Sonic X, Episode 1.14: That's What Friends Are For

Sonic X, Episode 1.14: That's What Friends Are For

Japanese Title: Chase the Hero Sonic!

Japanese Air Date: July 6th, 2003

U.S. Air Date: December 6th, 2003

Even though the "Beating Eggman" two-parter marked the end of the "New World" story arc, "Sonic X" isn't done screwing around with goofy episodes. "That's What Friends Are For" begins with the President concerned about his re-election chances. See, all the press surrounding the destruction of Eggman's base is focused on Sonic, not on Our Glorious Leader. Press Secretary Jerome Wise thinks up a wacky scheme to fix this: He'll throw a charity ball celebrating Eggman's defeat and invite Sonic, allowing the President to mooch off the hedgehog's star power. Sonic, however, has other plans. He's promised Helen, a girl in a wheelchair from Chris' class, that he would take her to a secluded place in the forest where white flowers grow. Wise finds Sonic turning down the invitation unacceptable and sends a military team to retrieve him. The blue dude with 'tude sympathy for children with disabilities does not let this stop him. 

I know any political commentary on "Sonic X's" behalf is probably completely accidental. I've read before — and I can't find a source for this now so it's probably bullshit but — the show is not set in the year 2003 but some undetermined future date. Meaning this American president is probably not meant to be a stand-in for George W. And yet I can't help but notice parallels. We, the viewer, obviously knows that Eggman is not defeated. So the White House holding a big charity dinner to celebrate the destruction of his base feels hilariously premature. It can't help but bring the infamous "Mission Accomplished" banner to mind. In general, I can't help but notice this Japanese cartoon portraying the U.S. president as a praise-hungry buffoon only concerned about his re-election chances during a time when our President was famous for his gaffes and starting shady wars he had no intention of ever ending. Maybe the satire wasn't intentional but it certainly speaks to the global perception of the U.S. government at the time. 

In fact, "Sonic X's" willingness to have Sonic continuously oppose establishment powers, like the police or military, can't help but come off as subversive in hindsight. The majority of "Chase the Hero Sonic!" is devoted to our hedgehog hero humiliating soldiers in high-tech gear. In fact, it's pretty funny how serious military force is deployed for the task of retrieving a blue hedgehog to appear at a party. Armed soldiers, attack helicopters, and even high-tech X-Jet style hovercrafts are deployed to try and catch the hedgehog. It's, at most, a preposterous waste of money and resources and, at worst, a hideous violation of Sonic's autonomous rights as an individual. (Though I guess extraterrestrial blue hedgehogs probably have no rights, in the government's eyes.) Either way, it's a hell of a way to pay him back for his heroics last time.

Despite all the manic wackiness of Sonic making a laughingstock of the U.S. military, that is not the main point of this episode. In fact, "That's What Friends Are For" comes very close to being a Very Special Episode. Sonic's friendship with Helen really comes out of nowhere, as he's never much interacted with Chris' schoolmates before. He apparently met Helen when her wheelchair got stuck in the sand by a lake. They immediately form a bond and Sonic spends the rest of the episode insuring Helen will have a night she'll never forget. The episode isn't really about what struggles kids in wheelchairs deal with, as whatever Helen's condition is isn't even specified. But there is a slightly patronizing tone here, Sonic going out of his way to treat this person he's never met before with a special reverence. (Also, the eye catch image of her shown before the commercial break depicts her standing on her own, which feels kind of distasteful.)

Helen, at this point in the show anyway, is defined mostly by her paraplegic status. She has a sob story about how she never gets to spend much time with her dad, as he's constantly working to afford Helen's medical bills. We get a scene of him toiling away at a grocery store, apparently on both day and night shifts. We don't know what Helen's mom does but it's implied she works all the time too. This is a sad reality of a lot of people who are victims of the for-profit medical industry. Yet the episode still concludes with Helen's dad promising to work less, as if the problem is him working too much and not the lack of funds or help to ensure Helen has as fulfilling a life as possible. At least Helen's parents are actually working to take care of her, as opposed to Chris' idle rich parents who just choose not to spend time with their child. 

In fact... Hey, Chris, why don't you use some of that cash allocated to pay for your granddad building personal jets to help out your paraplegic friend with overworked parents! Anyway, if it wasn't already apparent, this is quite an offbeat episode. Sonic zooming around with a cheering girl in a wheelchair is an odd sight, even in the context of the continuously weird "Sonic" cartoons. A lengthy subplot involves intoxication. When the journalists sent to cover the White House charity dinner learn Sonic isn't there, they begin to leave. Wise plies them with free booze, as if a bunch of drunk and belligerent reporters will smooth things over. (These scenes were, naturally, removed from the dub.) Also, the episode concludes with Sonic commandeering a helicopter and landing it on the White House lawn, which probably would be a legit reason for him to be in trouble with the government. Everyone is just happy to see him though. This administration is going to have to sweep so much shit under the rug. 

Before I wrap this up, I should probably point something out. The ending theme to "Sonic X," up to this point, has been a lively little number called "Fu-tu-re" by Run&Gun. It played over footage of Sonic and friends napping on the couch after a long day of adventuring. I had gotten quite used to singing along with "TO BE SHY, TO BE FREE" at end of every episode. This episode introduces a new closing theme: "The Shining Road" by Aiya Hiroshige. At first, I assumed this to be a special ending theme for this episode, about Helen's eternal gratitude to Sonic. Yet the accompanying animation makes it clear that this is not the case. It depicts Sonic brooding in the city before meeting Amy at sunrise, the two sharing meaningful glances among much soft focus. The lyrics describe hidden romantic feelings and a girl inviting the object of her desire to a secret meeting. Dang, no wonder SonAmy shippers love this show. Anyway, the other song was much better. 

As for the episode itself, I've seen some "Sonic X" fans mention Helen with fondness, so perhaps this one is something of a fan favorite. I wouldn't go that far and I still don't know if Helen is just an example of tokenism or not. Still, an episode this weird and unexpected can't help but be endearing to me. [7/10]