Sonic X, Episode 1.04: Chaos Emerald Chaos

Sonic X, Episode 1.04: Chaos Emerald Chaos

Japanese Title: Get the Chaos Emerald!

Japanese Air Date: April 27th, 2003

U.S. Air Date: September 27th, 2003

As the titles indicate, episode four of "Sonic X" refocuses on the franchise's favorite plot devices. A construction crew in Station Square stumbles upon the green Chaos Emerald, which makes their machinery go berserk. Eggman sees this on the news and quickly moves into action, accompanied by a bird-like robot named Beakon. Sonic, Tails and Amy head after it too. By coincidence, Chris' elementary school is near-by and he attempts to foil Eggman's plan on his own. This puts his life in danger, forcing Sonic and his school teacher — secretly a government spy sent to spy on Chris — racing to save him. 

Episode four clarifies a few things about "Sonic X." First off, it confirms the setting as Station Square, proving that Station Square is on Earth. (Which I guess is quasi-confirmation of the "Two Worlds" premise Sega insists has been canon all along.) This episode also suggests that the driving plot behind the show's first story arc will be gathering the Chaos Emeralds, in hopes that Sonic and the gang can Chaos Control themselves back home with them. If this is giving you some "Dragon Ball" vibes, you're not the only one. Tails even clarifies that the grouped-together emeralds scatter after being used, much like anime's most famous collection of wish-granting dragon genitalia. Considering Sonic also has a yellow and pointy super-form, maybe the Chaos Emeralds have always been intended as ersatz Dragon Balls. 

Outside of likely setting up the premise for the next twenty episodes, "Get the Chaos Emeralds!" is largely devoted to developing Chris. We learn that his dad, Nelson, is a Bill Gates-like tech billionaire. That his movie star mom is named Lindsey Fair. Despite his world famous parents, Chris seemingly goes to a regular elementary school. I guess his parents want him to grow up as normally as possible, when he's outside the massive gated mansion he calls home. Even though the show has tried to push his loneliness as his defining characteristic, which is emphasized by the sad music that plays in any of the mansion scenes, Chris has friends too: A little red-headed girl named Frances and Danny, the only black child in all of Station Square. 

If Chris has friends, why is he so fixated on becoming besties with Sonic? In the last scene, he apologizes to Sonic for getting into danger and the hedgehog's forgiveness almost moves the boy to tears. There's no answer to this question in the show itself but my overanalytical approach to children's cartoons may provide one: When Chris sees the Tornado 2 flying overhead, he races off to try and stop Eggman on his own. He swipes the Chaos Emerald, ends up dangling off the Egg-Mobile, and tries to yank the villain's mustache out before nearly falling to his death. Why would a small child risk life and death for a cartoon animal he just met two days ago? 

It seems Chris wants to prove himself to Sonic. Maybe Chris' privileged upbringing has left him feeling hollow inside and unworthy of his riches. Perhaps he sees Sonic's heroics, and his desperate attempts to become part of them, as a way to validate his prosperous heritage. He's been told his whole life that he's special but, because his parents are never around and seemingly never show him affection, he doesn't feel special. Having a world-saving blue hedgehog best friend finally makes Chris feel truly chosen and he's eager to validate that feeling. (A similar syndrome is why, in my opinion, a lot of rich people join cults.) Or maybe he's just a little boy who thinks Sonic is cool and whose sheltered lifestyle has left him all emotionally fucked-up. I don't know, you choose. 

One thing is for certain: It says a lot about Eggman's competence as a villain that his entire plan is successfully foiled by a literal child. It's weird that he doesn't have any robots accompany him when he grabs the Chaos Emerald. It's also weird that his Egg-Mobile doesn't malfunction when near the emerald. I guess he's already built a counter-acting effect into his devices. For that matter, why isn't the Chaos Emerald being guarded by anyone? The jewel is obviously dangerous. You'd think the police would at least set up some yellow tape or something. Or did all the Station Square cops get their asses so severally kicked last time that they can't function at all? 

Moments like this remind me that this is a cartoon show for little kids. That's not the only reminder. Once again, Eggman selects his robot-of-the-day via slot machine, the animation even being reused. Once again, Sonic completely wastes the machine the minute he gets a Power Ring. It's a little repetitive and the formula is already starting to bore me. There's also an overly childish bit where Beakon — another robot on this show who resembles a Gundam extra more than a traditional Badnik — bounces Sonic on his nose. Why doesn't the robot just kill him? Seems like that would solve a lot of Eggman's problems, right there. 

More interesting is the stuff happening in the episode's margins. The President is informed of Eggman's presence on Earth, his informers calling the rotund villain a "terrorist." Government agents watch the bad guy's island without actually doing anything to stop him. The government is also aware of Chris Thorndyke fraternizing with alien animals and sends an undercover agent to spy on him, disguised as his school teacher, Mr. Stewart. Later, after Eggman begins his sophomore assault on Station Square, we see crowds of people running for the hills. 

In my introduction to this show, I described "Sonic Adventure 2's" plot as obviously influenced by the global mood in the months before and after 9/11. This subplot includes some really silly moments, like Mr. Stewart just leaving his school job in the middle of the day without consequences. Or transforming his car into some sort of cushion to catch the falling Chris. Yet this plot points still speak to the climate of the time, of a world terrified of this nebulous thing called "terrorism" and a government seemingly more concerned with spying on its own people than actually solving the problem. 

Also, the Chaos Emerald is found on Jingle Street, a name that really sounds like a Japanese person trying to create an American sounding location. Now that I think about, you could say the same thing about Station Square. Anyway, "Get the Chaos Emerald!" is less satisfying than the previous episodes, relying more on simple kids show writing, being a little closer in quality to what I expected this show to be like. [6/10]