I can’t go a week without seeing a tweet about missing an old TV show from my youth. Disney, Nickelodeon, and PBS were some staple TV channels back in my day. But what about Cartoon Network? Am I the only one who adored Scooby Doo? Zoinks Scoob! I think this generation slept on Scooby Doo. The movies are cinematic masterpieces and the episodes are a whole lot of fun too.

Sure, the show had the same premise each episode. They explore a spooky area, whether it be a space center (Space Ape at the Cape), a shopping mall (Toy Scary Boo), or the sea (Reef Grief!), they sneak around and gather clues, and they figure out the person behind it all was the only other character introduced in the episode opposed to the main cast. Looking back, the show taught more than pulling off a mask to find the perpetrator.

First, it taught me that working together works better than working alone. Shaggy and Scooby usually raided the kitchen but ended up finding the ghoul while alone, so no one believes them! Everyone always has something to offer, so putting strengths together in a team always works better in the end.

Second, it taught me that it is okay to challenge the norms. Scooby has a speech disorder but is accepted into the gang and not treated any differently. Shaggy might not be the bravest, but he will always stick up for his friends in times of trouble. Velma was the token nerd but solved many mysteries multiple times by using her knowledge. Daphne was often seen as the girly girl, but she was arguably the bravest out of the five. Fred was the leader but he didn’t always take control of the situations and let everyone else try and figure it out before he spoke up.

Finally, Scooby Doo taught me that it is okay to have fun. In Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Scooby and Shaggy are exploring Old Man Jackals’ house and uncover some rather funny items. In the process, they encounter many clues too. Sometimes a bit of humor is needed in life and the gang certainly knows it.

Scooby Doo is a classic mix of humor, life lessons, and spook. Soon enough, Scooby Doo will gain the recognition it deserves and everyone will be saying “Jinkies!”