Sonic the Hedgehog (1993), Episode 1.02: Sonic and Sally

Sonic the Hedgehog (1993), Episode 1.02: Sonic and Sally
Original Air Date: September 25th, 1993

Even though the first episode-to-air of “Sonic the Hedgehog” probably could've been entitled “Sonic and Sally,” the powers-that-be saw fit to bestow that particular title upon the series' second proper episode. “Sonic and Sally” begins with the titular duo, as well as Bunnie, about to destroy Robotnik's SWATBot factory with a series of explosive canisters. Just before completing the mission, Sally is captured. Robotnik's latest plan involves sending a robotic duplicate of Sally back to Knothole Village in the princess' place. Though Sonic and the others notice Sally acting a little odd, they assume she's just shaken up from being captured... Only Tails truly realizes Sally is rather literally not herself.

Since this was only the second episode of “SatAM” to air back in 1993, “Sonic and Sally” was viewer's proper introductions to a number of characters and concepts. This is the first time we really see Bunnie. The inexplicably Southern cyborg rabbit is introduced as part of the gang, the origin of her strength-granting cybernetics never being expounded upon. (And, as far as the cartoon goes, they never would be.) After she returns to Knothole, she even has her robot arm fall right off. Which seems like a rather flippant way of treating the character's particular condition after seeing how the comic made it a constant source of angst for nearly twenty-five years. Still, Bunnie comes off as less snarky and more lovable here than she did in the pilot, which is nice. She even gets the briefest of ship-teases with Antoine, as he helps her out of the straw-pile and the two smile at each other. It's entirely possible that wasn't even intended as a ship-tease.

This episode was also basically the introduction of Rotor, who is only vaguely set-up as the team mechanic here. You could even say its Tails' first appearance, as he was absent in “Sonic Boom.” The little-brother/big-brother relationship he has with Sonic is given a prominent role here, as Sonic and his younger fox friend have a cutely paternal talk on a bridge in Knothole about Sally's condition. I think it's kind of adorable the way Sonic describes it as “guy talk.”

Bunnie's robot parts aren't given an origin but, funny enough, the Power Rings are. This episode also introduces the Lake of Rings, though the exact reason why this body of water coughs up a magical ring once a day isn't elaborated upon. (Fortunately, this episode doesn't use the Rings as a problem-resolving plot device like last time, though Sonic still uses one to get out of a jam.) On the more villainous end, “Sonic and Sally” is also the first time Roboticization really becomes a threat, as Robotnik plans to inflict that particular fate on the captured Sally. I definitely do find it odd – and oddly amusing – the elements of the show's premise the cartoon felt the need to expand on and the stuff it just never really justified. I guess that's what the expositionary opening theme song is for.

But I'm not really talking about “Sonic and Sally” as an episode right now, am I? Probably because it's not an especially good one. This was first episode of “Sonic” written by Ben Hurst. While Hurst would become a beloved figure in the fan community for talking with us and never letting go of the torch he held for “SatAM,” “Sonic and Sally” is not the strongest debut for the writer. There's quite a few convoluted story turns here. When Robotnik has Sally – keep in mind, the leader of the rebellion he's been trying to crush for a while now – captured, he doesn't immediately kill her or roboticize her. Instead, he waits at least a few hours before even trying. In general, the actual flesh-and-blood Sally is largely sidelined in this episode, being reduced to a damsel in distress essentially.

The point of the robotic Sally copy is to find the location of Knothole, which apparently it has to do via video recording, because I guess GPS wasn't something sci-fi writers could even conceive of in 1993. Knothole's fate is saved when a random malfunction disables the robot's broadcast, saving the resistance's collective ass. I kept waiting for the episode to justify this as a deliberate act by the still emerging Uncle Chuck. And maybe it does later. But, right now, it comes off as the sloppiest of deus ex machinas. And the robot isn't a very good spy, as it starts shooting lasers pretty much the moment its discovered.

But don't get the wrong impression. Even for its obvious flaws, I still really like “Sonic and Sally.” The idea of Tails, the kid, noticing something is wrong before anyone else does and his suspicions not being taken seriously initially... That's a classic premise and one I enjoy seeing played out here. There's definitely something satisfying about seeing Tails pick up on little details – Sally not performing a “Funny kiss” correctly or flatly reading a bed time story – just for Sonic to similarly realize something is up when the Robo-Sal fails to perform a secret handshake correctly. The scene of Tails catching Sally casting an eerie red glow from her eyes after he's tucked into bed has that feel of a classic nightmare to it, being one of those images that really stuck in my mind throughout the years.

That is not the only elemental moment in “Sonic and Sally” that clung to my brain for years afterwards. The early sequence of Sonic infiltrating the SWATBot factory, of nearly being pushed into a “Terminator 2”-style vat of molten scrap along with a pile of falling trash, really made an impression on me as a kid. I can vividly recall incorporating that idea into more than one playtime fan fiction I conceived of as a little boy. The entire opening sequence is surprisingly tense, devoted to all of the characters nearly be captured and outrunning a soon-to-detonate bomb. And even if the character isn't treated the best here, Kath Soucie's performance as Sally remains fucking incredible. The amount of subtly and personality she's able to incorporate into the simplest of line-reading is impressive. For years, I thought Jim Cumming's Robotnik was the best “SatAM” performance – and he is great here, amazingly sinister – but I'm increasingly realizing Soucie's grasp on her character was far greater.

Also, the first thing Robo-Sally does to Sonic is give him a great big kiss, which is the Saturday morning cartoon equivalent of getting laid. Some of y'all criticize Archie for focusing so much on romance but Sonic and Sally's romance was always a huge part of the original cartoon. (Also, the comic would repeatedly revisit the idea of Sally being replaced with an identical robot, making this episode actually pretty influential among “Sonic” media.) Though not the best episode, “Sonic and Sally” is still kind of iconic among “SatAM's” brief run. [7/10]