Sonic Prime, Episode 2.1: Avoid the Void

Sonic Prime, Episode 2.1: Avoid the Void

Original Release Date: July 4th, 2023

What was the general consensus on the first batch of “Sonic Prime” episodes? It seems to me that most corners of the fandom was receptive to the series. If the folks on “Sonic” Twitter are anything to go by, a lot of people enjoyed it. I, if you recall from my reviews late last year, was mostly underwhelmed by the show. Seemed to me that the show didn't really start to get moving until the very end of that nine episode run, while it's multi-verse hopping premise left little room for character development or meaningful relationships. I've seen similar reactions from other blue hedgehog devotees, so I know I'm not totally alone in that opinion. So I guess you would average that up to a “mostly positive, slightly mixed” reaction on the whole? 

Regardless of how I felt, I've saw a fair bit of hype concerning the new episodes – initially referred to as the second half of season one but not being called the second season – in the lead-up to their release this month. “Sonic Prime” left off on a cliffhanger that promised to give fan-favorite Shadow even more screen time, which was probably enough to whet the appetites of certain corners of the fandom. Premiering on Youtube on the fourth, with the rest of the season arriving on Netflix on the 13th, “Avoid the Void” kicks off the new set of eight episodes and “Prime's” latest chance to either surprise or disappoint me. 

“Avoid the Void” begins with Shadow in the titular space between realities. We learn that he's been watching bounce around the multi-verse from the beginning and that he lost his Chaos Emerald deep within this dimensional sink hole. After confronting Sonic, he takes the blue hedgehog to a lifeless version of Green Hill, populated with repetitive holograms of the cast. After some exposition, Shadow makes it clear that he intends on cleaning up Sonic's mess. A brawl ensues, where Shadow attempts to steal Sonic's dimension hopping tech. Yet the gruffer hedgehog soon learns things are a bit more complicated than he assumed. 

If I felt season one of “Prime” was overall a little aimless, I did enjoy that the last episode actually upped the stakes with the Chaos Council invading No Place. The first episode of season two does, if nothing else, continue this upward trajectory. Sonic is, at first, happy to see Shadow and assumes his presence means Green Hill is still intact. The blue hedgehog's angsty counterpart informs him that their home dimension, as far as he can tell, no longer exists. If true, that would be a pretty big deal. Sonic now has the weight on him of having inadvertently destroyed his home and all his friends. The thought that Green Hill is gone is certainly a lot more dramatic than Sonic just being adrift in the multi-verse. 

Not that I expect Green Hill to actually-actually be destroyed. First off, this is a kid's cartoon. There's no way that it'll go that grim. Moreover, “Prime” as a series is obviously extremely invested in the core cast of Sonic's friends. I mean, every other character is a Tails, a Knuckles, a Rouge, or a Big. If the prime versions of those guys are all gone forever, it seems unlikely to me that this show would constantly be giving Sonic reminders of his definitely dead friends. Even by the halfway point of this episode, it seems Shadow has forgotten his assertion that the prime zone has been destroyed. If nothing else, he seems fairly certain it can be restored in some way. 

Yet the idea that Sonic might believe his home is gone and his friends are dead is a good foundation for his character. When Netflix first released a plot synopsis for “Prime,” there was some reference to Sonic having to atone for past mistakes. Watching the hedgehog grow from the carefree adventurer he is now to someone more burdened by his responsibilities could be fruitful. We get a brief taste of this during the scenes where Sonic and Shadow first visit the lifeless version of Green Hill. The look on the hedgehog's face as he realizes these are just echoes of his friends produces some pathos. I hope the show leans into Sonic feeling some regrets for his actions in future episodes.

“Sonic” media is always finding excuses for Sonic and Shadow to punch each other, sometimes extremely flimsy ones. “Avoid the Void” does, if nothing else, find a compelling angle for their conflict here. Shadow essentially sees this as a mess Sonic has made. He considers the blue hedgehog to be a capricious, irresponsible adventurer while seeing himself as the hero likely to put wrongs back to right. Sonic, meanwhile, is determined to make it back home to his friends and he's not going to let Shadow get in his way. Definitely a much sturdier reason for them to fight it out than “There's a misunderstanding about who's the bad guy.” Both hedgehogs think they are right and deserve to do things their own way, making this among the more natural scuffles the show has presented us with so far.

