My TV Show Review on Knuckles (2024)

Greetings and salutations, my friends.

This is your top-of-the-line film, TV show, & episode reporter here with another review.

Today, for my 34th TV show analysis, and my first review of 2025, I’m gonna give you guys my take on “Knuckles”.

Here’s the rundown of it:

In the wake of teaming up with Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles “Tails” Prower the Fox to defeat Dr. Robotnik, and with his mission to locate the Chaos Emerald complete, Knuckles the Echidna tries to make the best of starting a new life on Earth. Of course, being the battle-hardened warrior that he is, it’s easier said than done.

In an unexpected turn of events, though, Knuckles is tasked by the ghost of his old Echidna tribe chief, Pachacamac, to take on a human apprentice and teach him the ways of the Echidna. The human in question is Green Hills’s deputy sheriff, Wade Whipple, who is also prepping to compete in a bowling tournament in Reno, Nevada. Along the way, the two of them later meet up with Wade’s mother, Wendy, and his sister, Wanda.

Meanwhile, a mysterious figure called “The Buyer” is in hot pursuit of Knuckles. The intention, to take the echidna warrior’s power for himself, and he’s being aided by two corrupt G.U.N. agents named Mason & Willoughbey.

I’m not gonna lie, I’ve been wanting to review another TV show for quite a while. When it came to which one I wanted to analyze next, there were many ideas I had in mind regarding the matter, and there were a couple of shows that I was already making plans for too.

After careful consideration, though, I decided to analyze the “Knuckles” series next. The biggest reason is because the show takes place between the 2nd & 3rd “Sonic the Hedgehog” films, and after learning that it was going to provide build-up for “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”, I found myself unable to resist picking the “Knuckles” series.

The first time I saw the show was around 2024 via a free movie website, although I didn’t exactly have much intention to review it then. But, it got my interest enough to buy a DVD copy of the series, and I decided then & there that I was gonna analyze “Knuckles” after rewatching it on home video. Just in case, I rewatched “Knuckles” two times last year in preparation for reviewing it, because I wanted to ensure my head was in the game for creating the critique.

The main thing I will admit is that it took me longer than I wanted to actually complete the review. I started writing the review down on paper sometime around December, and it took me until today in February to finish doing so due to a combination of writer’s block and a hectic past couple months. It also took me over a day to complete typing it up on my computer, owing to how much I wrote and the editing I did before publishing it.

So, what do I officially think of “Knuckles” in words? Especially after seeing it three times last year? And the amount of work I put into creating this review?

Speaking honestly here, I didn’t think the series was entirely flawless, although there are only a few reasons for why I think this. Some were minor, others were too big to ignore.

Before I address what the nitpicks contained in this series are, though, I’d like to go ahead and talk about the positives. The biggest reason for why is because I still enjoyed the show every step of the way, and the positives outweighed the negatives.

For instance, the overall writing and direction for the series was top-notch in its own way.

A big thing to note about “Knuckles” is that, despite having an overarching narrative, each of its episodes has a different writer & director. Writing-wise, John Whittington wrote episodes 1, 2, & 6, Brian Schacter wrote episodes 3 & 5, and James Madejski wrote episode 4. While direction-wise, Jeff Fowler helmed episode 1, Ged Wright made his directorial debut by helming episode 2, Brandon Trost commandeered episode 3, Jorma Taccone captained episode 4, and Carol Banker directed episodes 5 & 6.

In spite of that being the case, though, I thought the directors & writers did an excellent job creating & handling their respective episodes.

What I particularly enjoyed about each individual team’s work is that they struck an incredibly neat balance. They maintained continuity with each other’s episodes, as well as consistency with the show’s tone, style, & structure, yet they made their own approach to everything & didn’t refrain from incorporating their individual creative flairs. Also, having frequently remembered reading that they wanted to approach the series like it was a movie, I think the show team successfully managed to do exactly that. Every episode had a look & feel that was reminiscent of a feature film, which made the experience of watching them incredibly different from usual TV-viewing fare. The teams were also able to make their episodes engaging, and they successfully ensured that the series as a whole kept itself together.

In terms of the tone, I thought it was pretty well-done.

One thing I will admit is that much of the comedy throughout the show wasn’t exactly funny, mostly because there were some gags that were either flat or a little cringeworthy. But, that doesn’t mean I found the comedy in general to be unfunny. There were still some jokes that I enjoyed watching, and they were not only well-played by carried a sense of innocence that made them hard to resist. The heartfelt and emotional side was equally enjoyable. Of all the elements, it was easy to see that the developing bond between Knuckles and the Whipple family, and the rekindling between Wade, his sister, & their mother, were the heart of this show, and I’d often want to see what sort of things would occur between the aforementioned characters.

The special effects were spectacular, if I may add.

