggy and Scooby are delightful as usual and the voice acting is solid.
Did feel though that the mystery didn't grab me that much. It felt on the bland and dully paced side and has touches derivative of "What the Hex is Going On" and "Scooby Doo and a Mummy Too" (both 'Scooby Doo Where are You' high points) but with not as much impact this time. The final solution is one of the show's most obvious to me, clues are too few and there is one that immediately gives what actually happened away yet near completely neglected for almost half the episode before reminded of it out of the blue when things were wrapped up. Really amazing that it took the gang so long to seemingly to even notice it.
From personal opinion too the Moon Monster doesn't hold up. It was quite scary to me as a child, but is now neither menacing or has much personality. It is basically just there, serving its purpose as being the obligatory villain but not much more. Plus it doesn't look creepy anymore, to me it now looks pretty goofy. The writing has its moments with Shaggy and Scooby, and even their humour has been more inspired in other episodes. The supporting cast serve their purpose but again not much more.
All in all, watchable but has never properly grabbed me. 5/10.
