HBO Max's Velma premiered less than a week ago and, despite having released only two episodes, the show has been plagued with controversy and mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and fans alike. During its short existence, the series has garnered a paltry 55% approval rating from 20 critics and a 6% rating from over 4,000 viewers. However, this reception does not seem to deter the production company as it is reportedly renewing the show for another season.
The news of Velma's renewal comes off the back of a Velma season 2 listing consisting of 11 episodes on the official website of the Entertainment Identifiers Registry (EIDR). The listing suggests the studio is gearing up to produce the show's second season and will likely announce the renewal sooner than later.
For many critics, the show delivered on its adult comedy theme but leaves a lot to be desired with its story. Some stock can be placed in the critics' reviews, however, the same cannot be said of audience reviews as most of them have been in bad faith. While some fans have genuine criticism, many disapprove of Velma's South Asian origin and have chosen to review bomb it to register their displeasure.
Nevertheless, the show enjoyed a strong debut and set the record for the biggest premiere day for an animated original series on HBO Max. While the negative reviews may dissuade HBO Max from renewing the show, its successful performance is enough to instill confidence in the platform to renew it. Also, given that the studio has only released two episodes and has eight more to go, the show's reviews and popularity may yet improve, which will further increase the possibility of a sequel season.