Taking into account that “Knuckles” was made under a lower budget compared to its predecessors, and switched methods for creating the CGI characters by using six animation vendors instead of one, I was really impressed by how well the quality matched the movies. Knuckles himself, along with Sonic & Tails, looked exactly like how they were featured in the films; and the character of Pachacamac was so brilliantly visualized that he could easily fit into a future Sonic movie if he was incorporated in one. Another CGI element that equally impressed me was the Buyer’s giant mech suit, because everything about it looked so real and deeply captured how much of a threat the character was.

Likewise, the music by Tom Howe was magnificent.

Howe is definitely no Tom Holkenborg, but the music he created for “Knuckles” was truly an ear-catching showstopper. Every melody he made had an emotional resonance and cinematic quality that was instantly welcoming, and they also sounded exactly like the kind a member of both the Sonic franchise and its live-action series would have. Plus, the show’s inclusion of songs by various music artists was equally pleasurable, and its usage of Scandel’s “The Warrior” as both the theme song and Knuckles’s personal jam was undeniably the biggest music-based highlight, because it even got me wanting to listen to that song more.

Finally, the performances of the cast, characters, and character development were fantastic.

When it comes to the human characters and live-action portrayals, I thought that they were all very enjoyable. Each of the cast member portrayed their parts so well that they turned any moment they were given into a noteworthy highlight, and I loved seeing how passionate they apparently were in giving their characters personality and depth. The human characters themselves were each a delight to watch in their own way, and they weren’t without development either.

Of course, if I were to choose who gave the best live-action performance out of everyone, it’d be Adam Pally as Wade Whipple. With Wade being promoted from a supporting role in the 1st & 2nd Sonic films to a protagonist in “Knuckles”, I thought Pally did an amazing job at preserving his character’s personality while showing that he’s capable of holding his own. Along with also providing lots of fun comedic-timings, having a larger role clearly gave Pally the opportunity to show that he’s capable of giving his characters an emotional depth & dimension, and he didn’t mess around in helping Wade be someone to root for and relate with.

Similarly, Wade himself proved to be a wonderful focus throughout the show. I loved how “Knuckles” provided exploration on Wade’s family background and further delved into who he is beyond what was already shown in the previous 2 films, and when you take into account that his father basically left Wade & his family in favor of pursuing his own selfish interests, it truly brings into perspective how much that’d affect Wade as a person. A life without a father is something that can lead to all sorts of problems, and so can a life without one who actually loves & cherishes his family. The fact that Wade went through these situations is something that a lot of people can personally relate & connect with, and even though I myself never went through such things, I deeply sympathize for him. Wade’s character development throughout was phenomenal as well, because I loved how he grew into a person with greater confidence and authority.

Plus, the vocal performances & animated characters were fabulous.

Something I definitely can’t refrain from saying is that Chief Pachacamac was truly a delightful new addition to the live-action Sonic series. He only appears in one scene for both the 1st & 4th episodes, but Pachacamac was able to instantly steal the show to where his small doses were significantly huge, and his personality & depiction were unforgettable in the best way. Not to mention Christopher Lloyd was literally perfect for the part. He gave Pachacamac’s dialogue a flavor that was powerful, but Lloyd also exuded the character’s wisdom, liveliness, & humor, and he didn’t refrain from getting so into the role he sounded like he did more than just provide the voice either.

As for Knuckles himself, I enjoyed watching him every step of the way.

Like some advertisements mentioned, the show notably depicts Knuckles in a “fish out of water”time of his life. He’s struggling to move on from being a lone battle-hardened warrior and doesn’t quite understand the various customs on Earth yet, and with his previous mission having been accomplished, he’s not sure what he can do next in life.

And you know what?

I absolutely loved how the show team was tackling Knuckles’s character arc in this show. It was interesting to see him trying to get the hang of how things work on Earth, of course. But, it was even more delightful to see him try moving up in the world, developing into someone who’s finally learned to cut loose, have some fun, & be more than just a guy who’s ready for a battle at every corner. As the show progressed, Knuckles even began to gain a newfound sense of humor, which was not only enjoyable but surprisingly fitting for the character. Like I already stated, Knuckles’s growing bond with the Whipple family was also heartwarming to see, and considering how much time Knuckles shared with Wade more than any other character, the chemistry between the two characters was entertaining.

Idris Elba was extraordinary in his reprisal of Knuckles, that’s for sure. Aside from sounding like he was doing more than just provide the character’s voice, Elba was clearly wanting to show that he could do more than just take on overly serious roles, and I love it when actors prove themselves to be capable of taking on a greater diversity than expected. Elba’s involvement in the series as an executive producer was also something I couldn’t help but constantly note, because to me, it showed that he was wanting to go all-in helping further shape the title character.

