Paramount Pictures has found massive success with the Sonic the Hedgehog live action films. Because of this, it’s no surprise that they’re now making the franchise into more of a cinematic universe. The first spin-off, Knuckles, is a six-episode-long TV series that recently dropped on Paramount+. Is this Knuckles spin-off the adaptation that fans have been craving, or is it a bowl of sour grapes? Let’s explore every stage of this adventure to find out.

The Good

This show is laugh-out-loud hilarious. It’s easily the funniest installment in this franchise so far. This is due to its blend of witty dialogue, situational humor, and slapstick comedy. Idris Elba’s line deliveries as everyone’s favorite echidna add so much additional humor to what’s already a funny show. The humor also gets pretty creative, like an episode featuring a rock opera in which Wade plays Knuckles and sings with the voice of Michael Bolton. The Mighty Boosh’s Julian Barratt plays a supporting role and brings the same bizarre and chaotic energy with him. The series fully embraces a bonkers sense of humor that will hopefully be seen in the movies going forward.

It’s impossible to discuss the Knuckles series without bringing up Wade, played by Adam Pally. Pally brings the perfect energy to this show. I genuinely hope to see him star in more comedies in the future. He’s willing to throw his whole body into the comedy and it works.

The action sequences are a blast to watch. They truly feel like how Knuckles plays like in the video games. Knuckles even uses a few moves directly taken from the games. When he’s battling mechs or rogue agents with sci-fi weaponry, it’s well-choreographed, action-packed, and a ton of fun. Even Wade and his mom joining the combat adds a level of excitement to it all.

The CGI used for Knuckles throughout the series is phenomenal. It genuinely is movie quality. His quills look tangible and his facial expressions look animated and lifelike. It’s overall pretty impressive.

Both Knuckles and Wade receive the perfect amount of character development. As their arcs come full circle, it’s truly satisfying to see Knuckles come to call Earth his home and Wade learn to be more confident and grow past some inner demons. It adds an important level of emotional weight to the series.

Like the two movies that have been released previously, the Knuckles series is chock full of references to the video games and other source material. Whether it be the hat that Knuckles wears in the Sonic OVA, a puppet of Iblis from Sonic 06, or environments that resemble levels from the video games, there is a ton for fans to look for and get excited over.

The Bad

The most notable issue with this show is that Knuckles is noticeably absent. He’s obviously in it, and he’s great when he is, but the story is much more about Wade. This is more of Wade’s show than it is Knuckles. Wade is a great character who provides a lot of entertainment, but he does steal the spotlight a little too much. There are far too many excuses given as to why Knuckles isn’t on screen more, like Knuckles being kidnapped and waiting for Wade to save him, Wade being kidnapped and Knuckles refusing to help, or even just Knuckles staying in a hotel room to watch TV while Wade actually deals with conflicts. This is supposed to be Knuckles’ show, but it doesn’t always feel like it.

Despite being three installments in and offering up tons of references, Paramount is still holding back from fully embracing the source material. Knuckles does star in his own video game, but that’s ignored by this series entirely. While the human characters in this franchise are entertaining, they feel like they’re the main focus when they shouldn’t be. This could have been used to pull in actual elements, like locations or even characters, from the source material, but it tiptoes around said source material instead.

The story ends before we see how Maddie, Tails, or Sonic feel about Knuckles just sort of disappearing for the duration of the show. Maddie had grounded him, so will there be any repercussions for that? Are Sonic and Tails looking everywhere for him? It’s never answered. It feels out of place to have Maddie, Sonic, and Tails in the very beginning of the series to then not follow up with them whatsoever.

Conclusion

Knuckles is a hilarious, action-packed adventure that features plenty of heart. It’s a good time for fans of the original video games and newcomers alike. It’s mostly just a cute side adventure that doesn’t really impact the movies, but it’s still a fun watch.

Knuckles’ absence does leave a significant blemish on the whole show, though. Him not being the main character of his own show after being advertised to be is a massive let down and does take away from an otherwise entertaining series. Hopefully this is an issue that is remedied in future entries.

For now, though, Knuckles manages to be a funny and exciting time while we wait for Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Rating: 7.5 / 10

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