Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Sonic the Hedgehog 3!
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the first live-action project Sonic the Hedgehog series since Knuckles spinoff show, but the third film proves a harsh reality about the red echidna series. Knuckles is one of the most popular characters in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, with the announcement that he would have his own spinoff series being incredibly exciting news for fans. However, the Knuckles the series did not live up to the dreams of many viewers, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 proved how truly unimportant the show was.
Knuckles the Echidna was first introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2and although it was known that Idris Elba's fighter would return in Sonic the Hedgehog 3he had a project between the two films: Knuckles. THE Knuckles The spinoff show teamed the titular echidna with police officer Wade Whipple, with the story following Knuckles as he trained Wade to face his estranged father in a bowling competition. For such an epic character as Knuckles, this story was a bit disappointing and had almost no effect on the story of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 completely ignored Knuckles spinoff show
Has no impact on the film (except two references)
One of the saddest parts Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is that it completely ignored the Knuckles spinoff, making the Knuckles the series seems a little pointless. The adventure that Knuckles and Wade Whipple had 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 previous film. Sonic the Hedgehog project at all. Wade Whipple is barely present in Sonic the Hedgehog 3despite him being one of the main characters in the Knuckles spin-off show.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Has some small references to the showalthough viewers who have not seen Knuckles They won't even realize they missed something. At one point, Knuckles' gloves catch fire, a reference to his Flames of Disaster power. It is also revealed that Knuckles entrusted Wade Whipple with keeping the Master Emerald, although this is a joke that apparently happened off-screen between Knuckles and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. In addition to these two moments, the Knuckles show has no presence in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 proves that the Knuckles spinoff was useless for the franchise
The Knuckles Show seems like it wasn't necessary
Sonic the Hedgehog 3the treatment of Knuckles It's a sad reality for fans of the series, as it proves that the spinoff didn't make sense for the franchise. Knuckles' battle against the spinoff's villains and his friendship with Wade Whipple had no impact on the franchise, with the story being entirely self-contained. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, these elements could have easily been included in the story. Sonic the Hedgehog 3rewarding fans of the franchise who checked out the Knuckles spin-off show.
However, there were very few options for how Sonic the Hedgehog 3 could address Knuckles thanks to the spinoff story. THE Knuckles The spinoff show is about a bowling competition with an estranged father, something that has nothing to do with Gerald Robotnik or Shadow the Hedgehog. If Knuckles had presented a grander story, it is possible that it could have been linked to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 more. To date, however, there is very little that Knuckles changes about the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 viewing experience.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 hints there was a better Knuckles story to explore
Thanks to Wade's Master Emerald connection
The bowling story was many fans' biggest problem with Knucklesand Sonic the Hedgehog 3 indicates that there was a better story to explore in the spinoff. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reveals that Wade Whipple is now the guardian of the Master Emeralds and the Chaos Emeralds, with Knuckles having chosen Wade to protect him sometime after the events of Knuckles. Wade being the guardian of the Master Emerald is a big deal, and it could have created a much more interesting arc in a Knuckles spin off.
If Knuckles was about the titular echidna deciding what to do with the Chaos Emeralds after the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2the spinoff would have perfectly filled the gap between the second and third films. The series could have followed Wade as he tried to prove he was up to the task, ending with Knuckles trusting Wade with the Master Emerald. Not only would this have made the story feel grander, but it would have also more naturally connected the Knuckles spin-off of the story of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.