We open Sonic and the Secret Scrolls (Look at that, one of the rare episodes that actually tells you at least a little about what the episode is and isn't just adding Sonic's name to the title) with Sonic being blindfolded by Bunnie and Tails. Despite Sonic being down for a surprise, he also complains along the way, because you have to remember that he's a bratty kid. The reason is to surprise him with the revelation of a plane built by Sally and the rest of the freedom fighters (even Antoine, but I doubt he did that much).
The Freedom Stormer, as dubbed by Sally is their vehicle to get to a mysterious mountain village named Maga to search for the secret scrolls, the big maguffin of this episode. According to her father, these scrolls have great power despite being, you know, hidden. What follows is a swap in personalities from Sonic and Sally as Sally is completely certain that the plane will make it while Sonic is certain that the plane won't fly and even so they'll be sitting ducks for Swat Bot detection. Normally it's Sally being the level headed of the two, but since this is something that involves her father, she is quick to throw safety out the window if it means a step closer to defeating Robotnik.
Despite Sonic's reservations, Sally ultimately wins the argument. Sonic however chooses to stay grounded, not trusting the rig to fly. The Freedom Fighters (except for Tails, because who really want to see Tails, am I right? I mean, he's only the sidekick! But I guess if you want that there is Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog) all get aboard for liftoff (including Antoine, who will certainly be helpful with... um...) and the plane is close to crashing, but manages to get control right before crashing into a waterfall. Boy, what great timing. The Freedom Fighters make it to Maga, but they meet another peril as, while they've gotten the Freedom Stormer to fly, landing is another issue altogether. Maybe they should have listened to Sonic. And maybe they should have listened to common sense and kept Antoine at Knothole since he screams in fear to their annoyance.
Speaking of Sonic, he makes it just in time to save the rest of the Freedom Fighters. Sonic wants some thanks for stopping the plane, but Sally believes that even if they went off the cliff, they'd be flying. No Sally, you'd be crashing! For god's sakes just take the L. After the game of sarcasm tennis, they get to the temple and find the entrance to the city. A strange noise can be heard as Sonic taunts Antoine with monster stories. Nicole translates the words on a sign leading to the city that says "we do not see things as they are, we see things as we are". Nobody gets this riddle yet as they continue on their merry way.
They make an entrance through some hedges (surprisingly no "leave the hedge to the hedgehog"-like quip) but they learn that their exit disappears from them. Oh right, the city is conveniently booby trapped. They get caught in a wind storm, but manage to find a shadow that makes things invisible (fitting to that whole riddle). Another riddle follows about "what one will not achieve in learning, will become clear in the light of day". They look around for something called "the chair", which is conveniently found in a pile of rubble thanks to bright light.
Well this is certainly the strangest Simpsons couch gag.
The chair transports the Freedom Fighters to the temple of Maga, where they find two scrolls. One is a fake, and taking the wrong one will make the temple explode. I guess outrunning a giant boulder won't pose a threat for Sonic, would it? They guess that the scroll that's not glowing is the clearly right one.
Sally uses Nicole to translate the scrolls. They mention the seven wonders of Mobius, particularly the wind tunnel that was causing them problems early on. . It explains the test that they've had to go through, and the trials involving spirit and intelligence. They have to overcome courage and wouldn't you know it...
Daddy's home!
So, in case you may have forgotten that this show has an antagonist since we've spent the entire episode so far playing treasure hunters, it turns out Robotnik was following them. How he even knew this was going down, that's not explained. I guess you could say they didn't avoid the radars, but again never explained. He tells them to give them the scrolls, but they refuse. He distracts them with a sonic dust cloud as the others escape. He continues to avoid laser fire from Robotnik and Snively, but they use a stealth orb to follow him.
Meanwhile, the others are deeper in the temple as they hear the wind of mobius, which they hope to use to escape. Antoine manages to find the exit the only way he knows how, by cowardice. Sonic easily tricks the stealth orb as he tries to escape, but it keeps an eye in the sky on him. He manages to reunite with the others as Sally tells them about the wind tunnel with the breath of mobius. Sonic thinks to use it to trick Robotnik. He lures the stealth orb to the wind tunnel as Robotnik and the others foolishly follow. They wait at the hole, as Sonic hides in an alcove. The wind hits, sending Robotnik's group flying off to their questionable deaths.
Using a power ring, Sonic manages to survive the wind blast. They all celebrate, believing that Robotnik is dead. Because, you know, five episodes in, the antagonist has to totally be dead already. They use the Freedom Stormer to exit Maga, job well done. Except for one thing...
That guy you said was dead, he ain't dead.
Some interesting production notes on this episode, despite being the fourth aired and the fifth listed, this episode is actually the original season finale, the thirteenth in the season one production run. So, if you came in next week thinking these scrolls were going to matter, well, you'd be wrong. Overall, this episode is a mixed bag. The adventure was good, and I like the use of the riddles to help the group further their way through Maga. Even Antoine is less intolerable in this episode.
I do however feel adding Robotnik at the last minute with really no explanation as to how he even knew this was going on does hurt the episode a tad. In the end, the egg head really wasn't needed. But since this show has only one antagonist, I can see why they would feel like they had to have him in it. While not my absolute fave so far, this episode was still a fun watch.
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