Since this is “Sonic Prime,” that action sequence is what makes up most of the episode. Again, I have to say that it's pretty cool. Especially once the fighting spills back out into the Void and the two take advantage of the floating debris around them. If “Prime” has done nothing else well so far, it's been capturing the sense of speed Sonic and his adversaries have when fighting. Watching these two race around each other and trade fisticuffs is entertaining. About the only moment that sticks out is when they briefly splash under the lake, which features some mediocre water effects. 

As I finish up this review, I realize most of the positive things I'm saying about this episode mirrors what I've said about past “Prime” episodes. This could go in an interesting direction. This might set-up a strong event later on. Hope springs eternal, I suppose, but I guess it should be obvious by now that “Prime” isn't that kind of show. This is a punchy-punchy action show for babies, utilizing the most simple versions of Sonic and his supporting cast that you can imagine. Maybe I should stop hoping the show will turn into something it's not and instead accept what it actually is. 

Well, maybe. Nevertheless, “Prime” has so much potential that remains untapped into at the moment that I can't help but hope it turns into a more promising show eventually. Now that the tedious set-up is out of the way, perhaps season two will actually go further in developing its cast and the conflict? If nothing else, I don't think any more alternate versions of the primary cast will be introduced soon – probably owing to the expense of making character models for a CGI show – so the show better start getting stronger writing, or else it'll be rendered entirely tedious. I don't want to be too negative. This is a decent episode but whether or not it's another tease of unfulfilled promises or the start of something better very much remains to be seen. [6/10]

Sonic Prime, Episode 1.3: Escape from New Yoke

Sonic Prime, Episode 1.3: Escape from New Yoke

Original Release Date: December 15th, 2022

The third episode of "Sonic Prime" does not immediately pick up with the cliffhanger we were left on last time. It flashes back to Green Hill Zone, before the Paradox Prism was shattered. This leads to further scenes of Shadow being grouchy before we return to New Yoke City. Nine manages to reprogram Rusty Rose before she crushes Sonic. Immediately, Sonic and the others get to work fighting their way through the Chaos Council’s defense as they approach the Paradox Prism deep within the forest… Or a shard of it anyway, as Sonic uncovers that he’s more responsible for the shattering dimensions than his enemy is. 

There’s a moment in “Escape from New Yoke,” after Sonic and these edgy versions of his old pals escape the room they were trapped in. The group is strutting down a hallway, with lots of fancy editing and slow motion emphasizing the heroes walking together as a group. It seems to be “Sonic Prime” saying to its viewer: The wait is over! The band is back together! The gang is all here! Avengers assembled! It’s suppose to be a big fan pleasing moment. 

Yet there’s an obvious problem here: We don’t actually know who these characters are. Okay, yes, we know who Amy and Knuckles and the rest are. Yet these specific versions of Sonic’s friends remain thinly sketched archetypes at best. We don’t know why the New Yolk version of Amy is a cyborg under control of the Eggmen. We don’t even know what Route and Knuckles’ underground resistance is fighting for exactly, outside of some vague notion of restoring freedom. It really seems to me that “Prime” is counting entirely on the audience’s built-in fondness for Sonic’s supporting cast to do a lot of the heavy lifting here. 

What’s most frustrating about this approach is that the script itself acknowledges that these characters are totally different from Sonic’s friends as he knows them. There’s a scene where he introduces each member of the squad under the persona he’s familiar with, only for each one to correct. This isn’t happy-go-lucky Amy Rose but grim, robotic Rusty Rose. Rebel and Knucks, not Rouge and Knuckles. A better strategy than randomly introducing these alternate versions of familiar characters, and running headlong into the action scenes, would’ve been… Ya know… Actually taking some time to get us invested in these guys.

That’s the sad facts of the case here: I don’t really care about these characters, not yet anyway. We’ve learned a bit about Nine, and his background was intriguing, but he’s still kind of a prickly jerk to everyone. Rusty Rose, being a cold and logical cyborg, is almost designed to be free of personality. All it takes to flip her from evil to good is Nine reprogramming her, which really emphasizes that there’s not much depth to her. I like what I’ve seen of Rouge and Knuckles, or Rebel and Knocks’ rather, banter. Yet there’s almost none of that here. 

