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 cinematic Sonic the Hedgehog franchise 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, the Sonic cinematic universe could be insufferable. Knuckles evades the terrible trappings of the trend everyone is already sick of.
Paramount Plus is the fifth most popular streaming service by subscriber count. Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Netflix have it beat by a considerable margin. The home of shows like Yellowstone has selected several unorthodox strategies to draw audiences. One of their schemes involves becoming the new home of video game adaptations. Their take on Halo is a messy mixed bag with a massive name attached. Their Ark: The Animated Series is an underrated gem. Their Knuckles demonstrates the potential for future Sonic projects.
Shadow the Hedgehog Voice Actor Reacts to Keanu Reeves Casting for Sonic 3
One of the former voice actors for Shadow the Hedgehog reacts to the casting of Keanu Reeves as the character in the upcoming Sonic 3 film.
Knuckles is a stand-alone Spinoff
Created By | John Whittington and Toby Ascher |
|---|---|
Starring | Idris Elba, Adam Pally, Julian Barratt, and Christopher Lloyd |
Number of Episodes | 6 |
Release Date | April 26, 2024 |
Streaming On | Paramount+ |
Knuckles is a fun streaming side project for everyone's favorite red echidna. Idris Elba's performance as Sonic's original rival-turned-ally captured attention before Sonic the Hedgehog 2 hit the big screen. He was a shocking casting choice, but only because no one believed Paramount could get the star of Luther and The Suicide Squad into the role. Elba's take on Knuckles was reminiscent of beloved figures like Drax the Destroyer from Guardians of the Galaxy. He's a treasured part of Sonic 2, prompting fans to request more from the mighty warrior. Knuckles became a no-brainer pitch that worked fairly well on the small screen.
Knuckles follows the eponymous echidna as 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. Knuckles certainly 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 of most streaming strategies.
Knuckles Keeps its Callbacks and Easter Eggs in Jokes
The strangest scene in Knuckles is 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 to Sonic '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 the Sonic franchise 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. Both Knuckles and Sonic welcome new fans while celebrating classic concepts. A wink and a nod allow everyone to feel included.
Other Streaming Shows Can Learn from Knuckles
Everything Knuckles does 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 of which introduced a mountain of new characters and lore. The Disney+ streaming shows are the primary culprits, as they add dozens of hours to the overall time commitment. Knuckles doesn'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.
Knuckles is 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 of Idris Elba's Knuckles can't go wrong with the series. The show's virtues are commendable, but if it had tied itself to the hotly anticipated conclusion of the Sonic trilogy, it would have tainted its appeal. Tying projects together in the cinematic universe model has quickly proven to be an irritating strategy. Knuckles stands on his own, and he could stand to teach some of his streaming competitors how to do the same.
Fans Excited For Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Should Check Out This 2000s Sonic Cartoon
While Sonic 3 will soon include Shadow the Hedgehog's big-screen debut, his story reached the small screen twenty years ago in Sonic X.
