By the end of season 2, Sonic Prime was shaping up to be one of Netflix’s best family-friendly animated shows. Aside from feeling somewhat incomplete, its first season got the series off to a running start, and the second fared even better thanks to its improved pacing and adherence to its coming-of-age theme. All of this contributed to the hype surrounding the third (and potentially final) season… but what we get isn’t the great finale the series deserved. Instead, a reliance on lengthy, drawn-out battles causes Sonic Prime to stumble at the finish line, resulting in an anticlimactic conclusion to the hedgehog’s multiversal adventure.

None of that is to say that there’s too much action; Sonic Prime has always been an action-oriented show. After all, part of the fun comes from seeing Sonic (played by the amazing Deven Mack) and company fight robotic enemies in a manner reminiscent of his games; witnessing Knuckles (voiced by the talented Adam Nurada) glide through the air before landing a punch to a Badnik’s face is definitely a highlight. And considering how this version of Sonic is as impulsive as ever, having him continually dive headfirst into battle makes sense. The problem is that as the show progressed, these explosive clashes started to feel more and more redundant, and no one has learned anything.

That was certainly the case with Sonic Prime’s second season. While it still managed to be great thanks to the emphasis being placed on Sonic’s growing maturity, there were plenty of moments where the fighting became predictable and obligatory. The heroes would repeatedly rush into battle against the same enemies, only to be defeated in a similar fashion each time. It all grew tiresome, and that issue has become especially egregious this season, given that its entire seven-episode arc is awash in near-constant warfare that’s rendered pointless by what feels like a predetermined outcome.

Things start off exciting enough, at least. As lines are drawn in the sand and temporary alliances are forged, the mounting tension between Sonic Prime’s varied factions reaches an all-time high. Then the fighting begins: Giant robots are destroyed, heroes are tossed into chasms, entire worlds are seemingly obliterated. At times it either seems like all hope is lost or, in some cases, like the heroes will be victorious. That’s when someone discovers a new power, enacts a new plan, or summons reinforcements and the tide shifts ad nauseam. The resulting stalemate grinds season 3’s story to a halt, as very little of what happens during a given 25-minute episode seems to actually matter. What should have been an exhilarating final clash over the fate of the Shatterverse turns into a tedious and, at times, boring affair.

There are a few moments during the fighting that the season seems to acknowledge this issue. At one point in “Home Sick Home,” Sonic agrees to listen to his friends instead of spinning off into battle. They eventually enact a plan that requires him to be patient. There’s a suggestion that Sonic has learned from his past mistakes; unfortunately, that notion is wiped clean an episode later when the cycle of fighting repeats once again.

This wouldn’t be so bad if Sonic Prime ended a little better. Sure, there are some heartfelt moments and nearly all of the lingering conflicts are resolved by the time the credits roll. But the biggest problem with this as the conclusion of a three-party story is that the final episode doesn’t provide a full sense of closure. Too much is left on the table between some of Prime’s characters. The brief exchanges before things are set right also feel rushed; important conversations aren’t even given time to breathe before a new threat is introduced. It’s hard to tell if Sonic really learned his lesson when he can be seen rushing into battle as the season ends, with a wink and nod about a coming adventure that seems unlikely to ever arrive.

Though this season proves to be rather underwhelming in relation to the others, it does have some redeeming values. The animation is still great, some of the battles early on are fun to watch, and seeing all the variations of each character on screen at once is a treat – especially since the entire cast continues to provide great performances. That said, whenever this season focuses on Sonic’s journey toward maturity, it shines the brightest. And like always, Mack proves to be indispensable when it comes to showcasing such growth; the shame Sonic feels when he finally realizes that his predicament is the direct result of his own actions can be readily heard in Mack’s voice.

That’s especially true when Mack is playing opposite Ashleigh Ball, who does a great job of humanizing Sonic’s cold and often distrustful friend Nine. Since the threat of annihilation is often eclipsed by stagnation, Bell’s excellent performance helps provide an emotional anchor for this season. We can depend on Sonic and Nine’s personal drama to remain engaging even when the constant fighting fails to entertain.