Of all the fictional characters to inspire controversy, who would've thought that a couple of cartoon hedgehogs would be so hotly debated? Sonic the Hedgehog has been the star of dozens of projects across various mediums. His personality remains vaguely consistent, but there are significant changes between them. Sonic Prime has received praise for its take on Shadow, a character who has been even more challenging to pin down than the Blue Blur.
The Sonic fanbase is notorious for its unusual tastes. Not just because they enjoy Sonic games; but because the aspects of the franchise they appreciate and those they complain about often seem strange to non-fans. Their standards for their favorite characters don't gel with those of most other fandoms. When the Hedgehog's devotees rally around a depiction, it's worth wondering why.
How does Sonic Prime's Shadow stand out?
Shadow the Hedgehog was introduced to the Sonic franchise in the 2001 Dreamcast classic Sonic Adventure 2. Shadow appeared as a foil to Sonic. He was imagined as a malevolent Doppelganger who would leave Sonic framed for his many crimes. The game featured an alternate storyline during which players could control Shadow. The character was broadly appreciated. The enduringly popular trope of dark reflections of iconic heroes worked its magic yet again. Shadow appeared again in Sonic Heroes before Sega reached the evident conclusion of providing the black hedgehog with a solo game. Shadow the Hedgehog gave Shadow a gun and let him kill several other key cast members. With these three appearances, Shadow's portrayals as a character were established.
Sonic Adventure 2 portrays Shadow as cruel, arrogant, vengeful, and brutal. His only friend was killed when he was young, and he intends to take his anger out on the entire human race. Most of his lines are threats or insults directed at the rest of the cast. He demonstrates kindness once by saving Rouge from an exploding building before becoming a hero in the final battle. Sonic Heroes toned down his evil traits and shifted him into a brooding anti-hero. He's still set up as Sonic's opposite, but that title means little when the only difference between their actions is their attitude. Shadow the Hedgehog allowed Shadow to be good, bad, or indifferent. With that narrative device, he comes across as a comical parody of edgy anti-heroes. The evil version of the character is cruel beyond any logical explanation, while the ambivalent path makes him seem like an agent of chaos. He's either a vengeful killer with a heart of gold, a grumpy hero, or an edgelord designed to appeal to 11-year-old boys.
Sonic Prime defies convention by making Shadow the Hedgehog feel like a fleshed-out character. He's not struggling with amnesia. He's not bitterly proclaiming everyone pathetic. He's not so needlessly petty that he brags about taking candy from babies. Far too frequently, Shadow felt like a gimmick first and a character second. In Sonic Prime, he's part of the story like any other figure. His rivalry with Sonic isn't based on their supposed resemblance. It's based on a genuine disagreement. His anti-hero presence is established by more than sarcasm as he actively tries to cut Sonic out of the deal and pursue his own solutions. Even his demeanor is understandable because Sonic Prime's Sonic made a tremendous mistake that may have destroyed their home. He stands out because he belongs in the story. The bar for the character was low, and Sonic Prime cleared it with a flourish.
Will Sonic Prime's Shadow inspire Sonic the Hedgehog 3's?
The next stage for Shadow will be his live-action debut. The beloved blockbuster film Sonic the Hedgehog 2 ended with a tease for Sonic's greatest rival to join the series. The Sonic movies have played fast and loose with the canon of the original games. Their approach to Knuckles updated the character, making him reminiscent of a figure like Drax. Many were pleasantly surprised by the echidna's depth, making him more than a slow-witted comic relief character. Shadow will likely mirror that type of creativity. Taking inspiration from Sonic Prime wouldn't go amiss in the film. Fans should expect a mighty anti-hero or a satirical portrayal that pokes fun at other edgelord characters.
Sonic Prime didn't so much adapt Shadow as it did use him to tell a better story. The narrative elements of Sonic games have never been their selling points. Shadow has the potential to be a celebrated kids' movie villain, but he could just as easily be a hilarious comedic take on the idea in the vein of Lego Batman or Across the Spider-Verse's Ben Reilly. Sonic Prime will remain iconic for its take on Shadow the Hedgehog whether its standard of quality is maintained or not. Shadow the Hedgehog will likely appear in many future Sonic projects. They should learn from this series' simple example.