10 Disturbing Fan Theories About Kids' TV Shows

7. Scooby-Doo - It's Set During A Huge Economic Depression

On the face of it, Scooby-Doo is clearly set in the Swinging Sixties. From the characters' clothing to their slang, even the hippy flowers on the Mystery Machine all confirm this fact. But when you start to look at the stories across the series, certain patterns become clear. Everything seems to be abandoned and falling apart; dilapidated mansions, empty hotels, ruined theme parks. Almost all of the villains are people who would normally be respected, but have fallen on hard times, including teachers, scientists, and historians. The only possible solution is that the original Scooby-Doo series is set in the midst of a horrible economic depression.

This reading also drastically changes our understanding of the gang themselves. Most of us assumed that they were simply carefree hippies, on the road to adventure. They all appeared to be in their late teens or early twenties, so it kind of made sense that they were off having adventures rather than getting proper jobs.

But what if they move around all the time because there is no work available anywhere they go? They wear the same clothes all the time, but how do they pay for food and petrol? Rather than being the free spirits they appear, Scooby and his gang are actually unemployed hobos, moving from place to place in search of permanent work and accepting food and gasoline in exchange for helping those around them.