Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is gearing up to be yet another great addition to the franchise, continuing the tradition of introducing a number of iconic Sonic characters to the movies. While that has been one of the biggest staples of the series thus far, there are also plenty of other trends that have been present in each release.

The Sonic film franchise has been surprisingly excellent thus far, with each movie being even better than the one that came before, culminating in the absolute success that was Sonic the Hedgehog 3. One of the most satisfying recurring elements was Jim Carrey as Ivo Robotnik, who got progressively funnier as the series continued.

In Sonic 3, Robotnik was at his most wild, and Carrey’s performance continued to be one of the best parts of the movie. One of his most iconic moments was the dance scene with Gerald and Ivo, the culmination of a franchise trend that should not carry over into Sonic 4.

Sonic 4 Shouldn’t Have A Dance Scene

Each Sonic movie has had a dance scene, which is a trend that has gone slightly under the radar, as it isn’t focused on too much. The first movie had Eggman dancing in his lab, the second movie had Sonic and Tails’ dance battle, and the third movie, of course, had Ivo and Gerald Robotnik’s dance in the laser grid.

The first two scenes were nothing special, and weren’t really something that most fans latched on to. Eggman’s dance in his lab was a fun Jim Carrey moment, but nothing more than that, and the Sonic 2 dance battle was pretty forgettable when compared to the highs of that film.

However, Gerald and Ivo’s laser dance was immediately iconic and became one of the most talked-about scenes in the film, appearing in conversation alongside Sonic 3‘s incredible ending. It was a perfect showcase of Carrey’s performing skills and a great encapsulation of the progression of the franchise from a fairly grounded series to a universe that felt uniquely Sonic.

With that in mind, this trend has clearly run its course, and should probably end on a high. It didn’t really add much in the first two movies, but the filmmakers managed to finally make it work for Sonic 3. It feels unlikely that continued attempts will be able to reach the same high, especially if Jim Carrey doesn’t return for Sonic 4.

While it could present a unique opportunity for creativity, it feels like the joke has run its course. Dance scenes in films can tend to feel a little cringe-inducing, so the fact that they made it work at all is impressive, and makes Sonic the Hedgehog 4 putting this recurring gag to rest seem like the right call.