Knuckles

When I heard that there was going to be a spinoff show revolving around Idris Elba's Knuckles, who was introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, I was sceptical. I wasn't confident that the character had what it takes alone to carry an entire TV series, which are usually longer than feature length films. In fact, with the third major film coming out this December, I was genuinely concerned that this show was going to be some tie-in that didn't really do a whole lot to add to the persona and character of Knuckles and that instead it was just going to set the stage for what's to come. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that isn't the case.

The best way to describe Knuckles is a buddy road-trip comedy. Yep, probably not what you were expecting, right? Me neither. Knuckles and Wade Whipple, the deputy sheriff of Green Hills played by Adam Pally, head out on a hijink-packed adventure from their humble home all the way to Reno, Nevada, in the hopes of competing in a bowling tournament. Why would a galactic warrior like Knuckles have any interest in that, you ask? Simple, he sees it as his next big chance at victory and glory, and also as we learn along the way, because he wants to support Wade in his endeavours to become stronger, more confident, and a true warrior worthy of Knuckles' approval.

Of course, along the way the pair get wrapped up in all manner of more serious and important situations. Rogue G.U.N. agents played by Kid Cudi and Ellie Taylor cause some havoc, bounty hunters prove a nuisance, and then there's Rory McCann's big villain too. So, while there are antagonists to this story, it's actually at its best when it follows and explores the more intimate and personal stories of the core protagonists. You might not think that Wade would have what it takes to be a central hero in a story judging by what we saw of him in the main films, but Pally's performance as the character is really charming and funny, and he does a fantastic job at easing the tension, and providing human emotion and comic relief to polarise Elba's deadpan and serious titular hero.

Talking about Elba's version of Knuckles, it's a much better attempt in this series. He feels more real and approachable, compared to how he felt in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where he seemed to have more of a tough guy gruff persona that lacked depth. It seems strange to say, but Elba is growing into this role and this show has done wonders for setting Knuckles up as a key and leading character in the Sonic-verse that seems to be in development.

But truth be told, the thing that allows this show to stand out and remain entertaining is its ridiculous core story beats. This isn't your traditional and predictable family action series, there are entire episodes dedicated to the Whipple family celebrating Shabbat and terrorising each other like an American sitcom. Then there are plentiful self-aware and silly jokes that poke fun at the show and the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, with great references to other popular works of pop culture, plus the usual array of Sonic and video game nods that will please fans of the beloved brand. The cream of the crop however was essentially an entire episode that came in the form of a low-budget rock opera, which was frankly one of the most absurd things I've seen all year, but also such a well-choreographed and entertaining performance that it made me wonder if the rest of the show could manage to surpass and improve on what it achieved. If you enjoyed the rock opera in Alan Wake 2, you'll adore this episode of Knuckles too.

What I will say is that I think the villains could have done with a bit more work. I'm not expecting anyone to deliver a performance on the scale of Jim Carrey's Dr. Robotnik in the Sonic-verse anytime soon, but there could have been a bit of a better emphasis on the pacing and how the villains were incorporated better into the series. A small-scale buddy road trip comedy works fine, but if you also want to involve one of the world's biggest arms dealers too, there needs to be a better balance between the two ideas.

But otherwise the set design is excellent, the animations and incorporation of not just Knuckles, but also the short appearances of Sonic and Tails feel fitting, and the tone comes across as absolutely perfect for what this show wants and intends to be. If you enjoyed the two core films, then there's a lot to love about this show too. It's not masterful television with the same depth that we've seen from some other adaptations as of late, but there's a whole lot of charm and fun to be had here, regardless of whether you're a fan of the Sonic series or a parent looking for something to entertain the kids with for a few hours. It's another winner for Paramount and Sega.