Everything has to be a cinematic universe these days. Ever since Marvel proved the effectiveness of their infinite money glitch, every other studio fell over themselves to replicate their success. The cinematicSonic the Hedgehogfranchise seemed perfect for this trend, but it has resisted the urge so far. With countless iconic characters who could carry solo movies and endless team-up possibilities, theSoniccinematic universe could be insufferable.Knucklesevades the terrible trappings of the trend everyone is already sick of.
John Whittington and Toby Ascher
Idris Elba, Adam Pally, Julian Barratt, and Christopher Lloyd
6
Streaming On
Paramount+
Knucklesis a fun streaming side project for everyone’s favorite red echidna. Idris Elba’s performance as Sonic’s original rival-turned-ally captured attentionbeforeSonic the Hedgehog2hit the big screen. He was a shocking casting choice, but only because no one believed Paramount could get the star ofLutherandThe Suicide Squadinto the role. Elba’s take on Knuckles was reminiscent of beloved figures like Drax the Destroyer fromGuardians of the Galaxy. He’s a treasured part ofSonic 2, prompting fans to request more from the mighty warrior.Knucklesbecame a no-brainer pitch that worked fairly well on the small screen.
Knucklesfollowsthe eponymous echidnaas he trains Adam Pally’s comic relief character from the first two films in the ways of the warrior. The drama has nothing to do with the larger narrative, though it routinely threatens to cross-over with larger events. The stakes are relatively small and personal. Knuckles wants to teach Wade Whipple to stand up for himself while avoiding a pair of bumbling kidnappers. The world is never at stake, nor is any hidden detail laid out to suggest future problems.Knucklescertainly could have been a feature film, but it also feels like a one-off episode of a TV show. It’s an adventure that stands on its own, allowing audience members to decide how invested they are in Knuckles' fun sidequest. This shouldn’t be a lot to ask, but it flies in the face ofmost streaming strategies.
KnucklesKeeps its Callbacks and Easter Eggs in Jokes
Thestrangest scene inKnucklesis a brief narrative rock opera that allows Wade Whipple to learn a valuable lesson about a warrior’s heart. The musical routine frames itself around a story from Knuckles' past, during which he faces a mighty demon to attain the Flames of Disaster. This is a long-winded and unabashedly absurd reference toSonic ‘06, perhaps the most notable title in a long line of “worst games ever” in the Blue Blur’s back catalog. Getting this gag grants a viewer a nice laugh, but missing it won’t rob them of anything notable. This is how theSonicfranchise handles most of its references. In-jokes can be a bit grating to newcomers, but they obstinately refuse to affect the narrative of the series. BothKnucklesandSonicwelcomenew fans while celebrating classic concepts. A wink and a nod allow everyone to feel included.
Other Streaming Shows Can Learn fromKnuckles
EverythingKnucklesdoes to ensure a solid standalone spinoff stands steadfastly opposed to franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel caught a lot of flak for their most recent phases, both ofwhich introduced a mountainof new characters and lore. The Disney+ streaming shows are the primary culprits, as they add dozens of hours to the overall time commitment.Knucklesdoesn’t have that problem. It feels like a new chapter in the same story, yet it is fully unrelated to the overarching events that fans might wait to see. This used to be the default state for spinoff shows, and it likely should be again.
Knucklesis a fun show, for all its faults. Its action scenes work well. Its writing is solid for kids’ programming. The performers are almost universally excellent. Anyone looking for more ofIdris Elba’s Knucklescan’t go wrong with the series. The show’s virtues are commendable, but if it had tied itself to the hotly anticipated conclusion of theSonictrilogy, it would have tainted its appeal. Tying projects together in the cinematic universe model has quickly proven to be an irritating strategy.Knucklesstands on his own, and he could stand to teach some of his streaming competitors how to do the same.
