Why Scooby-Doo is Perfect 4/20 Viewing

No matter which you choose, any title in the Scooby-Doo media franchise is perfect for weed-fueled 4/20 streaming. I mean, “doobie” is literally in the theme song, so it’s clearly meant to be.

With the premiere of animated series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! in 1969, the wonderful universe of Scooby-Doo was born, and is still going strong now in various cinematic and series forms over 50 years later. Thanks to this half-century history, the franchise is complete with rich world-building and clear characterization. Practically every new Scooby-Doo show or movie pays homage to the ones that came before in some form, making for a cohesive franchise that can be self-effacing but still clearly made with lots of love and respects to the story’s origins.

For all of its many iterations, Scooby-Doo is exceptional streaming for a high brain, in large part due to the bright colors, endless light-hearted mysteries, lovable familiar characters, and charming campiness. Scooby-Doo is also spooky without actually being scary, so it shouldn’t ever make you feel stressed or frightened, even if weed tends to exacerbate your anxiety.

You can basically jump into any Scooby-Doo movie or show episode and still have a sense of what’s going on. While the mysteries and supernatural threats come and go, the gang is always there to stay. You’ve got the brainy and bespectacled Velma Dinkley, beautiful and slightly danger-prone Daphne Blake, trap-loving himbo group leader Fred Jones, probable-stoner (I mean come on, he’s super chill, looks perpetually dazed, and is always hungry!) and easily frightened Shaggy Rogers, and Shaggy’s talking Great Dane bestie, Scooby-Doo.

There is an insane amount of Scooby-Doo media out there (and some are better than others) but several stick out as easily accessible romps made for the spaced-out streamer. Firstly there is, of course, the original Scooby Doo, Where are You, which aired for two seasons from 1969 to 1970. It’s full of over-exaggerated slapstick, dramatic instrumental music, and somewhat cheesy jokes and dialogue. There’s also a laugh track, which could either be jarring for high viewers or enhance the overall experience. All of this culminates to make the show feel kind of surreal even without drugs, so when you watch while partaking in 4/20, you just know it’s going to be an entertaining, if not slightly bizarre, experience

Then there’s What’s New, Scooby-Doo?, which originally ran for three seasons from 2002 to 2006. Much like with Scooby Doo, Where are You, each episode contains its own individual mystery allowing you to jump in, kick back, and enjoy for any episode without needing to see what came before. And unlike the older show, What’s New Scooby-Doo? doesn’t have a laugh track, which, in conjunction with its purposeful writing, helps the show feel a bit more updated and self-aware, making it an excellent place for any 4/20 viewer to start.

More recently on the animated Scooby-Doo front comes Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, which aired on Cartoon Network from 2010 to 2013. Though the fact that it’s a serialized reboot makes it a bit harder to just tune into any episode and have everything make sense without context, there’s still no shortage of things for a 4/20 streamer to enjoy. Compared to the previous series, this show feels especially funny, tongue in cheek, and modernized. In fact, it’s even slightly darker than the other Scooby-Doo titles in a way that makes it feel just as suited for adult viewers as adolescent ones. As a result, this title won’t talk down to you and will definitely get some laughs.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the cult classics that the live-action movies, 2002’s Scooby-Doo and its 2004 sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed have grown to become. Although both movies are so over the top and dated you can practically smell the early aughts on them, their unabashed campiness, trippy moments, terrific casting, full commitment to silliness, and nostalgic feeling will all combine to make these the kind of movies that get even better when you’re not streaming sober.

Ultimately, no matter which Scooby-Doo title you choose to watch, you’re undoubtedly in for a toked-up treat. Have a happy 4/20, and enjoy your Scooby streaming!