"What a Night for a Dark Knight" was an incredibly enjoyable episode on first watch and was very nearly one of my favourite episodes of 'Scooby Doo and Guess Who' up to this point. Have always loved Batman as a character and it has been proven more than once before that he and Mystery Inc gel really well together, namely his two (great) guest appearances on 'The New Scooby Doo Movies'. Despite being an uneven show, 'Scooby Doo and Guess Who' to me was very successful on the whole and has a lot to like.
My very positive opinion of "What a Night for a Dark Knight" on first watch is very much the same. Still really, really like this episode and loved so many things about it, like first viewing it very nearly became one of my favourite 'Scooby Doo and Guess Who' episodes but sadly deserved a better reveal. As far as the show goes up to this still early stage, the halfway point of Season 1, "What a Night for a Dark Knight" despite just missing out on being a favourite is one of the better episodes. As well as one of the better episodes to have a superhero as a guest star.
Almost everything is brilliant. The animation is slick and atmospheric with rich attention to detail. It was really interesting seeing the 'Scooby Doo Where are You' character designs for Mystery Inc juxtaposed with the more modern character design for Batman, without being jarring, and seeing the older Scooby Doo poses being brought back was like a trip down nostalgia lane. The music is suitably groovy while being haunting in the right places, without being too stock. The theme tune is catchy, though my feelings on it being too short still stand.
Batman is a great guest star, one of the best used and most interesting in personality up to this point. He blended very well with the gang (no surprise as that was obvious in his previous appearances) and didn't dominate too much like some of the previous guest stars did, he certainly wasn't annoying or bland. The villain is suitably sinister and has an older Scooby Doo villain vibe, which this reviewer loved as somebody who has so much fondness for many of the classic Scooby Doo villains. All the gang are spot on, with some of the best moments belonging to Scooby, and all shine in their own way. Their interaction is great.
Furthermore, the writing is a lot of fun and clever, with affectionate and sly nods to the 'Scooby Doo Where are You' episodes "What the Hex is Going On", "Never Ape an Ape Man" and "What a Night for a Knight" (two of them still being classics, and the other being very enjoyable if not great). There are some lovely little moments reminiscent of classic Scooby Doo, like the hose, the falling knights, the eyes in the painting and Scooby fighting off at one point and plenty of funny moments. Such as Scooby's phone, the button and my favourite Scooby's Batman imitation. The story has a lot of energy and is both fun and full of creepy atmosphere, great opening sequence and the chase sequence is creative visually. The voice acting is without issue, Matthew Lillard continues to deliver as Shaggy and bringing back Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill in their signature roles was a masterstroke move.
It is a shame that the ending doesn't live up to the quality of the rest of the episode. Was not surprised by the truth at all and actually found it very uninspired. The crime also is too logical for the perpetrator, who really would have dreamt up something a lot more elaborate, more spontaneous, more insane and something wackier. Could see it working for one or two other Batman villains (i.e. Penguin), but not really in the case of this particular one.
To conclude, extremely enjoyable and highly recommended. Nearly a great episode until the uninspired ending. 8/10.
My very positive opinion of "What a Night for a Dark Knight" on first watch is very much the same. Still really, really like this episode and loved so many things about it, like first viewing it very nearly became one of my favourite 'Scooby Doo and Guess Who' episodes but sadly deserved a better reveal. As far as the show goes up to this still early stage, the halfway point of Season 1, "What a Night for a Dark Knight" despite just missing out on being a favourite is one of the better episodes. As well as one of the better episodes to have a superhero as a guest star.
Almost everything is brilliant. The animation is slick and atmospheric with rich attention to detail. It was really interesting seeing the 'Scooby Doo Where are You' character designs for Mystery Inc juxtaposed with the more modern character design for Batman, without being jarring, and seeing the older Scooby Doo poses being brought back was like a trip down nostalgia lane. The music is suitably groovy while being haunting in the right places, without being too stock. The theme tune is catchy, though my feelings on it being too short still stand.
Batman is a great guest star, one of the best used and most interesting in personality up to this point. He blended very well with the gang (no surprise as that was obvious in his previous appearances) and didn't dominate too much like some of the previous guest stars did, he certainly wasn't annoying or bland. The villain is suitably sinister and has an older Scooby Doo villain vibe, which this reviewer loved as somebody who has so much fondness for many of the classic Scooby Doo villains. All the gang are spot on, with some of the best moments belonging to Scooby, and all shine in their own way. Their interaction is great.
Furthermore, the writing is a lot of fun and clever, with affectionate and sly nods to the 'Scooby Doo Where are You' episodes "What the Hex is Going On", "Never Ape an Ape Man" and "What a Night for a Knight" (two of them still being classics, and the other being very enjoyable if not great). There are some lovely little moments reminiscent of classic Scooby Doo, like the hose, the falling knights, the eyes in the painting and Scooby fighting off at one point and plenty of funny moments. Such as Scooby's phone, the button and my favourite Scooby's Batman imitation. The story has a lot of energy and is both fun and full of creepy atmosphere, great opening sequence and the chase sequence is creative visually. The voice acting is without issue, Matthew Lillard continues to deliver as Shaggy and bringing back Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill in their signature roles was a masterstroke move.
It is a shame that the ending doesn't live up to the quality of the rest of the episode. Was not surprised by the truth at all and actually found it very uninspired. The crime also is too logical for the perpetrator, who really would have dreamt up something a lot more elaborate, more spontaneous, more insane and something wackier. Could see it working for one or two other Batman villains (i.e. Penguin), but not really in the case of this particular one.
To conclude, extremely enjoyable and highly recommended. Nearly a great episode until the uninspired ending. 8/10.
