Sonic the Hedgehog 3is lining up to be one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, and I’ll respect it even more if it’s brave enough to make one controversial decision. After two strong outings,Sonic 3looks like it could be the franchise’s biggest movie yet, especially after the trailer revealed plenty of exciting things to look forward to. Alongside an intriguing story and the return of Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik,Sonic 3confirmed Keanu Reeves as the voice of Shadowthe Hedgehog, a dream casting that I can’t wait to see.
Shadow’s Akira slide is the sort of cool momentthat indicates how stylish and bold the movie will be, but I’m curious to see just how brave it’s willing to get. Despite being a relatively lighthearted and family-friendly series, it would be interesting to seeSonic 3take some risks. The introduction of Shadow already suggests a few shocking scenes could be on the way, but the third installment has the perfect opportunity to push the boundaries. Therefore, the movie doing the unthinkable and exploring one dark storyline would win my respect and raise the stakes even more.
Sonic 3 Killing Off Tom Would Drastically Raise The Stakes For The Franchise
Killing Off A Familiar Character Like Tom Would Make Sonic 3 The Biggest Sonic Movie Yet
With Dr. Robotnik returning inSonic 3, it’s clear the franchise doesn’t permanently write out characters very often, but killing off Tom would raise the stakes massively.Tom Wachowski has been a great addition to the Sonic movies, as he gives the protagonists a human ally who genuinely wants to do good as a police officer. He fits the tone and humor of the film series perfectly, but this would make his demise even more impactful if he were to die inSonic 3, adding huge stakes alongside a more personal touch to the final battle.
Given the movie looks to be going all out with Shadow as its antagonist, having the hedgehog be responsible for Tom’s death would add a more serious and vengeful side to Sonic, as opposed to his usual laid-back demeanor. I think it would be great ifSonic the Hedgehog 3set up a dark twistfor its protagonist, and Tom’s death would be the best way to do so while highlighting just how menacing Shadow is. The villain would feel even more powerful and sinister than Dr. Robotnik, which is exactly the sort of jeopardy I’m hoping to see.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Avoided My Worst Fear With Shadow’s Story
I was worried Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s Shadow storyline would just copy Knuckles' story from the last sequel, but the trailer confirms it’s not.
Sonic 3 Is Already Much Darker Than Sonic The Hedgehog 1 & 2
Shadow’s Introduction & Backstory Will Completely Shift The Tone Compared To The Previous Films
From the trailer alone, it’s already clear thatSonic the Hedgehog 3will be much darker than the previous two entries. While Dr. Robotnik was a strong enemy, his goofy personality leaned into the humorous elements of the films, and his plans seemed nowhere near as devastating as Shadow’s.Shadow’s chaos control suggests he’ll be powerful inSonic 3, and his desire for revenge indicates the movie will have a more serious tone. Although the project will still be filled with jokes and silly moments, the overall story seems significantly more mature thanSonic the Hedgehog 1and2.
The early signs point towards Shadow’s backstory being faithful to previous iterations of the character.
Additionally,Shadow’s origin story is the saddest in the entire franchise, as it involves a child being murdered which sends the antagonist down a sinister path. Although there is no guaranteeSonic 3sticks with this exact narrative, the early signs point towards Shadow’s backstory being faithful to previous iterations of the character, setting up an extremely bleak tone. Maria and Shadow’s tragic storyline will be hard to balance withSonic the Hedgehog’s signature comedy, but the movie series has given me plenty of reasons to be confident that it can handle this large adjustment.
Sonic 3 Doesn’t Really Need To Kill Off Tom To Be More Serious
The Trailer Already Showed Sonic 3 Will Have A More Serious Plot Regardless Of Tom’s Fate
While killing off Tom would be a massive statement about the film’s grim atmosphere, it can still be serious without this moment. Adding Shadow was always going to make the story darker, but it doesn’t have to be completely downbeat. Even with the new villain,Sonic 3should still have moments to laugh at and be a mostly relaxing film, only this time with higher stakes. As much as I look forward to Shadow’s menacing plans, I can’t imagine Sonic fans going to theaters to watch a tragedy, and killing off established characters does risk becoming too emotional.
Sonic the Hedgehog’s audience will grow and mature as the franchise progresses, but it is still mostly aimed towards younger viewers, and Maria’s death is already on the edge of being too much. I’d definitely respectSonic 3if it killed Tom and proved that it is willing to go all out with Shadow’s story, but I’m still not sure that it’s entirely necessary for this kind of franchise. So long as the movie can make Shadow intimidating and give the protagonists a strong storyline,Sonic the Hedgehog 3will be as serious and compelling as it needs to be.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reunites Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as they face a formidable new adversary, Shadow. With Shadow’s unprecedented powers posing a significant threat, Team Sonic seeks an unexpected alliance to thwart his plans and safeguard the planet.