In addition to making it hard to be invested in the story, the characters being so vague makes it hard to care about the outcome of the action scenes. And that's a major issue, as "Escape from New Yolk" is almost entirely made up of action scenes. It's one elaborate scrap after another. The heroes fight off the robots in the laboratory before being chased down a spiraling staircase. Dr. Deep – otherwise known as Hipster Eggman – slips on a samurai inspired robotic armor and leads another squadron of robots after the gang. There's even a chase around the building between Sonic and Dr. Babbles. (That's Baby Eggman.)

It's not that I can't enjoy these scenes on a surface level. They are well animated and cool to watch. The fight in the staircase, that has Sonic and the gang leaping up and down the various levels, is very well orchestrated. The animators clearly had fun with Rusty Rose's telescoping robot limbs, engineering a number of neat action beats around them. But it's hard to be too engrossed in any of this when we barely know the people doing the fighting. What is Dr. Deep's deal? Why does he put on a samurai-inspired armor? What are these people fighting? Why does any of this matter? And it doesn't help that the good guys don't seem to struggle much with the endless supplies of robotic mooks they have to fight off. Nine shoots a few over his shoulder without even looking. 

Three episodes into “Sonic Prime” and I can’t escape this feeling that the show’s priorities are all mixed-up. You see that in the show’s continued focus on an oblong story structure. What is the point of the opening flashback here? It shows the tail end of Sonic’s fight with Shadow, the so-called ultimate lifeform racing off in pursuit of his blue counterpart. It shows Sonic’s friends fighting Badniks and being annoyed that their hero is late. Other than that, this clip of the "Before Prism Shatter" dimension doesn't really establish much. It's almost as if "Prime" wants to tease fans by giving us these little tastes of "normal" Sonic content before racing back to the alternate universe shenanigans the show is actually about. 

The only hints at a deeper personality we get for the supporting cast come through in frankly intrusive comedy. The old man Eggman – I think he's called Dr. Done-It – hobbled after his counterparts. Dr. Deep does a dance number as he puts in his armor, to the annoyance of the other villains. Sonic's enthusiasm annoys the grimdark heroes. All of this stuff feels like a desperate attempt to distract us from how shallow everything feels. Only two jokes made me laugh here. That would be everyone having the duck under a giant laser as it continues to rotate around the room and Nine's exasperated reaction to a comment Sonic makes. Otherwise, the gags here are lame and distracting. 

What's especially irritating about the mood-pausing jokes and one-liners is that... I think "Sonic Prime" wants to be a serious TV show. In the last third, Sonic finally reaches the Paradox Prism only to see that it's a shard, not a full crystal. He regains his memory of the universe shattering event and realizes he's responsible. Sonic shattering the Prism is what caused all these alternate universes. Now, he's determined to fix this and put everything back to how it was. This is presumably what the "journey of self-discovery and redemption" line in the Netflix plot synopsis was about. 

That's what driving Sonic in this narrative: A desire to bring back the friends he knows and loves and undo the mess he caused. This episode ends with him grabbing the shard and presumably getting zapped to another alternate universe. Does that mean this is the last we've seen of the New Yolk City heroes? Is the crumbs of characterization we've gotten for them all we're going to get? Leaping through "zones" to grab shards of a bigger plot device is very much in-keeping with the "Sonic" video games... But that's a gameplay device, not a narrative one. If every dimension Sonic visits is just going to be a short trip, we probably won't get a chance to familiarize ourselves with any of these mixed-up cast members. 

Three episodes into "Sonic Prime" and I'm still feeling the frustration I felt in the debut. There's certainly still time for the show to establish itself yet, considering there's only eight episodes in the first half of this season, time is running out for this show to get its grounding. "Sonic Prime" looks cool and has its fair share of interesting idea but the entire affair has been seriously lacking in heart so far. [5/10]

Sonic Prime, Episode 1.02: The Yoke’s on You

Sonic Prime, Episode 1.02: The Yoke’s on You

Original Release Date: December 15th, 2022

The second episode of “Sonic Prime” has a title that I’m really surprised a previous “Sonic” cartoon hasn’t used already. You’d think “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog,” with its love of egg puns, would’ve gotten to this one. Anyway, “The Yoke’s on You” begins with another flashback to Green Hill Zone. Shadow is becomes aware of the dimensional shatter somehow and tries to stop it before it happens. Back in New Yoke City, the Chaos Council attempt to extract the Paradox Prism energy from Sonic. That’s when Rebel Rouge and Renegade Knucks – this universe’s version of Rouge and Knuckles and leaders of an underground resistance – decide to sneak in and rescue Sonic. Robot smashing ensues. 

