Sonic Prime, Episode 2.1: Avoid the Void

Sonic Prime, Episode 2.1: Avoid the Void

Original Release Date: July 4th, 2023

What was the general consensus on the first batch of “Sonic Prime” episodes? It seems to me that most corners of the fandom was receptive to the series. If the folks on “Sonic” Twitter are anything to go by, a lot of people enjoyed it. I, if you recall from my reviews late last year, was mostly underwhelmed by the show. Seemed to me that the show didn't really start to get moving until the very end of that nine episode run, while it's multi-verse hopping premise left little room for character development or meaningful relationships. I've seen similar reactions from other blue hedgehog devotees, so I know I'm not totally alone in that opinion. So I guess you would average that up to a “mostly positive, slightly mixed” reaction on the whole? 

Regardless of how I felt, I've saw a fair bit of hype concerning the new episodes – initially referred to as the second half of season one but not being called the second season – in the lead-up to their release this month. “Sonic Prime” left off on a cliffhanger that promised to give fan-favorite Shadow even more screen time, which was probably enough to whet the appetites of certain corners of the fandom. Premiering on Youtube on the fourth, with the rest of the season arriving on Netflix on the 13th, “Avoid the Void” kicks off the new set of eight episodes and “Prime's” latest chance to either surprise or disappoint me. 

“Avoid the Void” begins with Shadow in the titular space between realities. We learn that he's been watching bounce around the multi-verse from the beginning and that he lost his Chaos Emerald deep within this dimensional sink hole. After confronting Sonic, he takes the blue hedgehog to a lifeless version of Green Hill, populated with repetitive holograms of the cast. After some exposition, Shadow makes it clear that he intends on cleaning up Sonic's mess. A brawl ensues, where Shadow attempts to steal Sonic's dimension hopping tech. Yet the gruffer hedgehog soon learns things are a bit more complicated than he assumed. 

If I felt season one of “Prime” was overall a little aimless, I did enjoy that the last episode actually upped the stakes with the Chaos Council invading No Place. The first episode of season two does, if nothing else, continue this upward trajectory. Sonic is, at first, happy to see Shadow and assumes his presence means Green Hill is still intact. The blue hedgehog's angsty counterpart informs him that their home dimension, as far as he can tell, no longer exists. If true, that would be a pretty big deal. Sonic now has the weight on him of having inadvertently destroyed his home and all his friends. The thought that Green Hill is gone is certainly a lot more dramatic than Sonic just being adrift in the multi-verse. 

Not that I expect Green Hill to actually-actually be destroyed. First off, this is a kid's cartoon. There's no way that it'll go that grim. Moreover, “Prime” as a series is obviously extremely invested in the core cast of Sonic's friends. I mean, every other character is a Tails, a Knuckles, a Rouge, or a Big. If the prime versions of those guys are all gone forever, it seems unlikely to me that this show would constantly be giving Sonic reminders of his definitely dead friends. Even by the halfway point of this episode, it seems Shadow has forgotten his assertion that the prime zone has been destroyed. If nothing else, he seems fairly certain it can be restored in some way. 

Yet the idea that Sonic might believe his home is gone and his friends are dead is a good foundation for his character. When Netflix first released a plot synopsis for “Prime,” there was some reference to Sonic having to atone for past mistakes. Watching the hedgehog grow from the carefree adventurer he is now to someone more burdened by his responsibilities could be fruitful. We get a brief taste of this during the scenes where Sonic and Shadow first visit the lifeless version of Green Hill. The look on the hedgehog's face as he realizes these are just echoes of his friends produces some pathos. I hope the show leans into Sonic feeling some regrets for his actions in future episodes.

“Sonic” media is always finding excuses for Sonic and Shadow to punch each other, sometimes extremely flimsy ones. “Avoid the Void” does, if nothing else, find a compelling angle for their conflict here. Shadow essentially sees this as a mess Sonic has made. He considers the blue hedgehog to be a capricious, irresponsible adventurer while seeing himself as the hero likely to put wrongs back to right. Sonic, meanwhile, is determined to make it back home to his friends and he's not going to let Shadow get in his way. Definitely a much sturdier reason for them to fight it out than “There's a misunderstanding about who's the bad guy.” Both hedgehogs think they are right and deserve to do things their own way, making this among the more natural scuffles the show has presented us with so far.

Since this is “Sonic Prime,” that action sequence is what makes up most of the episode. Again, I have to say that it's pretty cool. Especially once the fighting spills back out into the Void and the two take advantage of the floating debris around them. If “Prime” has done nothing else well so far, it's been capturing the sense of speed Sonic and his adversaries have when fighting. Watching these two race around each other and trade fisticuffs is entertaining. About the only moment that sticks out is when they briefly splash under the lake, which features some mediocre water effects. 

As I finish up this review, I realize most of the positive things I'm saying about this episode mirrors what I've said about past “Prime” episodes. This could go in an interesting direction. This might set-up a strong event later on. Hope springs eternal, I suppose, but I guess it should be obvious by now that “Prime” isn't that kind of show. This is a punchy-punchy action show for babies, utilizing the most simple versions of Sonic and his supporting cast that you can imagine. Maybe I should stop hoping the show will turn into something it's not and instead accept what it actually is. 

Well, maybe. Nevertheless, “Prime” has so much potential that remains untapped into at the moment that I can't help but hope it turns into a more promising show eventually. Now that the tedious set-up is out of the way, perhaps season two will actually go further in developing its cast and the conflict? If nothing else, I don't think any more alternate versions of the primary cast will be introduced soon – probably owing to the expense of making character models for a CGI show – so the show better start getting stronger writing, or else it'll be rendered entirely tedious. I don't want to be too negative. This is a decent episode but whether or not it's another tease of unfulfilled promises or the start of something better very much remains to be seen. [6/10]