‘Knuckles’ Review
Stars: Idris Elba, Adam Pally, Stockard Channing, Scott Mescudi, Ellie Taylor | Created by John Whittington, Toby Ascher
Taking place between the events of Sonic 2 and Sonic 3, Knuckles (Idris Elba) has a mammoth task on his hands while trying to settle into Earth’s ways. Deputy Sheriff Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) is being trained in the way of an Echidna warrior, but there’s a new villain on the scene — The Buyer (Rory McCann), a former lackey of Doctor Robotnik (Jim Carey) who seeks to obtain Knuckles’ power.
Perhaps there’s an argument to be made that all franchised movies should get a little TV teaser in between waiting for installments as a little treat for their patience. Knuckles is exactly that for fans of Sonic, effortlessly picking up where the events of Sonic 2 left off. It’s rare that a TV programme will begin by walking you through past events in a painfully obvious recap, but in this instance, it works. At the end of the day, this six-episode run of 30-minute chunks is made for kids — but don’t take offence to that.
If Knuckles could be summed up in a word, it would be harmless. Well-crafted fun that always keeps things light-hearted, the show airs on the side of silly while staying true to franchise as a whole. Though we’ve already met him before, Idris Elba’s take on the titular character is still a little startling. With a deep, booming voice that doesn’t match the overall vibe of Sonic or Tails, Knuckles is his own man, and the limited series certainly cements that feeling. Having experiences that are brand new to him — it’s probably not every day that a super hedgehog hangs out at a bowling tournament — it’s endearing to watch his own journey in the U.S of A while sharing his own bounty of wisdom.
What makes Knuckles a particular joy is its supporting cast. While it’s surprising how little the red hedgehog actually features in his own show, Wade Whipple is on hand to pick up the slack. In truth, the six episodes are dedicated to his personal journey more than anyone else, offering a sharp sense of growth in a short space of time. UK viewers will double-take seeing Ellie Taylor star opposite Scott Mescudi, a.k.a Kid Cudi, as The Buyer’s agents, teetering somewhere between comedic relief and genuine entertainment. The biggest whiplash comes from Grease’s Stockard Channing, who amazingly slots in as Wade’s very present and very Jewish mother.
Alongside not being groundbreaking or overly memorable television, where Knuckles falls down the most is its episodic structure. In short, it’s really not going to be to everyone’s tastes. While the first two episodes are fairly play-by-play, Episode 3 unravels into a Sonic take on Friday Night Dinner, while Episode 4 transforms into an all-singing, all-dancing musical number. It’s a jarring change in tone and pace, not sitting completely cohesively with the return to original form in the final two episodes. Who are these changes for? Are little kids really going to resonate with moments that feel much more adult? As fun as it is, Knuckles possibly tries to put its TV eggs into too many baskets.
*** 3/5
Knuckles is available to watch on Paramount+ now.
