Almost all the two parters of 'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries' are above well worth watching level, with my personal favourite having always been "The Nutcracker Scoob". Which is also my favourite episode of 'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries'. Also like the show on the whole, more so than anticipated, though some episodes are not too good ("A Scarey Duel with a Cartoon Ghoul", "EIEIO", "South Pole Vault"), not one of the best Scooby Doo shows but also not one of the worst.
Luckily they are outweighed by those that are, which includes in particular "The Nutcracker Scoob", "Scooby's Peephole Pandemonium", "Doom Service", "Scoobee or Not Scoobee" and "A Halloween Hassle at Dracula's Castle". "Ghosts of the Ancient Astronauts" is though for me one of my least favourite episodes of 'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries' and by far the weakest of the two parter episodes, with it being the only one that has left me indifferent.
"Ghosts of the Ancient Astronauts" does have good things. The voice acting for the regular characters is very good, Don Messick and Casey Kasem have never been bettered as Scooby and Shaggy and Heather North has always been my personal favourite voice actress for Daphne. Not everybody likes Marla Frumpkin, personally have never had issue with her. Velma's uncle is also quite appealing, while Harriet Mullins is suitably cunning and it would have been a much better episode with only one villain.
While the ending is bizarre and feels rushed, props are given for it containing the best exchange of the entire episode between Shaggy, Scooby and the aliens, with the aliens having the episode's best line in regard to how long it took for them trying to figure out how to escape and how long it took for Scooby to do it. The incidental music gels nicely and the theme song and "Thriller"-inspired opening credits are memorable. Shaggy and Scooby are endearingly goofy.
However, somehow it doesn't come together. The 'Indiana Jones' adventure vibe didn't bother me, that was actually nice, what did bother me was that to me the story feels unfocused and erratic, the first half takes a long while to get going and is quite thin on the ground. While the second half is more eventful, there is too much of a cramming in too much feel and the more adventurous tone lacks excitement and suspense. The most interesting part is the ending but that is rather strange too.
Some of the animation is pretty garish and hasty looking, especially in the escape from the zombies. Scrappy doesn't serve much point, other than contributing as to how the gang escape, and his rap song is so random and out of place, not to mention cringe worthy. The male villain and his henchmen are also pointless, aren't menacing or funny and are obnoxious. The henchmen are also stereotypical in a distasteful way. Too much of the humour is not too memorable and is on the bland side.
In conclusion, have never been too enamoured with this. 5/10.
