 | |
| Series | Sonic Underground (DiC, 1999) |
| Season | Season 1 (the only season) |
| Episode | Episode 4 of 40 (production order) · production no. 404 · WildBrain no. 104 |
| French title | Course contre la montre |
| First aired (France) | 17 January 1999 · TF1 |
| First aired (US) | 2 September 1999 · BKN Kids II (syndication) · 4th in US broadcast order |
| Written by | Martha Moran |
| Directed by | Marc Boreal, François Hemmen and Daniel Sarriet; Tom Smith (US) |
| Song | “Money Can’t Buy” |
| Previous episode | Mobodoon (S01E03) |
| Next episode | Underground Masquerade (S01E05) |
SoniaMindy LaTourSpy watches
The Price of Freedom is episode 4 of Sonic Underground, DiC’s 1999 cartoon about Sonic, Sonia and Manic, the hedgehog triplets of Queen Aleena. It is number 4 in production order – the order TF1 first showed the series in France, where it premiered on 17 January 1999 – and it was the fourth episode to air in the United States, on 2 September 1999. It was written by Martha Moran, and its song is “Money Can’t Buy”.
Synopsis
Fed up after a mud-spattered chase with Sleet and Dingo, Sonia drives to East Mobius for some pampering at the LaTour estate, home of her childhood best friend Mindy. Sonic and Manic follow after hearing that the Queen has been seen in the area. Mindy welcomes Sonia with a present: one of the fashionable new wristwatches that everyone seems to be wearing.
The watches are not what they seem. Each one is a spy device for the Robotnik Intelligence Agency, and they are made in a factory owned by Mindy’s father. Sonia finds out, and soon the estate is swarming with watch-robots programmed to catch the hedgehogs.
When the siblings confront the LaTours, Mr. LaTour realises what his deal with Robotnik has really bought and shuts the factory down, even though it means he and Mindy must give up everything and run. Sonic takes control of the spy robots with a remote and turns them on their masters, the LaTours escape, and Mindy says a tearful goodbye to her friend.
The Song: “Money Can’t Buy”
“Money Can’t Buy” is a pointed choice for an episode about a rich family who learn what their fortune has cost them.
Key Moments
- Sonia reunites with her childhood friend Mindy LaTour.
- The “must-have” watches are revealed as spy devices.
- Mr. LaTour gives up his business rather than keep working for Robotnik.
Trivia
- The French title, Course contre la montre (“race against the clock”), is a pun: montre also means wristwatch.
- Look closely at the remote Sonic uses on the spy robots: it is shaped like a Mega Drive control pad.
- The US broadcast put this fourth, on 2 September 1999.
Watch the Episode
The full episode, uploaded by WildBrain’s official WildBrain Hero Tower YouTube channel (checked 6 November 2026).
Part of our Sonic Underground episode guide. The series page covers the characters, the songs, the prophecy and the show’s history.
Sources: titles, writers, songs and air dates from Luke’s original Sonic Scene guide, cross-checked with Wikipedia, Sonic Wiki Zone and Sonic Retro (Wayback copy); synopsis written for Sonic Scene from the episode, its official description and several fan references; title card and screenshots via Sonic Wiki Zone, copied to our media library.