‘’Sonic the Hedgehog 3′ Introduced This Underutilized Character and, Even as a Fan, I’m Still Not Sure Why
Director Rockwell, one of the secondary antagonists inSonic the Hedgehog 3, is portrayed by Krysten Ritter ofJessica Jonesfame, and even though Ritter is a fantastic actor, she is greatly underutilized throughout the film, with a role poorly integrated into the plot. A consistent presence throughoutSonic the Hedgehog 3, Rockwell’s goals are not completely clear. It’s time to unpack why Director Rockwell comes across asthe most confusing characterintroduced inSonic the Hedgehog 3.
Director Rockwell’s Goals Were Poorly Defined in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’
In the threequel, Rockwell works for the Guardian Unit of Nations under Commander Walters (Tom Butler). Early in the film, Walters bequeaths one of the keys to the Eclipse laser, built by Dr. Gerald Robotnik (Jim Carrey), to Sonic (Ben Schwartz), fearing it could fall into the wrong hands. That means Walters trusts Team Sonic with the key over Rockwell. Later in the movie, Team Sonic attempts to steal the second Eclipse Laser Cannon key from G.U.N.’s London facility to keep it from G.U.N., the Robotniks, and Shadow (Keanu Reeves). During the heist, Rockwell traps Team Sonic and the Robotniks…so she’s the bad guy, right? Well, it’s never completely clear.
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Sonic 3 poorly defines Rockwell’s role and goals in the conflict. Does she want the power of the Eclipse Laser for herself? Could she want to use it as a weapon to eliminate G.U.N.’s enemies? Throughout the film, she does not particularly appear to be a big fan of Team Sonic. Perhaps she does not trust Team Sonic, since Sonic is an extraterrestrial with unlimited power. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is simply missing one or two scenes to properly establish Rockwell’s role in the conflict and what she wants. Dr. Gerald Robotnik building a weapon capable of destroying a planet is a pretty huge red flag in the first place. Director Rockwell comes off as a far more militant soldier who believes the ends justify the means, so it would not be surprising if Rockwell was the individual responsible for the Eclipse Laser Project.
Director Rockwell Emphasizes Why the Sonic Franchise Needs to Move Away From Human Characters
The thin plotting around characters such as Director Rockwell emphasizes why the Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise is better off moving away from its human characters. The human characters, other than the Robotniks, are usually the film’s weakest links. Additionally, they often take part in goofy gags and add little to the overall narrative. The filmmakers clearly show more interest in the CG-animated animal characters, who are far more interesting, with better writing, dialogue, interactions, and character arcs. That said, Dr. Gerald Robotnik and Ivo Robotnik (Carrey) are the exceptions. Maria Robotnik (Alyla Browne) and her heartfelt friendship and bond with Shadow were also well executed.
The Sonic movie cast is expanding, based on the mid-credits scene for Sonic 3, which introduces Amy the Hedgehog and Metal Sonic. The cast is filling up and launching more characters who will require significant screen time and character development. The Sonic film series should move further away from its human characters, and it’s already started. Case in point, Rachel (Natasha Rothwell) and Randall (Shemar Moore) have much smaller roles in Sonic 3, appearing only as hologram disguises for Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie Wachowski (Tika Sumpter). Additionally, Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) only has a brief cameo in the sequel. Fans likely saw enough of Wade in the Knuckles limited series. The newly added animal characters will leave less time to develop human characters, such as Rockwell.
That’s not to say Rockwell should not return if the filmmakers want G.U.N. to have a continued presence. Moving forward, some better character development that could clarify Rockwell’s past mistakes would prove beneficial. Provided Rockwell returns for Sonic the Hedgehog 4, the writers and filmmakers should expand her character’s development.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
