Is Knuckles Important to Watch Before Sonic the Hedgehog 3?

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  • Knuckles Is More of a Standalone Story
  • Knuckles’ Importance Isn’t in What It Ties Into

As a child of the ’90s, I can vividly remember the excitement that Sonic the Hedgehog brought to my life and countless others. The release of Sonic 3 back then was like Christmas come early! Fast forward to today, streaming platforms have made it easier than ever to consume media at our own pace and convenience.

The highly-awaited movie, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, is shaping up to be a major contender for the most popular family blockbuster of this coming holiday season, outperforming other titles such as Mufasa: The Lion King, Kraven the Hunter, and The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. This is quite remarkable given the history of the Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise, especially considering that the first movie’s initial teaser in 2019 received much criticism, leading to a studio delay and character redesign.

The initial delay proved beneficial as Sonic the Hedgehog turned out to be a massive box office success, being among the last major movies shown in cinemas before the COVID-19 pandemic forced theater closures. In contrast, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 earned even more revenue and was one of the first significant blockbusters post-pandemic. Now, Sonic the Hedgehog has emerged as a crucial franchise for Paramount Pictures, and, much like other major intellectual properties, they’ve expanded it to streaming television.

Previously this year, they unveiled “Knuckles,” a mini-series revolving around the character named Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba in “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” Given that Marvel Cinematic Universe shows are frequently linked to the films, and Matt Reeves hinting that “The Penguin” will lead into “The Batman Part II,” is it essential to watch Knuckles before viewing “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”?

Knuckles Is More of a Standalone Story

In the movie, Knuckles accompanies the main character as he adapts to his existence on Earth, taking an oath to safeguard it. He partners with the humorous sidekick of Wade Ripple, who appeared in both Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, to prepare him for being an Echidna warrior. This is all leading up to a significant bowling tournament in Reno, Nevada where Wade will challenge his long-absent father. During their training, not only does Knuckles help Wade build self-confidence, but Wade also encourages Knuckles to value life beyond warfare and recognize Earth as more than just a place needing protection – it’s a home.

In essence, although Knuckles transpires between Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, it essentially stands as a self-contained journey. Characters like Knuckles and Wade embark on a road trip, with Sonic, Tails, Maddie Wachowski, and Tom Wachowski remaining behind after the initial episode. While characters from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 could potentially make an appearance, even if they don’t, the new characters introduced in Knuckles add fresh excitement to the franchise, making it more enjoyable and potentially paving the way for further engaging adventures.

In numerous aspects, the show “Knuckles” fits comfortably among animated spin-offs such as “DreamWorks Dragons” and the different “Kung Fu Panda” series. These animated shows bridge the gaps between film events, offering fans delightful mini-adventures with their cherished characters while enriching the universe. However, viewing these spin-offs is not essential for understanding the movies themselves. Fans who watched “How to Train Your Dragon 3” were not confused if they hadn’t seen every episode of “DreamWorks Dragons“, and the same applies to those who enjoyed “Sonic the Hedgehog 3 ” without “Knuckles“. The show “Knuckles” is an entertaining series within the “Sonic” universe, featuring the film’s voice actors, but it is not necessary to watch.

Knuckles’ Biggest Connection to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Is a Hint at Shadow’s Origin

In essence, while Knuckles stands alone as a separate story, it leaves room for some aspects to tie in with Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The most significant connection is the backstory of the organization called Guardian Units of Nations (G.U.N.), which was initially controlled by Robotnik and tasked with capturing Sonic the Hedgehog. Despite Robotnik’s defeat, G.U.N. remains determined to apprehend Sonic, viewing him and other extraterrestrial beings as a threat to Earth. In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, G.U.N. attempts to detain Sonic again but is compelled to collaborate with him to thwart Robotnik. The trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 suggests that Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are now working together with G.U.N., operating under the codename Team Sonic.

