Sonic Prime, Episode 2.04: No Way Out

Sonic Prime, Episode 2.04: No Way Out

Original Release Date: July 13th, 2023 

Picking up where the previous episode of “Sonic Prime” left off, “No Way Out” begins with Knuckles the Dread and his crew pretty pissed at Sonic. Convinced he's going to steal the Prism shard – that the echidna has very quickly gotten extremely attached to – they begin to pursue the hedgehog. At the same time, Dr. Deep and Dr. Done-It continue to pursue both parties. Only a temporary truce is formed when it becomes apparent that the Eggmen want to destroy both parties. Soon enough, the mother ship arrives in No Place and this becomes even more of a race against time than before.

A fictional troupe I really can't stand is when characters end up at each other's throats over a misunderstanding that could be totally avoided if everyone just stopped for one minute and explained things to each other. It is the definition of contrived to me. That's exactly what the end of the last episode of “Prime” seemed to be setting up. “No Way Out” remains totally committed to this completely asinine plot turn. Sonic even somewhat explains what he's doing but Dread remains obsessively fixated on regaining the Shard. The script tries to cook up a facile excuse here: It seems Dread has immediately been corrupted by the Shard's energy, the minute he charged it through his sword and shot a lightning bolt out of it. If that's the case, why does the crew totally go along with a clearly unhinged plan? Even the cold and logical Rusty Rose – who just joined up with the pirates and presumably doesn't have the sense of loyalty to the captain that everyone else does – never questions this strategy. 

It is, simply put, writing that lacks much depth. Yet this is not surprising, as the characters in “Sonic Prime” aren't really characters. They are bits, gimmicks designated to a specific cast member with one defining characteristic, never meant to be expanded beyond that. Dread is a pirate, which means he's absolutely fixated on getting his treasure and willing to cross any moral boundaries in pursuit of that goal. You see this commitment to one-note character descriptions in pretty much every cast member here. In this episode, we learn that Dr. Deep does yoga to center and calm himself. Because, of course, he's an exaggerated parody of hipster stereotypes, something you can tell just from looking at him. Similarly, Dr. Done-It is a craggy old man who is utterly dismissive of the younger doctor's new age practices. Dr. Don't is a gamer kid, Dr. Babble is a baby. So on and so forth. Referring to this show's characters as “archetypes” seems insufficient. They are more like thin sketches that the show is stubbornly refusing to expand past.

While I'm here, can I just point out that making fun of hipsters is a horribly passe joke? The type of stereotype Dr. Deep is obviously meant to invoke doesn't even really exist in this form anymore. Yes, people who lord their own esoteric knowledge over everyone else, and are especially proud of their supposed mastery of exotic techniques, will always exist. Yet the specific person this character is making fun – the elaborate facial hair, the man-bun, the quirky tattoos, the vintage style clothing – is at least ten years out-of-date. I don't know what 2023's version of the hipster is – film bros, I guess? – but it's culturally irrelevant. Designing a character around the thesis of “What if Eggman was a hipster?” and then refusing to go any further than that is representative of “Prime's” entire problem: An unwillingness to allow its one-note character to become actual people.

Maybe this is an unfair criticism. After all, Sonic the Hedgehog himself is a fairly simplistic character. He's a quibby, super-fast, mascot with 'tude who is devoted to his friends above all else. Yet even that seems a little too complex for “Prime.” Their Sonic isn't really all that sarcastic or radical. He's kind of depressing, honestly. Throughout this show, he's gotten in over his head, runs fast when all else fails, and repeatedly emphasizes how much he cares about his buddies. There's potential with that. We almost see a brief spark of something deeper, when the Chaos Council threatens Nine unless Sonic gives them the Shard. Sonic instead finds a third option, which is a very Sonic-y thing to do, yet it's basically just set-up for another action scene. 

In a series where the characters are so static, Rusty Rose remains the one cast member seemingly allowed to evolve any. Over the course of the last two episodes, her and Black Rose have gone from resenting and distrusting each other to discovering they have a lot in common. This is the standard buddy cop movie arc, where two mismatched partners go from hating one another to being in love. Since Rusty is also a largely emotionaless cyborg, this also shows the way she's continuing to become a little more human. Once again, this is not incisive and extremely well thought out writing. It's basic stuff. Yet in a show that is this anemic on the heart meter, I'm latching onto what I can. 

It's not just the character work that is leaving something to be desired. Season two of “Sonic Prime” is proving to be even more formulaic than the first. Almost every episode this season has followed the same outline. Sonic and the chosen gang from this dimension go chasing after the Prism shard. They are pursued by members of the Chaos Council. Lots of fighting ensues but, despite the best efforts of the good guys, the Council makes it away with the shard. This has happened twice now. It's clear that this is building towards a dramatic climax, where the villains almost win. Yet, in effect, this isn't just predictable. It also makes Sonic and the gang look wildly unqualified to be saving the multiverse. 

I know I keep returning to this point but there's really only one thing that distinguishes “Prime” in my eyes. Yes, you guessed it: The action sequences. The animators really flex during the scene where Sonic and Dread's crew are fighting off a fleet of Eggforcers, the camera focused on the shard as it bounces from person to person. Yet the best moment doesn't even involve Sonic. Instead, while floating around the Void, Shadow starts to mess with Dr. Don't by throwing big rocks at their ship. It's a funny moment that invokes a different mood than sheer spectacle, invoking humor and just a bit of suspicion. Need more shit like that!

I feel like I'm repeating myself but I guess it's this show that is repeating itself. I don't know, you guys. I swear I'm not trying to shit on “Prime.” I know there are plenty of Sonic fans out there who are enjoying it. Yet, every time it feels like this show might become something I enjoy, it pulls back again and relies on more lazy writing. Most incarnations of “Sonic” have won me over eventually and there's still time for this one to do that. Yet “No Way Out” is not the point where “Prime” has found its voice, if that point is to ever come. [5/10]