The gang visits an excavation of the underground city of Byzantius in Turkey, only to find the city's ancient guardian — the Tar Monster — is scaring away the workers.
This episode includes examples of the following:
- Blob Monster: The titular Tar Monster, a walking mass of tar with a single eye.
- Not Now, We're Too Busy Crying Over You: Shaggy thinks that the Tar Monster got Scooby Doo and is fairly oblivious as the dog comes up.Shaggy: I'll never forget you, old buddy, old pal. (The real Scooby approaches. Casually) Oh hi, Scoob. Oh, he was like a brother to me!
- Punny Name: One of the local workers "Ben Gazi" seems to be named after the city Benghazi.
- "Scooby-Doo" Hoax: The Tar Monster disguise is being used by a man who wants to rob Byzantius of its treasures for himself and uses the legend to scare people away.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: All of the local workers besides Ben Gazi the foreman and several military guards ran away after the Tar Monster's first appearance in the titular episode.
