You know the character mandate for Sonic - "he must not show excessive emotion"? A lot of us want the mandate gone, and I'm gonna try to explain why. Please note: I only started caring about Sonic again after watching Sonic Prime. I tried to catch up, but it's been many years since I've given it any thought - so fill me in if I've missed some things.
It Would Make Him More Believable
NOT to be confused with realistic. Surprisingly many people confuse these two concepts.
That's right - I don't find him too believable, sorry. No-one is entirely immune to having strong emotions; if a character is experiencing drama, they should react accordingly. This is part of what makes them feel existable, no matter how much of a caricature they are.
It Would Allow Us To Feel With Him, Not Just For Him
Do you know what professional weepers do at funerals? They coax out the feelings in others. It's hard to have a tearjerker if the characters involved don't get to fully show what they're going through. If he's not feeling, why should we?
Would It Really Be That Out Of Character?
As I said - if it really went against Sonic's "personality", the writers wouldn't need to be told; they'd just have to know his character.
I don't buy that crying would be a thing he never does, because we do when something affects us badly enough. Imagine if something horrifying happened to his friends and he was unable to stop it. The only way for this rule to make sense is if he legit doesn't care about anything; like any act of bravery he does is just out of sheer boredom, or something.
But if you still insist this is out of character:
Out-Of-Character Moments Are Necessary
I really shouldn't have to explain this one, but anyway: you know what makes the audience realise things've gotten serious (or seriously good)? A character not acting like themselves!
It Would Help Put Him On Equal Footing With His Friends
There seems to be this thing where he's the one who has it together, needing no guidance or support, is always right - with some inconsequential exceptions - as well as acting as a voice of reason to troubled people. I mean that sounds awesome, right?
Keeping it one-sided like this creates a subtle hierarchy, with him on top, because he's the one who knows best. Not only are the others supposed to be his peers and not subordinates, I also don't think you can have this kind of wisdom without ever having needed it yourself. For example:
In the Secret Rings, he says to Shahra: "Let yourself cry". How does he know it would help? Has he tried it?
Needing that support once in a while would even things out.
To be fair, he can be physically vulnerable, needing rescue and assistance from time to time - probably because it doesn't compromise his coolness, letting him make some clever quips while being broken out of prison or catching a ride from a flying friend.
But making it one sided is bad for the giver, too:
Making It One Sided Is Bad For The Giver, Too
Sonamy shippers make this artwork/comic a lot: Sonic comforting a teary Amy. Nothing wrong with it in and of itself, except these same people almost never reverse it.
If someone else is always on the receiving end of emotional support, it will come at the cost of the provider. Because what are they gonna do for comfort? Binge eating chili dogs?