I’m happy to say this episode is an improvement over the first. Now that the general premise is established, “Prime” can work a little more on its cast… Sort of. See, the opening scene with Shadow is an interesting choice. It’s already clear that Shadow exists outside the shattered universe set-up. He’s probably going to be weaving in and out of the episodes, trying to unravel what has happened overall. Its a little odd to put that front-and-center, when there’s still so much other stuff that needs to be established… 

But I get it. Shadow is popular! The Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy rival thing is an evergreen dynamic in action cartoons for a reason. I like Ian Hanlin’s vocal performance, as he sounds suitably broody and gruff but not in an exaggerated, silly way. He still has that unsteady relationship with Sonic and little patience for the other hedgehog’s jokes and japes. Watching these two bounce off each other, literally and figuratively, is amusing. The side-to-side motions his legs make when using his “air shoes” looks goofy though. Not the best decision in a show that is otherwise well animated. 

More compelling to me are the other introductions in this episode. After their brief appearances last time, “Rebel” Rouge and “Renegade Knocks” get more screen time here. What makes these scenes really delightful is that Rouge and Knuckles’ flirtatious relationship is maintained. Even though “Prime’s” Rouge is clearly not the morally gray character she’s been portrayed as in the past, I like that she still teases Knuckles. The scene of them talking on a rooftop or sneaking through the interior of Eggman’s base are adorable. For whatever reason, Renegade Knocks has a different voice actor from Prime Knuckles. Vincent Tong gives him a slight Brooklyn accent, which matches his tough guy exterior. Gives me Raphael vibes, which I dig.

I didn’t really get into my thoughts on the Chaos Council last time, because the review was already running long. The exact motivation and machinations behind there being a cadre of Eggmen have yet to be explained. On paper, the idea of an evil council made of Eggman from different stages in his life is amusing. This means we have Baby Eggman, Teenage Gamer Eggman with colored tips, Twenty-Something Hipster Eggman with tattoos and a goatee, Middle-Aged Eggman who seems most similar to the classic variety but wears an ugly toupee, and Old Eggman who has a white beard and hobbles around with a cane. Whether or not these variations emerge as notable characters in their own right, or even intimidating villains, remains to be seen. I already get the impression that this show finds the idea of a blabbering Babby Eggman and a doddering Elderly Eggman much funnier than I do. 

And that last point is what's sticking in my teeth the most about this show, so far: The comic relief is distracting. During Sonic's fight with Shadow, the blue hedgehog is cracking jokes and doing goofy faces. There's even a Deadpoolian fourth wall break. Sure, that's in-character for Sonic. These characters directly addressing the audience is nothing new. but it also deflates any tension in the scene. Later, while bound and about to be de-energized, Sonic acts slightly drunk and makes a lot of goofy quips. Far too much winking ensues. This especially makes it hard to take a rather grim moment seriously. Not to mention it makes Sonic – very passive in this episode – kind of annoying. The wise cracks only make him cool and fun if they are actually amusing and paired with a can-do, superpowered hero. 

Maybe the writers felt the need to include some much intrusive comedy because the setting of New Yoke City is actually effectively grim. We get a better grip on what an Orwellian hellscape this is in "The Yoke's On You." Citizens are constantly observed by robotic drones, who also pump digitally manipulated propaganda into the air. A brief glimpse at an apartment complex suggests the city’s residents are brainwashed by a deluge of Eggman-centric signals. That makes this one of the darker versions of the Eggman Empire and I hope future episodes lean into that more. A citywide blackout Sonic causes seems to wake up a lot of people, so hopefully rebellion and resistance continue to be a big theme going forward. 

