The Desert Dilemma is part 1 of the second episode of the Riche Rich and Scooby Doo Show and originally aired on November 15, 1980.
Here we find the gang in a desert where they run into an evil magician who wants to test his spells after the gang take cover in an old abandoned palace.
At only 7 minutes long, there’s not much to discuss, so let’s get on with the review.
The Desert Dilemma
The episode begins with the gang out for a camel ride in the desert. Scooby spots a sand storm so the gang quickly take cover in a deserted palace.
There they discover an evil magician who wishes to work his black magic on them.
Inside the palace, Scooby and Shaggy make quick work to find the kitchen, but after encountering a statue that tries to decapitate them, they soon wish they were outside.
Scrappy comes across a table full of food and Shaggy and Scooby sit down to eat. Unfortunately, the table levitates and causes all the food to fall to the ground.
The evil magician appears and Shaggy and Scooby try to run away. The wizard then zaps them with a spell that imprisons them in a room.
Trapped and doomed, Scrappy takes chase after the wizard and tries to start a fight. The wizard transforms into a basket complete with a cobra inside. The cobra chases Scooby and Scrappy while Scrappy tackles it.
The cobra then turns into a magic carpet and the gang ride it about the palace. Ending back with the magician, he threatens to turn them into monkeys. The gang disguise themselves as dancing girls which gives them enough time to run towards a mirror.
The wizard blasts them with another spell and the mirror reflects it, turning him into a monkey.
With another adventure over, the gang hop back on their camels and ride out.
My Review
I give this episode a 1 out of 10. This is probably my least favourite Scooby-Doo episode so far.
And I mean, it’s watchable, and not horrible, but I have no desire to watch it again. This was basically a short and sweet chase scene with nothing very funny or spooky to keep me entertained. The villain had very little in the way of personality either, and was super generic.
Anyway, not much to talk about here. Next week I will be covering the Old Cat and Mouse Game, and man, I hope it’s better than this one. Until then, Stay Spooky!
The Desert Dilemma is part 1 of the second episode of the Riche Rich and Scooby Doo Show and originally aired on November 15, 1980.
Voices
Don Messick: Scooby, Scrappy
Casey Kasem: Shaggy
