Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Sonic the Hedgehog 3!
Sonic the Hedgehog3is the first project in the live-actionSonic the Hedgehogseries since theKnucklesspinoff show, but the third film proves a harsh reality about the red echidna’s series. Knuckles is one of the most popularcharacters in theSonic the Hedgehogseries, with the announcement that he would be getting his own spinoff series being incredibly exciting news for fans. However, theKnucklesseries didn’t quite live up to the dreams of many viewers, andSonic the Hedgehog 3has proven how truly unimportant the show was.
Knuckles the Echidna was first introduced inSonic the Hedgehog 2, and while it was known that Idris Elba’s brawler would return inSonic the Hedgehog 3, he had one project in between the two films:Knuckles.TheKnucklesspinoff showteamed the titular echidna up with police officer Wade Whipple, with the story following Knuckles as he trained Wade to face his estranged father in a bowling competition. For a character as epic as Knuckles, this story was a bit of a letdown, and it barely had any effect on the story ofSonic the Hedgehog 3.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Mostly Ignored Knuckles' Spinoff Show
There Are References, But Not Too Much Impact
One of the saddest parts ofSonic the Hedgehog 3is that it mostly ignored Knuckles' spinoff show, making theKnucklesseries feel a bit pointless. The adventure thatKnuckles and Wade Whipplewent on together had no impact on the story of the third film, with Team Sonic’s rivalry with Shadow and the Robotniks not being influenced by the previousSonic the Hedgehogproject at all. Wade Whipple barely even has a presence inSonic the Hedgehog 3, despite him being one of the main characters of theKnucklesspinoff show.
Where Did Shadow Come From In Sonic The Hedgehog 3?
Shadow the Hedgehog’s dark origins are depicted throughout Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but where exactly did the franchise’s popular anti-hero come from?
Sonic the Hedgehog 3does have some minor references to the show, although viewers who haven’t seenKnuckleswon’t even realize that they missed anything. At one point, Knuckles' gloves catch on fire, with this being a reference to his Flames of Disaster power. It is also revealed that Knuckles has entrusted Wade Whipple to guard the Master Emerald, and while that stems from their bond in the show, it’s a gag that apparently happened offscreen betweenKnucklesandSonic the Hedgehog 3.Besides these two moments, theKnucklesshow has no presence inSonic the Hedgehog 3.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Proves Knuckles' Spinoff Was Pointless For The Franchise
The Knuckles Show Feels Like It Wasn’t Needed
Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s treatment ofKnucklesis a sadreality for fans of the series, as it proves that the spinoff was pointless for the franchise. Knuckles' battle against the villains of the spinoff and his friendship with Wade Whipple has had little impact on the franchise whatsoever, with the story being largely self-contained. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, these elements could have easily been woven into the story ofSonic the Hedgehog 3, rewarding fans of the franchise who checked out theKnucklesspinoff show.
However,there were very few options for howSonic the Hedgehog 3could addressKnucklesthanks to the spinoff’s story. TheKnucklesspinoff show is about a bowling competition with an estranged father, something that has nothing to do with Gerald Robotnik or Shadow the Hedgehog. IfKnuckleshad featured a more grand story, it is possible that it could have tied intoSonic the Hedgehog 3more. As of now, however, there is very little thatKnuckleschanges about theSonic the Hedgehog 3viewing experience.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Indicates There Was A Better Knuckles Story To Explore
Thanks To Wade’s Master Emerald Connection
The bowling story was many fans' biggest issue withKnuckles, andSonic the Hedgehog 3indicates that there was a better story to explore in the spinoff.Sonic the Hedgehog 3reveals that Wade Whipple is now the guardian of theMaster Emeralds and the Chaos Emeralds, with Knuckles having chosen Wade to guard it sometime after the events ofKnuckles. Wade being the guardian of the Master Emerald is a big deal, and this could have made for a much more interesting arc in aKnucklesspinoff.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3: 3 Biggest Easter Eggs in the Sequel
From character cameos to visual references, these Easter Eggs in Sonic the Hedgehog three honor the legacy of the SEGA games.
IfKnuckleshad been about the titular echidna deciding what to do with the Chaos Emeralds after the events ofSonic the Hedgehog 2, the spinoff would have perfectly bridged the gap between the second and third film. The series could have followed Wade as he tried to prove that he was up to the task, with it ending with Knuckles entrusting Wade with the Master Emerald. This would have not only made the story feel more grand, but would have also more naturally connected theKnucklesspinoff to the story ofSonic the Hedgehog 3.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Cast
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.
