Warning! This article contains spoilers for Knuckles season 1.
The Knuckles TV show sets up Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in a variety of mostly subtle ways. For the most part, the Knuckles show is a self-contained adventure in the Sonic the Hedgehog universe. Knuckles’ voice cast sees Idris Elba return alongside Adam Pally, yet the rest of the live-action stars are new additions to the franchise. This means that Knuckles tells a story mostly absent of elements from the two movies in the franchise thus far, while also neglecting many video game elements.
Knuckles‘ story centers on the titular Echidna after the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The basis of the show surrounds Knuckles’ struggles to adapt to life on Earth, with the warrior wondering what his purpose is now that his tribe is destroyed and the Master Emerald is safe. After an appearance from Knuckles’ former chief Pachacamac, Knuckles takes on an apprentice in the form of Adam Pally’s Wade Whipple to teach the bumbling sheriff the ways of an Echidna warrior. As such, this story is majoritively separate from most other plot threads of the Sonic the Hedgehog universe.
Despite this reality, many will likely tune into Knuckles to unearth hints about Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘s story. The third installment in the franchise is highly anticipated, primarily due to factors such as Jim Carrey’s return as Doctor Robotnik and Shadow the Hedgehog’s debut. These aspects of the film were all teased in Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘s ending, which may drive more people to watch Knuckles. Despite the latter show’s mostly independent story, there are some ways the spin-off sets up the story of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
The primary drive of Knuckles’ character in the Knuckles show is his desire to find a purpose in his life once more. This kickstarts his road trip with Wade Whipple, leading him on a journey across the United States that sees him bond with a variety of new people and see the wonders Earth has to offer. This adventure spells out a compelling character arc for Knuckles, who goes from a warlike warrior with no purpose to someone who chooses to call Earth his home after having nowhere to belong for years.
If Knuckles had not happened, the Echidna would not have changed from Sonic 2‘s ending. Knuckles would have no loyalty to Earth or its people, and would instead only be part of the story because of his vow to Sonic to protect the Master Emerald. That said, after the change he undertook in Knuckles, he now has a greater motivation to protect Earth. Knuckles’ journey with Wade allowed the former to see the benefits of Earth and learn to call the planet home, meaning he is more motivated to defend it come the story of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Concerning Knuckles, Tails, and Sonic as Earth’s protective trio, their dynamic will now be different in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 thanks to Knuckles‘ story. While Knuckles‘ ending did not show the Echidna returning to his friends at Green Hills, the difference in his character alone will make his connection to Sonic and Tails different in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The beginning of Knuckles saw Sonic and Tails struggling to help the Echidna adapt to life in a peaceful, idyllic town.
Despite the show not being mature enough to show Knuckles, Sonic, and Tails directly clashing over their different ways of life, it is clear that the latter two are more open to Earth as their home than the former at the beginning of Knuckles. This could have made their dynamic somewhat unharmonious at the beginning of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. However, Knuckles’ depiction of the titular character’s arc has likely removed this possibility for Sonic 3.
As alluded to, Knuckles’ six-episode journey saw him come to accept Earth and its people as his new home and family respectively. Therefore, Knuckles will likely begin Sonic the Hedgehog 3 with a much better understanding of Sonic and Tails’ ideologies. With Knuckles now agreeing with his friends’ way of life, the trio will be much closer as a team in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, meaning their beloved dynamic from the games can begin instantly in the upcoming film.
Knuckles not only showcased how the Echidna’s character has developed since Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but also how Wade Whipple’s character has changed. In Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Wade is depicted as a bumbling albeit lovable friend of Tom Wachowski’s. Aside from how this served as comedic relief in the films, Wade had little in the way of genuine character development.
After the events of Knuckles, this is not the case anymore. Knuckles’ story is as much about Wade as it is about Knuckles, highlighting how the former learned the ways of an Echidna warrior and overcame obstacles in his life. From standing up to his absent father to defending Knuckles from a giant exoskeleton created by G.U.N., Wade becomes a much braver, more competent character throughout Knuckles‘ story. This, combined with his closer friendship with Knuckles, could see him become a much bigger, much more helpful ally in Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘s battle against Robotnik and Shadow.
After the events of Sonic the Hedgehog, G.U.N. was established to defend the planet from extraterrestrial threats. As such, G.U.N. played a bigger role in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Knuckles. In the latter, a lot more about G.U.N.’s history is revealed, setting up the agency’s bigger involvement in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
For one, it was established that characters like Robotnik and Rory McCann’s villainous Buyer were once part of G.U.N. This led to more of the agency being explored in Knuckles. From the inclusion of various weapons, G.U.N. agents, and even giant, powered exoskeletons, the capabilities of the organization have been established much more clearly than they were in the weak human subplot of Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
One of the better aspects of the Sonic franchise is the differentiation of powersets. Sonic is naturally incredibly fast and has several abilities stemming from this. Tails can fly while also possessing a much smarter mind than almost everyone in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Where Knuckles is concerned, his primary powers stem from his incredible strength that can stand up to even the most powerful of forces in the universe. Knuckles explored these abilities, as well as providing its titular Echidna with even more powers ahead of Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘s release.
The fourth episode of the show is titled “The Flames of Disaster.” While this is incorporated into the dream-like story of Knuckles episode 4, this phrase comes back in Knuckles episode 6. After being knocked unconscious by The Buyer, Knuckles awakens upon being inspired by Wade’s words. Knuckles, much like Sonic did in the final act of Sonic the Hedgehog, unlocks incredibly powerful abilities. Knuckles’ hands catch fire, and he easily defeats The Buyer using this new power. With Knuckles making its titular character stronger, he is better equipped to fight the battles of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
The final way in which Knuckles sets up Sonic the Hedgehog 3 links back to G.U.N. Knuckles makes it clear that G.U.N. is much more powerful than first thought via the inclusion of more weapons, suits of armor, and other equipment used by the organization’s agents. While these elements alone are enough to provide the setup for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the means of powering G.U.N.’s new weapons have even bigger implications for the future of the franchise.
In Knuckles, it is revealed that G.U.N.’s weapons and suits of armor can be powered by the abilities of Knuckles, Sonic, Tails, and other alien creatures. This was teased via Robotnik’s stories in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 but could be used on a bigger scale in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. At the end of Sonic 2, G.U.N. found the cryo pod holding Shadow the Hedgehog. With the development in Knuckles that the agency can utilize the powers of these creatures, G.U.N. could become much more formidable in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
It could be revealed that G.U.N. has been using Shadow’s powers to create more powerful weaponry. This could even stem from Robotnik’s return, as he is familiar with using the powers of Sonic, Knuckles, and other characters like them. With Knuckles delving further into this concept, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 could combine the stories of Shadow, G.U.N., and Robotnik to make the villainous powers of the film much more competent than first thought.
