Very fun, exciting and unique. But I wanted Velma to get hypnotized too!
5 Reviews
Bedlam in the Big Top
MrFilmAndTelevisionShow16 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Honestly the scariest villain, not because of how it was written or drawn but because clowns have become so very terrifying in today's media that out of all the villains and gang have faced so far, this would be the scariest!
Watch the pretty coin of gold, and you will do as you are told
comicman11718 October 2013
The gang is on the road when they spot a midget and a strongman that have collided into each other. They ask them what's going on, and they tell them that they have recently left the circus because it's apparently jinxed. The kids go to the circus, and meet Mr. Barnstorm the owner. He informs them that because of the Ghost Clown he has to close down the circus, and the kids find themselves facing another mystery.
This is another great episode of Scooby Doo where are you. The Ghost Clown's voice is kind freaking, and aside from his costume, he actually has a ability, unlike other villains in the series (he uses hypnosis). Seeing Scoopy, Daphne and Shaggy getting hypnotize certainly was interesting. Another interesting thing about this episode, is the way the gang gets involved with the mystery. It isn't intentional (in fact they were going to leave, had Scooby Doo not been captured by the Ghost Clown).
The way the ghost clown was captured was kinda dumb (they used mirrors), and the identity of the Ghost Clown is someone we don't meet until the end of the episode (like a lot of episodes in the series), but aside from that this is another solid episode in the series.
Also to note, the Ghost Clown is the first villain who actually tries to get the gang killed.
9 / 10
This is another great episode of Scooby Doo where are you. The Ghost Clown's voice is kind freaking, and aside from his costume, he actually has a ability, unlike other villains in the series (he uses hypnosis). Seeing Scoopy, Daphne and Shaggy getting hypnotize certainly was interesting. Another interesting thing about this episode, is the way the gang gets involved with the mystery. It isn't intentional (in fact they were going to leave, had Scooby Doo not been captured by the Ghost Clown).
The way the ghost clown was captured was kinda dumb (they used mirrors), and the identity of the Ghost Clown is someone we don't meet until the end of the episode (like a lot of episodes in the series), but aside from that this is another solid episode in the series.
Also to note, the Ghost Clown is the first villain who actually tries to get the gang killed.
9 / 10
Helped change one's perception of clowns forever
TheLittleSongbird17 July 2016
'Scooby Doo Where are You' was the first Scooby Doo incarnation, and to me it's still the best.
"Bedlam in the Big Top" is up there with the best 'Scooby Doo Where are You' episodes for me, being one of the episodes that impacted me most when younger. There is a preference for the first three episodes and "Foul Play in Funland" as far as the previous episodes go, and there are admittedly funnier episodes in the show.
However, "Bedlam in the Big Top" is one of the creepier 'Scooby Doo Where Are You' episodes, took a few risks and is also one of the least predictable episodes of the series (aside from the motive). The haunted circus setting actually looks and feels haunted, compared to the more colourful and far less deserted circuses one's used to in their youth, setting a genuinely creepy ambiance. The villain is for me too one of the freakiest of the show, from the look, the voice, the mannerisms and his actions, helping to change the initial childhood perception of clowns being fun-loving and funny to something darker and scarier (while not being quite as traumatising as a film/TV clown like Pennywise), which for back then was different and bold.
"Bedlam in the Big Top" contains one of the show's most surprising reveals, refreshing compared to an episode like "Decoy for a Dognapper", "Mine Your Own Business", "Never Ape an Ape Man" and "The Backstage Rage" where it's obvious early on but this is one of the very few episodes like "A Clue for Scooby Doo", "Foul Play in Funland" and "Hassle in the Castle" where one doesn't have a clue who it is until the very end. The hypnotism tricks are incredibly clever and daring, not only showing the gang doing stuff that they would never do in a million years (Shaggy and Scooby especially, doing acts that normally they'd be too scared to even think of doing) but being one of the few episodes of the show to show a genuine sense of true danger.
That said, "Bedlam in the Big Top" still entertains as well. There are a higher number of jokes and funnier ones in other episodes, but the dialogue is still vintage Scooby Doo, being endearingly goofy, witty and hilarious, and some really fun scenes like with the trampoline. Love the chemistry between the gang and the amusing and charming friendship between Shaggy and Scooby, and the story is well-paced, never simplistic or confusing and high in atmosphere and entertainment.
Shaggy and Scooby never fail to bring a smile to my face, and Fred, Velma and Daphne are no less enjoyable either. As always, Don Messick, Casey Kasem and Frank Welker stand out of the voice acting, Messick and Kasem are without equal as Scooby and Shaggy and one cannot believe that it's been nearly 50 years and Welker's still voicing Fred with no signs of fatigue or inconsistency.
