Sonic X, Episode 2.24: Running Out of Time

Sonic X, Episode 2.24: Running Out of Time

Japanese Title: The Morning of Farewells

Japanese Air Date: March 14th, 2004

U.S. Air Date: March 19th, 2005

Once again, I'm struck by the difference in the English and Japanese titles for "Sonic X." The U.S. title for the twenty-fourth episode of the show's second season is “Running Out of Time" Not only does this title draw attention to improbable "time is going to die" plot point from the previous episode. It's also a pun, as time is literally running out while our heroes race to resolve the problem. "Running Out of Time" implies suspense, a need for action as disaster draws near. The Japanese titles "The Morning of Farewells," meanwhile, is mournful. It focuses on the characters saying goodbye and all the emotion that entails. It's a pretty typical difference in American kids media versus Japanese kids media, where one must continuously emphasize action while the other allows other, more complicated emotions to exist. 

And the Japanese title is also more accurate, as the looming threat of "time stopping" is sparingly referenced in this episode. Turns out it was nothing more than a plot device. Instead, the episode is more concerned with Chuck and Tails racing to finish the device which will take Sonic and his friends home. After the President makes a formal announcement about Sonic's departure, a hedgehog-hating general attempts a coup. This includes an attack on Eggman's base, which Sonic decides to defend against. This causes the villain to give Sonic the last piece necessary to make the Stargate. As everyone says their tearful goodbyes to the furries, Chris Thorndyke struggles with his feelings towards Sonic. 

One of my favorite things about "Sonic X" is when the show would explore the effect Sonic had on Earth and human society. We saw this last episode in the more-than-a-little bullshitty "Freedom Movement." And we definitely see it this episode. Not too many installments of this series have explored the idea that some people might not like Sonic and his friends. Considering the human race is naturally inclined towards xenophobia and racism, it seems realistic to me that a lot of people would hate and fear Sonic and the gang. In this episode, we see the direct consequences of that, when a "Dr. Strangelove"-like rogue general decides to go against the government stance and destroy the hedgehog and his pals. 

Though we never actually see the Sonic-hating general make an attempt on his life... In fact, the entire spiel might just be an excuse for to attempt a coup. All throughout "Sonic X," a probably unintentional anti-authoritarian subtext has repeatedly emerged, where members of the government, military, and police are depicted as incompetent nincompoops. This continues here, as the general is shown to be an egotistical idiot and fool whose plans are quickly defeated. Partially because he underestimated the power of Eggman and the Sonic Team, another reoccurring trope of this series. 

Let's talk a little bit more about that attempted coup, something else about this show that probably seemed more fantastical in 2004 than it does now. A group of black-suited agents — who recall both "Men in Black" and "The Matrix" — storm into the Oval Office and hold the president at gunpoint. Luckily, Rouge and Knuckles are there to save the day. In fact, I would have happily watched a whole episode devoted to these two playing "Die Hard" in the White House. The scene of Rouge sneaking through the air vents just for Knuckles to punch a huge hole in the wall is hilarious. These two have got a real John McClane/Zeus dynamic and I would have loved to have seen that play out more. 

Instead, Rouge karate kicks the agents into submission within seconds. That's because this episode is a little overstuffed with events. There's also a sequence where G.U.N. attacks Eggman's base. Even though his technology has been repeatedly shown to be superior, Eggman is still overwhelmed by this. For reasons I already can't recall, Sonic decides to protect Eggman against G.U.N., once again displaying his God-like ability to completely wreck the shit out of robots in seconds. This allows Eggman to reveal three new warships that then combine into a bigger warship, which feels like this show indulging its fetish for robots and mechanical designs one last gratuitous time. All of this barely connects with the rest of the plot, by the way. I didn't even mention the random appearance of the ARK in the story, which I still don't totally understand! 

If the designers felt the need to squeeze in another giant combining mecha, it might be because this really does feel like the last episode of "Sonic X." The entire last third is devoted to the Thorndyke family and friends saying tearful goodbyes to the gang. (Nelson and Lindsey stay at home, because they care about nobody but themselves.) Chuck hugs Tails and cries. Helen hugs Cream and cries. Ella hugs Amy and cries. Even Sam Speed gets to say a stereotypically macho stoic goodbye. There's some genuinely sweet moments here, such as when Ella gifts Amy her recipe book. Or when Rouge hands Topaz a special gem stone and the agent waits until she's gone to break down and cry. (And Tanaka pats her on the back, proving once and for all that Rouge is Topaz's real love and Tanaka is just the rebound.) There's also some unintentional humor here, in the hilarious repeated visuals of Tails and the others fading into the spinning, neon vortex like they are cardboard cutouts or something. 

Of course, the most important goodbye of all is Chris and Sonic. All throughout the episode, Chris reflects back on poignant memories of his time with Sonic. Such as a time — that probably seems super important to Chris but that I bet Sonic doesn't even remember — where they were sitting around the pool and talking. Finally, Chris puts on a cute little suit, shakes Sonic's hand and says goodbye to him. For a minute there, it really seemed like this show was wrapping up Chris' character arc. He was ready to say at goodbye to Sonic. He was ready to let go of this person who made a huge impact on him because he realizes that life goes on. That his value as a human being isn't tied to his friendship to a blue hedgehog. 

It seemed like that's where the show was going but, haha, nope. Chris Thorndyke is too fundamentally broken a human being to ever accept that. While shaking hands with Sonic, he screams "No!" inside his brain. This is foreshadowing to an even more desperate, pathetic action immediately afterwards. As Sonic walks towards the portal, Chris slams his hand down on what I guess is the machine's kill switch. I don't know if this will continue to imperil the world and the abstract concept of time. Or if he just stranded Sonic on Earth forever. If this planet and Sonic's home world are separated again, I'm assuming that would solve the problem. Either way, Chris' psychological problems, his fear of abandonment and inability to self-actualize, are so great that he really will endanger himself and others to make sure he's not separated from Sonic. Chris is becoming more of a tragic hero every day.

But, of course, the real reason Chris does this very dramatic thing, presumably, is that there's still two episodes left in season two. I'm not quite sure where the story can go from here, considering even Eggman has left Earth. If we're going to get to more episodes devoted entirely to how fucked up Chris Thorndyke is, well, I would probably love that. "The Morning of Farewells" is a pretty messy episode but there's just too much interesting stuff happening in it for me to give it a negative review. This show has layers, I guess is what I'm saying. [7/10]