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dinkley_rogersAs of the last episode of Mystery Incorporated, I'm really really torn between the shipper in me wanting them to get back together (mainly because we may never get a canon romance with them again) and the logical thinker in me that says, "These versions of the characters are absolutely TOXIC as a couple and should just stay friends. After all, Shaggy seems relieved to be rid of her and not at all bummed out or conflicted about the break up".
Anyway, I've been trying to see if I could reconcile those two sides and figure out how Mystery Incorporated's Shaggy and Velma could possibly get back together without it feeling like an unbelievable plot contrivance. Here's what I came up with:
1) We need to see SOME sign that Shaggy likes Velma even half as much as she likes him:
Even in the early episodes (i.e. before Velma wandered into Bunny Boiler territory and the Scooby vs Velma drama got ridiculous), we got very few indications that Shaggy liked Velma back. And the two times he actually did something romantic (holding her hand in Gatorsburg and dancing with her at the end of the Que Horrifico episode), those things only happened after Velma had spent the entire episode twisting his arm.
And before you mention the makeout scene; that could easily be chalked up as Shaggy simply doing what any heterosexual teenage male would do. ~_^
2) Scooby and Velma do a complete 180 and become best buddies (like they SHOULD have been all along **grumblegrumble**):
Scooby and Shaggy will always be inseparable no matter what. And Velma will have to let go of her anger and be friends with Scooby if she ever wants to pursue a relationship with Shaggy again.
3) Scooby becomes less possessive:
This already seems to be happening (Scooby spent the last two episodes trying to bury the hatchet with Velma). Let's hope that Scooby wanting to be her friend again is a sign that he's willing to accept her (or anyone else, for that matter) as Shaggy's girlfriend in the future.
...and maybe Velma could help this along by buying a cute poodle to distract Scooby when she and Shaggy go on dates. ^_~
4)Shaggy stops being co-dependant on Scooby:
This version of Shaggy seems to be almost freakishly dependent on his dog (to the point where I have to restrain myself from making jokes about them that have "doggie style" in the punchline >_<).
He seems to have trouble letting people get close to him. And I doubt that even Classic-Velma (who LOVES Scooby and has always been very sweet and patient) would tolerate being second fiddle to her boyfriend's dog ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME! Shaggy needs to realize that he can have a girlfriend AND a best friend and he can divide his time between them without giving either the shaft.
5) Velma stops being so co-dependant on Shaggy:
In the beginning of the series, Velma seemed to practically hinge her whole identity on being Shaggy's girlfriend and that badwriting habit overshadowed all of her other character traits (like her intelligence). That was a HUGE problem in their relationship from the get go and it only got worse when Scooby found out and we entered the godawful 'Scooby vs Velma' story arc. Even after the break up, she's still constantly mooning over him. Velma needs to be more at peace with herself and the idea of being single before she can enter into a romantic relationship again.
6) They both need to mature:
Both Shaggy and Velma obviously have no idea how to properly handle themselves in a romantic relationship. And, honestly, I'm not sure what circumstances and/or events (aside from the passage of a few years) can trigger a change that significant in either of them before the end of the series. As of right now, all they do is bring out the worst in each other.
So...what do you guys think? What would have to happen for Shaggy and Velma to BELIEVABLY get back together? Can this relationship be saved at all?
Anyway, I've been trying to see if I could reconcile those two sides and figure out how Mystery Incorporated's Shaggy and Velma could possibly get back together without it feeling like an unbelievable plot contrivance. Here's what I came up with:
1) We need to see SOME sign that Shaggy likes Velma even half as much as she likes him:
Even in the early episodes (i.e. before Velma wandered into Bunny Boiler territory and the Scooby vs Velma drama got ridiculous), we got very few indications that Shaggy liked Velma back. And the two times he actually did something romantic (holding her hand in Gatorsburg and dancing with her at the end of the Que Horrifico episode), those things only happened after Velma had spent the entire episode twisting his arm.
And before you mention the makeout scene; that could easily be chalked up as Shaggy simply doing what any heterosexual teenage male would do. ~_^
2) Scooby and Velma do a complete 180 and become best buddies (like they SHOULD have been all along **grumblegrumble**):
Scooby and Shaggy will always be inseparable no matter what. And Velma will have to let go of her anger and be friends with Scooby if she ever wants to pursue a relationship with Shaggy again.
