Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the latest addition to the live-action Sonic series, but it reveals a harsh truth about the Knuckles spinoff show.
Fans were excited when the red echidna got his own series, but the show didn’t quite live up to expectations.
Now, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has made it clear that the spinoff didn’t matter much to the overall story.
Knuckles’ Spinoff Show: A Letdown
Knuckles first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and fans were thrilled to see him return in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. But before that, he starred in the Knuckles spinoff, where he teamed up with police officer Wade Whipple.
The show focused on Knuckles training Wade to face his estranged father in a bowling competition. While the idea seemed fun, it didn’t match the epic nature of Knuckles’ character, and the story felt flat.
No Impact on Sonic the Hedgehog 3
The biggest disappointment is that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 doesn’t build on the events of the Knuckles spinoff. The rivalry with Shadow and the Robotniks in the third film is completely separate from Knuckles’ story.
Wade Whipple, who was a key character in the spinoff, barely appears in the movie, and the show’s events have no effect on the plot.
There are a couple of minor references to the spinoff, like Knuckles’ gloves catching on fire (a nod to his Flames of Disaster power) and a joke about Knuckles entrusting Wade with the Master Emerald. However, these moments are small and don’t add much to the movie.
The Missed Potential of Knuckles’ Story
Knuckles could have been a more impactful story if it focused on bigger themes. Instead of a bowling competition, the show could have explored Knuckles’ role in guarding the Chaos Emeralds, a plot point that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 touches on.
In the third film, it’s revealed that Knuckles chose Wade to guard the Master Emerald, which could have been a much more interesting story for the spinoff.
If Knuckles had focused on Knuckles deciding what to do with the Chaos Emeralds, it could have bridged the gap between Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
The show could have followed Wade as he proved himself worthy of guarding the Master Emerald, creating a more exciting and meaningful connection between the two films.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 highlights how the Knuckles spinoff failed to make an impact on the larger Sonic universe.
While it had potential, the show ultimately didn’t contribute much to the story, leaving fans wondering what could have been.