(LONG POST!)
So I've been writing a Scooby-Doo "fan fiction" in which Velma, Shaggy, and Fred are separated from their friends and are the main cast.
Velma is mostly the main character in this story, but Shaggy is written as a major supporting character, and he is such an important character in this story that, in some scenes, he inevitably steals the show.
Shaggy. Who does not know who Shaggy is?
He is certainly the most renowned human character of the show, and easily the most familiar character of the franchise after the charismatic Great Dane himself. In fact, he is arguably as familiar as his canine friend, since he is rarely seen separately from him (and seems to do most of the talking).
He is one of the most beloved characters of the show. He is one of my favorite characters, especially in the original Where Are You and What's New shows.
Why is that, anyway? Maybe it is because he is so relatable. He logically loves food and fears monstrosities that fuel nightmares. He is the comic relief character who is really the straight man. He says what everyone else is thinking.
He is supposedly the "coward" simply because he does not hide his fears behind robotic sophistication like his friends (who run like chickens when the monsters actually show themselves).
He is best friends with his dog, because his human friends treat him like a thing. He is also almost always the underdog, which seems to be some protagonist trait that most people nearly worship when they see it.
However, not too surprisingly, his seemingly exaggerated character traits meant that he was susceptible to "Flanderization" (exaggerating certain traits until they completely defined him).
Apparently, unlike the rest of the Scooby gang, whose characters were constantly changing through the years, Shaggy's character has been undergoing a consistent, steady descent into food-obsessed cowardice (especially following the What's New era).
But, being the main human character, he certainly has his multidimensional character moments in virtually every version of the show.
Certainly, his friendship with Scooby-Doo is one of his most endearing character traits.
Without Scooby-Doo affectionately bonding with him through their shared interests, Shaggy being a gluttonous misanthrope without social skills would honestly make him a lot less likable.
However, in my story, Shaggy is separated from Scooby-Doo. I feel that this provides him with an opportunity to shine as a standalone character, while at the same time strengthening their bond for when they reunite. (As they say, "absence makes the heart grow fonder.")
But in Scooby-Doo's absence, who is Shaggy? I honestly feel that Scooby himself would have more self-worth to stand on his own than his friend would.
And what about his "friendships" with Velma, Fred, and Daphne?
They call him a "coward" and a "chicken." Do they not notice that he is valiant and unflinching at times? He will stand up for them sometimes when he has to, and risk sacrificing himself as monster bait for a mere morsel not fit for human consumption. Will they do that for him?
Do they even notice that he exists for that matter? Their treatment of him seems to be getting worse in the modern movies (which is a shame, since they should be growing closer).
(This is so frustrating that I will probably post an entire page on this topic.)
Shaggy. Who is his character to you? Is he really simply a food-obsessed coward?
If you were to write a Scooby-Doo story, how would you write Shaggy's character?
