'A Pup Named Scooby Doo' "Snow Place Like Home" (1988)
Opening thoughts: "Snow Place Like Home" was one of the 'A Pup Named Scooby Doo' episodes seen later than most, and it does have to be admitted that it didn't stand out that much to me when younger other than the villain. Did feel similarly about "The Babysitter from Beyond" as well when younger, but that was also one of the episodes that fared quite a lot better on rewatch and actually had many things that stood out and made it a unique 'A Pup Named Scooby Doo'.
While not one of my absolute favourite 'A Pup Named Scooby Doo' episodes, "Snow Place Like Home" is one of the episodes that fared much better on rewatch and was actually one of my most improved recent rewatches of the show. It is not the unique change of pace episode that "The Babysitter from Beyond" was, and the first half is a little better than the second, but "Snow Place Like Home" is still immensely enjoyable and a strong example of how well the Scooby Doo franchise fared with winter themed episodes.
Bad things: There are a couple of not so great things. While the denouement was not an obvious one, the lead up to it felt rather rushed in my view and also a bit too easy and actually the whole ending and the summing up felt too hasty.
Just when the first half did so well with making Fred amusing and like the resourceful leader of the gang, the second half annoyingly made him go back to being dumb and rash. By all means other episodes did far worse at this aspect, because at least it only happened later on rather than all the way through. Did think too that the dancing looked on the jerkily animated side.
Good things: However, a lot is done right. Absolutely love the villain, who is one of the show's coolest in design and one of its creepiest in personality. Very classic old Scooby Doo-like monster. The reveal also is not too obvious, with the episode doing a great job making one think it was one person. The setting is very wintery and atmosphere-filled, also a setting that will evoke a lot of nostalgia for anybody who has been to similar settings before. The atmosphere is very spooky, not just the scenery, the villain and the character of its own house but also having characters clearly influenced by Peter Lorre which gives a nice psychological horror-like vibe.
Animation is still vibrant and fluid, as well as wonderfully wacky in the reactions and Ice Demon. The music is very catchy, with the theme tune being the most memorable and fun one of the 80s Scooby Doo incarnations. John Debney always delivered on providing music that made one sing along and toe tap and that is very true for one of the best chase songs of the show here. Had very little issue with the writing, even with the darker tone of the story the show's broadness and light hearted-ness is not absent. The fourth wall breaking still delights, one of the best parts being the escaped convict television announcement (the show always did the television announcements well).
Mystery is full of energy and has the right amount of eeriness and nostalgia. Most of the character writing is fine, especially for Scooby, and actually really liked Fred in the first half. He was funnier and more resourceful than usual and at one point he is polite (very rare in this show). The voice acting is fine too.
Closing thoughts: Overall, immensely enjoyable.
8/10.