Sonic the Hedgehog 3is finally on the way, and while the upcoming sequel is incredibly exciting, it all but confirms the sad reality about theKnucklesshow.Sonic the Hedgehog 2wasn’t actually the last piece of live-actionSonic the Hedgehogmedia that was released, with 2024 seeing the release of the Paramount+Knucklesspinoff TV show before the third film. Although many expected theKnucklesTV show to have a massive impact on thestory ofSonic the Hedgehog 3, this may not be the case, which could end up being sad news.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2finally introducedIdris Elba’s Knucklesto the world of the live-action movie series, with him being one of the most highly-anticipated additions to the films. Knuckles' addition was made even more exciting by the announcement of a spinoffKnucklesTV show, finally giving the iconic red echidna his time in the spotlight. The series was released on Paramount+ in early 2024,with it expanding on the universe of the live-actionSonic the Hedgehogmovies even further, giving it the potential to set up the third movie.
Knuckles
Cast
Knuckles follows the journey of the titular Echidna warrior as he takes on the challenge of mentoring Wade. In this comedic and action-oriented narrative, Knuckles explores themes of self-discovery and legacy while imparting his warrior ways to his young protégé.
Although theKnucklesTV showwas the most recently released project from the live-actionSonic the Hedgehogseries, the first trailer forSonic the Hedgehog 3strongly suggests that the spinoff isn’t required viewing. The firstSonic the Hedgehog 3trailer showed off many exciting aspects of the upcoming third film, with it finally giving a proper look at Keanu Reeves' Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow faces off against Team Sonic, and while there are some immensely exciting points, there isn’t much that ties directly into theKnucklesshow.
Knuckles is featured in theSonic the Hedgehog 3trailer, with him seemingly having his hand broken after attempting to fight Shadow. However, major elements of theKnucklesspinoff series are missing from the third film’s first trailer entirely, such as Wade Whipple and Pachacamac. This suggests thatSonic the Hedgehog 3won’t be relying heavily on the story developments that occurred in the spinoff show. This is sad news for fans ofKnuckles, as it almost makes the Paramount+ TV series feel unimportant.
The Knuckles TV Show Was Very Self-Contained (Including The Finale)
It Isn’t Super Connected To The Movies
Although theKnucklesTV show was aspinoff ofSonic the Hedgehog 2, it was very self-contained. Sonic, Tails and the rest of the live-actionSonic the Hedgehogcast are hardly inKnuckles, with the titular echidna and Wade Whipple being the only returning characters who have a major role. The show centers around Knuckles training Wade to challenge his estranged father in a bowling competition while Knuckles also takes on two former GUN agents, both of whom are original characters.
While it was expected that theKnucklesspinoff show’s finale may tie back into the movies,this didn’t turn out to be the case. The new villain that Knuckles fights in the climactic battle is a former employee of Robotnik who has never been seen before, and Wade Whipple’s bowling match undoubtedly won’t impactSonic the Hedgehog 3all that much.Knucklesattempted to be a self-contained story that focused on its characters rather than one that builds out theSonic the Hedgehoguniverse, explaining its minimal impact on the third movie.
Why You Should Still Watch Knuckles (Even If It Isn’t Important For Sonic 3)
It Is Still A Great Time Within The Sonic Universe
AlthoughKnucklesmay not be essential viewing forSonic the Hedgehog 3, you should still watch it. If you are a fan of theSonic the Hedgehogvideo games, you will probably find a lot to enjoy in it. The series allows for viewers to enjoy several more hours of Idris Elba’s near-perfect version of Knuckles, while also delving into some significant elements from the games, such as Pachacamac and theFlames of Disaster.
Dr. Robotnik’s 10 Best Quotes In The Sonic The Hedgehog Movies
Dr. Robotnik’s chaotic and sarcastic nature has led to him being a memorable antagonist in the Sonic movies, which is reflected by his best quotes.
New content from the live-actionSonic the Hedgehogseries only comes out once every few years, so theKnucklesspinoff shouldn’t be overlooked. The idea of centering aKnucklesseries around a police officer’s desire to be as good of a bowler as his father is wacky, with the absurdity of the plot being one of the biggest appeals of the spinoff. TheKnucklesTV show is on par with the two movies in terms of quality, which is why it is perfect to fill time during the wait forSonic the Hedgehog 3.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reunites Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as they face a formidable new adversary, Shadow. With Shadow’s unprecedented powers posing a significant threat, Team Sonic seeks an unexpected alliance to thwart his plans and safeguard the planet.