The animation is lively, atmospheric, lushly coloured and nicely drawn as always, the setting is effectively one of the most atmospheric as well. The music adds to the impact the atmosphere creates, and it is very difficult to resist the classic theme song, along with the opening credits where it is so fun spotting and recognising the villains, that is one of the most iconic in animation.
Overall, terrific episode, with the atmosphere and boldness standing out in particular. 10/10 Bethany Cox
"Bedlam in the Big Top" is up there with the best 'Scooby Doo Where are You' episodes for me, being one of the episodes that impacted me most when younger. There is a preference for the first three episodes and "Foul Play in Funland" as far as the previous episodes go, and there are admittedly funnier episodes in the show.
However, "Bedlam in the Big Top" is one of the creepier 'Scooby Doo Where Are You' episodes, took a few risks and is also one of the least predictable episodes of the series (aside from the motive). The haunted circus setting actually looks and feels haunted, compared to the more colourful and far less deserted circuses one's used to in their youth, setting a genuinely creepy ambiance. The villain is for me too one of the freakiest of the show, from the look, the voice, the mannerisms and his actions, helping to change the initial childhood perception of clowns being fun-loving and funny to something darker and scarier (while not being quite as traumatising as a film/TV clown like Pennywise), which for back then was different and bold.
"Bedlam in the Big Top" contains one of the show's most surprising reveals, refreshing compared to an episode like "Decoy for a Dognapper", "Mine Your Own Business", "Never Ape an Ape Man" and "The Backstage Rage" where it's obvious early on but this is one of the very few episodes like "A Clue for Scooby Doo", "Foul Play in Funland" and "Hassle in the Castle" where one doesn't have a clue who it is until the very end. The hypnotism tricks are incredibly clever and daring, not only showing the gang doing stuff that they would never do in a million years (Shaggy and Scooby especially, doing acts that normally they'd be too scared to even think of doing) but being one of the few episodes of the show to show a genuine sense of true danger.
That said, "Bedlam in the Big Top" still entertains as well. There are a higher number of jokes and funnier ones in other episodes, but the dialogue is still vintage Scooby Doo, being endearingly goofy, witty and hilarious, and some really fun scenes like with the trampoline. Love the chemistry between the gang and the amusing and charming friendship between Shaggy and Scooby, and the story is well-paced, never simplistic or confusing and high in atmosphere and entertainment.
Shaggy and Scooby never fail to bring a smile to my face, and Fred, Velma and Daphne are no less enjoyable either. As always, Don Messick, Casey Kasem and Frank Welker stand out of the voice acting, Messick and Kasem are without equal as Scooby and Shaggy and one cannot believe that it's been nearly 50 years and Welker's still voicing Fred with no signs of fatigue or inconsistency.
The animation is lively, atmospheric, lushly coloured and nicely drawn as always, the setting is effectively one of the most atmospheric as well. The music adds to the impact the atmosphere creates, and it is very difficult to resist the classic theme song, along with the opening credits where it is so fun spotting and recognising the villains, that is one of the most iconic in animation.
Overall, terrific episode, with the atmosphere and boldness standing out in particular. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Bedlam in the Big Top
Michael_Elliott5 October 2013
Scooby Doo, Where Are You!
S1E10: Bedlam in the Big Top (1969)
Scooby and the gang run into a midget and a strongman who tell them that their circus is being haunted by a mysterious ghost clown. The group goes to investigate and soon each of them find themselves under the spell of the clown. Overall this here is a pretty average entry in the series, although there's no question that die-hard fans should still get a kick out of it. The ghost clown himself makes for a decent villain or at least he looks good. I wouldn't say he was all that memorable because he really wasn't given too much to do. He mainly puts the cast members under his spell and then we see them do things that they normally wouldn't do. This includes Shaggy playing a lion tamer, Scooby going on a high-wire and Daphne riding a unicycle. The circus setting was a good one but there just weren't enough laughs to make this more memorable overall. The story itself wasn't all that strong due to the fact that we pretty much get the same structure over and over.
Episode: B
S1E10: Bedlam in the Big Top (1969)
Scooby and the gang run into a midget and a strongman who tell them that their circus is being haunted by a mysterious ghost clown. The group goes to investigate and soon each of them find themselves under the spell of the clown. Overall this here is a pretty average entry in the series, although there's no question that die-hard fans should still get a kick out of it. The ghost clown himself makes for a decent villain or at least he looks good. I wouldn't say he was all that memorable because he really wasn't given too much to do. He mainly puts the cast members under his spell and then we see them do things that they normally wouldn't do. This includes Shaggy playing a lion tamer, Scooby going on a high-wire and Daphne riding a unicycle. The circus setting was a good one but there just weren't enough laughs to make this more memorable overall. The story itself wasn't all that strong due to the fact that we pretty much get the same structure over and over.
Episode: B
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