As I mentioned at the beginning, though, “Knuckles” wasn’t without some flaws that were impossible for me to pass over. I was going to mention them at the beginning, but I felt that it’d be better to address what the negatives are near the ending instead.

In terms of the minor nitpicks, and this is outside of already mentioning that some of the comedy didn’t appeal to me, I disliked the cussing that the series contained. There weren’t any particularly big words, and the cussing wasn’t too recurring, but still…I really wish that the profanity-usage had been scaled-back since this is a PG-rated series anyway.

However, the biggest flaw I pinpointed is this element regarding the show’s overarching narrative:

As stated in the summary, one of the show’s most advertised subplots was that a new villain known as “The Buyer” wanted to capture Knuckles so that he could obtain the echidna’s power for his own nefarious purposes, with Willoughbey and Masion aiding him in the objective.

When it comes to the subplot’s incorporation & inclusion, I personally had no problem with it. I thought the subplot was perfect for providing exploration on G.U.N. and delving into what affects the events of both the 1st & 2nd “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies had on the organization as a whole.

In all the times I watched the series, though, I found that the subplot was perhaps the least developed part of the story. Compared to the rest of the overarching narrative’s aspects, the subplot wasn’t given the time or attention needed to fully flesh itself out and maintain relevance.

Here’s why:

The Buyer only has up to four scenes throughout the show. He has one in both the 1st & 5th episodes, and two in the 6th episode, the latter featuring him facing off against Knuckles. All of the scenes featuring the Buyer were excellent, but I felt that his lack of screen time hindered him from making the impression people have likely desired. Heck, during the time Knuckles and the Buyer were in their ultimate face off, more of the focus was put on Wade in the final round of the bowling tournament, so the show barely displays a fight between the two characters.

Similarly, Mason and Willoughbey had incredibly active parts in the 1st & 2nd episodes, but in spite of how important it was to them that they get Knuckles back, they’re completely absent in the next two episodes and don’t appear again until they’re brought before the Buyer in episode 5! Instead, various bounty hunters attack Knuckles and the Whipple family due to a reward being offered for Wade’s capture. I wanna say that the bounty in question was put up by Mason & Willoughbey in the hopes that, if Wade is captured and brought to them, Knuckles would come rescue Wade and they’d successfully capture him again. Unfortunately, this was mainly a theory I proposed based on what I saw, as it was never confirmed in the long run.

I’m not saying I hate the villains, if that’s what you’re wondering now. In fact, it’s really the complete opposite.

Despite the Buyer not having as much screentime compared to other characters, I still thought that he was a great villain to watch. He had a solid personality and background, an enrapturing presence whenever he was onscreen, and he wasn’t without development either. Rory McCann did an amazing job portraying the character, and the best part was that he successfully helped the Buyer be a welcomingly noteworthy standout.

In addition to this, Mason and Willoughbey were equally enjoyable antagonists. They too had personalities and backgrounds that made them incredibly memorable, and their roles as corrupt G.U.N. agents and overall developments helped Mason & Willoughbey click quite well as characters. Scott Mescudi (or Kid Cudi, if you’d like to call him by his stage name) was an instant scene-stealer with his portrayal of Mason, and Ellie Taylor really knocked it out of the park with her work as Willoughbey.

In the end, the point I’m trying to make is that while I did enjoy watching the three villains I’ve just talked about, I wish the production team dedicated more time and focus on their subplot. Their lack of focus and screen-time thereof made everything feel like they were getting cast aside or forgotten, and instead of being happy that they were gone by the end, it made me yearn to see them return in a future installment of the live-action Sonic series. These problems could’ve easily been prevented if the show team had either extended the series by 1 to 2 more episodes, increased the runtime for some of the existing ones to far beyond 30 minutes, or both. It really makes me wonder whether there’s any extra material involving the villains that didn’t make it in the show for some reason, and if any of the material in question would fit perfectly with all that was kept.

In conclusion, though, “Knuckles” does have some issues that were impossible to ignore, and they do keep it from being 100% flawless. But, in spite of the flaws, the show was still a deeply worthwhile and entertaining member of the live-action Sonic series. The acting and characters were top-notch, the filmmakers involved were giving their very best, everything!

So, I rate “Knuckles” 4 out of 5 stars.

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To Paramount & SEGA: If you’re seeing this review, and have taken note of my criticisms near the end, I hope you’ll consider bringing back the Buyer, Willoughbey, and Mason for a future member of the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog series. I really don’t know if you have any scenes involving them that didn’t make it in the show for some reason, or if you’ll consider releasing an extended version of the series in the long run, but I really do think the three characters are worthy of more than just one appearance in a TV show. Rory McCann, Scott Mescudi, and Ellie Taylor should also reprise their roles if that were to happen, of course.

Having Chief Pachacamac return in a future Sonic production would also be wonderful for you to do, along with having Christopher Lloyd return to voice the character.