Sonic Prime, Episode 1.4: Unwelcome to the Jungle

Sonic Prime, Episode 1.4: Unwelcome to the Jungle

Original Release Date: December 15th, 2022

Just when we were getting used to the dystopian New Yolk Coty setting, the fourth episode of "Sonic Prime" literally drops the hedgehog into another alternate zone. In "Unwelcome to the Jungle," our speedy hero arrives in a version of Green Hills overgrown with massive trees. He soon meets versions of Rouge, Knuckles, Tails, and Big who have been reduced to primitive savages. They are practically starving to death as a monster, deep in the jungle, keeps them foraging for food. Sonic agrees to help the so-called Scavengers against this monster, in exchange for helping him find the next shard of the Paradox Prism. The monster, predictably, is not exactly what he was expecting. 

Four episodes into "Sonic Prime" and I think I've figured this show out. "Prime" is all about throwing wacky variations on Sonic's friends at us, within archetypal settings. The previous episodes, further burdened by establishing the show's premise, dropped Sonic into a dystopian city with dark, cyberpunk versions of his friend. This episode, presumably the start of a second arc, introduces caveman-like riffs on the gang, living in a similarly bleak but slightly more colorful jungle setting. (Given the very game level-like name of Boscage Maze.) 

I can speculate on why Sega, WildBrains, and Man of Action would go in this direction for a "Sonic" cartoon. It's a premise that demands familiarity with the video games. We can't experience the fun of seeing riffs on the "Sonic" gang unless we've already played the games they appear in. Meaning there's no risk of "Prime" ever outshining the product it's ostensibly meant to promote. Even more cynically, this premise allows countless opportunities to introduce new riffs on fan-favorite characters that Sega can then sell toys or mobile game skins of. Even Sonic, the one consistent cast member, gets a Jungle Tracker Batman style update in this episode. His footwear mysteriously gains a jungle camo color scheme and he can now sprout Wolverine style claws from his gloves. How very toyetic. 

Essentially, this means "Sonic Prime" is all gimmick and no heart. Given the speedy, action-centric pace of this show, it seems unlikely to me that we'll be getting to know any of these new action figures​ variants very well. "Prime" is, seemingly, just about the fun of mashing up the "Sonic" supporting cast with easily understood ideas like cyberpunk or the Savage Land. This is frustrating, as it's going to keep the show from ever being character driven or emotionally compelling. But it's not fair to criticize a program for what it isn't. Okay, "Prime" is about Sega Sonic leaping through the modern equivalent of the old Archie "Sonic" multiverse. Alright, let's see if the show succeeds at making that idea fun. 

If nothing else, the Boscage Maze is a better Planet of Hats than the dystopian New Yolk City. We've already seen Sonic and the gang as freedom fighters, waging a guerrilla war against Robotnik and his grim, industrial city. They made a whole cartoon about that, if you haven't heard. The jungle premise, filled with primitive Stone Age takes on the gang, has more novelty than that. I'm especially amused by "Mangey," this zone's Tails who is a feral, dog-like wild child. Seeing Tails snarl at people or scratch his ear with his hind leg made me chuckle. 

It becomes obvious quickly that this "monster" is actually Thorn Rose, a very pissed off take on Amy who wields a huge stone hammer and rides around on a Phorusrhacidae inspired giant pink Flicky. This show is really going to exploit the idea of turning Amy Rose into a hardened bad-ass, isn't it? Prim, Gnarly, and Hangry don't seem too different from normal Rouge, Knuckles, or Big. Though the desperate setting has made them all a little grouchier and unhinged. I like Gnarly replicating Knuckles' fist spikes with big-ass thorns. I wonder if we'll get a Witch Doctor Eggman or if "Prime" will launch off for the high seas before we get there. 

If nothing else, a jungle setting does allow "Sonic Prime" to touch upon this franchise's long-ignored ecological themes. During Sonic's first battle with Thorn Rose, he knocks an innocent little Flicky into some quicksand. He quickly picks the bird up, dusts it off, and sets it free. This proceeds Thorn explaining her rage at the Scavengers: She says they only take and consume without caring for the natural world at all. She motions to a collection of tree stumps, evident of deforestation attempts one assumes, as evident of this. It seems Thorn speaks for the trees and doesn't like it when anyone harms the ecosystem. I always get a kick out of later "Sonic" iterations remembering the tree-hugger roots of this franchise. 

It remains to be seen if "Prime" will go anywhere with this idea. Rose is, after all, the antagonist of this episode. She seems a little unhinged and the final seconds here promises another rumble between her and Sonic next time. I guess that's to be expected from a show that clearly prioritizes action. The fight scenes admittedly aren't as cool here as in the previous three episodes. Sonic getting hammered around the woods is a gag that gets old. Only the scenes where he uses the claws in his gloves and shoes are really innovative. The character animation seems a little looser in general here. Something about the way this show animates Big's face really doesn't sit well with me. 

I'm trying to make peace with what "Sonic Prime" is but the comic relief still bugs me. Turning Sonic's friends into jungle-dwelling lunatics produces one or two decent gags. I like Gnarly, who has an almost Jack Nicholson-esque quality to his voice, getting defensive about his "home." (A lean-to made of some leaves.) Yet the extend scenes of these guys fighting over an octahedron shaped strawberry wear out their welcome quickly. It gets eaten by a Froggy lookalike eventually and I couldn't help but wonder why the Scavengers just didn't try and eat the frog instead. I wish we had more scenes of Sonic figuring out how to use his other senses to fight an enemy in a dense jungle setting, rather than get more moments of him hugging confused people or dropping underwhelming wisecracks. 

I'm still grappling with what "Sonic Prime" is and whether it appeals to me at all. "Unwelcome to the Jungle" does feel a little sturdier than the last three episodes, if only becomes the alternate universe concept is established by now and it doesn't derail the narrative flow by leaping around in time. I guess we'll see if the next few episodes do more with this jungle-dwelling crew or if they'll just remain amusing ideas that never become fully intriguing characters. [6/10]