3) Scooby becomes less possessive:
This already seems to be happening (Scooby spent the last two episodes trying to bury the hatchet with Velma). Let's hope that Scooby wanting to be her friend again is a sign that he's willing to accept her (or anyone else, for that matter) as Shaggy's girlfriend in the future.
...and maybe Velma could help this along by buying a cute poodle to distract Scooby when she and Shaggy go on dates. ^_~
4)Shaggy stops being co-dependant on Scooby:
This version of Shaggy seems to be almost freakishly dependent on his dog (to the point where I have to restrain myself from making jokes about them that have "doggie style" in the punchline >_<).
He seems to have trouble letting people get close to him. And I doubt that even Classic-Velma (who LOVES Scooby and has always been very sweet and patient) would tolerate being second fiddle to her boyfriend's dog ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME! Shaggy needs to realize that he can have a girlfriend AND a best friend and he can divide his time between them without giving either the shaft.
5) Velma stops being so co-dependant on Shaggy:
In the beginning of the series, Velma seemed to practically hinge her whole identity on being Shaggy's girlfriend and that bad
6) They both need to mature:
Both Shaggy and Velma obviously have no idea how to properly handle themselves in a romantic relationship. And, honestly, I'm not sure what circumstances and/or events (aside from the passage of a few years) can trigger a change that significant in either of them before the end of the series. As of right now, all they do is bring out the worst in each other.
So...what do you guys think? What would have to happen for Shaggy and Velma to BELIEVABLY get back together? Can this relationship be saved at all?
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no subject
Date: 2010-10-30 05:36 pm (UTC)I really hope they get back together though. They're just so cute together, honestly. And I'd hope I'm not just saying that because I ship them together.
I'm wondering if the newer Fred/Daphne plot ( them dating, I mean) will maybe help it along. If they work out, perhaps Velma and Shaggy will see what has to be done in order for THEM to work out. Daphne seems to have a level of patience and tolerance for Fred... being Fred. Velma still needs to come to terms with the fact that Shaggy is BFFs with Scooby, he's going to eat like a pig, and he's going to be Shaggy. If Velma can love him for who he is and get along with Scooby, I think it definitely could work out.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-30 08:36 pm (UTC)They have been my ship for 20 years (of 23) of my life I WANT THEM BACK. But I want it to be natural because it can be! They did it so right in Curse of the Lake Monster but they way they have Shaggy in MI works and doesn't work! Its not just Velma. Ugh. I just want them together T_T
no subject
Date: 2010-10-30 09:24 pm (UTC)Personally, I hope they get back together. They are adorable together. I think that they will be back together eventually, because, the writers would not have introduced them as a couple without a true reason. Obviously, there is a meaning and purpose for their relationship to the story and plot.
Sure, it could be just that they wanted there to be more tension between the group and more struggle to keep them as a team (Mystery Inc) but, a part of me is thinking, I doubt they would have gone to all this trouble just for that. They could have thought of other things to cause trouble among them.
Plus, you have to remember the older Mystery Inc. From what we've see, those kids who disappeared were a lot like the Mystery Inc we know now. The "Shaggy" and "Velma" equivalents of that group probably tried to be a couple and the parrot (can't remember his name) might have possibly gone insane when his owner (best friend) starting dating. History repeats itself. As Mr. E even told Velma in a note once. "It's all happened before".
Their relationship has a reason and I doubt its about to be forgotten. Now all these characters need to do, is pretty much everything you just listed. lol
no subject
Date: 2010-10-31 12:12 am (UTC)My pet theory is that Velma never told anyone about the note because she deduced the meaning behind it (that the old Mystery Incorporated had a problem similar to what she, Shaggy, and Scooby were dealing with and it contributed to their disappearance). My guess is that she was afraid the warning would cause Shaggy to freak out and break up with her. And when the break up happened anyway under different circumstances, she figured there was no point in showing it to them after all that time.
Their relationship has a reason and I doubt its about to be forgotten. Now all these characters need to do, is pretty much everything you just listed. lol
I'm just afraid that the Mystery Incorporated writers will give Shaggy and Velma a "let's be friends" cop out similar to the one we got in the Lake Monster movie. :P
no subject
Date: 2010-10-31 12:52 am (UTC)But if they cop out again, I will hunt down the creators and slap them. Do not take Shagma away from me after 20 years of waiting damn it!
no subject
Date: 2010-10-31 08:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-23 08:54 pm (UTC)