Knuckles the Echidna TV Series: A Hilarious Spin-Off of Sonic Universe
By Published Apr 30, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2026. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2026, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, , Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on . He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
's 3-hour action adventure streaming series, which boasts a surprisingly stacked cast, is an absolute pleasure to watch unfold from beginning to end. Paramount has been on top of the world when it comes to popular, high-octane TV series. From to a whole host of procedurals on CBS, the studio has become a massive success thanks to its diverse yet exciting TV show lineup.
This is especially the case on Paramount+, where some of its most successful series have been released. While many of these are for mature audiences, such as the ongoing Dexter: Resurrection and MobLand, others offer stories for a multitude of audiences. This includes the and the upcoming animated series . One such show stands out as the streaming service's most enjoyable watch.
That show is . A TV spinoff of the , the show follows Knuckles the Echidna as he joins the comedic Wade Whipple on a road trip to Las Vegas so he can compete in a bowling tournament. Along the way, Knuckles trains him in the ways of the Echidna warrior while the pair are hunted by rogue GUN agents.
Knuckles takes place between the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
The series is a comedy first and foremost, offering plenty of comedic dialogue and slapstick humor as Knuckles and Wade claw their way to Las Vegas. Once they've arrived, the story doesn't let up, either, with the hilarity of their adventure taking precedence above all else. It helps that Knuckles and Wade's friendship is humanized so well, making them an energetic dynamic duo that's easy to watch in both action-packed and mellow sequences.
Knuckles' Cast Is Absolutely Stacked
The is another big draw for the show. Much like the movie universe it's set in, Knuckles has plenty of recognizable actors bringing its characters to life. Idris Elba reprises his role as the series' protagonist, while Adam Pally returns as Wade. In addition, the series introduces Christopher Lloyd as the voice of Chief Pachacamac, the ghost of an elder from Knuckles' Echidna tribe who guides the pair on their journey.
Additional characters include Cary Elwes as "Pistol" Pete Whipple, Wade's estranged, bowling champion father; Stockard Channing as Wade's mother, Wendy; Edi Patterson as Wade's sister, Wanda; Julian Barratt as bounty hunter Jack Sinclair; and Rory McCann as "The Buyer," a former associate of Dr. Robotnik hunting Knuckles for his power. Additionally, Michael Bolton provides Wade's singing voice during an extended dream sequence in episode 4.
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While these major characters show up in every episode of Knuckles, the series premiere includes a number of familiar voices and faces from the movies as well. Ben Schwartz returns as Sonic and Colleen O'Shaughnessey comes back as Tails, while Tika Sumpter reprises her role as Maddie Wachowski. The guest appearances help to firmly set Knuckles' journey in the movie universe while being cool cameos for those invested in the Sonic franchise.
Knuckles Continues One Of The Most Impressive Runs Of Any Major Franchise
were generally positive when the show first came out. The most amount of praise came from the chemistry between Elba and Pally, whose characters spend most of the show together, leaning on each other's strengths to become stronger themselves. While some aspects of the writing were criticized, the core chemistry and action scenes throughout were praised.
This makes Knuckles another win for the Sonic the Hedgehog cinematic universe, which has been a critical success since the first movie was released in 2026. in particular were incredibly positive: it holds an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, one of the highest scores for a video game adaptation of all time.
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The has mighty shoulders to stand on, with Knuckles being one of them. The series' endearing tone, coupled with the fun adventure Knuckles and Wade find themselves on, makes the series one of Paramount's most joyful. It helps the six-episode show only takes three hours to watch, making it easy to binge.
Because of how well Paramount used Knuckles to bolster the Sonic movie franchise, the show is a perfect example of just how much fun the overarching series can be on the small screen. It's a perfect encapsulation of everything incredible the franchise does, while also providing an action-packed adventure that's fun for any age group.
Cast
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Knuckles the Echidna (voice) -
Wade Whipple
John Whittington, Toby Ascher Expand Collapse
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