By the way, Chaos Emeralds do exist in this show. Shadow finds one inside a rock and uses it to Chaos Control. What purpose – if any – they have in the show beyond that remains to be seen. And though this show skips an opening, owing to Netflix’s format making such things obsolete, the music is decent. The end credits theme has an exciting, pop-punk feel to it that suits Sonic. Needs some lyrics about gotta-going-fast or Blue Streaks speeding by to really sell it though… “Sonic Prime” still hasn’t found its footing, to me. Yet episode two is definitely an improvement over the premiere, if only because the characters and their conflicts are a little more fleshed out now. [6.5/10]

Sonic Prime, Episode 1.01: Shattered

Sonic Prime, Episode 1.01: Shattered

Original Release Date: December 15th, 2022

I’ve been actively updating Hedgehogs Can’t Swim for about seven years now. In that time, I’ve never been there to talk about a brand new “Sonic” cartoon as it premiered. Honestly, after “Sonic Boom’s” uneven commercial performance, I wasn’t too sure there would ever be another “Sonic” cartoon. As someone whose head is so buried in the franchise’s comic book and animated past, I didn’t even want to speculate on what the possibility of Sonic’s future as a TV series might include. I’m not here to predict what might be, I’m here to nerdily and endlessly rehash the past. I always call my reviews “retrospectives” and you can’t be retrospective about something that just came out. 

Yet in 2022, the “Sonic” franchise is healthier than maybe it’s ever been. The movies are big hits. The new game is selling well and has received pretty good reviews. Now is the perfect time to release a new animated series… Because we are living in the future, the series debuted on Netflix, instead of on Saturday mornings. Because this year is obsessed with multiversal stories, that’s the general premise of “Sonic Prime.” And even though WildBrain, the modern incarnation of DiC, is behind this show, it’s a totally new take on Sonic and the gang that leaves all prior versions behind. We are in a bold new “Sonic” frontier and I’m honestly not sure how to feel about it. 

Not that being unsure how to feel has ever stopped me from rambling in the past. So let’s jump right in and begin discussing “Shattered,” the first episode of “Sonic Prime.” We begin in Green Hill Zone, where Sonic and his friends – Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Rouge – are ready to stop Dr. Eggman’s latest evil scheme. He is digging up something called the Paradox Prism. In the middle of the fight, the crystal is shattered and Sonic is tossed through dimensions. He lands in New Yolk City, an industrial, dystopian version of Green Hill ruled over by a group of five Eggmen, called the Chaos Council. After running from some evil robots, Sonic encounters a grouchy, cybernetic version of Tails called “Nine.” It’s not long before they are captured and placed before the Council, Sonic’s search for answers only beginning. 

Staring down a new “Sonic” cartoon, with no conception of what its reputation is or even where it might be going... What did I think of “Prime’s” first episode? It’s okay. It’s fitting that the first batch of installments dropped shortly before Christmas because, it seems to me, this is almost the “Sonic” version of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” His conversation with Nine makes it clear that this is a reality where Sonic was never born. Our hedgehog hero gets to see the impact he’s had on the world and on his friends’ lives. The lush, green world he calls home is now a grim cityscape. Tails, with no one to defend him from childhood bullies, has become an angsty, misanthropic mad scientist. Amy is a cyborg. And the freedom, which defines Sonic’s life, is nowhere to be seen. The residents of New Yolk City all walk around with their heads down, never acknowledging each other, living in quiet misery. 

Despite this potent idea, “Shattered” is 90% set-up. I guess kids, who might not be as genre savvy as a wizen old nerd like me, will be the primary viewers of this show. That audience perhaps isn't familiar with alternate universe stories like this. Sonic doesn’t immediately figure out what has happened and is still in search of answers, which this episode is slow to revealed. The meat of this episode is devoted to him realizing he’s in a corrupted version of his home world, after bumbling through several encounters. The alternate versions of Rouge and Knuckles briefly appear, their roles not clear yet. How or why “Rusty” Rose is a cyborg in service to a group of five Eggmen – seemingly made up of the doctor from five periods in his life – is yet to be revealed. The episode concludes with Shadow appearing to Sonic as some sort of trans-dimensional vision and I don’t know what that means just yet. This forty minute long premiere is all about laying down plot points that the rest of the show can build on. 

When an episode is as premise-driven as this one is, it can be hard to leave any room for the stuff that typically sucks me into a show: The characters and their inner lives. Fans of the games are clearly the target audience here and that’s why the gang seems pretty simplified so far. Sonic is speedy, curious, snarky, loves his friends and loves his freedom. Tails is his brainy pal who maybe gets a little too invested in his gadgets, without Sonic there to pull him back down to earth. Eggman is an egomaniacal villain with a desire to rule the world and crush Sonic. Basic stuff. We barely meet Knuckles and Amy here, with Rouge barely getting more screen time. Obviously, more fleshing out remains to be done with these guys. Because we clearly don’t get much of it here. 

