How Knuckles Sets Up Sonic the Hedgehog 3

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• Knuckles Teases More Hunters in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

• Knuckles Has to Harness More of His Power for Sonic the Hedgehog 3

• Knuckles Is Set to Be a Better Partner In Sonic 3

The following contains spoilers for Knuckles, now available on Paramount+.

When Paramount+ announced a Knuckles TV series, many fans were skeptical. The Echidna warrior (voiced by Idris Elba) was a solid addition to Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but there was some doubt that him finding a family on Earth outside of Sonic’s tribe would feel too repetitive. Thankfully, Knuckles carves out his own identity in something very much differentiated from Sonic’s journey.

Clocking in at six episodes, this action-packed show finds Knuckles teaming up with Deputy Wade Whipple from Green Hills to face one of Robotnik’s former henchmen: the Buyer (played by Rory McCann from Game of Thrones). In addition, the heroes have to fend off a couple of corrupt G.U.N. (Guardian Units of Nation) agents. In the process, it paves the way for a victorious Knuckles to play a key role in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It’s most important in terms of timing, as more enemies are encroaching.

Knuckles Teases More Hunters in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Knuckles the Echidna in front of images from the Sonic games.

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The evil agents in the Knuckles TV series were Kid Cudi’s Mason and Ellie Taylor’s Willoughby. Both wanted to make money by bringing Knuckles to the Buyer. In addition, they hated how G.U.N. offered refuge to Sonic and Tails, and that the agency was cool working with aliens now. It’s hinted that there are more rogue agents who could come hunting Sonic, Knuckles and others. To make matters worse, the Buyer was looking to drain Knuckles’ power for his own technology, which included mechanical gloves, mech suits and pistols.

While the Buyer got killed in the Knuckles finale, he had already sold these weapons on the black market. There are clues that they were sold to various governments and terrorist cells who are anti-alien. This adds to the possibility of such hunters coming after Knuckle and his allies. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 had Knuckles vowing to protect the Master Emerald, which could bend reality. These hunters could kill two birds with one stone: eliminating aliens and gaining a key relic to fix reality and ensure no incursions can ever occur again. That portends drama, action and high-stakes, which are things Knuckles welcomes in battle. He loves a challenge, but he will have to be wary. If he and his friends lose, the entire universe could be changed.

What’s interesting if Jim Carrey’s Robotnik is still on the loose. This can give him a new army, loyal to his cause and safeguarding Earth in their own warped way. There are also portals that these hunters can use thanks to the golden rings. It means this movement can visit other dimensions to garner crystals and weapons to fight Sonic’s Team, which the Netflix cartoon, Sonic Prime, touched on. There may even be more Chaos Emeralds or new Super Emeralds to use to power up weapons. The point is, Knuckles affirms there is a unified notion at play with hunters that Robotnik can capitalize on.

Knuckles Has to Harness More of His Power for Sonic the Hedgehog 3

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Sonic’ Knuckles

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Knuckles had a very emotional journey in his TV series. He finally gained closure over the extinction of his clan. Part of it came due to the ghost of his fallen chief, Pachacamac, appearing. He let Knuckles know it was okay to move past history and not feel like he was betraying the tribe. Another part was due to Knuckles accepting Wade’s family as his own. He healed mentally, at last. This enabled him to access his Flames of Disaster — fire-powered fists that can enact major destruction.

Knuckles has more power to unlock within, though. This includes speed, strength, flight, his iconic ball roll and other forms such as Super or Hyper Knuckles. These variations are on par with Super Sonic (aka the golden version of Sonic). The threequel can find Knuckles harnessing this power, whether via natural training or the Master Emerald. Wade has already buoyed him on to level up. Wade has the utmost faith, coming off like a little brother.

It’s not just about ego and being a better warrior than Sonic. It’s about Knuckles being his best self to protect the Earth. He claims it as his new home, so with more hunters and Robotnik roving, he will need to back Sonic up. Last but not least, with Keanu Reeves’ Shadow due to come (i.e. an evil version of Sonic), and other potential government clones as a response to these aliens, this stronger Knuckles will be much more appreciated as muscle. With G.U.N. scientists and the genius Tails there to help, Knuckles does have a plethora of tools at his disposal to evolve.

Knuckles Is Set to Be a Better Partner In Sonic 3

Poster for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 featuring the main characters

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A major aspect of Knuckles’ problem is his constant state of arrogance. He hasn’t been a team player, not to the Wachowski family, or to Sonic and Tails. But the Whipples have helped him shed that arrogance. He listens, shows empathy, and believes in cooperation. He understands he can’t save the world by himself. This is a lesson he failed to learn from his Echidna tribe. They were selfless, but Knuckles got obsessed with tradition and duty. He kept thinking that being cold, robotic, cruel and militaristic was the way.

Now, Knuckles has seen the light and embodies what his ancestors wanted: a pure, wholesome warrior. It sets him up to be a better partner in the third Sonic movie. Sonic needs this, and both have to mature and improve. Doing so together, as a unit, is profound, fitting and efficient. They make each other better warriors, so moving from feuds and rivalries will only augur well for the planet. Knuckles has more experience, too, so Sonic may even hand off the leadership reins to him. Sonic has no problem learning as well. This kind of Knuckles is an ideal mentor after all his galactic wars and exploration.

Knuckles knows his cosmic journey is beginning a new chapter. Meeting Wade’s deadbeat father, Pete (played by Cary Elwes), was more than enough for Knuckles to realize why he needed to grow and develop further. The Wachowskis would appreciate this, while Wade, his FBI agent and sister Wanda, and mother Wendy would love to continue rallying behind this kind of Knuckles. He’s more human, in a sense, and exactly the inspirational hero needed to bolster Tails. It has to be a true team effort. Such a reborn Knuckles boosts this ambition to the max.

Ultimately, Knuckles is in a better mental space. He’s ready for Robotnik’s mind games, the hunters’ physical games, and Shadow doing both. It’s like Iron Man being there for Captain America, or Batman being there for Superman. They’re stronger together. As a result, fans are poised to finally get the team-up they waited on for so long. It’s what Sega lovers have been champing at the bit to see since this movie franchise began. Knuckles can fully trust Sonic, and vice versa, which spells bad news for Robotnk and the other villains, who never expected Sonic’s alliance to keep growing the way it has.

All six episodes of Knuckles are now streaming on Paramount+.

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Knuckles

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Knuckles the Echidna teaches deputy Wade Whipple the techniques of the Echidna warrior.

Release DateApril 26, 2024CastAlfredo Tavares, Daniel Singh, Tony Coughlan, Alice Wren Tregonning, Jaimi Barbakoff, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, Adam PallyMain GenreAdventureGenresComedy, Action, AdventureRatingTV-PGSeasons1CreatorJohn Whittington, Toby AscherProducerNeal H. Moritz, Samantha WaiteProduction CompanyParamount Pictures, Sega Sammy Group, Original Film, Paramount Television Studios, Blur Studio, Marza Animation Planet, Sega, Sega of AmericaNumber of Episodes6