Only One Hero Hits This Hard. Knuckles, the six episode streaming extravaganza, will be coming to Paramount+ on April 27th, 2024.
Synopsis
The new live-action event series follows Knuckles (Idris Elba) on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade (Adam Pally) as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior. The series takes place between the films SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 and SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3.
Review
It’s funny, looking back at the announcement regarding Knuckles, it was somewhat difficult to work out why Knuckles needed his own TV show, especially when a third Sonic The Hedgehog movie was announced. However, after just one episode… the reasons became crystal clear. Knuckles was one of the brightest elements of Sonic 2, and to give him his own show was a brilliant move, not just for Knuckles as a character, but also for the world around him. As much as it is Knuckles’ show, it is also Wade Whipple’s show, and while it feels like a random partnering at first, the most wholesome and warm friendship blossoms from this bizarre and wacky roadtrip to Reno Nevada.
The best thing about Knuckles is that it really knows what it wants to do. That’s where its strength lies. It is incredibly wild, random and downright outlandish, but it works so incredibly well because it emanates pure confidence. Compared to the movies, it definitely has a hint of this brazened silliness that the movies lack, but it never feels disconnected. The humour suits the series completely and once you get a feel for it in the first episode, it only escalates and escalates. Hilarious unapologetic chaos.
The growing bond between Knucks and Wade holds the whole show together. The villains are great fun and surprisingly lovable, despite being very simple and one-dimensional, but since this is very much a contained and focused show the villains don’t feel wasted. They provide Knuckles and Wade with various obstacles while enjoying themselves in the process. That’s what this show excels at… having fun, and it utilises every possible tool to create the wildest scenarios; from intense bowling matches, extreme motorcycle battles, and even musical numbers. It all works so well as this concoction of madness. Knuckles is a series that doesn’t take itself too seriously and thrives on this playfulness. The stakes are low, the drama is at a minimum, but the warmth and child-like innocense of Knuckles and Wade keeps the energy flowing throughout the entire thing.
Despite being completely different species, this show reveals just how similar Knuckles and Wade are. They’re both lost creatures, looking to find their own place in this world; a piece to make them whole again. It is incredibly sweet watching Knuckles adjust to different parts of life, and it is equally as sweet watching Wade overcome his own battles with the help of Knuckles… regardless of how ridiculous they are. They both grow as characters, and it is the driving force of this limited series. You can’t help but root for them throughout the entire ordeal. They’re both misunderstood underdogs, and Knuckles is their stage to shine bright like Sonic’s famous golden rings.
Interestingly, debates have been forming online about the nature of binging vs weekly viewings. Now, Knuckles is definitely a show that benefits from that all-in-one dump. With the episodes being so short and the general vibe being very chilled, a weekly drop just wouldn’t feel worth it in the long run. Instead, the episodes are constructed in a way that almost necessitates the binge. You can glide through each episode seamlessly and effortlessly without breaking a sweat. It was an incredibly easy and rewarding binge from start to finish.
Honestly, it’s hard to pick out any issues simply because of how enjoyable it all is. It’s funny, endearing, charmingly bombastic and visually really cool with some pretty nifty ideas. The only thing that feels like a bit of a shame, is that some of it seems rather inconsequential to the world. Having said that, this warrior driven journey changes both Knuckles and Wade for the better, so it’ll be interesting to see how that carries over into Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The series introduces some cool concepts in a Iron Man 2 sort of way, whereby powers are being harnessed through technology. The threat isn’t quite as looming as Dr. Robotnik, but the ideas are there and they evidently exist beyond Robotnik and his box of mechanical tricks. Unfortunately, it’s an idea that doesn’t quite reach its full potential, but because the series is so clear on the journey it’s taking us on, it doesn’t derail that enjoyment in the slightest. With the world opening up even more, the possibilities don’t just end with Knuckles.
Verdict
Knuckles is a great little show that doesn’t take itself seriously at all. It knows what it wants to do, and it executes it brilliantly. Fun, warming and silly, this series is a wonderful expansion of Knuckles, who is at his utter best, as well as a well-deserved opportunity for Green Hills’ best police officer. This may be Knuckles’ show, but it’s Wade that shines the most. Everyone needs their own Wade Whipple.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The series stars Idris Elba, Adam Pally, Stockard Channing (The West Wing), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), Scott Mescudi (Don’t Look Up), Ellie Taylor (Ted Lasso), Julian Barratt (Mindhorn), Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), Cary Elwes (Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Paul Scheer (Black Monday), and Rob Huebel (Childrens Hospital).
All six episodes Knuckles will be available to stream on Saturday, April 27, exclusively on Paramount+
in the U.K. and Ireland
Will you be checking out Knuckles when it arrives? Let us know in the comments. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more news from Sonic and his friends.
