Sonic the Hedgehog (1993), Episode 1.07: Harmonic Sonic

Sonic the Hedgehog (1993), Episode 1.07: Harmonic Sonic
Original Air Date: November 6th, 1993

As I've said in the past, I don't have too many memories of catching “SatAM” in re-runs. While the Saturday morning earrings on ABC were absolutely appointment television for me, the later re-airrings on USA's Cartoon Express usually got by me. However, “Harmonic Sonic – the second contribution from writer David Villaire – is one I definitely recall seeing on that network. Mainly because I was half-asleep, not even out of bed yet, when I began surfing through the channels and stumbled right into a weird-ass scene of Sonic arguing with some alien-looking robots in a space-bar. You'd have to forgive me for wondering if I hadn't dreamed the entire episode, under those circumstances.

Anyway, the plot of “Harmonic Sonic” – I'll explain what the fuck is up with that title in a minute – concerns Robotnik launching a spy satellite, nicknamed Sky Spy, into orbit around Mobius. The Freedom Fighters become aware of this after one of the booster rockets crashes into the Great Forest. After locating Sky Spy and deciphering its coded radio signals, Sally determines that Robotnik is dangerously close to uncovering Knothole's location. So Rotor retrofits the booster rocket into an actual space-worthy vehicle, flying him and Sonic up into orbit, where they hope to sneak aboard Sky Spy and disable it before it's too late.

I've already spoke some about how “SatAM” would establish a formula for itself fairly early on. It sure seems like a lot of these episodes are about Sonic, Sally, and one or two other Freedom Fighters seeking into Robotropolis to sabotage some new factory or operations of Robotnik's. Usually, this set-up is just a spring-board for the episode's actual premise but you can't help but notice this reoccurring element. While “Harmonic Sonic” eventually does zero in on Sonic and Rotor taking down a new inventions of Robotnik's, it is interesting that a good chunk of the episode is based out of Knothole. That it's about the Freedom Fighters noticing a direct threat to themselves and their home base and working out a plan from there. It's a good variation on things.

Throughout my early Archie comic reviews, I commented on how important the plot device of Knothole Village being hidden was, of Robotnik's constant search to locate the Freedom Fighter's home base. I know this plot point was a constant present in my “SatAM”-inspired playtimes as a kid. Of course, as an adult, I recognize that there was an easy solution to Robotnik's problem here: He could just get his StealthBots to carpet-bomb the entire forest. Sure, maybe he wants to use the natural resources present in the woods but... Robotnik sure doesn't seem to care about utilizing the natural environment for anything else. “Harmonic Sonic,” of course, does nothing to address this probably because I'm a nerd who overthinks a children's cartoon.

What I think this episode was truly setting out to do was boost Rotor as a character. Up until this point, Rotor hasn't done too much in this show, beside helping invent some devices around the village or build an airplane. Here, Rotor goes on the adventure with Sonic and the audience gets a good look at his personality. The walrus is driven primarily by empathy. While investigating the booster rocket, he discourages Tails from touching it, for fear that it's hot. At the end of the episode, after directly helping save all his friends, Sally and Sonic dedicate a cheer to their friend... Who isn't there, because he's more busy making a hair styling device for Sonic. Because Rotor doesn't care about the rewards – maybe even dislike them, due to shyness – but does care about helping people.

Thus far, season one of “SatAM” has indulge more in the fantasy element of the series. “Harmonic Sonic” shifts the focus back to the science fiction of things. And it's an endearingly nutty type of sci-fi, clearly influenced by European science fiction comics. (For example, those drawn by Moebius.) The episode begins with Robotnik loading a bunch of bizarre looking robots, which definitely don't seem to be Robians but I'm not sure what else they could be, into the Sky Spy's shuttle. After Sonic and Rotor sneak aboard the satellite, we get a closer look at these guys. There's a pink dude with multiple hands, a green squid-like creature that attacks Sonic in a likely homage to “Alien,” just to name two.

The reason “Harmonic Sonic” seems to be influenced by wacky European sci-fi comics is because it's ripping off “Star Wars” again, which ripped off those same comics. All those wacky robots congregate in a bar where they listen to weird electronic music, clearly a nod towards those infamous Jizz Wailers. And this sequence is the entire fucking reason the episode is called “Harmonic Sonic.” See, Sonic improvises a robot costume out some random shit he finds laying around. He makes a deal with a neat looking saxophone headed bot that he can rock harder. He fails so spectacular that he still somehow ends up tricking the robot into giving him the info he needs. After which his cover is blown and he has to escape.

I know, I know, I hate it when reviews just degraded into descriptions of the plot too. But I really felt like I needed to unpack that particular series of events. It really feels like some executive made the decision from on high that there had to be a sequence where Sonic plays in a rock band. And this was the convoluted way the writers incorporated that. Or maybe professional screenwriters just make shit up on the fly sometimes. I don't know, I've never written on a television deadline before. Maybe it really do be like that sometimes.

Is the whole “Catina  Bar”/robot battle-of-the-bands (that actually somehow advances the plot of the episode) sequence good or bad? I mean, it's certainly not boring. Sonic's music is objectively bad and the rowdy robotic crowd tells him as much. It's actually sort of refreshing to see the hero demonstrably fail at something before. Especially since the hedgehog has been shown to be somewhat musically competent before. I also like how Sonic ends up tricking the other machine into giving him the intel he needs. I always like to see Sonic outsmart his opponents, instead of solely relying on his speedy superpowers. I definitely feel like there was a less twisting path to get to that particular solution though.

So, anyway, what the fuck was I talking about? Oh yeah, actually providing some insight into this particular episode. Another moment I really enjoy occurs when Sonic and Rotor first get up in orbit. They look down on Mobius and comment that, from this distance, it's actually beautiful. You can't tell that Robotnik has destroyed the world from up here. This causes the heroes to renew their determination to save the world. Yet there's something poignant about this moment. The world is ruined but it doesn't look that way. Sonic and Rotor might be feeling some hope here but it's a false sort of hope.

Even though Sonic and Rotor are the primary focus of this episode, I continue to find little character interactions that continue to help build up the other cast member's personalities. While helping rebuild the booster rocket, Bunnie and Antoine are on rope duty. (Even though the super-strong cyborg probably doesn't need his help.) The little dialogue exchange they have is cute, even if it leads to a moment of off-model animation for Antoine. There are other minor exchanges like this, in Sally's leadership or Tails' curiosity. I just enjoy spending time with these characters.

Also, by this point, the abusive relationship between Robotnik and Snively has grown from intended comic relief, to a disturbing depiction of physical abuse between family members.. Back to being darkly funny comedy now. Poor Snively just constantly fucks up and gets his ass whipped. Now I'm just envisioning Robotnik beating Snively for every minor offense possible. He puts an empty container back in the fridge, leaves the toilet seat up, or whatever, and there's Robotnik right there behind him, ready to smack the ever-loving shit out of him.

It might not sound like I enjoyed this episode but I actually think it's really good. Even with that bizarre digression involving the robo-band. This is the role nostalgia plays: If you have enough of an emotional connection to something, bad writing becomes endearing too! And, honestly, the musical sequence aside, this is a totally solid half-hour of children's television. I'm sorry this review sucked. I'll do better next time, I promise. [7/10]