Video game movie and TV show adaptations have come a long way since the 90s, thanks to stellar shows like Arcane (League of Legends) and Fallout. Every production of these gaming offshoots requires quite a budget and some care in placating its respective fanbase while recruiting new ones in hopes of getting them on board the source material.

Paramount’s Knuckles TV series (a spin-off of the Sonic The Hedgehog films) is at least a high-budgeted on-stream affair, though it still remains what it is: an all-ages show featuring Sega’s animal mascots interacting with humans in the real world while fighting bad guys and learning life lessons. In this context, Knuckles (Idris Elba) is helping out hapless human sidekick Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) as they go on a road trip to Reno for a bowling tournament. Along the way, they get waylaid by secret agents and Jewish family drama.

It’s not the most insightful show I’ve seen based on a video game series. In fact, the whole six episodes is what you would expect from a cartoon mascot live-action fare: broad comedy strokes, corny one-liners, black-and-white dilemmas. Yet at the same time, I do give Knuckles credit for delivering the zaniness and going overboard, even if it may not be for some folks. Idris Elba’s voiceover portrayal of the stoic warrior is hilariously deadpan, while Adam Pally’s comic relief character gets more screentime and character growth that feels good to follow through amidst the cringe humour. And there’s a good amount of it.

Despite some of it not jiving with me, the other half got a chuckle out of me. These include Knuckles’ debut gliding, a Jewish shavat fight scene in a kitchen, a katana duel on bikes, and a musical dream sequence sung by Michael Bolton of all people. It also helps that Knuckles and Wade’s bonding feels genuine amidst the madness, alongside bits where the obviously CGI space animal goes on heartfelt talks with Wade’s mom (Stockard Channing). Other noteworthy appearances include Christopher Lloyd who voices Knuckles’ ghostly elder chief and Cary Elwes as Reno’s haughty top bowler.

The villains? Well, apart from some personality quirks, they’re only there to give Knuckles reason to tear up shop and punch things hard. The trio of Kid Cudi, Ellie Taylor, and Rory “The Hound” McCann do not really shine, but aren’t completely pointless in moving the plot along even with their most basic of villainous reasoning (they want riches and/or Knuckles’ quill powers).

Punching Down

The Knuckles TV show is a middling yet inoffensive romp that does entertain and isn’t shy from hamming it up from start to finish. Idris Elba does a great job at portraying the stoic warrior stuck on Earth, while Adam Pally shines as the hapless deputy who rises to the occasion. Is it a breakthrough like other video game TV show adaptations? Of course not, but it does what it needed to do: be a sideshow before Sonic The Hedgehog 3, filled with the occasional action scenes and 80s/90s pop song inserts to remind people that the show loves its retro nods.

If you loved the previous Sonic films, you’ll enjoy this 3-hour buddy adventure. It’s not going to change your mind about the series’ comedic tones, but it is impressive to see the budget being put to work here.

Final Score: 60/100