Lemme start off with a disclaimer - I have not watched any of the show proper. I have seen enough through reviews and trailers and clips to know that I don't want to waste my time on it. (I have enough stuff I WANNA see I don't seem to have any time for, so...)

That said, wow. This show took what was a surefire concept that could be played a million ways (Scooby Doo, but for an adult audience - so violence, sex, mature themes, etc are all on the table) and picked a way to do it that completely sucks all the fun out and seems to actively hate the audience. Not even just Velma the lead character, but Velma the show seems to be bitter, cynical, antagonistic, and overall unpleasant.

I will give it credit for the visuals. The designs are pretty good overall, and I have seen some neat stuff in clips on a pure visual level... But as soon as the characters start talking you are reminded out the show hates you and thinks it is so much smarter than you.

Honestly I think this one lingered longer in my head than it should have for a show that sucks and I never watched - because I was onboard up until the first trailer dropped. When folks got mad that it was a prequel, I was fine. When they were mad Velma was now of South Asian descent, I was fine with that too. (I remember seeing some really neat fan designs floating around before the show was announced that had an African American Velma that looked really neat.) But that first trailer. Ouch.

As for season 2, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they trash the thing. However between the HUGE marketing push season 1 got, and all the hate watching it got meaning to them it was a success (remember folks consuming things ironically or hatefully is still buying the product, and translates to "we want more of this") In regards to how they play it... I really don't know. Any sensible person would try and take some of the criticism to heart and maybe do better, maybe soften the edges on the cast, or time jump so they can have grown off screen and almost do a soft reset? However I can easily see the crew behind what we got taking this as a challenge/attack and doubling down to make an even more miserable second/final season.

Do not be surprised if it ends with any of the main cast dying or other horrific things they can do to "show us" what they can do.