In the upcoming film, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, we can expect a deeper dive into the corrupt roots and hidden truths of G.U.N., with the main antagonists being two rogue G.U.N. agents – Mason (portrayed by Scott Mescudi, or Kid Cudi) and Willoughby (Ellie Taylor). Their superior, “The Buyer” (Rory McCann), is shown to have once served under Robotnik. Robotnik himself will reappear in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, accompanied by his loyal sidekick Agent Stone (Lee Majdoub, who has portrayed this character in all three Sonic the Hedgehog movies). The film will also delve into the backstory of Robotnik, as Jim Carrey will play Professor Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of the infamous Robotnik. In the video games, Gerald Robotnik collaborated with the Guardian Unit to create Shadow the Hedgehog. Therefore, we can anticipate further revelations about G.U.N.’s past in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, hints of which were dropped in the previous film, Knuckles.

In my first appearance, I acquired an impressive new skill: the ability to ignite my knuckles with flame for a stronger offensive move. Reminiscent of our beloved Sonic the Hedgehog, this power-up is quite similar, as he too gains unique abilities throughout his adventures. It’s possible that we might witness this newfound strength in action during Sonic the Hedgehog 3, particularly during a battle against Shadow the Hedgehog. However, given the glimpses of Shadow we’ve seen in the trailer, it remains to be seen if my power will be enough to overcome him.

Knuckles’ Importance Isn’t in What It Ties Into

For those who viewed Knuckles, they’ll find an enriched experience with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 due to shared background knowledge. However, for those who didn’t see it, they can still enjoy Sonc the Hedgehog 3 as the ending of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 already hinted at Knuckles adapting to Earth and joining Sonic’s family. Essentially, while Knuckles offers a delightful side story, it isn’t essential for appreciating Sonic the Hedgehog 3, as much of its content can be inferred from the transition between the two movies. Moreover, the presence of Knuckles serves as a reminder that not everything needs to be “essential” to a larger story; it should also work well as an independent tale.

Nowadays, viewers often feel compelled to watch everything in sequence to fully grasp or appreciate a new installment of a series or franchise, which might be due to how effortless it is to consume media these days. In contrast, during the 1980s, viewers didn’t require watching every episode of Star Trek to enjoy a fresh Star Trek movie in cinemas, and they didn’t expect audiences to have seen every film either. Back then, viewers would join television series from the middle and gather information as they went along. However, nowadays, viewers are sticking with weak initial seasons of shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation, rather than jumping straight to the good episodes, because they’ve been trained to believe that they need to start from the beginning to understand a series. With streaming services making it easier than ever to access every episode of a show or franchise, this trend has become even more prevalent.

Instead of attributing the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) solely to its interconnected franchise continuity, it’s essential to acknowledge that the MCU thrived due to its inclusivity. Although viewers were suggested to watch the Phase 1 origin films before The Avengers to enjoy hidden references, The Avengers functioned as a self-contained film and an accessible entry point for broader audiences because it provided the necessary information for that particular movie.

Although Marvel has expanded into television and emphasized that Disney+ series are crucial to the MCU’s overall narrative, it’s not necessary to watch every single show to appreciate “The Marvels.” Contrary to some opinions suggesting that “The Marvels” underperformed at the box office due to the expectation of viewing “Ms. Marvel” and “WandaVision,” the film effectively explains all the essential information without assuming that everyone watching “The Marvels” is following the Disney+ series closely.

Just as the spin-off series “Peacemaker” gave the spotlight to a side character from “The Suicide Squad” and “WandaVision” did for Wanda Maximoff, the new series “Knuckles” offers an in-depth exploration of a beloved secondary character that a movie never could. Rather than focusing on how it connects to future projects, one should approach this series with curiosity about its standalone storyline. If “Knuckles” piqued your interest based on its performance on Paramount+, it’s evident that many viewers shared the same sentiment. Instead of asking if you need to watch “Knuckles” to understand “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”, consider whether you want to watch it because it appeals to you as an engaging tale.

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2024-09-15 00:02