HBO Max’sVelmahas a lot of people talking, and it’s not for a good reason. Released on June 29, 2025, on HBO Max, the animated adult series developed by Charlie Grandy and produced by Mindy Kaling re-imaginings the story of Scooby-Doo putting its focus on Velma and how she initially gathered up the iconic mystery gang. Despite its large premiere rate views, so much so that it has beengreenlit for a second season,Velmahas earned a 7% average audience score on Rotten Tomatoes as well as a 1.4 IMDB score, making the show thethird most-low rated show on the site.
Related:Velma Season 2 Now in the Works at HBO Max
While many viewers do commend the show for its diversity and outwardly queer representation, some have taken issue with the overly meta jokes and humor,sexualization of teenage characters, and widely different characterizations ofVelma’s portrayal of the mystery gang from the original Hanna Barbera cartoon. If you happened to be disappointed byVelma, then perhaps these shows below can help fill the void of mystery, maturity, and comedy you were looking for instead!
10Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated (2010 - 2013)
For Scooby-Doo fans who craved a modernized version of the mystery gang,Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporatedmight be worth a watch. Created by Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone, both of whom already worked on other movies within the Scooby-Doo franchise,Mystery Incorporatedfollows the iconic Scooby-Doo and the teenage mystery gang as they try to solve the seemingly supernatural mysteries within their small touristic hometown Crystal Cove. Along the way, the gang tries to uncover the big mystery of them all: what happened to the town’s previous mystery gang? Many fans of the series have praised the show for its overarching mystery plot, in-depth characterization, and unique boxy animation style.
9Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? (2019 - 2021)
For a modernized version of the mystery gang that airs on the side of comedy,Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?is another promising alternative toVelma. Similar to the original run of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, the series follows the typical monster-of-the-week villain with the mystery gang trying to solve mysteries. What makes this run of things different, however, is the added charm ofguest star appearances from singer Weird Al YankovictoDance Moms’Maddie Ziegler. Fictional characters, like Wonder Woman and Sherlock, even get to appear alongside the mystery gang too. WhileScooby-Doo and Guess Who?is more geared towards a general audience, it offers a good alternative for those who are looking for a more lighthearted version of the mystery gang.
8Trese (2021 - )
IfVelma’s horror aspect is what drove you in more than anything, then you might find Netflix’s Filipino animeTresemore up your alley. Adapted from the comic series by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, the anime takes place in a version of Manila where creatures of Philippine folklore live among humans in secret. Because of her expertise in the supernatural, detective Alexandra Trese is often called upon to solve otherworldly crimes that the police can’t handle. The addition of Philippine folklore and culture truly adds to the fantastical world-building and mystery of the show, bringing a unique twist to the crime-mystery genre. The series has an audience score of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and likeVelmafeatures a star-leading voice role withYou’sShay Mitchell dubbing Alexandra Trese.
7Mai: A Mother’s Rage (2022 - )
If you’re looking for a mature crime drama that’ll rivalVelmathen maybe you should give Netflix’s Indian dramaMai: A Mother’s Ragea try. Unlike the adult animated Scooby-Doo re-imagining which follows teenagers,Maiis told from a grieving mother’s perspective, Sheel Chaudhary, after witnessing the death of her daughter from a speeding truck. However, she soon discovers that her daughter’s death wasn’t just an accident. Now, Sheel is out for blood, avenging her daughter’s death by trying to find out who’s behind the murder. Besides the violence and mystery thatMaibuilds up, the series is also great for those who were looking forward to seeing a female South-East Asian in a leading role.
6Solomon’s Perjury (2016 - 2017)
Solomon’s Perjuryis a Korean drama that starts with its murder mystery right from the very first episode. On Christmas Day, Lee So-woo, a student from an elite high school, falls to his death on the school’s rooftop. The police are quick to rule the tragedy as a suicide until it’s revealed to one of the students, Go Seo-yeon, that someone witnessed the murder of her classmate. Frustrated by the inaction of the authorities and adults around them, Seo-Yeon and her friends decide to hold a trial themselves at their school to get to the bottom of who murdered their classmate.
In a somewhat similar vein toVelma,Solomon’s Perjurymain cast follows teenagers with the bonus of having a murder mystery and court case drama woven into the plot. The crime drama also contains some typical coming-of-age tropes and teenage-focused humor given the makeup of the cast, something that might come as a bonus if you didn’t enjoy that meta humor inVelmaall that much.
5Only Murders in the Building (2021 - )
Only Murders in the Buildingis a zany trio murder-mystery comedy that follows three neighbors — played by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez — who live in an upscale Upper West Side apartment. Banding together over their love of true crime, the trio decided to attempt to team up and solve the mystery behind the death of a fellow tenant in their apartment.
Since its release on Hulu, the show has been rather popular earning love from viewers due to its charming humor and charismatic energy between the three leads — something it has somewhat in common with the tone of Scooby-Doo (except for the murder, of course). Currently, seasons one and two ofOnly Murders in the Buildingare now available, withHulu confirming a renewal of the show sometime soon.
Related:Emilia Perez: New Crime Musical Movie Stars Selena Gomez
4Possessed (2019)
Possessedis a buddy cop story with elements of the paranormal as newly clairvoyant detective Kang Pil-seong teams up with Hong Seo-jeong, a psychic medium to solve crimes together including the case of the serial killer Hwang Dae-du, who just so happened to be out and about, now possessing another body. The show does as much as it can to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. For those who were hoping to see nods to Scooby-Doo’s classic paranormal mysteries inVelmabut were left disappointed, thenPossessedmight be more of an enjoyable watch.
3The Ghost Bride (2020 - )
The Ghost Brideis a Netflix original Taiwanese-Malaysian period piece mystery set in the 1890s Colonial Malacca. Li Lan lands herself in a murder mystery when she promises to become the ghost bride of Tian Ching, the deceased son of the wealthy Lim family in order to help her family pay off their debt. She soon, however, finds herself being haunted by Tian Ching who eventually visits her in her dreams. Tian Ching reveals to Li Lan that he has been murdered and if she can help him find his killer, then he’ll promise to get her father out of the Netherworld. If you are looking for a show with a strong female lead with fantastical supernatural elements, then this historical period show should be on your watch list.
2Harley Quinn (2019 - )
While not a mystery show, DC’sHarley Quinnon HBO Max is an animated adult show based on the franchise that is widely popular at the moment. Created by Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacher, and Dean Lorey, Harley Quinn is somewhat of an origin story in a similar vein toVelma, taking place after the eccentric villain breaks up with her boyfriend, the Joker. Determined to join the Legion of Doom, Harley along with Poison Ivy, her friend and eventually girlfriend, form a villain group with other outcast DC villains to get themselves a seat at the Legion of Doom.
The show has been praised for its comedy and amazing voice work from talents such asThe Flight Attendantstar Kaley Cuoco andWet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later’sLake Bell as well as the romance between the two female leads.
1The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021 - )
The Sex Lives of College Girlsis a show you might want to give a go instead if you like Mindy Kaling’s work but didn’t findVelmaparticularly appealing. Taking some mature themes and applying them to a college setting,The Sex Lives of College Girlsproduced by Mindy Kaling andpartly based on her and her co-creator, Justin Noland’s life experiencestell the story of four freshmen roommates at Essex College as they navigate relationships, school, and coming into adulthood.
While not chalked with mystery nor murder likeVelma, the drama has everything else one might have wanted from the show such as strong female leads, a diverse cast, and queer representation. Seasons one and two of the show are now available on HBO Max witha third season on the way.
