The “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies may have had their flaws, but with Jim Carrey and considerable profits made at cinemas, another film seemed inevitable – except this time around without Carrey’s star power to fall back on. As a result, “Knuckles,” based in part from the movie universe, is not only poor quality but also an extreme level of badness that raises questions about its intended audience.
Idris Elba voices Knutches (an echidna character introduced briefly during “Sonic 2”) and carries on this animated figure’s vocal portrayal in the live-action series, which is now available to stream via Paramount+. However, that small consolation does little to alleviate the tediousness of Knuckles’ loud plotline as he goes about tracking a rival – played by Rory McCann (“Game Of Thrones”) — who intends on stealing his power in Reno, Nevada (the destination for Wade Whipple [Adam Pally], another character from the movies).
Worse still is how “Knuckles” seems to be going nowhere fast. The show indulges itself with irrelevant side quests – like delving into the personal life of Whipple, involving his mother (Stockard Channing) and sister (Edi Patterson), which will likely leave younger viewers bewildered by its psychological nuance.
It’s possible that this iteration caters primarily to ardent fans desperate for content whilst anticipating forthcoming movie instalments in the franchise, but it would be hard-pressed to imagine youngsters – particularly those past puberty – finding any enjoyment here either.
Overall, “Knuckles” serves its purpose by drawing attention towards Paramount+ streaming service and wringing additional benefits from the popular game’s brand name; however, it falls short of offering an incentive to watch in contrast with more successful kid-oriented TV shows – despite having six half-hour episodes at hand.
The series premieres on April 26th via Paramount+ streaming service.
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