About the only moment here that rises above the rest is Sonic’s meeting with “Nine.” We might not be familiar with the “Prime” version of Tails but anyone watching this show knows what Tails’ deal is. To see a version of the little fox that is antisocial and aggressive, not to mention cybernetically enhanced, is a decent shock. The flashback to the different ways Sonic and Nine recall their first meeting, provides the real emotional meat here. That’s the moment when Sonic, and the viewer, really gets a feel for the impact he has had on the world. To see his friend in such a state, to know he suffered without him, has an effect on Sonic. We needed more of that kind of stuff. 

That flashback, by the way, it’s animated in a pixel art style clearly meant to invoke the Genesis era of “Sonic.” That’s probably my favorite visual moment in a show that is, thus far, well animated. My opinion on CGI animation on a TV budget is usually low. Yet “Prime” looks nice. The characters are lively and expressive. The action scenes are very fast paced. Honestly, so much stuff is happening during the various action scenes that a re-watch might be necessary for me to catch everything. The scuffle between Sonic and Nine atop two subway trains or the opening fight with a horde of Badniks are especially noteworthy. I’m not entirely sold on all the character designs just yet. Big’s pudgy face still looks weird and I’m undecided on the Chaos Council’s appearances. Yet “Prime” already looks a lot better than pretty much every episode of “Sonic Boom.” 

Yet my general feeling about "Shattered" is that it puts the cart before the horse a bit. This is a season premiere so devoted to setting up its premise, that it doesn't find much time to make the audience care. We are just meeting this version of Sonic and his friends before the hedgehog gets tossed between worlds. A lengthy sequence, where Sonic is floating through a starry void and sees images of his friends, seems to exist to establish these characters more. Wouldn't just a little more of a prologue done that better? This is also reflected in the kind of weird structure this debut has. After several minutes of Sonic being confused and pursued through New Yolk City, the episode flashes back to the lead-up to that opening battle. There's a couple more leaps around the timeline here too, the episode seemingly ending in the middle of one. I get the appeal of opening in media ras but it left me a little mixed up here. Maybe let the audience get to know your principal players before introducing us to alternate versions of them? 

Only one episode in and this already feels like the “Sonic” cartoon most influenced by the video games. Aside from the prominent role Green Hill Zone plays here, Sonic also collects Power Rings and looses them when he's hurt. How that works outside of the context of a game play mechanic, I don't know. And I have no idea if the show will really explain that. (Where do the rings come from in this setting?) There's also a somewhat unnecessary sequence in the second half, where Sonic has to navigate springs, spikes, and traps, another indicator that the showrunners are very aware of the game roots here. What this means for the other characters yet, I don't know. Does this Knuckles have a Master Emerald or an Angel Island to protect? I guess we'll find out.

A new “Sonic” cartoon means a new cast of voices for these well-known characters. It's an interesting mixture. Deven Mack's Sonic recalls a lot of things about Roger Craig Smith's Sonic but includes some of Ben Schwartz' quirky humor and neediness. Ashleigh Ball has a nice gravelly quality to her voice, making her Tails sound more like a temperamental little boy than he usually does. From what we hear of them here, Shannn Chan-Kent and Kazumi Evans have their own takes on Amy and Rouge, that are distinct from previous versions. Unlike Brian Drummond as Eggman, who is pretty clearly attempting to sound like Mike Pollock... Though Drummond also voices a few of the other doctor characters, which is presumably why he was hired instead of Pollock just coming back. I really don't like Adam Nurada as Knuckles though. He puts on such a fake sounding “gruff” voice that it's practically an Arnold Schwarzenegger impression.

I guess it's clear that my initial reaction to “Sonic Prime” is a bit mixed. It looks good and there's certainly plenty of potential here. Obviously, there's a larger story to told and you can't judge it all just based on the first episode. Maybe once I watch it all – or at least watch the eight episodes currently available on Netflix – I can return to this one with more open eyes. As it stands right now, “Prime” is getting off on some slightly shaky ground that maybe needed to prioritize setting up its characters before setting up its premise. [6/10]