Of all the classic video game heroes, Sonic the Hedgehog has enjoyed the most representation in the world of animation. Mario, Link, Mega Man, Donkey Kong, and even the Battletoads have enjoyed one or two Saturday morning cartoons, but Sonic keeps coming back. Sonic Prime is the sixth full-fledged animated series for Sega's favorite son, and it's got a second season on the way.
Sonic Prime broke new ground for the Sonic franchise in a number of ways. The previous cartoons have enjoyed a variety of tones, styles, and presentations. Some are goofy comedies, some are sincere anime-inspired action shows, and others are embarrassing cash grabs. Sonic Prime combines many of the best elements of the previous series into a solid outing for the Blue Blur and all his friends.
What Happened in Sonic Prime Season One?
Sonic Prime follows Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Rogue, and Big across multiple alternate realities. The story starts in a familiar place. The heroes are prepared to take on Dr. Eggman and his army of robots, only to discover that he has another new magical MacGuffin. The mysterious Paradox Prism fills the traditional role of magic gem for the series. During the brawl, Sonic shatters the prism, launching him into an alternate dimension. Sonic determines that the power of the prism is now in his body. Every time he touches one of its shards, he's fired into another new world. Each world has new versions of his friends and enemies that he must find a way to save or stop.
Sonic's first new destination is New Yoke City, a dystopian cyberpunk future taken over by the Chaos Council. The Council is a governing body made up of five variants of Eggman. This universe's versions of Sonic's friends have formed a ragtag resistance group to overthrow Eggman's reign. The effort to free this gritty futuristic city is arguably the A-Plot of Sonic Prime. Sonic struggles to use his newfound Paradox powers to aid the resistance, but his random disappearances force him to abandon his friends. Across the primal jungle and the high seas, Sonic tries to help different versions of his allies work together and overcome their various issues. Nine, the New Yoke version of Tails, creates a device called the Shatter Drive. With the Shatter Drive, Nine can travel between planes. Unfortunately, the Chaos Council captures the device, resolving to capture Sonic and use him to conquer the multiverse.
The final episode of Sonic Prime season one ends on a strange note. After leading the pirate version of Knuckles and his crew to victory, Sonic is sent into the void between realities. He meets his eternal rival, Shadow the Hedgehog, in the empty space. Shadow's presence has been limited in the series thus far. In a flashback, the two hedgehogs throw down just before Sonic breaks the Paradox Prism. Shadow experienced a premonition that Sonic would destroy the prism, but he couldn't stop him from causing the disaster. In the penultimate episode of the season, Shadow speaks to Sonic from the void, informing him that he's trapped. When they meet again, Shadow tells Sonic that their original universe no longer exists. Thanks to Sonic's destruction of the Paradox Prism, their home, and all their loved ones have been destroyed. Shadow lashes out at Sonic, sending him flying with a vicious attack as the season closes on this grim cliffhanger.
What Could Happen in Sonic Prime Season Two?
Sonic Prime is set to have at least 24 episodes in total. The first season only featured eight, possibly as a trial run like the first four-episode series of Castlevania. The remaining 16 episodes could introduce new realities, new versions of beloved characters, and fast-paced action adventures. However, the main story has reached a very dark place. Sonic's original dimension is lost, New Yoke City's overlords have even more power, and Shadow seeks vengeance. Sonic and Nine can create a new home with the power of the Shatter Drive, but most of the new story will likely be about reforging the Paradox Prism and saving the prime reality. The rules of the Paradox Prism are vague, but it's fair to assume that Sonic will eventually be able to restore his original friends.
Sonic Prime takes the characters and relationships from the beloved franchise and introduces them to constantly new scenarios. The first season splits the difference between a serialized story and an episodic series of adventures. With three potential 8-episode seasons on the way, they have plenty of time to keep that trend alive. With the film franchise preparing to launch its first TV spinoff, Sonic Prime will be a fun part of the overarching Sonic franchise. Season 2 of Sonic Prime is set to premiere on July 13th. Fans can catch up on the first season on Netflix today.