Sonic the Hedgehog, a live-action video game adaptation, was praised for following a familiar Hollywood formula by teaming up with small-town sheriff James Marsden as his human sidekick. Now, Knuckles, a six-part series, pairs the Sonic sidekick with Marsden’s deputy sidekick, Wade Whipple (Adam Pally). Unlike the Sonic movies that focused on the hedgehog with Marsden’s character as a supporting role, Knuckles flips the script by making Wade Whipple the main character, with Knuckles (Idris Elba) in various roles as needed by the plot. The result is a light-hearted family comedy about deputy Wade Whipple and his aspirations to become a bowling champion, with Knuckles making sporadic appearances.
In the first episode, Knuckles clashes with Sonic’s family while trying to help Wade prepare for a bowling tournament in Reno. The journey is filled with comedic moments as shadowy figures try to steal Knuckles’ powers. The show’s focus on Wade’s character means that enjoyment of Knuckles will depend on how much viewers like Adam Pally’s comedy style. The series offers a mix of big laughs and chuckles along the way.
Wade is portrayed as a loser with a big heart, and Knuckles becomes his mentor to boost his confidence. As they travel to Reno for the tournament, Wade confronts his daddy issues and reconnects with his past. The show also introduces Wade’s family members, adding depth to his character and providing opportunities for comedic situations.
Despite its title, Knuckles often takes a backseat in the series, with some episodes focusing more on Wade’s journey without the echidna character. This imbalance may be due to budget constraints, as animating Knuckles is more expensive than featuring Adam Pally’s character. However, Knuckles still has his own story arc, dealing with the agents pursuing his powers and his adaptation to life on Earth.
While Knuckles provides entertainment with its comedic moments and occasional fight scenes, some elements of Wade’s story feel unearned, like his emotional connection to his father through mix CDs. The villains in the series lack depth and fall short compared to Robotnik in the previous Sonic movie. The final battle with the main antagonist feels rushed and lacks impact, concluding Wade’s journey in a somewhat underwhelming manner.
As an addition to the Sonic the Hedgehog universe, Knuckles falls short in advancing the overall story or introducing new elements. However, as a light-hearted family comedy centered around Wade and his growth, Knuckles delivers humor and entertainment without aiming for deeper themes.
